diff --git a/Package.resolved b/Package.resolved
index 57654d501..faba9d8b6 100644
--- a/Package.resolved
+++ b/Package.resolved
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "originHash" : "22a1e1b6903f45f7d9b7dc7940fd328f427c4123c73d6985eab99ae6c21523c4",
+  "originHash" : "33002bd04671ab82772f00d444616e9876ce990001e53950f58ea42fa332e493",
   "pins" : [
     {
       "identity" : "async-http-client",
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
       "kind" : "remoteSourceControl",
       "location" : "https://github.com/apple/containerization.git",
       "state" : {
-        "revision" : "f8a18e8dcd965eefcfe65ead986405533c7e3872",
-        "version" : "0.32.1"
+        "revision" : "db5b5b98405d53543f69105087130ffd623a5b9a",
+        "version" : "0.32.2"
       }
     },
     {
diff --git a/Package.swift b/Package.swift
index 4323fcfef..5135fc7e5 100644
--- a/Package.swift
+++ b/Package.swift
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import PackageDescription
 let releaseVersion = ProcessInfo.processInfo.environment["RELEASE_VERSION"] ?? "0.0.0"
 let gitCommit = ProcessInfo.processInfo.environment["GIT_COMMIT"] ?? "unspecified"
 let builderShimVersion = "0.12.0"
-let scVersion = "0.32.1"
+let scVersion = "0.32.2"
 
 let package = Package(
     name: "container",
diff --git a/Sources/APIServer/APIServer+Start.swift b/Sources/APIServer/APIServer+Start.swift
index 3bdb7c8d1..527839153 100644
--- a/Sources/APIServer/APIServer+Start.swift
+++ b/Sources/APIServer/APIServer+Start.swift
@@ -294,6 +294,8 @@ extension APIServer {
             routes[XPCRoute.containerKill] = XPCServer.route(harness.kill)
             routes[XPCRoute.containerStats] = XPCServer.route(harness.stats)
             routes[XPCRoute.containerDiskUsage] = XPCServer.route(harness.diskUsage)
+            routes[XPCRoute.containerCopyIn] = XPCServer.route(harness.copyIn)
+            routes[XPCRoute.containerCopyOut] = XPCServer.route(harness.copyOut)
             routes[XPCRoute.containerExport] = XPCServer.route(harness.export)
 
             return service
diff --git a/Sources/ContainerCommands/Application.swift b/Sources/ContainerCommands/Application.swift
index 3e43c05bc..55e40ae58 100644
--- a/Sources/ContainerCommands/Application.swift
+++ b/Sources/ContainerCommands/Application.swift
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ public struct Application: AsyncLoggableCommand {
             CommandGroup(
                 name: "Container",
                 subcommands: [
+                    ContainerCopy.self,
                     ContainerCreate.self,
                     ContainerDelete.self,
                     ContainerExec.self,
diff --git a/Sources/ContainerCommands/Container/ContainerCopy.swift b/Sources/ContainerCommands/Container/ContainerCopy.swift
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8778b74d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Sources/ContainerCommands/Container/ContainerCopy.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+//===----------------------------------------------------------------------===//
+// Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. and the container project authors.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//   https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+//===----------------------------------------------------------------------===//
+
+import ArgumentParser
+import ContainerAPIClient
+import ContainerResource
+import Containerization
+import ContainerizationError
+import Foundation
+
+extension Application {
+    public struct ContainerCopy: AsyncLoggableCommand {
+        enum PathRef {
+            case local(String)
+            case container(id: String, path: String)
+        }
+
+        static func parsePathRef(_ ref: String) throws -> PathRef {
+            let parts = ref.components(separatedBy: ":")
+            switch parts.count {
+            case 1:
+                return .local(ref)
+            case 2 where !parts[0].isEmpty && parts[1].starts(with: "/"):
+                return .container(id: parts[0], path: parts[1])
+            default:
+                throw ContainerizationError(.invalidArgument, message: "invalid path given: \(ref)")
+            }
+        }
+
+        public init() {}
+
+        public static let configuration = CommandConfiguration(
+            commandName: "copy",
+            abstract: "Copy files/folders between a container and the local filesystem",
+            aliases: ["cp"])
+
+        @OptionGroup()
+        public var logOptions: Flags.Logging
+
+        @Argument(help: "Source path (container:path or local path)")
