skillListingBudgetFraction: Control How Many Skills Claude Code Loads

What the Setting Does

When a Claude Code session starts, it discovers and catalogs the skills available in your configured skill paths. The skillListingBudgetFraction controls how much of the context window Claude Code allocates for this skill catalog. A lower fraction means less context is used for listing skills, which leaves more room for your actual task — but may mean Claude Code does not see all available skills.

The default is set to balance discovery against context usage. Most users never need to change it.

When to Adjust It

If you have a large skill library — dozens of custom skills covering different domains — you might find Claude Code sometimes fails to find a skill you know is installed. This happens because the skill catalog consumes too much of the context window and the actual skill instructions get squeezed out.

In that case, increase skillListingBudgetFraction to give the catalog more room. The setting accepts values between 0 and 1.

{
  "skillListingBudgetFraction": 0.15
}

Conversely, if you are working on a task where context is tight and you do not need Claude Code to have deep skill awareness, lowering the fraction frees up context for your actual code and instructions.

How to Set It

Add the setting to your claude_settings.json at the global level (in your home directory) or project level (in your project root). Project-level settings override global settings.

{
  "skillListingBudgetFraction": 0.12
}

Finding Your Optimal Value

Start with the default. If you notice Claude Code missing skills you expect it to know, try incrementing by 0.02 or 0.03 at a time. There is no universal right answer — it depends on how many skills you have, their individual sizes, and how much context your typical tasks consume.

For most users with fewer than 20 skills, the default works fine. If you have 50+ skills and find discovery inconsistent, tuning this is where you start.