diff --git a/docs/deploy/e2b.mdx b/docs/deploy/e2b.mdx
index 4e056ee..e6465f2 100644
--- a/docs/deploy/e2b.mdx
+++ b/docs/deploy/e2b.mdx
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ try {
 }
 ```
 
-The `e2b` provider handles sandbox creation, Sandbox Agent installation, agent setup, and server startup automatically.
+The `e2b` provider handles sandbox creation, Sandbox Agent installation, agent setup, and server startup automatically. Sandboxes pause by default instead of being deleted, and reconnecting with the same `sandboxId` resumes them automatically.
 
 ## Faster cold starts
 
diff --git a/docs/quickstart.mdx b/docs/quickstart.mdx
index 5c299c3..3701c74 100644
--- a/docs/quickstart.mdx
+++ b/docs/quickstart.mdx
@@ -357,10 +357,10 @@ icon: "rocket"
 
   <Step title="Clean up">
     ```typescript
-    await client.destroySandbox(); // tears down the sandbox and disconnects
+    await client.destroySandbox(); // provider-defined cleanup and disconnect
     ```
 
-    Use `client.dispose()` instead to disconnect without destroying the sandbox (for reconnecting later).
+    Use `client.dispose()` instead to disconnect without changing sandbox state. On E2B, `client.pauseSandbox()` pauses the sandbox and `client.killSandbox()` deletes it permanently.
   </Step>
 
   <Step title="Inspect with the UI">
diff --git a/docs/sdk-overview.mdx b/docs/sdk-overview.mdx
index a0f9b84..8e7c8f6 100644
--- a/docs/sdk-overview.mdx
+++ b/docs/sdk-overview.mdx
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ const sdk = await SandboxAgent.start({
 
 // sdk.sandboxId — prefixed provider ID (e.g. "local/127.0.0.1:2468")
 
-await sdk.destroySandbox(); // tears down sandbox + disposes client
+await sdk.destroySandbox(); // provider-defined cleanup + disposes client
 ```
 
 `SandboxAgent.start(...)` requires a `sandbox` provider. Built-in providers:
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ await sdk.destroySandbox(); // tears down sandbox + disposes client
 | `sandbox-agent/vercel` | Vercel Sandbox |
 | `sandbox-agent/cloudflare` | Cloudflare Sandbox |
 
-Use `sdk.dispose()` to disconnect without destroying the sandbox, or `sdk.destroySandbox()` to tear down both.
+Use `sdk.dispose()` to disconnect without changing sandbox state, `sdk.pauseSandbox()` for graceful suspension when supported, or `sdk.killSandbox()` for permanent deletion.
 
 ## Session flow
 
diff --git a/examples/daytona/src/daytona.ts b/examples/daytona/src/daytona.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ccffc94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/daytona/src/daytona.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import { SandboxAgent } from "sandbox-agent";
+import { daytona } from "sandbox-agent/daytona";
+
+function collectEnvVars(): Record<string, string> {
+  const envVars: Record<string, string> = {};
+  if (process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY) envVars.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY = process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY;
+  if (process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY) envVars.OPENAI_API_KEY = process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY;
+  return envVars;
+}
+
+function inspectorUrlToBaseUrl(inspectorUrl: string): string {
+  return inspectorUrl.replace(/\/ui\/$/, "");
+}
+
+export async function setupDaytonaSandboxAgent(): Promise<{
+  baseUrl: string;
+  token?: string;
+  extraHeaders?: Record<string, string>;
+  cleanup: () => Promise<void>;
+}> {
+  const client = await SandboxAgent.start({
+    sandbox: daytona({
+      create: { envVars: collectEnvVars() },
+    }),
+  });
+
+  return {
+    baseUrl: inspectorUrlToBaseUrl(client.inspectorUrl),
+    cleanup: async () => {
+      await client.killSandbox();
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/examples/e2b/src/e2b.ts b/examples/e2b/src/e2b.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bfd5bda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/e2b/src/e2b.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import { SandboxAgent } from "sandbox-agent";
+import { e2b } from "sandbox-agent/e2b";
+
+function collectEnvVars(): Record<string, string> {
+  const envs: Record<string, string> = {};
+  if (process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY) envs.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY = process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY;
+  if (process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY) envs.OPENAI_API_KEY = process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY;
+  return envs;
+}
+
+function inspectorUrlToBaseUrl(inspectorUrl: string): string {
+  return inspectorUrl.replace(/\/ui\/$/, "");
+}
+
+export async function setupE2BSandboxAgent(): Promise<{
+  baseUrl: string;
+  token?: string;
+  cleanup: () => Promise<void>;
+}> {
+  const client = await SandboxAgent.start({
+    sandbox: e2b({
+      create: { envs: collectEnvVars() },
+    }),
+  });
+
+  return {
+    baseUrl: inspectorUrlToBaseUrl(client.inspectorUrl),
+    cleanup: async () => {
+      await client.killSandbox();
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/examples/vercel/src/vercel.ts b/examples/vercel/src/vercel.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..742cd5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/vercel/src/vercel.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { SandboxAgent } from "sandbox-agent";
+import { vercel } from "sandbox-agent/vercel";
+
+function collectEnvVars(): Record<string, string> {
+  const env: Record<string, string> = {};
+  if (process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY) env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY = process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY;
+  if (process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY) env.OPENAI_API_KEY = process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY;
+  return env;
+}
+
+function inspectorUrlToBaseUrl(inspectorUrl: string): string {
+  return inspectorUrl.replace(/\/ui\/$/, "");
+}
+
+export async function setupVercelSandboxAgent(): Promise<{
+  baseUrl: string;
+  token?: string;
+  cleanup: () => Promise<void>;
+}> {
+  const client = await SandboxAgent.start({
+    sandbox: vercel({
+      create: {
+        runtime: "node24",
+        env: collectEnvVars(),
+      },
+    }),
+  });
+
+  return {
+    baseUrl: inspectorUrlToBaseUrl(client.inspectorUrl),
+    cleanup: async () => {
+      await client.killSandbox();
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/sdks/typescript/src/client.ts b/sdks/typescript/src/client.ts
index 4752c0a..10200bc 100644
--- a/sdks/typescript/src/client.ts
+++ b/sdks/typescript/src/client.ts
@@ -216,6 +216,18 @@ export class SandboxAgentError extends Error {
   }
 }
 