+        var source: String
+
+        @Argument(help: "Destination path (container:path or local path)")
+        var destination: String
+
+        public func run() async throws {
+            let client = ContainerClient()
+            let srcRef = try Self.parsePathRef(source)
+            let dstRef = try Self.parsePathRef(destination)
+
+            switch (srcRef, dstRef) {
+            case (.container(let id, let path), .local(let localPath)):
+                let srcURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: path)
+                let destURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: localPath).standardizedFileURL
+                var isDirectory: ObjCBool = false
+                let exists = FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: destURL.path, isDirectory: &isDirectory)
+
+                if exists && isDirectory.boolValue {
+                    let finalDest = destURL.appendingPathComponent(srcURL.lastPathComponent)
+                    try await client.copyOut(id: id, source: srcURL, destination: finalDest)
+                } else if localPath.hasSuffix("/") {
+                    try await client.copyOut(id: id, source: srcURL, destination: destURL)
+                    var resultIsDir: ObjCBool = false
+                    if FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: destURL.path, isDirectory: &resultIsDir),
+                        !resultIsDir.boolValue
+                    {
+                        try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: destURL)
+                        throw ContainerizationError(
+                            .invalidArgument,
+                            message: "destination is not a directory: \(localPath)")
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    try await client.copyOut(id: id, source: srcURL, destination: destURL)
+                }
+            case (.local(let localPath), .container(let id, let path)):
+                let srcURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: localPath).standardizedFileURL
+                var isDirectory: ObjCBool = false
+                guard FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: srcURL.path, isDirectory: &isDirectory) else {
+                    throw ContainerizationError(.notFound, message: "source path does not exist: \(localPath)")
+                }
+                if localPath.hasSuffix("/") && !isDirectory.boolValue {
+                    throw ContainerizationError(.invalidArgument, message: "source path is not a directory: \(localPath)")
+                }
+
+                let destURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: path)
+                try await client.copyIn(id: id, source: srcURL, destination: destURL, createParents: true)
+            case (.container, .container):
+                throw ContainerizationError(.invalidArgument, message: "copying between containers is not supported")
+            case (.local, .local):
+                throw ContainerizationError(
+                    .invalidArgument,
+                    message: "one of source or destination must be a container reference (container_id:path)")
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Sources/Plugins/RuntimeLinux/RuntimeLinuxHelper+Start.swift b/Sources/Plugins/RuntimeLinux/RuntimeLinuxHelper+Start.swift
index f946ab0e1..c79808c0c 100644
--- a/Sources/Plugins/RuntimeLinux/RuntimeLinuxHelper+Start.swift
+++ b/Sources/Plugins/RuntimeLinux/RuntimeLinuxHelper+Start.swift
@@ -104,6 +104,8 @@ extension RuntimeLinuxHelper {
                         SandboxRoutes.dial.rawValue: XPCServer.route(server.dial),
                         SandboxRoutes.shutdown.rawValue: XPCServer.route(server.shutdown),
                         SandboxRoutes.statistics.rawValue: XPCServer.route(server.statistics),
+                        SandboxRoutes.copyIn.rawValue: XPCServer.route(server.copyIn),
+                        SandboxRoutes.copyOut.rawValue: XPCServer.route(server.copyOut),
                     ],
                     log: log
                 )
diff --git a/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Client/ContainerClient.swift b/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Client/ContainerClient.swift
index c108ef3d2..838d86bd5 100644
--- a/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Client/ContainerClient.swift
+++ b/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Client/ContainerClient.swift
@@ -311,6 +311,49 @@ public struct ContainerClient: Sendable {
         return fh
     }
 
+    /// Copy a file or directory from the host into the container.
