diff --git a/docs/sources/shared/configuration.md b/docs/sources/shared/configuration.md
index 9cf3b2a18ed0f..b64879703c960 100644
--- a/docs/sources/shared/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/sources/shared/configuration.md
@@ -230,6 +230,10 @@ block_scheduler:
   # CLI flag: -block-scheduler.target-record-count
   [target_record_count: <int> | default = 1000]
 
+  # Maximum number of jobs that the planner can return.
+  # CLI flag: -block-scheduler.max-jobs-planned-per-interval
+  [max_jobs_planned_per_interval: <int> | default = 100]
+
 pattern_ingester:
   # Whether the pattern ingester is enabled.
   # CLI flag: -pattern-ingester.enabled
diff --git a/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/queue.go b/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/queue.go
index 1aeb15e8395e5..9b4dd4292c109 100644
--- a/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/queue.go
+++ b/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/queue.go
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/go-kit/log"
 	"github.com/go-kit/log/level"
+	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
+	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus/promauto"
 
 	"github.com/grafana/loki/v3/pkg/blockbuilder/types"
 )
@@ -35,6 +37,29 @@ func NewJobWithMetadata(job *types.Job, priority int) *JobWithMetadata {
 	}
 }
 
+type jobQueueMetrics struct {
+	pending    prometheus.Gauge
+	inProgress prometheus.Gauge
+	completed  *prometheus.CounterVec
+}
+
+func newJobQueueMetrics(r prometheus.Registerer) *jobQueueMetrics {
+	return &jobQueueMetrics{
+		pending: promauto.With(r).NewGauge(prometheus.GaugeOpts{
+			Name: "loki_block_scheduler_pending_jobs",
+			Help: "Number of jobs in the block scheduler queue",
+		}),
+		inProgress: promauto.With(r).NewGauge(prometheus.GaugeOpts{
+			Name: "loki_block_scheduler_in_progress_jobs",
+			Help: "Number of jobs currently being processed",
+		}),
+		completed: promauto.With(r).NewCounterVec(prometheus.CounterOpts{
+			Name: "loki_block_scheduler_completed_jobs_total",
+			Help: "Total number of jobs completed by the block scheduler",
+		}, []string{"status"}),
+	}
+}
+
 // JobQueue manages the queue of pending jobs and tracks their state.
 type JobQueue struct {
 	logger     log.Logger
@@ -42,10 +67,12 @@ type JobQueue struct {
 	inProgress map[string]*JobWithMetadata              // Jobs currently being processed
 	completed  *CircularBuffer[*JobWithMetadata]        // Last N completed jobs
 	statusMap  map[string]types.JobStatus               // Maps job ID to its current status
+	metrics    *jobQueueMetrics
 	mu         sync.RWMutex
 }
 
-func NewJobQueueWithLogger(logger log.Logger) *JobQueue {
+// NewJobQueue creates a new job queue instance
+func NewJobQueue(logger log.Logger, reg prometheus.Registerer) *JobQueue {
 	return &JobQueue{
 		logger: logger,
 		pending: NewPriorityQueue(
@@ -57,14 +84,10 @@ func NewJobQueueWithLogger(logger log.Logger) *JobQueue {
 		inProgress: make(map[string]*JobWithMetadata),
 		completed:  NewCircularBuffer[*JobWithMetadata](defaultCompletedJobsCapacity),
 		statusMap:  make(map[string]types.JobStatus),
+		metrics:    newJobQueueMetrics(reg),
 	}
 }
 
-// NewJobQueue creates a new job queue instance
-func NewJobQueue() *JobQueue {
-	return NewJobQueueWithLogger(log.NewNopLogger())
-}
-
 // Exists checks if a job exists in any state and returns its status
 func (q *JobQueue) Exists(job *types.Job) (types.JobStatus, bool) {
 	q.mu.RLock()
@@ -111,6 +134,7 @@ func (q *JobQueue) Enqueue(job *types.Job, priority int) error {
 	jobMeta := NewJobWithMetadata(job, priority)
 	q.pending.Push(jobMeta)
 	q.statusMap[job.ID()] = types.JobStatusPending
+	q.metrics.pending.Inc()
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -123,6 +147,7 @@ func (q *JobQueue) Dequeue() (*types.Job, bool) {
 	if !ok {
 		return nil, false
 	}
+	q.metrics.pending.Dec()
 
