diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/GhostText.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/GhostText.svelte
index 3f681fd..aae09da 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/GhostText.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/GhostText.svelte
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 <script>
 	export let center = false;
 	export let square = false;
+	// deterministic placeholder width so the skeleton keeps the same calm shape
+	// across reloads instead of reshuffling on every mount
+	export let index = 0;
 	const widths = ['w-16', 'w-20', 'w-24'];
 	let height = 'h-4';
-	let width = widths[Math.floor(Math.random() * widths.length)];
+	let width = widths[index % widths.length];
 	let gradient = 'from-gray-300 dark:from-gray-600 to-transparent bg-gradient-to-r';
 	if (square) {
 		width = 'h-4';
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/table/Table.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/table/Table.svelte
index d2febb2..e9cecfb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/table/Table.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/table/Table.svelte
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 	import TableHeader from './TableHeader.svelte';
 	import Search from '$lib/components/Search.svelte';
 	import Select from '$lib/components/Select.svelte';
-	import { afterUpdate, onMount } from 'svelte';
+	import { onMount, onDestroy } from 'svelte';
 	import TableCell from './TableCell.svelte';
 	import TableRow from './TableRow.svelte';
 	import TableCellEmpty from './TableCellEmpty.svelte';
@@ -32,21 +32,57 @@
 	/** @type {'none'|'some'|'all'} */
 	export let headerState = 'none';
 
-	let tableWrapper = null;
-	let columnsLength = columns.length;
+	// wait this long before revealing any loading state, so quick loads never
+	// flash an indicator; the moment the load finishes we drop it again, so an
+	// instant load leaves no lingering dim
+	const LOADING_DELAY_MS = 150;
 
-	let rowsLength = 0;
+	// busy is the delayed view of isGhost: only true for loads slower than the delay
+	let busy = false;
+	// stays true once real rows have been on screen, so later loads dim the
+	// existing rows in place instead of tearing them down for a skeleton
+	let hasRenderedData = false;
+	let showTimer = null;
 
-	afterUpdate(() => {
-		const elements = tableWrapper?.querySelectorAll('table > tr.table-row');
-		rowsLength = elements?.length ?? 0;
-	});
+	const startBusy = () => {
+		if (busy || showTimer) {
+			return;
+		}
+		showTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+			showTimer = null;
+			busy = true;
+		}, LOADING_DELAY_MS);
+	};
+
+	const stopBusy = () => {
+		if (showTimer) {
+			clearTimeout(showTimer);
+			showTimer = null;
+		}
+		busy = false;
+	};
+
+	$: isGhost ? startBusy() : stopBusy();
+	$: if (hasData) {
+		hasRenderedData = true;
+	}
+
+	// first load with nothing on screen yet shows the skeleton; any later load
+	// keeps the current rows visible and just dims them
+	$: showSkeleton = busy && !hasRenderedData;
+	$: dimRows = busy && hasRenderedData;
+
+	$: columnsLength = columns.length + (hasActions ? 2 : 0) + (selectable ? 1 : 0);
+	$: skeletonRows = pagination?.perPage || 10;
 
 	onMount(() => {
 		if (!pagination && sortable?.length) {
 			console.warn('You need to pass a pagination object to make the column sortable');
 		}
-		columnsLength = columns.length + (hasActions ? 2 : 0) + (selectable ? 1 : 0);
+	});
+
+	onDestroy(() => {
+		clearTimeout(showTimer);
 	});
 
