diff --git a/plugin-system/src/model/index.ts b/plugin-system/src/model/index.ts
index 350c4190..3cc30c4a 100644
--- a/plugin-system/src/model/index.ts
+++ b/plugin-system/src/model/index.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 
 export * from './datasource';
 export * from './legend';
+export * from './log-queries';
+export * from './log-volume-utils';
 export * from './panels';
 export * from './plugins';
 export * from './plugin-base';
diff --git a/plugin-system/src/model/log-queries.ts b/plugin-system/src/model/log-queries.ts
index 1d6b30fa..2a023917 100644
--- a/plugin-system/src/model/log-queries.ts
+++ b/plugin-system/src/model/log-queries.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
-import { AbsoluteTimeRange, UnknownSpec, LogData } from '@perses-dev/spec';
+import { AbsoluteTimeRange, UnknownSpec, LogData, QueryDefinition } from '@perses-dev/spec';
 import { DatasourceStore, Plugin, VariableStateMap } from '@perses-dev/plugin-system';
 
 export interface LogQueryResult {
@@ -36,4 +36,5 @@ type LogQueryPluginDependencies = {
 export interface LogQueryPlugin<Spec = UnknownSpec> extends Plugin<Spec> {
   getLogData: (spec: Spec, ctx: LogQueryContext, abortSignal?: AbortSignal) => Promise<LogQueryResult>;
   dependsOn?: (spec: Spec, ctx: LogQueryContext) => LogQueryPluginDependencies;
+  createVolumeQuery?: (spec: Spec, ctx: LogQueryContext) => QueryDefinition | null;
 }
diff --git a/plugin-system/src/model/log-volume-utils.ts b/plugin-system/src/model/log-volume-utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9e27a255
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugin-system/src/model/log-volume-utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+// Copyright The Perses 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
+//
+// http://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.
+
+// Target number of bars for log volume histogram
+const TARGET_HISTOGRAM_BARS = 40;
+
+// Standard intervals for histogram calculations (in milliseconds)
+const STANDARD_INTERVALS = [
+  { ms: 1000, label: '1s' },
+  { ms: 2000, label: '2s' },
+  { ms: 5000, label: '5s' },
+  { ms: 10000, label: '10s' },
+  { ms: 15000, label: '15s' },
+  { ms: 30000, label: '30s' },
+  { ms: 60000, label: '1m' },
+  { ms: 120000, label: '2m' },
+  { ms: 300000, label: '5m' },
+  { ms: 600000, label: '10m' },
+  { ms: 900000, label: '15m' },
+  { ms: 1800000, label: '30m' },
+  { ms: 3600000, label: '1h' },
+  { ms: 7200000, label: '2h' },
+  { ms: 21600000, label: '6h' },
+  { ms: 43200000, label: '12h' },
+  { ms: 86400000, label: '1d' },
+  { ms: 604800000, label: '7d' },
+  { ms: 2592000000, label: '30d' },
+] as const;
+
+/**
+ * Calculates an appropriate interval for log volume histograms based on time range.
+ * Uses standard round intervals for better alignment with time-series data.
+ */
+export function calculateVolumeInterval(timeRangeMs: number): string {
+  // Prefer smallest interval that produces 20-100 bars (optimal range)
+  for (const interval of STANDARD_INTERVALS) {
+    const barCount = timeRangeMs / interval.ms;
+    if (barCount >= 20 && barCount <= 100) {
+      return interval.label;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Fallback: find closest to target if no interval fits optimal range
+  let bestInterval = STANDARD_INTERVALS[STANDARD_INTERVALS.length - 1]!;
+  let bestDistance = Infinity;
+  for (const interval of STANDARD_INTERVALS) {
+    const barCount = timeRangeMs / interval.ms;
+    const distance = Math.abs(barCount - TARGET_HISTOGRAM_BARS);
+    if (distance < bestDistance) {
+      bestDistance = distance;
+      bestInterval = interval;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return bestInterval.label;
+}