+    public func copyIn(id: String, source: URL, destination: URL, mode: UInt32 = 0o644, createParents: Bool = true) async throws {
+        let request = XPCMessage(route: .containerCopyIn)
+        let destinationPath =
+            destination.hasDirectoryPath && !destination.path.hasSuffix("/")
+            ? "\(destination.path)/"
+            : destination.path
+        request.set(key: .id, value: id)
+        request.set(key: .sourcePath, value: source.path)
+        request.set(key: .destinationPath, value: destinationPath)
+        request.set(key: .fileMode, value: UInt64(mode))
+        request.set(key: .createParents, value: createParents)
+
+        do {
+            try await xpcSend(message: request, timeout: .seconds(300))
+        } catch {
+            throw ContainerizationError(
+                .internalError,
+                message: "failed to copy into container \(id)",
+                cause: error
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Copy a file or directory from the container to the host.
+    public func copyOut(id: String, source: URL, destination: URL, createParents: Bool = true) async throws {
+        let request = XPCMessage(route: .containerCopyOut)
+        request.set(key: .id, value: id)
+        request.set(key: .sourcePath, value: source.path)
+        request.set(key: .destinationPath, value: destination.path)
+        request.set(key: .createParents, value: createParents)
+
+        do {
+            try await xpcSend(message: request, timeout: .seconds(300))
+        } catch {
+            throw ContainerizationError(
+                .internalError,
+                message: "failed to copy from container \(id)",
+                cause: error
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Get resource usage statistics for a container.
     public func stats(id: String) async throws -> ContainerStats {
         let request = XPCMessage(route: .containerStats)
diff --git a/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Client/XPC+.swift b/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Client/XPC+.swift
index 952e1a4c7..4a6f6f42c 100644
--- a/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Client/XPC+.swift
+++ b/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Client/XPC+.swift
@@ -141,6 +141,12 @@ public enum XPCKeys: String {
 
     /// Disk usage
     case diskUsageStats
+
+    /// Copy parameters
+    case sourcePath
+    case destinationPath
+    case fileMode
+    case createParents
 }
 
 public enum XPCRoute: String {
@@ -160,6 +166,8 @@ public enum XPCRoute: String {
     case containerEvent
     case containerStats
     case containerDiskUsage
+    case containerCopyIn
+    case containerCopyOut
     case containerExport
 
     case pluginLoad
diff --git a/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Server/Containers/ContainersHarness.swift b/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Server/Containers/ContainersHarness.swift
index ad76412f2..d7da46e3d 100644
--- a/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Server/Containers/ContainersHarness.swift
+++ b/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Server/Containers/ContainersHarness.swift
@@ -295,6 +295,60 @@ public struct ContainersHarness: Sendable {
         return reply
     }
 
+    @Sendable
+    public func copyIn(_ message: XPCMessage) async throws -> XPCMessage {
+        guard let id = message.string(key: .id) else {
+            throw ContainerizationError(
+                .invalidArgument,
+                message: "id cannot be empty"
+            )
+        }
+        guard let sourcePath = message.string(key: .sourcePath) else {
+            throw ContainerizationError(
+                .invalidArgument,
+                message: "source path cannot be empty"
+            )
+        }
+        guard let destinationPath = message.string(key: .destinationPath) else {
+            throw ContainerizationError(
+                .invalidArgument,
+                message: "destination path cannot be empty"
+            )
+        }
+        let mode = UInt32(message.uint64(key: .fileMode))
+        let createParents = message.bool(key: .createParents)
+
+        try await service.copyIn(id: id, source: sourcePath, destination: destinationPath, mode: mode, createParents: createParents)
+        return message.reply()
+    }
+
+    @Sendable
+    public func copyOut(_ message: XPCMessage) async throws -> XPCMessage {
+        guard let id = message.string(key: .id) else {
+            throw ContainerizationError(
+                .invalidArgument,
+                message: "id cannot be empty"
+            )
+        }
+        guard let sourcePath = message.string(key: .sourcePath) else {
+            throw ContainerizationError(
+                .invalidArgument,
+                message: "source path cannot be empty"
+            )
+        }
+        guard let destinationPath = message.string(key: .destinationPath) else {
+            throw ContainerizationError(
+                .invalidArgument,
+                message: "destination path cannot be empty"
+            )
+        }
+
+        let createParents = message.bool(key: .createParents)
+
+        try await service.copyOut(id: id, source: sourcePath, destination: destinationPath, createParents: createParents)
+        return message.reply()
+    }
+
     @Sendable
     public func stats(_ message: XPCMessage) async throws -> XPCMessage {
         let id = message.string(key: .id)
diff --git a/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Server/Containers/ContainersService.swift b/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Server/Containers/ContainersService.swift
index 8bcf8095f..12f45c4dc 100644
--- a/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Server/Containers/ContainersService.swift
+++ b/Sources/Services/ContainerAPIService/Server/Containers/ContainersService.swift
@@ -763,6 +763,30 @@ public actor ContainersService {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Copy a file or directory from the host into the container.