 	let currentPage = pagination && pagination.currentPage;
@@ -63,50 +99,56 @@
 			{/if}
 		</div>
 		<div
-			bind:this={tableWrapper}
 			class="
 			border-2 border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700/60 rounded-md px-4 py-4 overflow-x-auto bg-white dark:bg-gray-900/80 transition-colors duration-200
 			{scrollBarClassesHorizontal}"
 		>
 			<table
 				class="w-full table-fixed bg-white dark:bg-gray-900/80 transition-colors duration-200"
-				class:animate-pulse={isGhost}
+				class:animate-pulse={showSkeleton}
 			>
 				<TableHeader
-					{isGhost}
+					isGhost={showSkeleton}
 					{columns}
 					{sortable}
 					{hasActions}
 					{pagination}
 					{selectable}
 					{headerState}
+					showSelect={hasData}
 					on:toggleAll
 				/>
-				{#if !hasData && !isGhost}
-					<EmptyTableResult page={currentPage} {plural} colspan={columnsLength} />
-				{/if}
-				{#if !isGhost}
-					<slot />
-				{:else}
-					{#each Array(rowsLength || pagination?.perPage) as _, row}
-						<TableRow>
-							{#if selectable}
-								<TableCellEmpty />
-							{/if}
-							{#each columns as column}
-								<TableCell>
-									<GhostText />
-								</TableCell>
-							{/each}
-							{#if hasActions}
-								<TableCellEmpty />
-								<TableCellAction>
-									<GhostText square center />
-								</TableCellAction>
-							{/if}
-						</TableRow>
-					{/each}
-				{/if}
+				<tbody
+					class="transition-opacity duration-200"
+					class:animate-pulse={dimRows}
+					class:pointer-events-none={dimRows}
+				>
+					{#if showSkeleton}
+						{#each Array(skeletonRows) as _, row}
+							<TableRow>
+								{#if selectable}
+									<TableCellEmpty />
+								{/if}
+								{#each columns as column, col}
+									<TableCell>
+										<GhostText index={row * columns.length + col} />
+									</TableCell>
+								{/each}
+								{#if hasActions}
+									<TableCellEmpty />
+									<TableCellAction>
+										<GhostText square center />
+									</TableCellAction>
+								{/if}
+							</TableRow>
+						{/each}
+					{:else}
+						{#if !hasData}
+							<EmptyTableResult page={currentPage} {plural} colspan={columnsLength} />
+						{/if}
+						<slot />
+					{/if}
+				</tbody>
 			</table>
 		</div>
 		{#if pagination}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/table/TableHeadCellCheckbox.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/table/TableHeadCellCheckbox.svelte
index c7def64..df6963e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/table/TableHeadCellCheckbox.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/table/TableHeadCellCheckbox.svelte
@@ -3,11 +3,17 @@
 
 	/** @type {'none'|'some'|'all'} */
 	export let state = 'none';
+	// non-interactive placeholder used while the table skeleton is showing, so
+	// the checkbox column keeps its width and the columns do not shift on load
+	export let disabled = false;
 
 	const dispatch = createEventDispatcher();
 
 	// clicking selects every page row unless they are all selected already
 	const onToggle = () => {
+		if (disabled) {
+			return;
+		}
 		dispatch('toggleAll', state !== 'all');
 	};
 </script>
@@ -15,13 +21,18 @@
 <th
 	class="pl-4 w-12 bg-grayblue-light dark:bg-gray-800/60 py-4 border-hidden rounded-tl-lg rounded-bl-lg transition-colors duration-200"
 >
-	<label class="relative inline-flex items-center cursor-pointer">
+	<label
+		class="relative inline-flex items-center"
+		class:cursor-pointer={!disabled}
+		class:opacity-0={disabled}
+	>
 		<input
 			type="checkbox"
 			class="peer sr-only"
 			checked={state === 'all'}
+			{disabled}
 			on:change={onToggle}
-			tabindex="0"
+			tabindex={disabled ? -1 : 0}
 		/>
 		<div
 			class="w-5 h-5 border-2 border-slate-300 dark:border-gray-700/60 rounded
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/table/TableHeader.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/table/TableHeader.svelte
index 3c20fd1..28f714a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/table/TableHeader.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/table/TableHeader.svelte
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 	export let selectable = false;
 	/** @type {'none'|'some'|'all'} */
 	export let headerState = 'none';
+	// the checkbox column keeps its width whenever selectable is set; showSelect
+	// controls whether the select all control is actually shown, so an empty or
+	// loading table reserves the gutter without a dangling control
+	export let showSelect = false;
 
 	$: sortableMap = {};
 
