diff --git a/.changeset/bright-peas-trade.md b/.changeset/bright-peas-trade.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6679ead9da6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/bright-peas-trade.md
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+---
+'braid-design-system': patch
+---
+
+---
+updated:
+  - AccordionItem
+  - Button
+  - ButtonLink
+  - FieldMessage
+  - Heading
+  - MenuItem
+  - MenuItemCheckbox
+  - Notice
+  - Rating
+  - Tab
+  - Text
+---
+
+Standardise icon slot spacing
+
+Normalise the space between the `icon` slot and component content across the system.
diff --git a/.changeset/chatty-yaks-drop.md b/.changeset/chatty-yaks-drop.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c0024e31639
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/chatty-yaks-drop.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+'braid-design-system': patch
+---
+
+---
+updated:
+  - Rating
+---
+
+**Rating:** Simplify internal layout
+
+Simplify the internal HTML and layout of the `Rating` component.
+This change should not affect the appearance or behavior of the component.
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Accordion/AccordionItem.tsx b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Accordion/AccordionItem.tsx
index 6c6e86a49bb..3a5d3b49cd0 100644
--- a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Accordion/AccordionItem.tsx
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Accordion/AccordionItem.tsx
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
 import buildDataAttributes, {
   type DataAttributeMap,
 } from '../private/buildDataAttributes';
+import { badgeSlotSpace } from '../private/badgeSlotSpace';
 import * as styles from './AccordionItem.css';
 
 const itemSpaceForSize = {
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ export const AccordionItem = ({
               <Column>
                 <Text size={size} weight={weight} tone={tone} icon={icon}>
                   {badge ? (
-                    <Box component="span" paddingRight="xsmall">
+                    <Box component="span" paddingRight={badgeSlotSpace}>
                       {label}
                     </Box>
                   ) : (
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Button/Button.tsx b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Button/Button.tsx
index 6c496afb051..64b77be9ab2 100644
--- a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Button/Button.tsx
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Button/Button.tsx
@@ -386,7 +386,6 @@ export const ButtonText = ({
         {icon && iconPosition === 'leading' ? (
           <AvoidWidowIcon
             iconPosition={iconPosition}
-            space="xsmall"
             className={
               shouldReducePaddingX || bleed
                 ? null
@@ -401,7 +400,6 @@ export const ButtonText = ({
         {!loading && icon && iconPosition === 'trailing' ? (
           <AvoidWidowIcon
             iconPosition={iconPosition}
-            space="xsmall"
             className={
               shouldReducePaddingX || bleed
                 ? null
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/MenuItem/useMenuItem.tsx b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/MenuItem/useMenuItem.tsx
index 354d95d8b13..3bfb8e1ae77 100644
--- a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/MenuItem/useMenuItem.tsx
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/MenuItem/useMenuItem.tsx
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ import { atoms } from '../../css/atoms/atoms';
 import { iconSize } from '../../hooks/useIcon';
 import * as styles from './useMenuItem.css';
 import { MenuRendererContext } from '../MenuRenderer/MenuRendererContext';
+import { useBraidTheme } from '../BraidProvider/BraidThemeContext';
+import { iconSlotSpace } from '../private/iconSlotSpace';
+import { badgeSlotSpace } from '../private/badgeSlotSpace';
 
 const {
   MENU_ITEM_UP,
@@ -35,7 +38,6 @@ const {
 } = actionTypes;
 
 const menuItemChildrenSize = 'standard';
-const menuItemPaddingSize = 'small';
 
 type MenuItemTone = 'critical' | undefined;
 