+    public func copyIn(id: String, source: String, destination: String, mode: UInt32, createParents: Bool = true) async throws {
+        self.log.debug("\(#function)")
+
+        let state = try self._getContainerState(id: id)
+        guard state.snapshot.status == .running else {
+            throw ContainerizationError(.invalidState, message: "container \(id) is not running")
+        }
+        let client = try state.getClient()
+        try await client.copyIn(source: source, destination: destination, mode: mode, createParents: createParents)
+    }
+
+    /// Copy a file or directory from the container to the host.
+    public func copyOut(id: String, source: String, destination: String, createParents: Bool = true) async throws {
+        self.log.debug("\(#function)")
+
+        let state = try self._getContainerState(id: id)
+        guard state.snapshot.status == .running else {
+            throw ContainerizationError(.invalidState, message: "container \(id) is not running")
+        }
+        let client = try state.getClient()
+        try await client.copyOut(source: source, destination: destination, createParents: createParents)
+    }
+
     /// Get statistics for the container.
     public func stats(id: String) async throws -> ContainerStats {
         log.debug(
diff --git a/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Client/SandboxClient.swift b/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Client/SandboxClient.swift
index 23cbc946c..d3b80fa22 100644
--- a/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Client/SandboxClient.swift
+++ b/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Client/SandboxClient.swift
@@ -284,6 +284,41 @@ extension SandboxClient {
         }
     }
 
+    public func copyIn(source: String, destination: String, mode: UInt32, createParents: Bool = true) async throws {
+        let request = XPCMessage(route: SandboxRoutes.copyIn.rawValue)
+        request.set(key: SandboxKeys.sourcePath.rawValue, value: source)
+        request.set(key: SandboxKeys.destinationPath.rawValue, value: destination)
+        request.set(key: SandboxKeys.fileMode.rawValue, value: UInt64(mode))
+        request.set(key: SandboxKeys.createParents.rawValue, value: createParents)
+
+        do {
+            try await self.client.send(request, responseTimeout: .seconds(300))
+        } catch {
+            throw ContainerizationError(
+                .internalError,
+                message: "failed to copy into container \(self.id)",
+                cause: error
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    public func copyOut(source: String, destination: String, createParents: Bool = true) async throws {
+        let request = XPCMessage(route: SandboxRoutes.copyOut.rawValue)
+        request.set(key: SandboxKeys.sourcePath.rawValue, value: source)
+        request.set(key: SandboxKeys.destinationPath.rawValue, value: destination)
+        request.set(key: SandboxKeys.createParents.rawValue, value: createParents)
+
+        do {
+            try await self.client.send(request, responseTimeout: .seconds(300))
+        } catch {
+            throw ContainerizationError(
+                .internalError,
+                message: "failed to copy from container \(self.id)",
+                cause: error
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
     public func statistics() async throws -> ContainerStats {
         let request = XPCMessage(route: SandboxRoutes.statistics.rawValue)
 
diff --git a/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Client/SandboxKeys.swift b/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Client/SandboxKeys.swift
index ef9719af7..07eb04f60 100644
--- a/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Client/SandboxKeys.swift
+++ b/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Client/SandboxKeys.swift
@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ public enum SandboxKeys: String {
     /// Container statistics
     case statistics
 
+    /// Copy parameters
+    case sourcePath
+    case destinationPath
+    case fileMode
+    case createParents
+
     /// Special-case environment variables recomputed on each container start
     case dynamicEnv
 
diff --git a/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Client/SandboxRoutes.swift b/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Client/SandboxRoutes.swift
index 79af080f9..b0da30f54 100644
--- a/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Client/SandboxRoutes.swift
+++ b/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Client/SandboxRoutes.swift
@@ -41,4 +41,8 @@ public enum SandboxRoutes: String {
     case shutdown = "com.apple.container.sandbox/shutdown"
     /// Get statistics for the sandbox.
     case statistics = "com.apple.container.sandbox/statistics"
+    /// Copy a file or directory into the container.
