diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
index 7c5b001be..242265344 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #ifdef USE_WIFI
 #include <cassert>
 #include <cinttypes>
+#include <cmath>
 
 #ifdef USE_ESP32
 #if (ESP_IDF_VERSION_MAJOR >= 5 && ESP_IDF_VERSION_MINOR >= 1)
@@ -394,7 +395,7 @@ void WiFiComponent::start() {
 
   if (this->has_sta()) {
     this->wifi_sta_pre_setup_();
-    if (this->output_power_.has_value() && !this->wifi_apply_output_power_(*this->output_power_)) {
+    if (!std::isnan(this->output_power_) && !this->wifi_apply_output_power_(this->output_power_)) {
       ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Setting Output Power Option failed");
     }
 
@@ -441,7 +442,7 @@ void WiFiComponent::start() {
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_AP
   } else if (this->has_ap()) {
     this->setup_ap_config_();
-    if (this->output_power_.has_value() && !this->wifi_apply_output_power_(*this->output_power_)) {
+    if (!std::isnan(this->output_power_) && !this->wifi_apply_output_power_(this->output_power_)) {
       ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Setting Output Power Option failed");
     }
 #ifdef USE_CAPTIVE_PORTAL
@@ -713,8 +714,8 @@ WiFiAP WiFiComponent::build_params_for_current_phase_() {
     case WiFiRetryPhase::RETRY_HIDDEN:
       // Hidden network mode: clear BSSID/channel to trigger probe request
       // (both explicit hidden and retry hidden use same behavior)
-      params.set_bssid(optional<bssid_t>{});
-      params.set_channel(optional<uint8_t>{});
+      params.clear_bssid();
+      params.clear_channel();
       break;
 
     case WiFiRetryPhase::SCAN_CONNECTING:
@@ -766,21 +767,20 @@ void WiFiComponent::start_connecting(const WiFiAP &ap) {
   char bssid_s[18];
   int8_t priority = 0;
 
-  if (ap.get_bssid().has_value()) {
-    format_mac_addr_upper(ap.get_bssid().value().data(), bssid_s);
-    priority = this->get_sta_priority(ap.get_bssid().value());
+  if (ap.has_bssid()) {
+    format_mac_addr_upper(ap.get_bssid().data(), bssid_s);
+    priority = this->get_sta_priority(ap.get_bssid());
   }
 
   ESP_LOGI(TAG,
            "Connecting to " LOG_SECRET("'%s'") " " LOG_SECRET("(%s)") " (priority %d, attempt %u/%u in phase %s)...",
-           ap.get_ssid().c_str(), ap.get_bssid().has_value() ? bssid_s : LOG_STR_LITERAL("any"), priority,
-           this->num_retried_ + 1, get_max_retries_for_phase(this->retry_phase_),
-           LOG_STR_ARG(retry_phase_to_log_string(this->retry_phase_)));
+           ap.get_ssid().c_str(), ap.has_bssid() ? bssid_s : LOG_STR_LITERAL("any"), priority, this->num_retried_ + 1,
+           get_max_retries_for_phase(this->retry_phase_), LOG_STR_ARG(retry_phase_to_log_string(this->retry_phase_)));
 