@@ -157,7 +159,7 @@ export function useMenuItem<MenuItemElement extends HTMLElement>({
         atoms({
           display: 'block',
           width: 'full',
-          paddingX: menuItemPaddingSize,
+          paddingX: 'small',
           cursor: 'pointer',
           textAlign: 'left',
           outline: 'none',
@@ -183,6 +185,9 @@ function MenuItemChildren({
   formElement = false,
 }: MenuItemChildrenProps) {
   const menuRendererContext = useContext(MenuRendererContext);
+  const legacy = useBraidTheme().legacy;
+  const iconSpace = legacy ? 'small' : iconSlotSpace;
+  const badgeSpace = legacy ? 'small' : badgeSlotSpace;
 
   assert(
     menuRendererContext !== null,
@@ -220,7 +225,7 @@ function MenuItemChildren({
       {leftSlot ? (
         <Box
           component="span"
-          paddingRight={menuItemPaddingSize}
+          paddingRight={iconSpace}
           flexShrink={0}
           minWidth={0}
         >
@@ -240,7 +245,7 @@ function MenuItemChildren({
       {badge ? (
         <Box
           component="span"
-          paddingLeft={menuItemPaddingSize}
+          paddingLeft={badgeSpace}
           flexShrink={0}
           minWidth={0}
         >
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/MenuItemCheckbox/MenuItemCheckbox.tsx b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/MenuItemCheckbox/MenuItemCheckbox.tsx
index be54a81814d..a21e1597c7f 100644
--- a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/MenuItemCheckbox/MenuItemCheckbox.tsx
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/MenuItemCheckbox/MenuItemCheckbox.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import { Box } from '../Box/Box';
 import { IconTick } from '../icons/IconTick/IconTick';
 import type { MenuItemProps } from '../MenuItem/MenuItem';
 import { useMenuItem } from '../MenuItem/useMenuItem';
+import { iconSlotSpace } from '../private/iconSlotSpace';
+import { useBraidTheme } from '../BraidProvider/BraidThemeContext';
 
 import * as styles from './MenuItemCheckbox.css';
 
@@ -26,6 +28,8 @@ export const MenuItemCheckbox = ({
     data,
     id,
   });
+  const legacy = useBraidTheme().legacy;
+  const iconSpace = legacy ? 'xsmall' : iconSlotSpace;
 
   return (
     <Box
@@ -43,7 +47,7 @@ export const MenuItemCheckbox = ({
         boxShadow="borderField"
         position="relative"
         background={{ lightMode: 'surface' }}
-        marginRight="xsmall"
+        marginRight={iconSpace}
         flexShrink={0}
         className={styles.checkboxSize}
       >
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Notice/Notice.tsx b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Notice/Notice.tsx
index d0d1ea2aed3..3911f9975be 100644
--- a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Notice/Notice.tsx
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Notice/Notice.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { DefaultTextPropsProvider } from '../private/defaultTextProps';
 import buildDataAttributes, {
   type DataAttributeMap,
 } from '../private/buildDataAttributes';
+import { iconSlotSpace } from '../private/iconSlotSpace';
 
 type Tone = 'promote' | 'info' | 'positive' | 'critical';
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ export const Notice = ({
       {...buildDataAttributes({ data, validateRestProps: restProps })}
     >
       <DefaultTextPropsProvider tone={tone}>
-        <Columns space="xsmall">
+        <Columns space={iconSlotSpace}>
           <Column width="content">
             <Text>
               <Icon />
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Rating/Rating.css.ts b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Rating/Rating.css.ts
index 37d40cd3512..385d01a5004 100644
--- a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Rating/Rating.css.ts
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Rating/Rating.css.ts
@@ -18,10 +18,7 @@ export const darkModeStarColor = style(
   }),
 );
 
