diff --git a/esphome/components/pmsx003/pmsx003.cpp b/esphome/components/pmsx003/pmsx003.cpp
index 5de94699f0..43f2e12f55 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pmsx003/pmsx003.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/pmsx003/pmsx003.cpp
@@ -49,6 +49,47 @@ void PMSX003Component::set_formaldehyde_sensor(sensor::Sensor *formaldehyde_sens
 
 void PMSX003Component::loop() {
   const uint32_t now = millis();
+
+  // If we update less often than it takes the device to stabilise, spin the fan down
+  // rather than running it constantly. It does take some time to stabilise, so we
+  // need to keep track of what state we're in.
+  if (this->update_interval_ > PMS_STABILISING_MS) {
+    if (this->initialised_ == 0) {
+      this->send_command_(PMS_CMD_AUTO_MANUAL, 0);
+      this->send_command_(PMS_CMD_ON_STANDBY, 1);
+      this->initialised_ = 1;
+    }
+    switch (this->state_) {
+      case PMSX003_STATE_IDLE:
+        // Power on the sensor now so it'll be ready when we hit the update time
+        if (now - this->last_update_ < (this->update_interval_ - PMS_STABILISING_MS))
+          return;
+
+        this->state_ = PMSX003_STATE_STABILISING;
+        this->send_command_(PMS_CMD_ON_STANDBY, 1);
+        this->fan_on_time_ = now;
+        return;
+      case PMSX003_STATE_STABILISING:
+        // wait for the sensor to be stable
+        if (now - this->fan_on_time_ < PMS_STABILISING_MS)
+          return;
+        // consume any command responses that are in the serial buffer
+        while (this->available())
+          this->read_byte(&this->data_[0]);
+        // Trigger a new read
+        this->send_command_(PMS_CMD_TRIG_MANUAL, 0);
+        this->state_ = PMSX003_STATE_WAITING;
+        break;
+      case PMSX003_STATE_WAITING:
+        // Just go ahead and read stuff
+        break;
+    }
+  } else if (now - this->last_update_ < this->update_interval_) {
+    // Otherwise just leave the sensor powered up and come back when we hit the update
+    // time
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (now - this->last_transmission_ >= 500) {
     // last transmission too long ago. Reset RX index.
     this->data_index_ = 0;
@@ -65,6 +106,7 @@ void PMSX003Component::loop() {
       // finished
       this->parse_data_();
       this->data_index_ = 0;
+      this->last_update_ = now;
     } else if (!*check) {
       // wrong data
       this->data_index_ = 0;
@@ -131,6 +173,25 @@ optional<bool> PMSX003Component::check_byte_() {
   return {};
 }
 
+void PMSX003Component::send_command_(uint8_t cmd, uint16_t data) {
+  this->data_index_ = 0;
+  this->data_[data_index_++] = 0x42;
+  this->data_[data_index_++] = 0x4D;
+  this->data_[data_index_++] = cmd;
+  this->data_[data_index_++] = (data >> 8) & 0xFF;
+  this->data_[data_index_++] = (data >> 0) & 0xFF;
+  int sum = 0;
+  for (int i = 0; i < data_index_; i++) {
+    sum += this->data_[i];
+  }
+  this->data_[data_index_++] = (sum >> 8) & 0xFF;
+  this->data_[data_index_++] = (sum >> 0) & 0xFF;
+  for (int i = 0; i < data_index_; i++) {
+    this->write_byte(this->data_[i]);
+  }
+  this->data_index_ = 0;
+}
+
 void PMSX003Component::parse_data_() {
   switch (this->type_) {
     case PMSX003_TYPE_5003ST: {
@@ -218,6 +279,13 @@ void PMSX003Component::parse_data_() {
     }
   }
 
+  // Spin down the sensor again if we aren't going to need it until more time has
+  // passed than it takes to stabilise
+  if (this->update_interval_ > PMS_STABILISING_MS) {
+    this->send_command_(PMS_CMD_ON_STANDBY, 0);
+    this->state_ = PMSX003_STATE_IDLE;
+  }
+
   this->status_clear_warning();
 }
 uint16_t PMSX003Component::get_16_bit_uint_(uint8_t start_index) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/pmsx003/pmsx003.h b/esphome/components/pmsx003/pmsx003.h
index fd6364c70c..eb33f66909 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pmsx003/pmsx003.h
+++ b/esphome/components/pmsx003/pmsx003.h
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@
 namespace esphome {
 namespace pmsx003 {
 
+// known command bytes
+#define PMS_CMD_AUTO_MANUAL 0xE1  // data=0: perform measurement manually, data=1: perform measurement automatically
+#define PMS_CMD_TRIG_MANUAL 0xE2  // trigger a manual measurement
+#define PMS_CMD_ON_STANDBY 0xE4   // data=0: go to standby mode, data=1: go to normal mode
+
+static const uint16_t PMS_STABILISING_MS = 30000;  // time taken for the sensor to become stable after power on
+
 enum PMSX003Type {
   PMSX003_TYPE_X003 = 0,
   PMSX003_TYPE_5003T,
@@ -14,6 +21,12 @@ enum PMSX003Type {
   PMSX003_TYPE_5003S,
 };
 
