diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 84919af..485da35 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ pub use param::ParamValue;
 pub use parameter::{
     BoolParam, Categorical, CategoricalParam, EnumParam, FloatParam, IntParam, ParamId, Parameter,
 };
-pub use pruner::{NopPruner, Pruner, ThresholdPruner};
+pub use pruner::{MedianPruner, NopPruner, Pruner, ThresholdPruner};
 pub use sampler::CompletedTrial;
 pub use sampler::grid::GridSearchSampler;
 pub use sampler::random::RandomSampler;
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ pub mod prelude {
     pub use crate::parameter::{
         BoolParam, Categorical, CategoricalParam, EnumParam, FloatParam, IntParam, Parameter,
     };
-    pub use crate::pruner::{NopPruner, Pruner, ThresholdPruner};
+    pub use crate::pruner::{MedianPruner, NopPruner, Pruner, ThresholdPruner};
     pub use crate::sampler::CompletedTrial;
     pub use crate::sampler::grid::GridSearchSampler;
     pub use crate::sampler::random::RandomSampler;
diff --git a/src/pruner/median.rs b/src/pruner/median.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b062d84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pruner/median.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+use super::Pruner;
+use crate::sampler::CompletedTrial;
+use crate::types::{Direction, TrialState};
+
+/// Prune trials that are performing worse than the median of completed trials
+/// at the same step.
+///
+/// This is the most commonly used pruner. It compares the current trial's
+/// intermediate value at each step with the median of all completed trials'
+/// values at that same step.
+///
+/// # Examples
+///
+/// ```
+/// use optimizer::Direction;
+/// use optimizer::pruner::MedianPruner;
+///
+/// // Prune trials worse than median when minimizing, after 5 warmup steps
+/// let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize)
+///     .n_warmup_steps(5)
+///     .n_min_trials(3);
+/// ```
+pub struct MedianPruner {
+    /// The optimization direction.
+    direction: Direction,
+    /// Don't prune in the first N steps (let the trial warm up).
+    n_warmup_steps: u64,
+    /// Require at least N completed trials before pruning.
+    n_min_trials: usize,
+}
+
+impl MedianPruner {
+    /// Create a new `MedianPruner` for the given optimization direction.
+    ///
+    /// By default, `n_warmup_steps` is 0 and `n_min_trials` is 1.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn new(direction: Direction) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            direction,
+            n_warmup_steps: 0,
+            n_min_trials: 1,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Set the number of warmup steps. No pruning occurs before this step.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn n_warmup_steps(mut self, n: u64) -> Self {
+        self.n_warmup_steps = n;
+        self
+    }
+
+    /// Set the minimum number of completed trials required before pruning.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn n_min_trials(mut self, n: usize) -> Self {
+        self.n_min_trials = n;
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+impl Pruner for MedianPruner {
+    fn should_prune(
+        &self,
+        _trial_id: u64,
+        step: u64,
+        intermediate_values: &[(u64, f64)],
+        completed_trials: &[CompletedTrial],
+    ) -> bool {
+        // 1. Don't prune during warmup
+        if step < self.n_warmup_steps {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        // Get the current trial's latest value
+        let Some(&(_, current_value)) = intermediate_values.last() else {
+            return false;
+        };
+
+        // 2. Collect values at this step from completed (non-pruned) trials
+        let mut values_at_step: Vec<f64> = completed_trials
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|t| t.state == TrialState::Complete)
+            .filter_map(|t| {
+                t.intermediate_values
+                    .iter()
+                    .find(|(s, _)| *s == step)
+                    .map(|(_, v)| *v)
+            })
+            .collect();
+
+        // 3. Not enough trials
+        if values_at_step.len() < self.n_min_trials {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        // 4. Compute median
+        let median = compute_median(&mut values_at_step);
+
+        // 5. Compare against median based on direction
+        match self.direction {
+            Direction::Minimize => current_value > median,
+            Direction::Maximize => current_value < median,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Compute the median of a non-empty slice. Sorts the slice in place.
+fn compute_median(values: &mut [f64]) -> f64 {
+    values.sort_unstable_by(|a, b| a.partial_cmp(b).unwrap_or(core::cmp::Ordering::Equal));
+    let len = values.len();
+    if len % 2 == 1 {
+        values[len / 2]
+    } else {
+        f64::midpoint(values[len / 2 - 1], values[len / 2])
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn compute_median_odd() {
+        assert!((compute_median(&mut [3.0, 1.0, 2.0]) - 2.0).abs() < f64::EPSILON);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn compute_median_even() {
+        assert!((compute_median(&mut [4.0, 1.0, 3.0, 2.0]) - 2.5).abs() < f64::EPSILON);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn compute_median_single() {
+        assert!((compute_median(&mut [5.0]) - 5.0).abs() < f64::EPSILON);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/pruner/mod.rs b/src/pruner/mod.rs
index 4719157..6ae64fb 100644
--- a/src/pruner/mod.rs
+++ b/src/pruner/mod.rs
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@
 //! intermediate values compared to other trials. This is useful for
 //! discarding unpromising trials before they complete, saving compute.