+    case copyIn = "com.apple.container.sandbox/copyIn"
+    /// Copy a file or directory out of the container.
+    case copyOut = "com.apple.container.sandbox/copyOut"
 }
diff --git a/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Server/SandboxService.swift b/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Server/SandboxService.swift
index e65b09a45..40826b92c 100644
--- a/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Server/SandboxService.swift
+++ b/Sources/Services/ContainerSandboxService/Server/SandboxService.swift
@@ -668,6 +668,96 @@ public actor SandboxService {
         return reply
     }
 
+    /// Copy a file or directory from the host into the container.
+    ///
+    /// - Parameters:
+    ///   - message: An XPC message with the following parameters:
+    ///     - sourcePath: The host path to copy from.
+    ///     - destinationPath: The container path to copy to.
+    ///     - fileMode: The file permissions mode (UInt64).
+    ///
+    /// - Returns: An XPC message with no parameters.
+    @Sendable
+    public func copyIn(_ message: XPCMessage) async throws -> XPCMessage {
+        self.log.info("`copyIn` xpc handler")
+        switch self.state {
+        case .running, .booted:
+            guard let source = message.string(key: SandboxKeys.sourcePath.rawValue) else {
+                throw ContainerizationError(
+                    .invalidArgument,
+                    message: "no source path supplied for copyIn"
+                )
+            }
+            guard let destination = message.string(key: SandboxKeys.destinationPath.rawValue) else {
+                throw ContainerizationError(
+                    .invalidArgument,
+                    message: "no destination path supplied for copyIn"
+                )
+            }
+            let mode = UInt32(message.uint64(key: SandboxKeys.fileMode.rawValue))
+            let createParents = message.bool(key: SandboxKeys.createParents.rawValue)
+
+            let ctr = try getContainer()
+            try await ctr.container.copyIn(
+                from: URL(fileURLWithPath: source),
+                to: URL(fileURLWithPath: destination),
+                mode: mode,
+                createParents: createParents
+            )
+
+            return message.reply()
+        default:
+            throw ContainerizationError(
+                .invalidState,
+                message: "cannot copyIn: container is not running"
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Copy a file or directory from the container to the host.
+    ///
+    /// - Parameters:
+    ///   - message: An XPC message with the following parameters:
+    ///     - sourcePath: The container path to copy from.
+    ///     - destinationPath: The host path to copy to.
+    ///
+    /// - Returns: An XPC message with no parameters.
+    @Sendable
+    public func copyOut(_ message: XPCMessage) async throws -> XPCMessage {
+        self.log.info("`copyOut` xpc handler")
+        switch self.state {
+        case .running, .booted:
+            guard let source = message.string(key: SandboxKeys.sourcePath.rawValue) else {
+                throw ContainerizationError(
+                    .invalidArgument,
+                    message: "no source path supplied for copyOut"
+                )
+            }
+            guard let destination = message.string(key: SandboxKeys.destinationPath.rawValue) else {
+                throw ContainerizationError(
+                    .invalidArgument,
+                    message: "no destination path supplied for copyOut"
+                )
+            }
+
+            let createParents = message.bool(key: SandboxKeys.createParents.rawValue)
+
+            let ctr = try getContainer()
+            try await ctr.container.copyOut(
+                from: URL(fileURLWithPath: source),
+                to: URL(fileURLWithPath: destination),
+                createParents: createParents
+            )
+
+            return message.reply()
+        default:
+            throw ContainerizationError(
+                .invalidState,
+                message: "cannot copyOut: container is not running"
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Dial a vsock port on the virtual machine.
