diff --git a/backend/app/core/config.py b/backend/app/core/config.py
index a55d2e96..79afe728 100644
--- a/backend/app/core/config.py
+++ b/backend/app/core/config.py
@@ -84,6 +84,27 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     AI_MODEL_GEMINI: str = "gemini-2.5-flash"
     AI_MODEL_ANTHROPIC: str = "claude-sonnet-4-6"
 
+    # Model tier routing — maps action types to model tiers
+    AI_MODEL_TIERS: dict[str, str] = {
+        "fast": "claude-haiku-4-5-20251001",
+        "standard": "claude-sonnet-4-6-20250514",
+    }
+
+    ACTION_MODEL_MAP: dict[str, str] = {
+        "generate_full": "standard",
+        "generate_branch": "standard",
+        "modify_node": "fast",
+        "add_steps": "standard",
+        "quick_action": "fast",
+        "open_chat": "standard",
+        "variable_inference": "fast",
+    }
+
+    def get_model_for_action(self, action_type: str) -> str:
+        """Resolve an action type to a concrete model name via tier routing."""
+        tier = self.ACTION_MODEL_MAP.get(action_type, "standard")
+        return self.AI_MODEL_TIERS.get(tier, self.AI_MODEL_TIERS["standard"])
+
     # MCP (Model Context Protocol) integrations
     ENABLE_MCP_MICROSOFT_LEARN: bool = True
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_config_model_tiers.py b/backend/tests/test_config_model_tiers.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ddcf6704
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_config_model_tiers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+"""Tests for AI model tier configuration."""
+from app.core.config import settings
+
+
+def test_ai_model_tiers_exist():
+    assert "fast" in settings.AI_MODEL_TIERS
+    assert "standard" in settings.AI_MODEL_TIERS
+
+
+def test_action_model_map_covers_all_actions():
+    valid_tiers = set(settings.AI_MODEL_TIERS.keys())
+    for action, tier in settings.ACTION_MODEL_MAP.items():
+        assert tier in valid_tiers, f"Action '{action}' maps to unknown tier '{tier}'"
+
+
+def test_get_model_for_action():
+    model = settings.get_model_for_action("generate_full")
+    assert isinstance(model, str)
+    assert len(model) > 0
+
+
+def test_get_model_for_action_unknown_falls_back():
+    model = settings.get_model_for_action("nonexistent_action")
+    assert model == settings.AI_MODEL_TIERS["standard"]