diff --git a/docs/commands/prepare.md b/docs/commands/prepare.md
index 5510704..1dbb26b 100644
--- a/docs/commands/prepare.md
+++ b/docs/commands/prepare.md
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ stack prepare [OPTIONS]
 | `--publish-images` | FLAG | Publish the built images | False |
 | `--image-registry` | TEXT | Specify the remote image registry | From config |
 | `--target-arch` | TEXT | Specify a target architecture (with --dont-pull-images) | - |
+| `--quiet-build` | FLAG | Suppress container build and pull output, keeping the progress summary | False |
 
 ## Build Policies
 
@@ -103,8 +104,15 @@ stack prepare --stack my-stack --target-arch arm64 --dont-pull-images
 
 # Prepare with SSH for private repos
 stack prepare --stack my-stack --git-ssh --include-repos private-repo
+
+# Prepare without the docker build/pull log, keeping the progress summary
+stack prepare --stack my-stack --quiet-build
 ```
 
+Note that `--quiet-build` differs from the global `--quiet`: `--quiet` also raises
+the log level, which hides the per-container progress lines, whereas
+`--quiet-build` suppresses only the output of the underlying docker commands.
+
 ## See Also
 
 - [stack build](build.md) - Build stack components
diff --git a/src/stack/build/build_containers.py b/src/stack/build/build_containers.py
index 701a359..de9db6e 100644
--- a/src/stack/build/build_containers.py
+++ b/src/stack/build/build_containers.py
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ def process_container(build_context: BuildContext) -> bool:
             build_envs["PATH"] = os.environ["PATH"]
         log_debug(f"Executing: {build_command} with environment: {build_envs}")
 
-        build_result = run_shell_command(build_command, env=build_envs, quiet=opts.o.quiet)
+        build_result = run_shell_command(build_command, env=build_envs, quiet=opts.o.quiet or opts.o.quiet_build)
 
         log_debug(f"Build command return code is: {build_result}")
         if build_result != 0:
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ def prepare_wrapper_base_container(wrapper, build_context: BuildContext) -> bool
             if exists_remotely:
                 pull_tag = f"{registry}/{hash_tag}" if registry else hash_tag
                 log_info(f"Base container {pull_tag} exists remotely.")
-                run_shell_command(f"docker pull {pull_tag}", quiet=opts.o.quiet)
+                run_shell_command(f"docker pull {pull_tag}", quiet=opts.o.quiet or opts.o.quiet_build)
                 if registry:
                     docker.image.tag(pull_tag, hash_tag)
                 docker.image.tag(hash_tag, stack_tag)
@@ -498,11 +498,12 @@ def build_containers(parent_stack,  # noqa: C901
             if container_needs_pulled:
                 # Pull the remote image
                 if image_registry_to_pull_this_container:
-                    run_shell_command(f"docker pull {image_registry_to_pull_this_container}/{container_tag}", quiet=opts.o.quiet)
+                    run_shell_command(f"docker pull {image_registry_to_pull_this_container}/{container_tag}",
+                                      quiet=opts.o.quiet or opts.o.quiet_build)
                     # Tag the local copy to point at it.
                     docker.image.tag(f"{image_registry_to_pull_this_container}/{container_tag}", container_tag)
                 else:
-                    run_shell_command(f"docker pull {container_tag}", quiet=opts.o.quiet)
+                    run_shell_command(f"docker pull {container_tag}", quiet=opts.o.quiet or opts.o.quiet_build)
                 # Tag the local copy to point at it.
                 docker.image.tag(container_tag, stack_local_tag)
                 container_was_pulled = True
diff --git a/src/stack/build/prepare.py b/src/stack/build/prepare.py
index 6addb79..f7acb81 100644
--- a/src/stack/build/prepare.py
+++ b/src/stack/build/prepare.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 from stack.build.build_containers import BUILD_POLICIES, build_containers
 from stack.config.util import get_config_setting
 from stack.deploy.stack import resolve_stack
+from stack.opts import opts
 from stack.repos.repo_util import clone_all_repos_for_stack
 from stack.util import error_exit
 
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@
     default=get_config_setting("image-registry"),
 )
 @click.option("--target-arch", help="Specify a target architecture (only for use with --dont-pull-images)")
+@click.option("--quiet-build", is_flag=True, default=False,
+              help="Suppress container build and pull output, keeping the progress summary")
 @click.pass_context
 def command(
         ctx,
@@ -59,12 +62,17 @@ def command(
         publish_images,
         image_registry,
         target_arch,
+        quiet_build,
 ):
     """build or download stack containers"""
 
     if build_policy not in PREPARE_POLICIES:
         error_exit(f"{build_policy} is not one of {PREPARE_POLICIES}")
 
+    # Consumed deep in the build path (docker build/pull), so carry it on the shared
+    # options object rather than threading it through every intervening signature.
+    opts.o.quiet_build = quiet_build
+
     stack = resolve_stack(stack)
     cloned_or_pulled_repos = clone_all_repos_for_stack(stack, include_repos, exclude_repos, git_pull, git_ssh)
 
diff --git a/src/stack/command_types.py b/src/stack/command_types.py
index 93ef78c..9ce3fef 100644
--- a/src/stack/command_types.py
+++ b/src/stack/command_types.py
@@ -25,5 +25,9 @@ class CommandOptions:
     dry_run: bool = False
     debug: bool = False
     quiet: bool = False
+    # Set by `stack prepare --quiet-build`. Suppresses subcommand (docker build/pull)
+    # output only, unlike `quiet`, which also raises the log level and so hides the
+    # progress narration.
+    quiet_build: bool = False
     log_timestamps: bool = False
     log_elapsed: bool = False