diff --git a/backend/app/api/routes/items.py b/backend/app/api/routes/items.py
index f0eb30e4ce..9f6f8736de 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/routes/items.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/routes/items.py
@@ -45,6 +45,25 @@ def read_items(
     return ItemsPublic(data=items_public, count=count)
 
 
+@router.get("/count")
+def read_items_count(
+    session: SessionDep, current_user: CurrentUser
+) -> Any:
+    """
+    Retrieve total item count.
+    """
+    if current_user.is_superuser:
+        count_statement = select(func.count()).select_from(Item)
+    else:
+        count_statement = (
+            select(func.count())
+            .select_from(Item)
+            .where(Item.owner_id == current_user.id)
+        )
+    count = session.exec(count_statement).one()
+    return {"count": count}
+
+
 @router.get("/{id}", response_model=ItemPublic)
 def read_item(session: SessionDep, current_user: CurrentUser, id: uuid.UUID) -> Any:
     """
diff --git a/backend/tests/api/routes/test_items.py b/backend/tests/api/routes/test_items.py
index 3e82cd0134..52e613d08a 100644
--- a/backend/tests/api/routes/test_items.py
+++ b/backend/tests/api/routes/test_items.py
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 import uuid
 
 from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
-from sqlmodel import Session
+from sqlmodel import Session, delete
 
 from app.core.config import settings
+from app.core.db import engine
+from app.models import Item
 from tests.utils.item import create_random_item
 
 
@@ -162,3 +164,38 @@ def test_delete_item_not_enough_permissions(
     assert response.status_code == 403
     content = response.json()
     assert content["detail"] == "Not enough permissions"
+
+
+def test_read_items_count(
+    client: TestClient, superuser_token_headers: dict[str, str], db: Session
+) -> None:
+    # Create some items first
+    create_random_item(db)
+    create_random_item(db)
+    
+    response = client.get(
+        f"{settings.API_V1_STR}/items/count",
+        headers=superuser_token_headers,
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    content = response.json()
+    assert "count" in content
+    assert content["count"] >= 2
+
+
+def test_read_items_count_zero(
+    client: TestClient, superuser_token_headers: dict[str, str], db: Session
+) -> None:
+    # Clear all items first
+    statement = delete(Item)
+    db.execute(statement)
+    db.commit()
+    
+    response = client.get(
+        f"{settings.API_V1_STR}/items/count",
+        headers=superuser_token_headers,
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    content = response.json()
+    assert "count" in content
+    assert content["count"] == 0