 	// Update metadata for in-progress state
 	jobMeta.Status = types.JobStatusInProgress
@@ -131,6 +156,7 @@ func (q *JobQueue) Dequeue() (*types.Job, bool) {
 
 	q.inProgress[jobMeta.ID()] = jobMeta
 	q.statusMap[jobMeta.ID()] = types.JobStatusInProgress
+	q.metrics.inProgress.Inc()
 
 	return jobMeta.Job, true
 }
@@ -152,6 +178,7 @@ func (q *JobQueue) RemoveInProgress(id string) {
 	defer q.mu.Unlock()
 
 	delete(q.inProgress, id)
+	q.metrics.inProgress.Dec()
 }
 
 // MarkComplete moves a job from in-progress to completed with the given status
@@ -169,11 +196,13 @@ func (q *JobQueue) MarkComplete(id string, status types.JobStatus) {
 	case types.JobStatusInProgress:
 		// update & remove from in progress
 		delete(q.inProgress, id)
+		q.metrics.inProgress.Dec()
 	case types.JobStatusPending:
 		_, ok := q.pending.Remove(id)
 		if !ok {
 			level.Error(q.logger).Log("msg", "failed to remove job from pending queue", "job", id)
 		}
+		q.metrics.pending.Dec()
 	default:
 		level.Error(q.logger).Log("msg", "unknown job status, cannot mark as complete", "job", id, "status", status)
 	}
@@ -187,6 +216,7 @@ func (q *JobQueue) MarkComplete(id string, status types.JobStatus) {
 		delete(q.statusMap, removal.ID())
 	}
 	q.statusMap[id] = status
+	q.metrics.completed.WithLabelValues(status.String()).Inc()
 }
 
 // SyncJob registers a job as in-progress or updates its UpdateTime if already in progress
@@ -204,6 +234,7 @@ func (q *JobQueue) SyncJob(jobID string, job *types.Job) {
 		jobMeta.Status = types.JobStatusInProgress
 		q.inProgress[jobID] = jobMeta
 		q.statusMap[jobID] = types.JobStatusInProgress
+		q.metrics.inProgress.Inc()
 	}
 
 	jobMeta, ok := q.existsLockLess(jobID)
@@ -221,6 +252,8 @@ func (q *JobQueue) SyncJob(jobID string, job *types.Job) {
 			level.Error(q.logger).Log("msg", "failed to remove job from pending queue", "job", jobID)
 		}
 		jobMeta.Status = types.JobStatusInProgress
+		q.metrics.pending.Dec()
+		q.metrics.inProgress.Inc()
 	case types.JobStatusInProgress:
 	case types.JobStatusComplete, types.JobStatusFailed, types.JobStatusExpired:
 		// Job already completed, re-enqueue a new one
diff --git a/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/queue_test.go b/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/queue_test.go
index dfbe07681c62a..cf86ec29f8941 100644
--- a/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/queue_test.go
+++ b/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/queue_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/go-kit/log"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"github.com/grafana/loki/v3/pkg/blockbuilder/types"
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestJobQueue_SyncJob(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("non-existent to in-progress", func(t *testing.T) {
-		q := NewJobQueue()
+		q := NewJobQueue(log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
 		job := types.NewJob(1, types.Offsets{Min: 100, Max: 200})
 		jobID := job.ID()
 
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ func TestJobQueue_SyncJob(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("pending to in-progress", func(t *testing.T) {
-		q := NewJobQueue()
+		q := NewJobQueue(log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
 		job := types.NewJob(1, types.Offsets{Min: 100, Max: 200})
 
 		// Start with pending job
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ func TestJobQueue_SyncJob(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("already in-progress", func(t *testing.T) {
-		q := NewJobQueue()
+		q := NewJobQueue(log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
 		job := types.NewJob(1, types.Offsets{Min: 100, Max: 200})
 
