diff --git a/scripts/lib/ci-node-test-plan.mjs b/scripts/lib/ci-node-test-plan.mjs
index 22589b4f93be..898942faccc5 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/ci-node-test-plan.mjs
+++ b/scripts/lib/ci-node-test-plan.mjs
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ const GATEWAY_STARTUP_HEALTH_RUNTIME_ENV = {
 const MAX_BUNDLED_NODE_TEST_PATTERNS = 64;
 // PR-only bundles trade a little serial work for fewer ephemeral runner registrations.
 // Keep runner classes and subprocess isolation intact while bounding each combined job.
-const COMPACT_NODE_TEST_JOB_SECONDS = 260;
+// Fleet-loaded runners inflate measured hints by ~20-25%; a 220s packing cap
+// keeps the slowest bin near the 5-minute PR wall-clock budget under load.
+const COMPACT_NODE_TEST_JOB_SECONDS = 220;
 const COMPACT_NODE_TEST_JOB_GROUPS = 10;
 const COMPACT_TOOLING_NODE_TEST_GROUPS = 4;
 const COMPACT_WHOLE_NODE_TEST_TIMEOUT_MINUTES = 120;
diff --git a/test/scripts/ci-node-test-plan.test.ts b/test/scripts/ci-node-test-plan.test.ts
index 3aeab7e50089..c52fba7fb260 100644
--- a/test/scripts/ci-node-test-plan.test.ts
+++ b/test/scripts/ci-node-test-plan.test.ts
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ describe("scripts/lib/ci-node-test-plan.mjs", () => {
     });
 
     expect(compact.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(12);
-    expect(compact.length).toBeLessThanOrEqual(24);
+    expect(compact.length).toBeLessThanOrEqual(28);
     expect(compact.every((shard) => Array.isArray(shard.groups))).toBe(true);
     expect(compact.every((shard) => shard.groups.length <= 10)).toBe(true);
     expect(compact.some((shard) => shard.requiresDist)).toBe(true);