diff --git a/src/widgets/BlockResetTimer.ts b/src/widgets/BlockResetTimer.ts
index 692b2694..346273c5 100644
--- a/src/widgets/BlockResetTimer.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/BlockResetTimer.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import {
     getUsageLocale,
     getUsageProgressBarWidth,
     getUsageTimerCustomKeybinds,
+    getSliderBarChars,
     getUsageTimezone,
     isUsage12HourClock,
     isUsageCompact,
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ export class BlockResetTimerWidget implements Widget {
             }
 
             if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-                const slider = makeSliderBar(previewPercent);
+                const slider = makeSliderBar(previewPercent, getSliderBarChars(item));
                 const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider'
                     ? `${slider} ${previewPercent.toFixed(1)}%`
                     : slider;
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ export class BlockResetTimerWidget implements Widget {
 
         if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
             const percent = inverted ? window.remainingPercent : window.elapsedPercent;
-            const slider = makeSliderBar(percent);
+            const slider = makeSliderBar(percent, getSliderBarChars(item));
             const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider'
                 ? `${slider} ${percent.toFixed(1)}%`
                 : slider;
diff --git a/src/widgets/BlockTimer.ts b/src/widgets/BlockTimer.ts
index 41a0ef45..423d856f 100644
--- a/src/widgets/BlockTimer.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/BlockTimer.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
     cycleUsageDisplayMode,
     getUsageDisplayMode,
     getUsageDisplayModifierText,
+    getSliderBarChars,
     getUsageProgressBarWidth,
     getUsageTimerCustomKeybinds,
     isUsageCompact,
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ export class BlockTimerWidget implements Widget {
             }
 
             if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-                const slider = makeSliderBar(previewPercent);
+                const slider = makeSliderBar(previewPercent, getSliderBarChars(item));
                 const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider'
                     ? `${slider} ${previewPercent.toFixed(1)}%`
                     : slider;
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ export class BlockTimerWidget implements Widget {
             }
 
             if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-                const emptySlider = makeSliderBar(0);
+                const emptySlider = makeSliderBar(0, getSliderBarChars(item));
                 const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider'
                     ? `${emptySlider} 0.0%`
                     : emptySlider;
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ export class BlockTimerWidget implements Widget {
 
         if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
             const percent = inverted ? window.remainingPercent : window.elapsedPercent;
-            const slider = makeSliderBar(percent);
+            const slider = makeSliderBar(percent, getSliderBarChars(item));
             const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider'
                 ? `${slider} ${percent.toFixed(1)}%`
                 : slider;
diff --git a/src/widgets/ContextBar.ts b/src/widgets/ContextBar.ts
index 400bc54d..608308fc 100644
--- a/src/widgets/ContextBar.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/ContextBar.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {
 import { formatTokens } from '../utils/renderer';
 import { makeUsageProgressBar } from '../utils/usage';
 
-import { makeSliderBar } from './shared/usage-display';
+import { getSliderBarChars, makeSliderBar } from './shared/usage-display';
 
 type DisplayMode = 'progress' | 'progress-short' | 'slider' | 'slider-only';
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ export class ContextBarWidget implements Widget {
 
         if (context.isPreview) {
             if (isBarSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-                const slider = makeSliderBar(25);
+                const slider = makeSliderBar(25, getSliderBarChars(item));
                 const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider' ? `${slider} 50k/200k (25%)` : slider;
                 return item.rawValue ? sliderDisplay : `Context: ${sliderDisplay}`;
             }
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ export class ContextBarWidget implements Widget {
         const totalDisplay = formatTokens(total, 0);
 
         if (isBarSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-            const slider = makeSliderBar(clampedPercent);
+            const slider = makeSliderBar(clampedPercent, getSliderBarChars(item));
             const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider' ? `${slider} ${usedDisplay}/${totalDisplay} (${Math.round(clampedPercent)}%)` : slider;
             return item.rawValue ? sliderDisplay : `Context: ${sliderDisplay}`;
         }
diff --git a/src/widgets/ContextPercentageUsable.ts b/src/widgets/ContextPercentageUsable.ts
index 9dd8c679..88ae38ac 100644
--- a/src/widgets/ContextPercentageUsable.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/ContextPercentageUsable.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import {
     renderContextSlider
 } from './shared/context-slider';
 import { formatRawOrLabeledValue } from './shared/raw-or-labeled';
+import { getSliderBarChars } from './shared/usage-display';
 
 export class ContextPercentageUsableWidget implements Widget {
     getDefaultColor(): string { return 'green'; }
@@ -57,8 +58,9 @@ export class ContextPercentageUsableWidget implements Widget {
         const contextWindowMetrics = getContextWindowMetrics(context.data);
         const contextConfig = getContextConfig(modelIdentifier, contextWindowMetrics.windowSize);
 