 
+mod median;
 mod nop;
 mod threshold;
 
+pub use median::MedianPruner;
 pub use nop::NopPruner;
 pub use threshold::ThresholdPruner;
 
diff --git a/tests/median_pruner_tests.rs b/tests/median_pruner_tests.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..980675f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/median_pruner_tests.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,227 @@
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+use optimizer::Direction;
+use optimizer::pruner::{MedianPruner, Pruner};
+use optimizer::sampler::CompletedTrial;
+
+/// Helper to build a completed trial with given intermediate values.
+fn trial_with_values(id: u64, intermediate_values: Vec<(u64, f64)>) -> CompletedTrial {
+    CompletedTrial::with_intermediate_values(
+        id,
+        HashMap::new(),
+        HashMap::new(),
+        HashMap::new(),
+        0.0,
+        intermediate_values,
+    )
+}
+
+// --- Minimize direction ---
+
+#[test]
+fn prune_when_worse_than_median_minimize() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize);
+    // 3 completed trials with values at step 2: [1.0, 2.0, 3.0] => median = 2.0
+    let completed = vec![
+        trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 0.5), (1, 0.8), (2, 1.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(1, vec![(0, 0.6), (1, 1.5), (2, 2.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(2, vec![(0, 0.7), (1, 2.0), (2, 3.0)]),
+    ];
+    // Current trial value at step 2 is 2.5 > median 2.0 => prune
+    let current = vec![(0, 0.5), (1, 1.0), (2, 2.5)];
+    assert!(pruner.should_prune(3, 2, &current, &completed));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn no_prune_when_better_than_median_minimize() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize);
+    let completed = vec![
+        trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 0.5), (1, 0.8), (2, 1.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(1, vec![(0, 0.6), (1, 1.5), (2, 2.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(2, vec![(0, 0.7), (1, 2.0), (2, 3.0)]),
+    ];
+    // Current trial value at step 2 is 1.5 < median 2.0 => don't prune
+    let current = vec![(0, 0.5), (1, 1.0), (2, 1.5)];
+    assert!(!pruner.should_prune(3, 2, &current, &completed));
+}
+
+// --- Maximize direction ---
+
+#[test]
+fn prune_when_worse_than_median_maximize() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Maximize);
+    // Values at step 1: [5.0, 7.0, 9.0] => median = 7.0
+    let completed = vec![
+        trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 3.0), (1, 5.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(1, vec![(0, 4.0), (1, 7.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(2, vec![(0, 5.0), (1, 9.0)]),
+    ];
+    // Current value 6.0 < median 7.0 => prune (worse for maximize)
+    let current = vec![(0, 4.0), (1, 6.0)];
+    assert!(pruner.should_prune(3, 1, &current, &completed));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn no_prune_when_better_than_median_maximize() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Maximize);
+    let completed = vec![
+        trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 3.0), (1, 5.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(1, vec![(0, 4.0), (1, 7.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(2, vec![(0, 5.0), (1, 9.0)]),
+    ];
+    // Current value 8.0 > median 7.0 => don't prune
+    let current = vec![(0, 4.0), (1, 8.0)];
+    assert!(!pruner.should_prune(3, 1, &current, &completed));
+}
+
+// --- Warmup steps ---
+
+#[test]
+fn no_prune_during_warmup() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize).n_warmup_steps(5);
+    let completed = vec![trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 1.0), (1, 1.0), (2, 1.0)])];
+    // Step 2 < warmup 5 => never prune, even if value is terrible
+    let current = vec![(0, 100.0), (1, 100.0), (2, 100.0)];
+    assert!(!pruner.should_prune(1, 2, &current, &completed));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn prune_after_warmup() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize).n_warmup_steps(2);
+    let completed = vec![trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 1.0), (1, 1.0), (2, 1.0)])];
+    // Step 2 >= warmup 2 => pruning allowed; current 100.0 > median 1.0
+    let current = vec![(0, 100.0), (1, 100.0), (2, 100.0)];
+    assert!(pruner.should_prune(1, 2, &current, &completed));
+}
+
+// --- n_min_trials ---
+
+#[test]
+fn no_prune_when_fewer_than_n_min_trials() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize).n_min_trials(3);
+    // Only 2 completed trials — below threshold of 3
+    let completed = vec![
+        trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 1.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(1, vec![(0, 2.0)]),
+    ];
