diff --git a/tests/integration/fixtures/strftime_to.yaml b/tests/integration/fixtures/strftime_to.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bd157e110c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/fixtures/strftime_to.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+esphome:
+  name: strftime-to-test
+host:
+api:
+logger:
+
+time:
+  - platform: homeassistant
+    id: ha_time
+
+text_sensor:
+  # Test strftime_to with a valid format
+  - platform: template
+    name: "Time Format Test"
+    id: time_format_test
+    update_interval: 100ms
+    lambda: |-
+      auto now = ESPTime::from_epoch_local(1704067200);  // 2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
+      char buf[ESPTime::STRFTIME_BUFFER_SIZE];
+      size_t len = now.strftime_to(buf, "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S");
+      return std::string(buf, len);
+
+  # Test strftime_to with a short format
+  - platform: template
+    name: "Time Short Format"
+    id: time_short_format
+    update_interval: 100ms
+    lambda: |-
+      auto now = ESPTime::from_epoch_local(1704067200);
+      char buf[ESPTime::STRFTIME_BUFFER_SIZE];
+      size_t len = now.strftime_to(buf, "%H:%M");
+      return std::string(buf, len);
+
+  # Test strftime (std::string version) still works
+  - platform: template
+    name: "Time String Format"
+    id: time_string_format
+    update_interval: 100ms
+    lambda: |-
+      auto now = ESPTime::from_epoch_local(1704067200);
+      return now.strftime("%Y-%m-%d");
+
+  # Test strftime_to with empty/invalid format returns ERROR
+  - platform: template
+    name: "Time Error Format"
+    id: time_error_format
+    update_interval: 100ms
+    lambda: |-
+      auto now = ESPTime::from_epoch_local(1704067200);
+      char buf[ESPTime::STRFTIME_BUFFER_SIZE];
+      // Empty format string causes strftime to return 0
+      size_t len = now.strftime_to(buf, "");
+      return std::string(buf, len);
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_strftime_to.py b/tests/integration/test_strftime_to.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f96161faf4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/test_strftime_to.py
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+"""Integration test for ESPTime::strftime_to() method."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
+
+from aioesphomeapi import EntityState, TextSensorState
+import pytest
+
+from .state_utils import require_entity
+from .types import APIClientConnectedFactory, RunCompiledFunction
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_strftime_to(
+    yaml_config: str,
+    run_compiled: RunCompiledFunction,
+    api_client_connected: APIClientConnectedFactory,
+) -> None:
+    """Test ESPTime::strftime_to() formats time correctly."""
+    async with run_compiled(yaml_config), api_client_connected() as client:
+        device_info = await client.device_info()
+        assert device_info is not None
+        assert device_info.name == "strftime-to-test"
+
+        # Get entities
+        entities, _ = await client.list_entities_services()
+
+        # Find our text sensors
+        format_test = require_entity(
+            entities, "time_format_test", description="Time Format Test sensor"
+        )
+        short_format = require_entity(
+            entities, "time_short_format", description="Time Short Format sensor"
+        )
+        string_format = require_entity(
+            entities, "time_string_format", description="Time String Format sensor"
+        )
+        error_format = require_entity(
+            entities, "time_error_format", description="Time Error Format sensor"
+        )
+
+        # Wait for all text sensors to have valid states
+        loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+        states: dict[int, TextSensorState] = {}
+        all_received = loop.create_future()
+        expected_keys = {
+            format_test.key,
+            short_format.key,
+            string_format.key,
+            error_format.key,
+        }
+
+        def on_state(state: EntityState) -> None:
+            if isinstance(state, TextSensorState) and not state.missing_state:
+                states[state.key] = state
+                if expected_keys <= states.keys() and not all_received.done():
+                    all_received.set_result(True)
+
+        client.subscribe_states(on_state)
+
+        try:
+            await asyncio.wait_for(all_received, timeout=5.0)
+        except TimeoutError:
+            pytest.fail(
+                f"Timeout waiting for text sensor states. Got: {list(states.keys())}"
+            )
+
+        # Validate strftime_to with full format
+        # Note: The exact output depends on timezone, but should contain date components
+        format_test_state = states[format_test.key].state
+        assert "2024" in format_test_state or "2023" in format_test_state, (
+            f"Expected year in format test output, got: {format_test_state}"
+        )
+        # Should have format like "YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS"
+        assert len(format_test_state) == 19, (
+            f"Expected 19 chars for datetime format, got {len(format_test_state)}: {format_test_state}"
+        )
+
+        # Validate short format (HH:MM)
+        short_format_state = states[short_format.key].state
+        assert len(short_format_state) == 5, (
+            f"Expected 5 chars for HH:MM format, got {len(short_format_state)}: {short_format_state}"
+        )
+        assert ":" in short_format_state, (
+            f"Expected colon in HH:MM format, got: {short_format_state}"
+        )
+
+        # Validate string format (the std::string returning version)
+        string_format_state = states[string_format.key].state
+        assert len(string_format_state) == 10, (
+            f"Expected 10 chars for YYYY-MM-DD format, got {len(string_format_state)}: {string_format_state}"
+        )
+        assert string_format_state.count("-") == 2, (
+            f"Expected two dashes in YYYY-MM-DD format, got: {string_format_state}"
+        )
+
+        # Validate error format returns "ERROR"
+        error_format_state = states[error_format.key].state
+        assert error_format_state == "ERROR", (
+            f"Expected 'ERROR' for empty format string, got: {error_format_state}"
+        )