 #ifdef ESPHOME_LOG_HAS_VERBOSE
   ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Connection Params:");
   ESP_LOGV(TAG, "  SSID: '%s'", ap.get_ssid().c_str());
-  if (ap.get_bssid().has_value()) {
+  if (ap.has_bssid()) {
     ESP_LOGV(TAG, "  BSSID: %s", bssid_s);
   } else {
     ESP_LOGV(TAG, "  BSSID: Not Set");
@@ -808,8 +808,8 @@ void WiFiComponent::start_connecting(const WiFiAP &ap) {
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
   }
 #endif
-  if (ap.get_channel().has_value()) {
-    ESP_LOGV(TAG, "  Channel: %u", *ap.get_channel());
+  if (ap.has_channel()) {
+    ESP_LOGV(TAG, "  Channel: %u", ap.get_channel());
   } else {
     ESP_LOGV(TAG, "  Channel not set");
   }
@@ -919,8 +919,8 @@ void WiFiComponent::print_connect_params_() {
                 get_wifi_channel(), wifi_subnet_mask_().str().c_str(), wifi_gateway_ip_().str().c_str(),
                 wifi_dns_ip_(0).str().c_str(), wifi_dns_ip_(1).str().c_str());
 #ifdef ESPHOME_LOG_HAS_VERBOSE
-  if (const WiFiAP *config = this->get_selected_sta_(); config && config->get_bssid().has_value()) {
-    ESP_LOGV(TAG, "  Priority: %d", this->get_sta_priority(*config->get_bssid()));
+  if (const WiFiAP *config = this->get_selected_sta_(); config && config->has_bssid()) {
+    ESP_LOGV(TAG, "  Priority: %d", this->get_sta_priority(config->get_bssid()));
   }
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_11KV_SUPPORT
@@ -1514,9 +1514,9 @@ void WiFiComponent::log_and_adjust_priority_for_failed_connect_() {
   if (this->retry_phase_ == WiFiRetryPhase::SCAN_CONNECTING && !this->scan_result_.empty()) {
     // Scan-based phase: always use best result (index 0)
     failed_bssid = this->scan_result_[0].get_bssid();
-  } else if (const WiFiAP *config = this->get_selected_sta_(); config && config->get_bssid()) {
+  } else if (const WiFiAP *config = this->get_selected_sta_(); config && config->has_bssid()) {
     // Config has specific BSSID (fast_connect or user-specified)
-    failed_bssid = *config->get_bssid();
+    failed_bssid = config->get_bssid();
   }
 
   if (!failed_bssid.has_value()) {
@@ -1784,24 +1784,27 @@ void WiFiComponent::save_fast_connect_settings_() {
 #endif
 
 void WiFiAP::set_ssid(const std::string &ssid) { this->ssid_ = ssid; }
-void WiFiAP::set_bssid(bssid_t bssid) { this->bssid_ = bssid; }
-void WiFiAP::set_bssid(optional<bssid_t> bssid) { this->bssid_ = bssid; }
+void WiFiAP::set_bssid(const bssid_t &bssid) { this->bssid_ = bssid; }
+void WiFiAP::clear_bssid() { this->bssid_ = {}; }
 void WiFiAP::set_password(const std::string &password) { this->password_ = password; }
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
 void WiFiAP::set_eap(optional<EAPAuth> eap_auth) { this->eap_ = std::move(eap_auth); }
 #endif
-void WiFiAP::set_channel(optional<uint8_t> channel) { this->channel_ = channel; }
+void WiFiAP::set_channel(uint8_t channel) { this->channel_ = channel; }
+void WiFiAP::clear_channel() { this->channel_ = 0; }
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_MANUAL_IP
 void WiFiAP::set_manual_ip(optional<ManualIP> manual_ip) { this->manual_ip_ = manual_ip; }
 #endif
 void WiFiAP::set_hidden(bool hidden) { this->hidden_ = hidden; }
 const std::string &WiFiAP::get_ssid() const { return this->ssid_; }
-const optional<bssid_t> &WiFiAP::get_bssid() const { return this->bssid_; }
+const bssid_t &WiFiAP::get_bssid() const { return this->bssid_; }
+bool WiFiAP::has_bssid() const { return this->bssid_ != bssid_t{}; }
 const std::string &WiFiAP::get_password() const { return this->password_; }
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
 const optional<EAPAuth> &WiFiAP::get_eap() const { return this->eap_; }
 #endif
-const optional<uint8_t> &WiFiAP::get_channel() const { return this->channel_; }
+uint8_t WiFiAP::get_channel() const { return this->channel_; }
+bool WiFiAP::has_channel() const { return this->channel_ != 0; }
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_MANUAL_IP
 const optional<ManualIP> &WiFiAP::get_manual_ip() const { return this->manual_ip_; }
 #endif
@@ -1829,7 +1832,7 @@ bool WiFiScanResult::matches(const WiFiAP &config) const {
     // network is configured without SSID - match other settings
   }
   // If BSSID configured, only match for correct BSSIDs
-  if (config.get_bssid().has_value() && *config.get_bssid() != this->bssid_)
+  if (config.has_bssid() && config.get_bssid() != this->bssid_)
     return false;
 