 		// First sync to put in in-progress
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ func TestJobQueue_SyncJob(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestJobQueue_MarkComplete(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("in-progress to complete", func(t *testing.T) {
-		q := NewJobQueue()
+		q := NewJobQueue(log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
 		job := types.NewJob(1, types.Offsets{Min: 100, Max: 200})
 
 		// Start with in-progress job
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ func TestJobQueue_MarkComplete(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("pending to complete", func(t *testing.T) {
-		q := NewJobQueue()
+		q := NewJobQueue(log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
 		job := types.NewJob(1, types.Offsets{Min: 100, Max: 200})
 
 		// Start with pending job
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@ func TestJobQueue_MarkComplete(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("non-existent job", func(t *testing.T) {
-		q := NewJobQueue()
+		q := NewJobQueue(log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
 		logger := &testLogger{t: t}
 		q.logger = logger
 
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ func TestJobQueue_MarkComplete(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("already completed job", func(t *testing.T) {
-		q := NewJobQueue()
+		q := NewJobQueue(log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
 		logger := &testLogger{t: t}
 		q.logger = logger
 
diff --git a/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/scheduler.go b/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/scheduler.go
index 55aa95459a1d9..8055fef5ddc95 100644
--- a/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/scheduler.go
+++ b/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/scheduler.go
@@ -24,11 +24,12 @@ var (
 )
 
 type Config struct {
-	ConsumerGroup     string        `yaml:"consumer_group"`
-	Interval          time.Duration `yaml:"interval"`
-	LookbackPeriod    time.Duration `yaml:"lookback_period"`
-	Strategy          string        `yaml:"strategy"`
-	TargetRecordCount int64         `yaml:"target_record_count"`
+	ConsumerGroup             string        `yaml:"consumer_group"`
+	Interval                  time.Duration `yaml:"interval"`
+	LookbackPeriod            time.Duration `yaml:"lookback_period"`
+	Strategy                  string        `yaml:"strategy"`
+	TargetRecordCount         int64         `yaml:"target_record_count"`
+	MaxJobsPlannedPerInterval int           `yaml:"max_jobs_planned_per_interval"`
 }
 
 func (cfg *Config) RegisterFlagsWithPrefix(prefix string, f *flag.FlagSet) {
@@ -53,6 +54,12 @@ func (cfg *Config) RegisterFlagsWithPrefix(prefix string, f *flag.FlagSet) {
 			RecordCountStrategy,
 		),
 	)
+	f.IntVar(
+		&cfg.MaxJobsPlannedPerInterval,
+		prefix+"max-jobs-planned-per-interval",
+		100,
+		"Maximum number of jobs that the planner can return.",
+	)
 }
 
 func (cfg *Config) RegisterFlags(f *flag.FlagSet) {
@@ -143,7 +150,7 @@ func (s *BlockScheduler) runOnce(ctx context.Context) error {
 
 	s.publishLagMetrics(lag)
 
-	jobs, err := s.planner.Plan(ctx)
+	jobs, err := s.planner.Plan(ctx, s.cfg.MaxJobsPlannedPerInterval)
 	if err != nil {
 		level.Error(s.logger).Log("msg", "failed to plan jobs", "err", err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/scheduler_test.go b/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/scheduler_test.go
index 48460f5e39856..1f5654312c144 100644
--- a/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/scheduler_test.go
+++ b/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/scheduler_test.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func (m *mockOffsetManager) Commit(_ context.Context, _ int32, _ int64) error {
 }
 
 func newTestEnv(builderID string) (*testEnv, error) {
-	queue := NewJobQueue()
+	queue := NewJobQueue(log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
 	mockOffsetMgr := &mockOffsetManager{
 		topic:         "test-topic",
 		consumerGroup: "test-group",
diff --git a/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/strategy.go b/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/strategy.go
index e710d14767275..78468bbea97ae 100644
--- a/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/strategy.go
+++ b/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/strategy.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ type OffsetReader interface {
 
 type Planner interface {
 	Name() string
-	Plan(ctx context.Context) ([]*JobWithMetadata, error)
+	Plan(ctx context.Context, maxJobsPerPartition int) ([]*JobWithMetadata, error)
 }
 
 const (
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func (p *RecordCountPlanner) Name() string {
 	return RecordCountStrategy
 }
 