+        const chars = getSliderBarChars(item);
         const formatContextPercentage = (displayPercentage: number): string => {
-            const sliderResult = renderContextSlider(sliderMode, displayPercentage);
+            const sliderResult = renderContextSlider(sliderMode, displayPercentage, chars);
             return formatRawOrLabeledValue(item, label, sliderResult ?? `${displayPercentage.toFixed(1)}%`);
         };
 
diff --git a/src/widgets/ExtraUsageUtilization.ts b/src/widgets/ExtraUsageUtilization.ts
index 71dc3780..b8171a97 100644
--- a/src/widgets/ExtraUsageUtilization.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/ExtraUsageUtilization.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { makeTimerProgressBar } from './shared/progress-bar';
 import { formatRawOrLabeledValue } from './shared/raw-or-labeled';
 import {
     cycleUsageDisplayMode,
+    getSliderBarChars,
     getUsageDisplayMode,
     getUsageDisplayModifierText,
     getUsagePercentCustomKeybinds,
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ export class ExtraUsageUtilizationWidget implements Widget {
             }
 
             if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-                const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent);
+                const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, getSliderBarChars(item));
                 const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider' ? `${slider} ${renderedPercent.toFixed(1)}%` : slider;
                 return formatRawOrLabeledValue(item, 'Overage: ', sliderDisplay);
             }
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ export class ExtraUsageUtilizationWidget implements Widget {
         }
 
         if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-            const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent);
+            const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, getSliderBarChars(item));
             const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider' ? `${slider} ${renderedPercent.toFixed(1)}%` : slider;
             return formatRawOrLabeledValue(item, 'Overage: ', sliderDisplay);
         }
diff --git a/src/widgets/SessionUsage.ts b/src/widgets/SessionUsage.ts
index 0a554e6e..db1b122c 100644
--- a/src/widgets/SessionUsage.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/SessionUsage.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import { makeTimerProgressBar } from './shared/progress-bar';
 import { formatRawOrLabeledValue } from './shared/raw-or-labeled';
 import {
     cycleUsageDisplayMode,
+    getSliderBarChars,
     getUsageDisplayMode,
     getUsageDisplayModifierText,
     getUsagePercentCustomKeybinds,
@@ -74,7 +75,8 @@ export class SessionUsageWidget implements Widget {
             }
 
             if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-                const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, undefined, showCursor ? { cursorPercent: 50 } : undefined);
+                const barChars = getSliderBarChars(item);
+                const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, showCursor ? { ...barChars, cursorPercent: 50 } : barChars);
                 const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider' ? `${slider} ${renderedPercent.toFixed(1)}%` : slider;
                 return formatRawOrLabeledValue(item, 'Session: ', sliderDisplay);
             }
@@ -109,7 +111,7 @@ export class SessionUsageWidget implements Widget {
         }
 
         if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-            const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, undefined, getCursorOptions());
+            const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, { ...getSliderBarChars(item), ...getCursorOptions() });
             const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider' ? `${slider} ${renderedPercent.toFixed(1)}%` : slider;
             return formatRawOrLabeledValue(item, 'Session: ', sliderDisplay);
         }
diff --git a/src/widgets/WeeklyOpusUsage.ts b/src/widgets/WeeklyOpusUsage.ts
index 0049e04c..a5da7c3f 100644
--- a/src/widgets/WeeklyOpusUsage.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/WeeklyOpusUsage.ts
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export class WeeklyOpusUsageWidget implements Widget {
             }
 
             if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-                const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, undefined, showCursor ? { cursorPercent: 50 } : undefined);
+                const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, showCursor ? { cursorPercent: 50 } : undefined);
                 const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider' ? `${slider} ${renderedPercent.toFixed(1)}%` : slider;
                 return formatRawOrLabeledValue(item, LABEL, sliderDisplay);
             }
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ export class WeeklyOpusUsageWidget implements Widget {
         }
 