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
@@ -1847,7 +1850,7 @@ bool WiFiScanResult::matches(const WiFiAP &config) const {
 #endif
 
   // If channel configured, only match networks on that channel.
-  if (config.get_channel().has_value() && *config.get_channel() != this->channel_) {
+  if (config.has_channel() && config.get_channel() != this->channel_) {
     return false;
   }
   return true;
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
index be94e9462..604efa8a7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
@@ -151,25 +151,28 @@ template<typename T> using wifi_scan_vector_t = FixedVector<T>;
 class WiFiAP {
  public:
   void set_ssid(const std::string &ssid);
-  void set_bssid(bssid_t bssid);
-  void set_bssid(optional<bssid_t> bssid);
+  void set_bssid(const bssid_t &bssid);
+  void clear_bssid();
   void set_password(const std::string &password);
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
   void set_eap(optional<EAPAuth> eap_auth);
 #endif  // USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
-  void set_channel(optional<uint8_t> channel);
+  void set_channel(uint8_t channel);
+  void clear_channel();
   void set_priority(int8_t priority) { priority_ = priority; }
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_MANUAL_IP
   void set_manual_ip(optional<ManualIP> manual_ip);
 #endif
   void set_hidden(bool hidden);
   const std::string &get_ssid() const;
-  const optional<bssid_t> &get_bssid() const;
+  const bssid_t &get_bssid() const;
+  bool has_bssid() const;
   const std::string &get_password() const;
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
   const optional<EAPAuth> &get_eap() const;
 #endif  // USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
-  const optional<uint8_t> &get_channel() const;
+  uint8_t get_channel() const;
+  bool has_channel() const;
   int8_t get_priority() const { return priority_; }
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_MANUAL_IP
   const optional<ManualIP> &get_manual_ip() const;
@@ -179,16 +182,17 @@ class WiFiAP {
  protected:
   std::string ssid_;
   std::string password_;
-  optional<bssid_t> bssid_;
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
   optional<EAPAuth> eap_;
 #endif  // USE_WIFI_WPA2_EAP
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_MANUAL_IP
   optional<ManualIP> manual_ip_;
 #endif
-  optional<uint8_t> channel_;
-  int8_t priority_{0};
-  bool hidden_{false};
+  // Group small types together to minimize padding
+  bssid_t bssid_{};     // 6 bytes, all zeros = any/not set
+  uint8_t channel_{0};  // 1 byte, 0 = auto/not set
+  int8_t priority_{0};  // 1 byte
+  bool hidden_{false};  // 1 byte (+ 3 bytes end padding to 4-byte align)
 };
 
 class WiFiScanResult {
@@ -590,7 +594,7 @@ class WiFiComponent : public Component {
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_AP
   WiFiAP ap_;
 #endif
-  optional<float> output_power_;
+  float output_power_{NAN};
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_LISTENERS
   std::vector<WiFiIPStateListener *> ip_state_listeners_;
   std::vector<WiFiScanResultsListener *> scan_results_listeners_;
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp8266.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp8266.cpp
index 3b1a442bd..1329103f9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp8266.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp8266.cpp
@@ -257,9 +257,9 @@ bool WiFiComponent::wifi_sta_connect_(const WiFiAP &ap) {
   memcpy(reinterpret_cast<char *>(conf.ssid), ap.get_ssid().c_str(), ap.get_ssid().size());
   memcpy(reinterpret_cast<char *>(conf.password), ap.get_password().c_str(), ap.get_password().size());
 
-  if (ap.get_bssid().has_value()) {
+  if (ap.has_bssid()) {
     conf.bssid_set = 1;
-    memcpy(conf.bssid, ap.get_bssid()->data(), 6);
+    memcpy(conf.bssid, ap.get_bssid().data(), 6);
   } else {
     conf.bssid_set = 0;
   }
@@ -381,8 +381,8 @@ bool WiFiComponent::wifi_sta_connect_(const WiFiAP &ap) {
   }
 #endif /* USE_NETWORK_IPV6 */
 
