diff --git a/src/app/(dashboard)/inbox/[messageId]/page.tsx b/src/app/(dashboard)/inbox/[messageId]/page.tsx
index 6c7499b..40171a8 100644
--- a/src/app/(dashboard)/inbox/[messageId]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(dashboard)/inbox/[messageId]/page.tsx
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ export default function MessageDetailPage() {
           status={message.status}
           read={message.read}
           unsubscribeUrl={data.unsubscribeUrl}
+          subject={message.subject}
+          bodyText={body?.textBody}
+          ownAddress={ownAddress}
         />
       </div>
       <article className="px-6 py-4">
diff --git a/src/components/message-actions/message-actions.tsx b/src/components/message-actions/message-actions.tsx
index 647d2e2..6f1dd51 100644
--- a/src/components/message-actions/message-actions.tsx
+++ b/src/components/message-actions/message-actions.tsx
@@ -3,12 +3,14 @@
 import { useState } from "react";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import { Archive, Mail, MailOpen, MoreVertical, Reply, ShieldAlert, Trash2 } from "lucide-react";
+import { useCompose } from "@/components/compose/compose-context";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Tooltip } from "@/components/ui/tooltip";
 import type { BulkMessageAction } from "@/app/api/messages/bulk/types";
 import type { MessageActionsProps } from "./types";
 import {
 	confirmTrashWithoutUnsubscribe,
+	createReplyDraft,
 	createTrashSenderRule,
 	getMessageActionRedirect,
 	openUnsubscribeUrl,
@@ -23,9 +25,15 @@ export function MessageActions({
 	status,
 	read,
 	unsubscribeUrl,
+	subject,
+	bodyText,
+	ownAddress,
 }: MessageActionsProps) {
 	const router = useRouter();
-	const [pendingAction, setPendingAction] = useState<BulkMessageAction | "unsubscribe" | null>(null);
+	const { openDraftComposer } = useCompose();
+	const [pendingAction, setPendingAction] = useState<
+		BulkMessageAction | "unsubscribe" | "reply" | null
+	>(null);
 	const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
 	const [moreOpen, setMoreOpen] = useState(false);
 
@@ -70,6 +78,25 @@ export function MessageActions({
 		}
 	}
 
+	async function handleReply() {
+		setPendingAction("reply");
+		setError(null);
+		try {
+			const draftId = await createReplyDraft({
+				mailboxId,
+				senderAddress,
+				ownAddress,
+				subject,
+				bodyText,
+			});
+			openDraftComposer(draftId);
+		} catch (replyError) {
+			setError(replyError instanceof Error ? replyError.message : "Could not start reply");
+		} finally {
+			setPendingAction(null);
+		}
+	}
+
 	const disabled = pendingAction !== null;
 	const markAction: BulkMessageAction = read ? "unread" : "read";
 
@@ -78,7 +105,14 @@ export function MessageActions({
 			{error && <span className="text-xs text-red-600">{error}</span>}
 			<div className="flex items-center gap-2">
 				<Tooltip label="Reply">
-					<Button type="button" variant="ghost" size="sm" aria-label="Reply">
+					<Button
+						type="button"
+						variant="ghost"
+						size="sm"
+						aria-label="Reply"
+						disabled={disabled}
+						onClick={handleReply}
+					>
 						<Reply className="h-5 w-5" />
 					</Button>
 				</Tooltip>
diff --git a/src/components/message-actions/types.d.ts b/src/components/message-actions/types.d.ts
index 36a636e..3c41827 100644
--- a/src/components/message-actions/types.d.ts
+++ b/src/components/message-actions/types.d.ts
@@ -9,10 +9,21 @@ export type MessageActionsProps = {
 	status: string;
 	read: boolean;
 	unsubscribeUrl?: string | null;
+	subject?: string | null;
+	bodyText?: string | null;
+	ownAddress?: string | null;
 };
 
 export type SingleMessageAction = BulkMessageAction | "reply";
 
+export type ReplyDraftInput = {
+	mailboxId: string | null;
+	senderAddress: string;
+	ownAddress?: string | null;
+	subject?: string | null;
+	bodyText?: string | null;
+};
+
 export type TrashSenderRuleInput = {
 	mailboxId: string;
 	senderAddress: string;
diff --git a/src/components/message-actions/utils.ts b/src/components/message-actions/utils.ts
index 2fee77f..8621a98 100644
--- a/src/components/message-actions/utils.ts
+++ b/src/components/message-actions/utils.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import type { BulkMessageAction } from "@/app/api/messages/bulk/types";
 import { authFetch } from "@/lib/auth/client";
 import { getEmailAddress } from "@/lib/email/address";
-import type { TrashSenderRuleInput } from "./types";
+import { getLatestEmailContent } from "@/lib/email/reply-content-utils";
+import type { ReplyDraftInput, TrashSenderRuleInput } from "./types";
 
 export function getMessageBackHref(direction: "inbound" | "outbound", status: string) {
 	if (status === "trash") return "/trash";
@@ -62,3 +63,46 @@ export function getMessageActionRedirect(action: BulkMessageAction, direction: "
 	if (action === "inbox") return "/inbox";
 	return null;
 }
+
+export function buildReplySubject(subject: string | null | undefined) {
+	const trimmed = (subject ?? "").trim();
+	if (!trimmed) return "Re:";
+	return /^re:/i.test(trimmed) ? trimmed : `Re: ${trimmed}`;
+}
+
+export function buildReplyQuote(senderAddress: string, bodyText: string | null | undefined) {
+	const latest = getLatestEmailContent(bodyText).trim();
+	if (!latest) return "";
+	const quoted = latest
+		.split("\n")
+		.map((line) => `> ${line}`)
+		.join("\n");
+	return `\n\n${getEmailAddress(senderAddress)} wrote:\n${quoted}\n`;
+}
+
+export async function createReplyDraft({
+	mailboxId,
+	senderAddress,
+	ownAddress,
+	subject,
+	bodyText,
+}: ReplyDraftInput) {
+	const to = getEmailAddress(senderAddress).trim();
+	if (!to) throw new Error("Sender address is required");
+
+	const response = await authFetch("/api/drafts", {
+		method: "POST",
+		headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+		body: JSON.stringify({
+			mailboxId,
+			// The API rejects the draft unless `from` matches the mailbox address.
+			from: getEmailAddress(ownAddress ?? ""),
+			to,
+			subject: buildReplySubject(subject),
+			text: buildReplyQuote(senderAddress, bodyText),
+		}),
+	});
+	const data = (await response.json()) as { draft?: { id: string }; error?: string };
+	if (!response.ok || !data.draft) throw new Error(data.error ?? "Unable to create reply draft");
+	return data.draft.id;
+}