     ///
     /// - Parameters:
diff --git a/Tests/CLITests/Subcommands/Containers/TestCLICopy.swift b/Tests/CLITests/Subcommands/Containers/TestCLICopy.swift
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0deab7b9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/CLITests/Subcommands/Containers/TestCLICopy.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,339 @@
+//===----------------------------------------------------------------------===//
+// Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. and the container project authors.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//   https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+//===----------------------------------------------------------------------===//
+
+import ContainerizationExtras
+import Foundation
+import Testing
+
+class TestCLICopyCommand: CLITest {
+    private func getTestName() -> String {
+        Test.current!.name.trimmingCharacters(in: ["(", ")"]).lowercased()
+    }
+
+    @Test func testCopyHostToContainer() throws {
+        do {
+            let name = getTestName()
+            try doCreate(name: name)
+            defer {
+                try? doStop(name: name)
+            }
+            try doStart(name: name)
+            try waitForContainerRunning(name)
+
+            let tempFile = testDir.appendingPathComponent("testfile.txt")
+            let content = "hello from host"
+            try content.write(to: tempFile, atomically: true, encoding: .utf8)
+
+            let (_, _, error, status) = try run(arguments: [
+                "copy",
+                tempFile.path,
+                "\(name):/tmp/",
+            ])
+            if status != 0 {
+                throw CLIError.executionFailed("copy failed: \(error)")
+            }
+
+            let catOutput = try doExec(name: name, cmd: ["cat", "/tmp/testfile.txt"])
+            #expect(
+                catOutput.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) == content,
+                "expected file content to be '\(content)', got '\(catOutput.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines))'"
+            )
+
+            try doStop(name: name)
+        } catch {
+            Issue.record("failed to copy file from host to container: \(error)")
+            return
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func testCopyContainerToHost() throws {
+        do {
+            let name = getTestName()
+            try doCreate(name: name)
+            defer {
+                try? doStop(name: name)
+            }
+            try doStart(name: name)
+            try waitForContainerRunning(name)
+
+            let content = "hello from container"
+            _ = try doExec(name: name, cmd: ["sh", "-c", "echo -n '\(content)' > /tmp/containerfile.txt"])
+
+            let destPath = testDir.appendingPathComponent("containerfile.txt")
+            let (_, _, error, status) = try run(arguments: [
+                "copy",
+                "\(name):/tmp/containerfile.txt",
+                destPath.path,
+            ])
+            if status != 0 {
+                throw CLIError.executionFailed("copy failed: \(error)")
+            }
+
+            let hostContent = try String(contentsOfFile: destPath.path, encoding: .utf8)
+            #expect(
+                hostContent == content,
+                "expected file content to be '\(content)', got '\(hostContent)'"
+            )
+
+            try doStop(name: name)
+        } catch {
+            Issue.record("failed to copy file from container to host: \(error)")
+            return
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func testCopyUsingCpAlias() throws {
+        do {
+            let name = getTestName()
+            try doCreate(name: name)
+            defer {
+                try? doStop(name: name)
+            }
+            try doStart(name: name)
+            try waitForContainerRunning(name)
+
+            let tempFile = testDir.appendingPathComponent("aliasfile.txt")
+            let content = "testing cp alias"
+            try content.write(to: tempFile, atomically: true, encoding: .utf8)
+
+            let (_, _, error, status) = try run(arguments: [
+                "cp",
+                tempFile.path,
+                "\(name):/tmp/",
+            ])
+            if status != 0 {
+                throw CLIError.executionFailed("cp alias failed: \(error)")
+            }
+
+            let catOutput = try doExec(name: name, cmd: ["cat", "/tmp/aliasfile.txt"])
+            #expect(
+                catOutput.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) == content,
+                "expected file content to be '\(content)', got '\(catOutput.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines))'"
+            )
+
+            try doStop(name: name)
+        } catch {
+            Issue.record("failed to copy file using cp alias: \(error)")
+            return