-export const starSpacing = style({
-  paddingRight: '1px',
-});
-
-export const textSpacing = style({
-  paddingLeft: '0.4em',
+export const inlineFlex = style({
+  display: 'inline-flex',
+  gap: '1px',
 });
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Rating/Rating.tsx b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Rating/Rating.tsx
index 60c54c253b9..0cfb3e561f9 100644
--- a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Rating/Rating.tsx
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Rating/Rating.tsx
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@ import React from 'react';
 import assert from 'assert';
 import dedent from 'dedent';
 import { useBackground } from '../Box/BackgroundContext';
-import useIcon, { type UseIconProps } from '../../hooks/useIcon';
+import type { UseIconProps } from '../../hooks/useIcon';
 import { Box } from '../Box/Box';
 import { type TextProps, Text } from '../Text/Text';
 import { IconStarSvg as IconStarEmptySvg } from '../icons/IconStar/IconStarSvg';
 import { IconStarHalfSvg } from '../icons/IconStar/IconStarHalfSvg';
+import { IconContainer } from '../icons/IconContainer';
 import { IconStarActiveSvg as IconStarFullSvg } from '../icons/IconStar/IconStarActiveSvg';
+import { iconSlotSpace } from '../private/iconSlotSpace';
 import * as styles from './Rating.css';
 
 const getPercent = (rating: number, position: number) =>
@@ -18,10 +20,6 @@ type RatingStar = {
 } & UseIconProps;
 const RatingStar = ({ percent, ...restProps }: RatingStar) => {
   const currentBg = useBackground();
-  const {
-    svgProps: { className, ...svgProps },
-  } = useIcon(restProps);
-
   let component = IconStarEmptySvg;
 
   if (percent >= 25 && percent < 75) {
@@ -33,21 +31,27 @@ const RatingStar = ({ percent, ...restProps }: RatingStar) => {
   }
 
   return (
-    <Box
-      component={component}
-      {...svgProps}
-      className={[
-        className,
-        {
-          [styles.lightModeStarColor]:
-            currentBg.lightMode === 'body' || currentBg.lightMode === 'surface',
-        },
-        {
-          [styles.darkModeStarColor]:
-            currentBg.darkMode === 'body' || currentBg.darkMode === 'surface',
-        },
-      ]}
-    />
+    <IconContainer {...restProps}>
+      {({ className, ...svgProps }) => (
+        <Box
+          component={component}
+          {...svgProps}
+          className={[
+            className,
+            {
+              [styles.lightModeStarColor]:
+                currentBg.lightMode === 'body' ||
+                currentBg.lightMode === 'surface',
+            },
+            {
+              [styles.darkModeStarColor]:
+                currentBg.darkMode === 'body' ||
+                currentBg.darkMode === 'surface',
+            },
+          ]}
+        />
+      )}
+    </IconContainer>
   );
 };
 
@@ -102,32 +106,22 @@ export const Rating = ({
   return (
     <Text size={size} data={data} weight={weight}>
       <Box
-        display="inlineBlock"
+        component="span"
+        className={styles.inlineFlex}
         aria-label={
           ariaLabel || `${rating.toFixed(1)} out of ${ratingArr.length}`
         }
       >
         {variant === 'minimal' ? (
-          <Box display="inlineBlock" aria-hidden={true}>
-            <RatingStar percent={100} />
-          </Box>
+          <RatingStar percent={100} />
         ) : (
           ratingArr.map((_, position) => (
-            <Box
-              key={position}
-              display="inlineBlock"
-              aria-hidden={true}
-              className={{
-                [styles.starSpacing]: position !== ratingArr.length - 1,
-              }}
-            >
-              <RatingStar percent={getPercent(rating, position)} />
-            </Box>
+            <RatingStar key={position} percent={getPercent(rating, position)} />
           ))
         )}
       </Box>
       {variant !== 'starsOnly' && (
-        <Box component="span" className={styles.textSpacing} aria-hidden={true}>
+        <Box component="span" paddingLeft={iconSlotSpace} aria-hidden={true}>
           {rating.toFixed(1)}
         </Box>
       )}
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Tabs/Tab.tsx b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Tabs/Tab.tsx
index 9e0695f7a97..7ee2442e03b 100644
--- a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Tabs/Tab.tsx
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/Tabs/Tab.tsx
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import { useResponsiveValue } from '../useResponsiveValue/useResponsiveValue';
 import { smoothScroll, smoothScrollIntoView } from '../private/smoothScroll';
 import { useSpace } from '../useSpace/useSpace';
 import type { BraidTokens } from '../../themes/tokenType';
+import { badgeSlotSpace } from '../private/badgeSlotSpace';
 import * as styles from './Tabs.css';
 
 export interface TabProps {
@@ -294,7 +295,7 @@ export const Tab = ({
       </Box>
 
