diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index 9167319..d9aac3b 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -221,6 +221,9 @@ class CreateContactRequest(BaseModel):
 
     public_key: str = Field(min_length=64, max_length=64, description="Public key (64-char hex)")
     name: str | None = Field(default=None, description="Display name for the contact")
+    type: int = Field(
+        default=0, ge=0, le=3, description="Contact type (0=unknown, 1=client, 2=repeater, 3=room)"
+    )
     try_historical: bool = Field(
         default=False,
         description="Attempt to decrypt historical DM packets for this contact",
diff --git a/app/routers/contacts.py b/app/routers/contacts.py
index e9609fd..00d332e 100644
--- a/app/routers/contacts.py
+++ b/app/routers/contacts.py
@@ -315,6 +315,7 @@ async def create_contact(
     contact_upsert = ContactUpsert(
         public_key=lower_key,
         name=request.name,
+        type=request.type,
         on_radio=False,
     )
     await ContactRepository.upsert(contact_upsert)
diff --git a/frontend/src/api.ts b/frontend/src/api.ts
index 30dfbd1..25b7143 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api.ts
@@ -158,10 +158,10 @@ export const api = {
       headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
       body: JSON.stringify({ public_keys: publicKeys }),
     }),
-  createContact: (publicKey: string, name?: string, tryHistorical?: boolean) =>
+  createContact: (publicKey: string, name?: string, tryHistorical?: boolean, type?: number) =>
     fetchJson<Contact>('/contacts', {
       method: 'POST',
-      body: JSON.stringify({ public_key: publicKey, name, try_historical: tryHistorical }),
+      body: JSON.stringify({ public_key: publicKey, name, type, try_historical: tryHistorical }),
     }),
   markContactRead: (publicKey: string) =>
     fetchJson<{ status: string; public_key: string }>(`/contacts/${publicKey}/mark-read`, {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NewMessageModal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/NewMessageModal.tsx
index 2914abe..2049fba 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NewMessageModal.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NewMessageModal.tsx
@@ -32,7 +32,12 @@ interface NewMessageModalProps {
     nonce: number;
   } | null;
   onClose: () => void;
-  onCreateContact: (name: string, publicKey: string, tryHistorical: boolean) => Promise<void>;
+  onCreateContact: (
+    name: string,
+    publicKey: string,
+    tryHistorical: boolean,
+    type?: number
+  ) => Promise<void>;
   onCreateChannel: (name: string, key: string, tryHistorical: boolean) => Promise<void>;
   onCreateHashtagChannel: (name: string, tryHistorical: boolean) => Promise<void>;
   onBulkAddHashtagChannels: (channelNames: string[], tryHistorical: boolean) => Promise<void>;
@@ -91,6 +96,7 @@ export function NewMessageModal({
 }: NewMessageModalProps) {
   const [tab, setTab] = useState<Tab>('new-contact');
   const [name, setName] = useState('');
+  const [contactType, setContactType] = useState(1);
   const [contactKey, setContactKey] = useState('');
   const [channelKey, setChannelKey] = useState('');
   const [bulkChannelText, setBulkChannelText] = useState('');
@@ -103,6 +109,7 @@ export function NewMessageModal({
 
   const resetForm = () => {
     setName('');
+    setContactType(1);
     setContactKey('');
     setChannelKey('');
     setBulkChannelText('');
@@ -161,7 +168,7 @@ export function NewMessageModal({
           setError('Name and public key are required');
           return;
         }
-        await onCreateContact(name.trim(), contactKey.trim(), tryHistorical);
+        await onCreateContact(name.trim(), contactKey.trim(), tryHistorical, contactType);
       } else if (tab === 'new-channel') {
         if (!name.trim() || !channelKey.trim()) {
           setError('Channel name and key are required');
@@ -293,6 +300,19 @@ export function NewMessageModal({
                 placeholder="64-character hex public key"
               />
             </div>
+            <div className="space-y-2">
+              <Label htmlFor="contact-type">Type</Label>
+              <select
+                id="contact-type"
+                value={contactType}
+                onChange={(e) => setContactType(Number(e.target.value))}
+                className="block h-9 w-full rounded-md border border-input bg-background px-3 text-sm shadow-sm"
+              >
+                <option value={1}>Client</option>
+                <option value={2}>Repeater</option>
+                <option value={3}>Room Server</option>
+              </select>
+            </div>
           </TabsContent>
 
           <TabsContent value="new-channel" className="mt-4 space-y-4">
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useContactsAndChannels.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useContactsAndChannels.ts
index 3e82cf3..bc14ffc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useContactsAndChannels.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useContactsAndChannels.ts
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ export function useContactsAndChannels({
   }, []);
 
   const handleCreateContact = useCallback(
-    async (name: string, publicKey: string, tryHistorical: boolean) => {
-      const created = await api.createContact(publicKey, name || undefined, tryHistorical);
+    async (name: string, publicKey: string, tryHistorical: boolean, type?: number) => {
+      const created = await api.createContact(publicKey, name || undefined, tryHistorical, type);
       const data = await fetchAllContacts();
       setContacts(data);
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/test/newMessageModal.test.tsx b/frontend/src/test/newMessageModal.test.tsx
index b6ef18a..d68eeb4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/test/newMessageModal.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/test/newMessageModal.test.tsx
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ describe('NewMessageModal form reset', () => {
       await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Create' }));
 
       await waitFor(() => {
-        expect(onCreateContact).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Bob', 'bb'.repeat(32), false);
+        expect(onCreateContact).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Bob', 'bb'.repeat(32), false, 1);
       });
       expect(onClose).toHaveBeenCalled();
     });