         if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-            const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, undefined, getCursorOptions());
+            const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, getCursorOptions());
             const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider' ? `${slider} ${renderedPercent.toFixed(1)}%` : slider;
             return formatRawOrLabeledValue(item, LABEL, sliderDisplay);
         }
diff --git a/src/widgets/WeeklySonnetUsage.ts b/src/widgets/WeeklySonnetUsage.ts
index 56be3a3e..8939381e 100644
--- a/src/widgets/WeeklySonnetUsage.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/WeeklySonnetUsage.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import { makeTimerProgressBar } from './shared/progress-bar';
 import { formatRawOrLabeledValue } from './shared/raw-or-labeled';
 import {
     cycleUsageDisplayMode,
+    getSliderBarChars,
     getUsageDisplayMode,
     getUsageDisplayModifierText,
     getUsagePercentCustomKeybinds,
@@ -76,7 +77,8 @@ export class WeeklySonnetUsageWidget implements Widget {
             }
 
             if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-                const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, undefined, showCursor ? { cursorPercent: 50 } : undefined);
+                const barChars = getSliderBarChars(item);
+                const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, showCursor ? { ...barChars, cursorPercent: 50 } : barChars);
                 const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider' ? `${slider} ${renderedPercent.toFixed(1)}%` : slider;
                 return formatRawOrLabeledValue(item, LABEL, sliderDisplay);
             }
@@ -111,7 +113,7 @@ export class WeeklySonnetUsageWidget implements Widget {
         }
 
         if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-            const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, undefined, getCursorOptions());
+            const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, { ...getSliderBarChars(item), ...getCursorOptions() });
             const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider' ? `${slider} ${renderedPercent.toFixed(1)}%` : slider;
             return formatRawOrLabeledValue(item, LABEL, sliderDisplay);
         }
diff --git a/src/widgets/WeeklyUsage.ts b/src/widgets/WeeklyUsage.ts
index a9fc928c..e7831a47 100644
--- a/src/widgets/WeeklyUsage.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/WeeklyUsage.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import { makeTimerProgressBar } from './shared/progress-bar';
 import { formatRawOrLabeledValue } from './shared/raw-or-labeled';
 import {
     cycleUsageDisplayMode,
+    getSliderBarChars,
     getUsageDisplayMode,
     getUsageDisplayModifierText,
     getUsagePercentCustomKeybinds,
@@ -74,7 +75,8 @@ export class WeeklyUsageWidget implements Widget {
             }
 
             if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-                const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, undefined, showCursor ? { cursorPercent: 50 } : undefined);
+                const barChars = getSliderBarChars(item);
+                const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, showCursor ? { ...barChars, cursorPercent: 50 } : barChars);
                 const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider' ? `${slider} ${renderedPercent.toFixed(1)}%` : slider;
                 return formatRawOrLabeledValue(item, 'Weekly: ', sliderDisplay);
             }
@@ -109,7 +111,7 @@ export class WeeklyUsageWidget implements Widget {
         }
 
         if (isUsageSliderMode(displayMode)) {
-            const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, undefined, getCursorOptions());
+            const slider = makeSliderBar(renderedPercent, { ...getSliderBarChars(item), ...getCursorOptions() });
             const sliderDisplay = displayMode === 'slider' ? `${slider} ${renderedPercent.toFixed(1)}%` : slider;
             return formatRawOrLabeledValue(item, 'Weekly: ', sliderDisplay);
         }
diff --git a/src/widgets/shared/__tests__/usage-display.test.ts b/src/widgets/shared/__tests__/usage-display.test.ts
index 3cd7fae3..65ad8636 100644
--- a/src/widgets/shared/__tests__/usage-display.test.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/shared/__tests__/usage-display.test.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
 import type { WidgetItem } from '../../../types/Widget';
 import {
     cycleUsageDisplayMode,
+    getSliderBarChars,
     makeSliderBar
 } from '../usage-display';
 
@@ -32,16 +33,45 @@ describe('makeSliderBar', () => {
     });
 
     it('accepts custom width', () => {
-        expect(makeSliderBar(50, 6)).toBe('▓▓▓░░░');
+        expect(makeSliderBar(50, { width: 6 })).toBe('▓▓▓░░░');
     });
 
     it('renders a time cursor when cursorPercent is provided', () => {
-        expect(makeSliderBar(50, 10, { cursorPercent: 50 })).toBe('▓▓▓▓▓│░░░░');
+        expect(makeSliderBar(50, { cursorPercent: 50 })).toBe('▓▓▓▓▓│░░░░');
     });
 