       {badge ? (
-        <Box component="span" paddingLeft="xsmall">
+        <Box component="span" paddingLeft={badgeSlotSpace}>
           {cloneElement(badge, { bleedY: true })}
         </Box>
       ) : null}
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/AvoidWidowIcon/AvoidWidowIcon.tsx b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/AvoidWidowIcon/AvoidWidowIcon.tsx
index 0f770f778c5..5289f224a22 100644
--- a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/AvoidWidowIcon/AvoidWidowIcon.tsx
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/AvoidWidowIcon/AvoidWidowIcon.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import type { Space } from '../../../css/atoms/atoms';
 import { type BoxProps, Box } from '../../Box/Box';
+import { iconSlotSpace } from '../iconSlotSpace';
 
 import * as styles from './AvoidWidowIcon.css';
 
@@ -12,13 +13,12 @@ interface Props extends Pick<BoxProps, 'children' | 'className'> {
 export const AvoidWidowIcon = ({
   children,
   iconPosition,
-  space = 'xxsmall',
   className,
 }: Props) => (
   <Box
     component="span"
-    paddingRight={iconPosition === 'leading' ? space : undefined}
-    paddingLeft={iconPosition === 'trailing' ? space : undefined}
+    paddingRight={iconPosition === 'leading' ? iconSlotSpace : undefined}
+    paddingLeft={iconPosition === 'trailing' ? iconSlotSpace : undefined}
     className={[styles.nowrap, className]}
     aria-hidden
   >
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/InlineField/InlineField.tsx b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/InlineField/InlineField.tsx
index 3eecd0bae15..a45f16b12b7 100644
--- a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/InlineField/InlineField.tsx
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/InlineField/InlineField.tsx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   StyledInput,
 } from './StyledInput';
 import { virtualTouchable } from '../touchable/virtualTouchable.css';
+import { badgeSlotSpace } from '../badgeSlotSpace';
 import * as styles from './InlineField.css';
 
 interface InlineFieldBaseProps {
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ export const InlineField = forwardRef<
                   size={size}
                 >
                   {badge ? (
-                    <Box component="span" paddingRight="xsmall">
+                    <Box component="span" paddingRight={badgeSlotSpace}>
                       {label}
                     </Box>
                   ) : (
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/Typography/Typography.tsx b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/Typography/Typography.tsx
index da711552c42..70cd2e68e76 100644
--- a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/Typography/Typography.tsx
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/Typography/Typography.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { MaxLines } from '../MaxLines/MaxLines';
 import type { UseIconProps } from '../../../hooks/useIcon';
 import { alignToFlexAlign } from '../../../utils/align';
 import { descenderCropFixForWebkitBox } from '../MaxLines/MaxLines.css';
+import { iconSlotSpace } from '../iconSlotSpace';
 
 export interface TypographyProps extends Pick<BoxProps, 'id' | 'component'> {
   children?: ReactNode;
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ export const Typography = ({
           <Box
             component="span"
             display="block"
-            paddingRight="xsmall"
+            paddingRight={iconSlotSpace}
             flexGrow={0}
             flexShrink={0}
             minWidth={0}
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/badgeSlotSpace.ts b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/badgeSlotSpace.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..48c33d57913
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/badgeSlotSpace.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export const badgeSlotSpace = 'xsmall';
diff --git a/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/iconSlotSpace.ts b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/iconSlotSpace.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ab9eca37b9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/braid-design-system/src/lib/components/private/iconSlotSpace.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export const iconSlotSpace = 'xxsmall';