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func testCopyLocalToLocalFails() throws {
+        let (_, _, _, status) = try run(arguments: [
+            "copy",
+            "/tmp/source.txt",
+            "/tmp/dest.txt",
+        ])
+        #expect(status != 0, "expected local-to-local copy to fail")
+    }
+
+    @Test func testCopyContainerToContainerFails() throws {
+        do {
+            let name = getTestName()
+            try doCreate(name: name)
+            defer {
+                try? doStop(name: name)
+            }
+
+            let (_, _, _, status) = try run(arguments: [
+                "copy",
+                "\(name):/tmp/file.txt",
+                "\(name):/tmp/file2.txt",
+            ])
+            #expect(status != 0, "expected container-to-container copy to fail")
+        } catch {
+            Issue.record("failed test for container-to-container copy: \(error)")
+            return
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func testCopyToNonRunningContainerFails() throws {
+        do {
+            let name = getTestName()
+            try doCreate(name: name)
+            defer {
+                try? doStop(name: name)
+            }
+
+            let tempFile = testDir.appendingPathComponent("norun.txt")
+            try "test".write(to: tempFile, atomically: true, encoding: .utf8)
+
+            let (_, _, _, status) = try run(arguments: [
+                "copy",
+                tempFile.path,
+                "\(name):/tmp/",
+            ])
+            #expect(status != 0, "expected copy to non-running container to fail")
+        } catch {
+            Issue.record("failed test for copy to non-running container: \(error)")
+            return
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func testCopyDirectoryHostToContainer() throws {
+        do {
+            let name = getTestName()
+            try doCreate(name: name)
+            defer {
+                try? doStop(name: name)
+            }
+            try doStart(name: name)
+            try waitForContainerRunning(name)
+
+            let srcDir = testDir.appendingPathComponent("hostdir")
+            try FileManager.default.createDirectory(at: srcDir, withIntermediateDirectories: true)
+            try "file1 content".write(to: srcDir.appendingPathComponent("file1.txt"), atomically: true, encoding: .utf8)
+            try "file2 content".write(to: srcDir.appendingPathComponent("file2.txt"), atomically: true, encoding: .utf8)
+
+            let (_, _, error, status) = try run(arguments: [
+                "copy",
+                srcDir.path,
+                "\(name):/tmp/",
+            ])
+            if status != 0 {
+                throw CLIError.executionFailed("copy directory failed: \(error)")
+            }
+
+            let cat1 = try doExec(name: name, cmd: ["cat", "/tmp/hostdir/file1.txt"])
+            #expect(
+                cat1.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) == "file1 content",
+                "expected file1 content, got '\(cat1.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines))'"
+            )
+            let cat2 = try doExec(name: name, cmd: ["cat", "/tmp/hostdir/file2.txt"])
+            #expect(
+                cat2.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) == "file2 content",
+                "expected file2 content, got '\(cat2.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines))'"
+            )
+
+            try doStop(name: name)
+        } catch {
+            Issue.record("failed to copy directory from host to container: \(error)")
+            return
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func testCopyDirectoryContainerToHost() throws {
+        do {
+            let name = getTestName()
+            try doCreate(name: name)
+            defer {
+                try? doStop(name: name)
+            }
+            try doStart(name: name)
+            try waitForContainerRunning(name)
+
+            _ = try doExec(name: name, cmd: ["sh", "-c", "mkdir -p /tmp/guestdir && echo -n 'aaa' > /tmp/guestdir/a.txt && echo -n 'bbb' > /tmp/guestdir/b.txt"])
+
+            let destPath = testDir.appendingPathComponent("guestdir")
+            let (_, _, error, status) = try run(arguments: [
+                "copy",
+                "\(name):/tmp/guestdir",
+                destPath.path,
+            ])
+            if status != 0 {
+                throw CLIError.executionFailed("copy directory failed: \(error)")
+            }
+
+            let contentA = try String(contentsOfFile: destPath.appendingPathComponent("a.txt").path, encoding: .utf8)
+            #expect(contentA == "aaa", "expected 'aaa', got '\(contentA)'")
+            let contentB = try String(contentsOfFile: destPath.appendingPathComponent("b.txt").path, encoding: .utf8)
+            #expect(contentB == "bbb", "expected 'bbb', got '\(contentB)'")
+
+            try doStop(name: name)
+        } catch {