     it('clamps slider cursor percent', () => {
-        expect(makeSliderBar(50, 10, { cursorPercent: -10 })).toBe('│▓▓▓▓░░░░░');
-        expect(makeSliderBar(50, 10, { cursorPercent: 150 })).toBe('▓▓▓▓▓░░░░│');
+        expect(makeSliderBar(50, { cursorPercent: -10 })).toBe('│▓▓▓▓░░░░░');
+        expect(makeSliderBar(50, { cursorPercent: 150 })).toBe('▓▓▓▓▓░░░░│');
+    });
+
+    it('uses custom filledChar and emptyChar', () => {
+        expect(makeSliderBar(50, { filledChar: '▰', emptyChar: '▱' })).toBe('▰▰▰▰▰▱▱▱▱▱');
+    });
+
+    it('uses default chars when filledChar/emptyChar are not provided', () => {
+        expect(makeSliderBar(50, {})).toBe('▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░');
+    });
+
+    it('custom chars work with cursor', () => {
+        expect(makeSliderBar(50, { filledChar: '▰', emptyChar: '▱', cursorPercent: 50 })).toBe('▰▰▰▰▰│▱▱▱▱');
+    });
+});
+
+describe('getSliderBarChars', () => {
+    it('returns defaults when metadata is absent', () => {
+        const item: WidgetItem = { id: 'test', type: 'session-usage' };
+        expect(getSliderBarChars(item)).toEqual({ filledChar: '▓', emptyChar: '░' });
+    });
+
+    it('returns custom chars from metadata', () => {
+        const item: WidgetItem = { id: 'test', type: 'session-usage', metadata: { filledChar: '▰', emptyChar: '▱' } };
+        expect(getSliderBarChars(item)).toEqual({ filledChar: '▰', emptyChar: '▱' });
+    });
+
+    it('falls back to defaults for empty string metadata values', () => {
+        const item: WidgetItem = { id: 'test', type: 'session-usage', metadata: { filledChar: '', emptyChar: '' } };
+        expect(getSliderBarChars(item)).toEqual({ filledChar: '▓', emptyChar: '░' });
     });
 });
 
diff --git a/src/widgets/shared/context-slider.ts b/src/widgets/shared/context-slider.ts
index 9157b0e8..b3dcb036 100644
--- a/src/widgets/shared/context-slider.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/shared/context-slider.ts
@@ -43,11 +43,15 @@ export function cycleContextSliderMode(item: WidgetItem): WidgetItem {
     };
 }
 
-export function renderContextSlider(mode: ContextSliderMode, percent: number): string | null {
+export function renderContextSlider(
+    mode: ContextSliderMode,
+    percent: number,
+    chars?: { filledChar: string; emptyChar: string }
+): string | null {
     if (mode === 'none') {
         return null;
     }
-    const slider = makeSliderBar(percent);
+    const slider = makeSliderBar(percent, chars);
     if (mode === 'slider') {
         return `${slider} ${percent.toFixed(1)}%`;
     }
diff --git a/src/widgets/shared/usage-display.ts b/src/widgets/shared/usage-display.ts
index ae84d5f1..215caa06 100644
--- a/src/widgets/shared/usage-display.ts
+++ b/src/widgets/shared/usage-display.ts
@@ -44,23 +44,41 @@ export function isUsageSliderMode(mode: UsageDisplayMode): boolean {
     return mode === 'slider' || mode === 'slider-only';
 }
 
-interface SliderBarOptions { cursorPercent?: number }
+interface SliderBarOptions {
+    width?: number;
+    cursorPercent?: number;
+    filledChar?: string;
+    emptyChar?: string;
+}
+
+export function getSliderBarChars(item: WidgetItem): { filledChar: string; emptyChar: string } {
+    const filledChar = typeof item.metadata?.filledChar === 'string' && item.metadata.filledChar.length > 0
+        ? item.metadata.filledChar
+        : '▓';
+    const emptyChar = typeof item.metadata?.emptyChar === 'string' && item.metadata.emptyChar.length > 0
+        ? item.metadata.emptyChar
+        : '░';
+    return { filledChar, emptyChar };
+}
 
-export function makeSliderBar(percent: number, width: number = SLIDER_WIDTH, options?: SliderBarOptions): string {
+export function makeSliderBar(percent: number, options?: SliderBarOptions): string {
+    const width = options?.width ?? SLIDER_WIDTH;
     const clamped = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, percent));
     const filled = Math.round((clamped / 100) * width);
     const cursorPos = options?.cursorPercent !== undefined
         ? Math.min(Math.floor((Math.max(0, Math.min(100, options.cursorPercent)) / 100) * width), width - 1)
         : -1;
+    const filledChar = options?.filledChar ?? '▓';
+    const emptyChar = options?.emptyChar ?? '░';
 
     let bar = '';
     for (let i = 0; i < width; i++) {
         if (i === cursorPos) {
             bar += '│';
         } else if (i < filled) {
-            bar += '▓';
+            bar += filledChar;
         } else {
-            bar += '░';
+            bar += emptyChar;
         }
     }