+    let current = vec![(0, 100.0)];
+    assert!(!pruner.should_prune(2, 0, &current, &completed));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn prune_when_at_least_n_min_trials() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize).n_min_trials(3);
+    // 3 completed trials with step 0: [1.0, 2.0, 3.0] => median 2.0
+    let completed = vec![
+        trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 1.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(1, vec![(0, 2.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(2, vec![(0, 3.0)]),
+    ];
+    // 5.0 > median 2.0 => prune
+    let current = vec![(0, 5.0)];
+    assert!(pruner.should_prune(3, 0, &current, &completed));
+}
+
+// --- No completed trials with values at step ---
+
+#[test]
+fn no_prune_when_no_completed_trials_at_step() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize);
+    // Completed trials only have values at step 0, not step 5
+    let completed = vec![
+        trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 1.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(1, vec![(0, 2.0)]),
+    ];
+    let current = vec![(0, 0.5), (5, 100.0)];
+    assert!(!pruner.should_prune(2, 5, &current, &completed));
+}
+
+// --- Median calculation edge cases ---
+
+#[test]
+fn correct_median_with_even_number_of_trials() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize);
+    // 4 trials at step 0: [1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0] => median = 2.5
+    let completed = vec![
+        trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 1.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(1, vec![(0, 2.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(2, vec![(0, 3.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(3, vec![(0, 4.0)]),
+    ];
+    // 2.6 > 2.5 => prune
+    let current = vec![(0, 2.6)];
+    assert!(pruner.should_prune(4, 0, &current, &completed));
+    // 2.4 < 2.5 => don't prune
+    let current = vec![(0, 2.4)];
+    assert!(!pruner.should_prune(4, 0, &current, &completed));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn correct_median_with_odd_number_of_trials() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize);
+    // 5 trials at step 0: [1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0] => median = 3.0
+    let completed = vec![
+        trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 1.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(1, vec![(0, 2.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(2, vec![(0, 3.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(3, vec![(0, 4.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(4, vec![(0, 5.0)]),
+    ];
+    // 3.5 > 3.0 => prune
+    let current = vec![(0, 3.5)];
+    assert!(pruner.should_prune(5, 0, &current, &completed));
+    // 2.5 < 3.0 => don't prune
+    let current = vec![(0, 2.5)];
+    assert!(!pruner.should_prune(5, 0, &current, &completed));
+}
+
+// --- Non-contiguous step numbers ---
+
+#[test]
+fn works_with_non_contiguous_steps() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize);
+    // Steps are 0, 10, 100 — non-contiguous
+    let completed = vec![
+        trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 1.0), (10, 2.0), (100, 3.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(1, vec![(0, 1.5), (10, 2.5), (100, 4.0)]),
+        trial_with_values(2, vec![(0, 2.0), (10, 3.0), (100, 5.0)]),
+    ];
+    // At step 100: [3.0, 4.0, 5.0] => median = 4.0
+    let current = vec![(0, 1.0), (10, 2.0), (100, 4.5)];
+    assert!(pruner.should_prune(3, 100, &current, &completed));
+
+    let current = vec![(0, 1.0), (10, 2.0), (100, 3.5)];
+    assert!(!pruner.should_prune(3, 100, &current, &completed));
+}
+
+// --- No intermediate values for current trial ---
+
+#[test]
+fn no_prune_when_no_intermediate_values() {
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize);
+    let completed = vec![trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 1.0)])];
+    assert!(!pruner.should_prune(1, 0, &[], &completed));
+}
+
+// --- Pruned trials are excluded from median calculation ---
+
+#[test]
+fn pruned_trials_excluded_from_median() {
+    use optimizer::TrialState;
+
+    let pruner = MedianPruner::new(Direction::Minimize);
+
+    let mut pruned = trial_with_values(0, vec![(0, 0.1)]);
+    pruned.state = TrialState::Pruned;
+
+    // Only the completed trial (value 5.0) counts. Pruned trial (0.1) is excluded.
+    let completed = vec![pruned, trial_with_values(1, vec![(0, 5.0)])];
+
+    // 3.0 < 5.0 => don't prune (only 1 completed trial with median 5.0)
+    let current = vec![(0, 3.0)];
+    assert!(!pruner.should_prune(2, 0, &current, &completed));
+
+    // 6.0 > 5.0 => prune
+    let current = vec![(0, 6.0)];
+    assert!(pruner.should_prune(2, 0, &current, &completed));
+}