-func (p *RecordCountPlanner) Plan(ctx context.Context) ([]*JobWithMetadata, error) {
+func (p *RecordCountPlanner) Plan(ctx context.Context, maxJobsPerPartition int) ([]*JobWithMetadata, error) {
 	offsets, err := p.offsetReader.GroupLag(ctx, p.lookbackPeriod)
 	if err != nil {
 		level.Error(p.logger).Log("msg", "failed to get group lag", "err", err)
@@ -60,9 +60,10 @@ func (p *RecordCountPlanner) Plan(ctx context.Context) ([]*JobWithMetadata, erro
 
 	jobs := make([]*JobWithMetadata, 0, len(offsets))
 	for _, partitionOffset := range offsets {
-		// kadm.GroupMemberLag contains valid Commit.At even when consumer group never committed any offset.
-		// no additional validation is needed here
-		startOffset := partitionOffset.Commit.At + 1
+		// 1. kadm.GroupMemberLag contains valid Commit.At even when consumer group never committed any offset.
+		//    no additional validation is needed here
+		// 2. committed offset could be behind start offset if we are falling behind retention period.
+		startOffset := max(partitionOffset.Commit.At+1, partitionOffset.Start.Offset)
 		endOffset := partitionOffset.End.Offset
 
 		// Skip if there's no lag
@@ -70,10 +71,15 @@ func (p *RecordCountPlanner) Plan(ctx context.Context) ([]*JobWithMetadata, erro
 			continue
 		}
 
+		var jobCount int
+		currentStart := startOffset
 		// Create jobs of size targetRecordCount until we reach endOffset
-		for currentStart := startOffset; currentStart < endOffset; {
-			currentEnd := min(currentStart+p.targetRecordCount, endOffset)
+		for currentStart < endOffset {
+			if maxJobsPerPartition > 0 && jobCount >= maxJobsPerPartition {
+				break
+			}
 
+			currentEnd := min(currentStart+p.targetRecordCount, endOffset)
 			job := NewJobWithMetadata(
 				types.NewJob(partitionOffset.Partition, types.Offsets{
 					Min: currentStart,
@@ -84,6 +90,7 @@ func (p *RecordCountPlanner) Plan(ctx context.Context) ([]*JobWithMetadata, erro
 			jobs = append(jobs, job)
 
 			currentStart = currentEnd
+			jobCount++
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/strategy_test.go b/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/strategy_test.go
index 7f6dedcb4abe6..bba62df867c8e 100644
--- a/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/strategy_test.go
+++ b/pkg/blockbuilder/scheduler/strategy_test.go
@@ -147,8 +147,7 @@ func TestRecordCountPlanner_Plan(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 			require.NoError(t, cfg.Validate())
 			planner := NewRecordCountPlanner(mockReader, tc.recordCount, time.Hour, log.NewNopLogger())
-
-			jobs, err := planner.Plan(context.Background())
+			jobs, err := planner.Plan(context.Background(), 0)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			require.Equal(t, len(tc.expectedJobs), len(jobs))
diff --git a/pkg/loki/modules.go b/pkg/loki/modules.go
index 49a26498b8e31..c92f56dfcff50 100644
--- a/pkg/loki/modules.go
+++ b/pkg/loki/modules.go
@@ -1879,7 +1879,7 @@ func (t *Loki) initBlockScheduler() (services.Service, error) {
 
 	s, err := blockscheduler.NewScheduler(
 		t.Cfg.BlockScheduler,
-		blockscheduler.NewJobQueueWithLogger(logger),
+		blockscheduler.NewJobQueue(logger, prometheus.DefaultRegisterer),
 		offsetManager,
 		logger,
 		prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,