diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs
index 781ed6b0..89a92876 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs
@@ -765,12 +765,21 @@ pub fn export_bytes(doc: &Document, ids: &[NodeId], format: ExportFormat, scale:
 }
 
 /// The page area exporting `ids` with `setting` covers: what they paint (a clipping frame's own
-/// area), or their boxes with "include bounding box" and for slices.
+/// area), or their boxes with "include bounding box" and for slices. Hidden layers paint nothing,
+/// so they take no room next to visible ones (a hidden-only export keeps its own area).
 pub fn export_area(doc: &Document, ids: &[NodeId], setting: &ExportSetting) -> Option<figcraft_geom::Rect> {
+    let any_visible = ids.iter().any(|i| doc.node(*i).is_some_and(|n| n.visible));
     ids.iter()
         .filter_map(|i| {
-            let slice = doc.node(*i).is_some_and(|n| matches!(n.kind, NodeKind::Slice));
-            if setting.include_bounding_box || slice { doc.world_bounds(*i) } else { figcraft_render::export_bounds(doc, *i) }
+            let node = doc.node(*i);
+            let slice = node.is_some_and(|n| matches!(n.kind, NodeKind::Slice));
+            if setting.include_bounding_box || slice {
+                doc.world_bounds(*i)
+            } else if any_visible && node.is_some_and(|n| !n.visible) {
+                None
+            } else {
+                figcraft_render::export_bounds(doc, *i)
+            }
         })
         .reduce(|a, b| a.union(b))
 }
diff --git a/crates/mcp/tests/export_hidden_roots.rs b/crates/mcp/tests/export_hidden_roots.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ded6f731
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/mcp/tests/export_hidden_roots.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+//! Hidden top-level layers in an export take no room in the image (issue #447).
+#![allow(clippy::unwrap_used, clippy::expect_used, clippy::panic)]
+
+mod common;
+
+use common::{Client, png_dims};
+use serde_json::{Value, json};
+
+fn dimensions(result: Value) -> (u32, u32) {
+    assert_eq!(result["isError"], false, "{result}");
+    let image = result["content"].as_array().unwrap().iter().find(|block| block["type"] == "image").unwrap();
+    png_dims(image["data"].as_str().unwrap())
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn hidden_root_does_not_expand_export() {
+    let mut client = Client::new();
+    let visible = client.create(json!({
+        "type":"frame", "x":0, "y":0, "width":100, "height":100,
+        "props":{"fill":"#FF0000"}
+    }));
+    let hidden = client.create(json!({
+        "type":"frame", "x":900, "y":0, "width":300, "height":300,
+        "props":{"visible":false}
+    }));
+    assert_eq!(client.node(&hidden)["visible"], false);
+
+    let control = dimensions(client.call("export", json!({"ids":[visible], "format":"png", "size":"200w"})));
+    assert_eq!(control, (200, 200));
+    let mixed = dimensions(client.call("export", json!({"ids":[visible, hidden], "format":"png", "size":"200w"})));
+    assert_eq!(mixed, control, "hidden roots must not enlarge the painted area");
+    let natural = dimensions(client.call("export", json!({"ids":[visible, hidden], "format":"png"})));
+    assert_eq!(natural, (100, 100));
+
+    client.ok("select", json!({"ids":[visible, hidden]}));
+    let selected = dimensions(client.call("export", json!({"format":"png", "size":"200w"})));
+    assert_eq!(selected, (200, 200));
+    client.ok("select", json!({"ids":[]}));
+    let page = dimensions(client.call("export", json!({"format":"png"})));
+    assert_eq!(page, (100, 100));
+
+    // Controls: the bounding-box option and a hidden-only export keep their areas.
+    let boxed = dimensions(client.call("export", json!({"ids":[visible, hidden], "format":"png", "includeBoundingBox":true})));
+    assert_eq!(boxed, (1200, 300));
+    let alone = dimensions(client.call("export", json!({"ids":[hidden], "format":"png"})));
+    assert_eq!(alone, (300, 300));
+}