+enum PMSX003State {
+  PMSX003_STATE_IDLE = 0,
+  PMSX003_STATE_STABILISING,
+  PMSX003_STATE_WAITING,
+};
+
 class PMSX003Component : public uart::UARTDevice, public Component {
  public:
   PMSX003Component() = default;
@@ -23,6 +36,8 @@ class PMSX003Component : public uart::UARTDevice, public Component {
 
   void set_type(PMSX003Type type) { type_ = type; }
 
+  void set_update_interval(uint32_t val) { update_interval_ = val; };
+
   void set_pm_1_0_std_sensor(sensor::Sensor *pm_1_0_std_sensor);
   void set_pm_2_5_std_sensor(sensor::Sensor *pm_2_5_std_sensor);
   void set_pm_10_0_std_sensor(sensor::Sensor *pm_10_0_std_sensor);
@@ -45,11 +60,17 @@ class PMSX003Component : public uart::UARTDevice, public Component {
  protected:
   optional<bool> check_byte_();
   void parse_data_();
+  void send_command_(uint8_t cmd, uint16_t data);
   uint16_t get_16_bit_uint_(uint8_t start_index);
 
   uint8_t data_[64];
   uint8_t data_index_{0};
+  uint8_t initialised_{0};
+  uint32_t fan_on_time_{0};
+  uint32_t last_update_{0};
   uint32_t last_transmission_{0};
+  uint32_t update_interval_{0};
+  PMSX003State state_{PMSX003_STATE_IDLE};
   PMSX003Type type_;
 
   // "Standard Particle"
diff --git a/esphome/components/pmsx003/sensor.py b/esphome/components/pmsx003/sensor.py
index b731e48e31..f3552f4081 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pmsx003/sensor.py
+++ b/esphome/components/pmsx003/sensor.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import esphome.codegen as cg
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome.components import sensor, uart
+
 from esphome.const import (
     CONF_FORMALDEHYDE,
     CONF_HUMIDITY,
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_PM_2_5UM,
     CONF_PM_5_0UM,
     CONF_PM_10_0UM,
+    CONF_UPDATE_INTERVAL,
     CONF_TEMPERATURE,
     CONF_TYPE,
     DEVICE_CLASS_PM1,
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ TYPE_PMS5003ST = "PMS5003ST"
 TYPE_PMS5003S = "PMS5003S"
 
 PMSX003Type = pmsx003_ns.enum("PMSX003Type")
+
 PMSX003_TYPES = {
     TYPE_PMSX003: PMSX003Type.PMSX003_TYPE_X003,
     TYPE_PMS5003T: PMSX003Type.PMSX003_TYPE_5003T,
@@ -68,6 +71,17 @@ def validate_pmsx003_sensors(value):
     return value
 
 
+def validate_update_interval(value):
+    value = cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds(value)
+    if value == cv.time_period("0s"):
+        return value
+    if value < cv.time_period("30s"):
+        raise cv.Invalid(
+            "Update interval must be greater than or equal to 30 seconds if set."
+        )
+    return value
+
+
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = (
     cv.Schema(
         {
@@ -157,6 +171,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = (
                 accuracy_decimals=0,
                 state_class=STATE_CLASS_MEASUREMENT,
             ),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_UPDATE_INTERVAL, default="0s"): validate_update_interval,
         }
     )
     .extend(cv.COMPONENT_SCHEMA)
@@ -164,6 +179,17 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = (
 )
 
 
+def final_validate(config):
+    require_tx = config[CONF_UPDATE_INTERVAL] > cv.time_period("0s")
+    schema = uart.final_validate_device_schema(
+        "pmsx003", baud_rate=9600, require_rx=True, require_tx=require_tx
+    )
+    schema(config)
+
+
+FINAL_VALIDATE_SCHEMA = final_validate
+
+
 async def to_code(config):
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
     await cg.register_component(var, config)
@@ -230,3 +256,5 @@ async def to_code(config):
     if CONF_FORMALDEHYDE in config:
         sens = await sensor.new_sensor(config[CONF_FORMALDEHYDE])
         cg.add(var.set_formaldehyde_sensor(sens))
+
+    cg.add(var.set_update_interval(config[CONF_UPDATE_INTERVAL]))
diff --git a/tests/test3.yaml b/tests/test3.yaml
index e3818d87ec..ec768e17e5 100644
--- a/tests/test3.yaml
+++ b/tests/test3.yaml
@@ -266,6 +266,10 @@ uart:
     stop_bits: 2
     # Specifically added for testing debug with no options at all.
     debug:
+  - id: uart8
+    tx_pin: GPIO4
+    rx_pin: GPIO5
+    baud_rate: 9600
 
 modbus:
   uart_id: uart1
@@ -559,7 +563,7 @@ sensor:
       name: 'AQI'
       calculation_type: 'AQI'
   - platform: pmsx003
-    uart_id: uart2
+    uart_id: uart8
     type: PMSX003
     pm_1_0:
       name: 'PM 1.0 Concentration'
@@ -585,8 +589,9 @@ sensor:
       name: 'Particulate Count >5.0um'
     pm_10_0um:
       name: 'Particulate Count >10.0um'
+    update_interval: 30s
   - platform: pmsx003
-    uart_id: uart2
+    uart_id: uart5
     type: PMS5003T
     pm_2_5:
       name: 'PM 2.5 Concentration'
@@ -595,7 +600,7 @@ sensor:
     humidity:
       name: 'PMS Humidity'
   - platform: pmsx003
-    uart_id: uart2
+    uart_id: uart6
     type: PMS5003ST
     pm_1_0:
       name: 'PM 1.0 Concentration'