@@ -31,11 +35,7 @@
 <TableHead>
 	<TableRow>
 		{#if selectable}
-			{#if !isGhost}
-				<TableHeadCellCheckbox state={headerState} on:toggleAll />
-			{:else}
-				<TableHeadCellEmpty />
-			{/if}
+			<TableHeadCellCheckbox state={headerState} disabled={isGhost || !showSelect} on:toggleAll />
 		{/if}
 		{#each columns as column, i (typeof column === 'object' ? column.column : column)}
 			{#if typeof column === 'object'}
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/api-sender/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/api-sender/+page.svelte
index b8d455f..2a9f9e3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/api-sender/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/api-sender/+page.svelte
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
 		.filter((s) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(s, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((s) => s.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = apiSenders.length > 0;
 	const onClickBulkDelete = async () => {
 		await runBulkDelete({
 			ids: [...$selection],
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/asset/[domain]/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/asset/[domain]/+page.svelte
index 80ae267..47b716d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/asset/[domain]/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/asset/[domain]/+page.svelte
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
 		.filter((a) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(a, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((a) => a.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = assets.length > 0;
 	const onClickBulkDelete = async () => {
 		await runBulkDelete({ ids: [...$selection], deleteFn: api.asset.delete, noun: 'asset' });
 		await refreshAssets();
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/attachment/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/attachment/+page.svelte
index f93b4b9..561b5e8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/attachment/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/attachment/+page.svelte
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
 		.filter((a) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(a, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((a) => a.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = attachments.length > 0;
 	const onClickBulkDelete = async () => {
 		await runBulkDelete({
 			ids: [...$selection],
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/campaign-template/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/campaign-template/+page.svelte
index 09a5c0f..5bf193d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/campaign-template/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/campaign-template/+page.svelte
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@
 		.filter((t) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(t, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((t) => t.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = templates.length > 0;
 	const onClickBulkDelete = async () => {
 		await runBulkDelete({
 			ids: [...$selection],
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/campaign/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/campaign/+page.svelte
index 0e229ad..5f335ef 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/campaign/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/campaign/+page.svelte
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@
 		.filter((c) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(c, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((c) => c.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = (campaigns ?? []).length > 0;
 	const onClickBulkDelete = async () => {
 		await runBulkDelete({ ids: [...$selection], deleteFn: api.campaign.delete, noun: 'campaign' });
 		await refreshCampaigns();
@@ -1582,7 +1582,7 @@
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/email/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/email/+page.svelte
index c74e8d0..0aec5b9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/email/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/email/+page.svelte
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
 		.filter((e) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(e, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((e) => e.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = emails.length > 0;
 	const onClickBulkDelete = async () => {
 		await runBulkDelete({ ids: [...$selection], deleteFn: api.email.delete, noun: 'email' });
 		await refreshEmails();
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/filter/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/filter/+page.svelte
index 67892b1..8429e74 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/filter/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/filter/+page.svelte
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
 		.filter((entry) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(entry, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((entry) => entry.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = allowDenyList.length > 0;
 	const onClickBulkDelete = async () => {
 		await runBulkDelete({ ids: [...$selection], deleteFn: api.allowDeny.delete, noun: 'filter' });
 		await refreshAllowDenies();
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/oauth-provider/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/oauth-provider/+page.svelte
index e47dd00..359d3c8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/oauth-provider/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/oauth-provider/+page.svelte
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
 		.filter((p) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(p, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((p) => p.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = providers.length > 0;
 	const onClickBulkDelete = async () => {
 		await runBulkDelete({
 			ids: [...$selection],
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={['Name', 'Status']}
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/page/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/page/+page.svelte
index 676bf44..777b8df 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/page/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/page/+page.svelte
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
 		.filter((p) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(p, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((p) => p.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = pages.length > 0;
 	const onClickBulkDelete = async () => {
 		await runBulkDelete({ ids: [...$selection], deleteFn: api.page.delete, noun: 'page' });
 		await refreshPages();
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/proxy/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/proxy/+page.svelte
index 19bf3a7..ea57466 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/proxy/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/proxy/+page.svelte
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
 		.filter((p) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(p, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((p) => p.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = proxies.length > 0;
 	const onClickBulkDelete = async () => {
 		await runBulkDelete({
 			ids: [...$selection],
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ portal.example.com:
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/recipient/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/recipient/+page.svelte
index 4c55a3a..7ce49eb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/recipient/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/recipient/+page.svelte
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
 		.filter((r) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(r, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((r) => r.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = recipients.length > 0;
 
 	let isRecipientsTableLoading = false;
 
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@
 	/>
 	<Table
 		isGhost={isRecipientsTableLoading}
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/recipient/group/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/recipient/group/+page.svelte
index d09588a..0df59ba 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/recipient/group/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/recipient/group/+page.svelte
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
 		.filter((g) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(g, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((g) => g.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = groups.length > 0;
 
 	// dynamic update modal state
 	let isDynamicUpdateModalVisible = false;
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/smtp-configuration/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/smtp-configuration/+page.svelte
index 159e770..e968fa4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/smtp-configuration/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/smtp-configuration/+page.svelte
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
 		.filter((c) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(c, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((c) => c.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = configurations.length > 0;
 	const onClickBulkDelete = async () => {
 		await runBulkDelete({
 			ids: [...$selection],
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/webhook/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/webhook/+page.svelte
index 0b9a6b0..9d1fbc2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/webhook/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/webhook/+page.svelte
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
 		.filter((w) => !globalButtonDisabledAttributes(w, contextCompanyID).disabled)
 		.map((w) => w.id);
 	$: headerState = headerSelectionState($selection, selectablePageIds);
-	$: showMultiSelect = selectablePageIds.length > 1;
+	$: showMultiSelect = webhooks.length > 0;
 	const onClickBulkDelete = async () => {
 		await runBulkDelete({ ids: [...$selection], deleteFn: api.webhook.delete, noun: 'webhook' });
 		await refreshWebhooks();
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@
 		on:clear={() => selection.clear()}
 	/>
 	<Table
-		selectable={showMultiSelect}
+		selectable
 		{headerState}
 		on:toggleAll={(e) => selection.setPageSelection(selectablePageIds, e.detail)}
 		columns={[