-  if (ap.get_channel().has_value()) {
-    ret = wifi_set_channel(*ap.get_channel());
+  if (ap.has_channel()) {
+    ret = wifi_set_channel(ap.get_channel());
     if (!ret) {
       ESP_LOGV(TAG, "wifi_set_channel failed");
       return false;
@@ -845,7 +845,7 @@ bool WiFiComponent::wifi_start_ap_(const WiFiAP &ap) {
   }
   memcpy(reinterpret_cast<char *>(conf.ssid), ap.get_ssid().c_str(), ap.get_ssid().size());
   conf.ssid_len = static_cast<uint8>(ap.get_ssid().size());
-  conf.channel = ap.get_channel().value_or(1);
+  conf.channel = ap.has_channel() ? ap.get_channel() : 1;
   conf.ssid_hidden = ap.get_hidden();
   conf.max_connection = 5;
   conf.beacon_interval = 100;
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp
index 4a3c40a11..f9e117f46 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp
@@ -339,14 +339,14 @@ bool WiFiComponent::wifi_sta_connect_(const WiFiAP &ap) {
   conf.sta.rm_enabled = this->rrm_;
 #endif
 
-  if (ap.get_bssid().has_value()) {
+  if (ap.has_bssid()) {
     conf.sta.bssid_set = true;
-    memcpy(conf.sta.bssid, ap.get_bssid()->data(), 6);
+    memcpy(conf.sta.bssid, ap.get_bssid().data(), 6);
   } else {
     conf.sta.bssid_set = false;
   }
-  if (ap.get_channel().has_value()) {
-    conf.sta.channel = *ap.get_channel();
+  if (ap.has_channel()) {
+    conf.sta.channel = ap.get_channel();
     conf.sta.scan_method = WIFI_FAST_SCAN;
   } else {
     conf.sta.scan_method = WIFI_ALL_CHANNEL_SCAN;
@@ -1003,7 +1003,7 @@ bool WiFiComponent::wifi_start_ap_(const WiFiAP &ap) {
     return false;
   }
   memcpy(reinterpret_cast<char *>(conf.ap.ssid), ap.get_ssid().c_str(), ap.get_ssid().size());
-  conf.ap.channel = ap.get_channel().value_or(1);
+  conf.ap.channel = ap.has_channel() ? ap.get_channel() : 1;
   conf.ap.ssid_hidden = ap.get_ssid().size();
   conf.ap.max_connection = 5;
   conf.ap.beacon_interval = 100;
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_libretiny.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_libretiny.cpp
index 36003a6eb..ffc6b2135 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_libretiny.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_libretiny.cpp
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@ bool WiFiComponent::wifi_sta_connect_(const WiFiAP &ap) {
   s_sta_connecting = true;
 
   WiFiStatus status = WiFi.begin(ap.get_ssid().c_str(), ap.get_password().empty() ? NULL : ap.get_password().c_str(),
-                                 ap.get_channel().has_value() ? *ap.get_channel() : 0,
-                                 ap.get_bssid().has_value() ? ap.get_bssid()->data() : NULL);
+                                 ap.get_channel(),  // 0 = auto
+                                 ap.has_bssid() ? ap.get_bssid().data() : NULL);
   if (status != WL_CONNECTED) {
     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "esp_wifi_connect failed: %d", status);
     return false;
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ bool WiFiComponent::wifi_start_ap_(const WiFiAP &ap) {
   yield();
 
   return WiFi.softAP(ap.get_ssid().c_str(), ap.get_password().empty() ? NULL : ap.get_password().c_str(),
-                     ap.get_channel().value_or(1), ap.get_hidden());
+                     ap.has_channel() ? ap.get_channel() : 1, ap.get_hidden());
 }
 
 network::IPAddress WiFiComponent::wifi_soft_ap_ip() { return {WiFi.softAPIP()}; }
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_pico_w.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_pico_w.cpp
index 022875543..4e763a9e2 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_pico_w.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_pico_w.cpp
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ bool WiFiComponent::wifi_start_ap_(const WiFiAP &ap) {
   }
 #endif
 
-  WiFi.beginAP(ap.get_ssid().c_str(), ap.get_password().c_str(), ap.get_channel().value_or(1));
+  WiFi.beginAP(ap.get_ssid().c_str(), ap.get_password().c_str(), ap.has_channel() ? ap.get_channel() : 1);
 
   return true;
 }