+            Issue.record("failed to copy directory from container to host: \(error)")
+            return
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func testCopyNestedDirectoryHostToContainer() throws {
+        do {
+            let name = getTestName()
+            try doCreate(name: name)
+            defer {
+                try? doStop(name: name)
+            }
+            try doStart(name: name)
+            try waitForContainerRunning(name)
+
+            let srcDir = testDir.appendingPathComponent("nested")
+            let subDir = srcDir.appendingPathComponent("sub")
+            try FileManager.default.createDirectory(at: subDir, withIntermediateDirectories: true)
+            try "root file".write(to: srcDir.appendingPathComponent("root.txt"), atomically: true, encoding: .utf8)
+            try "nested file".write(to: subDir.appendingPathComponent("deep.txt"), atomically: true, encoding: .utf8)
+
+            let (_, _, error, status) = try run(arguments: [
+                "copy",
+                srcDir.path,
+                "\(name):/tmp/",
+            ])
+            if status != 0 {
+                throw CLIError.executionFailed("copy nested directory failed: \(error)")
+            }
+
+            let catRoot = try doExec(name: name, cmd: ["cat", "/tmp/nested/root.txt"])
+            #expect(
+                catRoot.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) == "root file",
+                "expected 'root file', got '\(catRoot.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines))'"
+            )
+            let catDeep = try doExec(name: name, cmd: ["cat", "/tmp/nested/sub/deep.txt"])
+            #expect(
+                catDeep.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) == "nested file",
+                "expected 'nested file', got '\(catDeep.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines))'"
+            )
+
+            try doStop(name: name)
+        } catch {
+            Issue.record("failed to copy nested directory from host to container: \(error)")
+            return
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func testCopyNestedDirectoryContainerToHost() throws {
+        do {
+            let name = getTestName()
+            try doCreate(name: name)
+            defer {
+                try? doStop(name: name)
+            }
+            try doStart(name: name)
+            try waitForContainerRunning(name)
+
+            _ = try doExec(
+                name: name, cmd: ["sh", "-c", "mkdir -p /tmp/nested/sub && echo -n 'root file' > /tmp/nested/root.txt && echo -n 'nested file' > /tmp/nested/sub/deep.txt"])
+
+            let destPath = testDir.appendingPathComponent("nested")
+            let (_, _, error, status) = try run(arguments: [
+                "copy",
+                "\(name):/tmp/nested",
+                destPath.path,
+            ])
+            if status != 0 {
+                throw CLIError.executionFailed("copy nested directory failed: \(error)")
+            }
+
+            let contentRoot = try String(contentsOfFile: destPath.appendingPathComponent("root.txt").path, encoding: .utf8)
+            #expect(contentRoot == "root file", "expected 'root file', got '\(contentRoot)'")
+            let contentDeep = try String(contentsOfFile: destPath.appendingPathComponent("sub").appendingPathComponent("deep.txt").path, encoding: .utf8)
+            #expect(contentDeep == "nested file", "expected 'nested file', got '\(contentDeep)'")
+
+            try doStop(name: name)
+        } catch {
+            Issue.record("failed to copy nested directory from container to host: \(error)")
+            return
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/docs/command-reference.md b/docs/command-reference.md
index de231de9b..c4efb0812 100644
--- a/docs/command-reference.md
+++ b/docs/command-reference.md
@@ -465,6 +465,39 @@ container stats --no-stream web
 container stats --format json --no-stream web
 ```
 
+### `container copy (cp)`
+
+Copies files between a container and the local filesystem. The container must be running. One of the source or destination must be a container reference in the form `container_id:path`.
+
+**Usage**
+
+```bash
+container copy [--debug] <source> <destination>
+```
+
+**Arguments**
+
+*   `<source>`: Source path (local path or `container_id:path`)
+*   `<destination>`: Destination path (local path or `container_id:path`)
+
+**Path Format**
+
+*   Local path: `/path/to/file` or `relative/path`
+*   Container path: `container_id:/path/in/container`
+
+**Examples**
+
+```bash
+# copy a file from host to container
+container cp ./config.json mycontainer:/etc/app/
+
+# copy a file from container to host
+container cp mycontainer:/var/log/app.log ./logs/
+
+# copy using the full command name
+container copy ./data.txt mycontainer:/tmp/
+```
+
 ### `container prune`
 
 Removes stopped containers to reclaim disk space. The command outputs the amount of space freed after deletion.