+export class SandboxDestroyedError extends Error {
+  readonly sandboxId: string;
+  readonly provider: string;
+
+  constructor(sandboxId: string, provider: string, options?: { cause?: unknown }) {
+    super(`Sandbox '${provider}/${sandboxId}' no longer exists and cannot be reconnected.`, options);
+    this.name = "SandboxDestroyedError";
+    this.sandboxId = sandboxId;
+    this.provider = provider;
+  }
+}
+
 export class UnsupportedSessionCategoryError extends Error {
   readonly sessionId: string;
   readonly category: string;
@@ -904,6 +916,7 @@ export class SandboxAgent {
     const createdSandbox = !existingSandbox;
 
     if (existingSandbox) {
+      await provider.reconnect?.(rawSandboxId);
       await provider.ensureServer?.(rawSandboxId);
     }
 
@@ -1007,6 +1020,50 @@ export class SandboxAgent {
     }
   }
 
+  async pauseSandbox(): Promise<void> {
+    const provider = this.sandboxProvider;
+    const rawSandboxId = this.sandboxProviderRawId;
+
+    try {
+      if (provider && rawSandboxId) {
+        if (provider.pause) {
+          await provider.pause(rawSandboxId);
+        } else {
+          await provider.destroy(rawSandboxId);
+        }
+      } else if (!provider || !rawSandboxId) {
+        throw new Error("SandboxAgent is not attached to a provisioned sandbox.");
+      }
+    } finally {
+      await this.dispose();
+      this.sandboxProvider = undefined;
+      this.sandboxProviderId = undefined;
+      this.sandboxProviderRawId = undefined;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async killSandbox(): Promise<void> {
+    const provider = this.sandboxProvider;
+    const rawSandboxId = this.sandboxProviderRawId;
+
+    try {
+      if (provider && rawSandboxId) {
+        if (provider.kill) {
+          await provider.kill(rawSandboxId);
+        } else {
+          await provider.destroy(rawSandboxId);
+        }
+      } else if (!provider || !rawSandboxId) {
+        throw new Error("SandboxAgent is not attached to a provisioned sandbox.");
+      }
+    } finally {
+      await this.dispose();
+      this.sandboxProvider = undefined;
+      this.sandboxProviderId = undefined;
+      this.sandboxProviderRawId = undefined;
+    }
+  }
+
   async listSessions(request: ListPageRequest = {}): Promise<ListPage<Session>> {
     const page = await this.persist.listSessions(request);
     return {
diff --git a/sdks/typescript/src/index.ts b/sdks/typescript/src/index.ts
index f0ebe2e..15537dd 100644
--- a/sdks/typescript/src/index.ts
+++ b/sdks/typescript/src/index.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ export {
   ProcessTerminalSession,
   SandboxAgent,
   SandboxAgentError,
+  SandboxDestroyedError,
   Session,
   UnsupportedPermissionReplyError,
   UnsupportedSessionCategoryError,
diff --git a/sdks/typescript/src/providers/e2b.ts b/sdks/typescript/src/providers/e2b.ts
index 84d767c..8e99c64 100644
--- a/sdks/typescript/src/providers/e2b.ts
+++ b/sdks/typescript/src/providers/e2b.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,20 @@
-import { Sandbox } from "@e2b/code-interpreter";
+import { NotFoundError, Sandbox, type SandboxBetaCreateOpts, type SandboxConnectOpts } from "@e2b/code-interpreter";
+import { SandboxDestroyedError } from "../client.ts";
 import type { SandboxProvider } from "./types.ts";
 import { DEFAULT_AGENTS, SANDBOX_AGENT_INSTALL_SCRIPT } from "./shared.ts";
 
 const DEFAULT_AGENT_PORT = 3000;
+const DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS = 3_600_000;
+
+type E2BCreateOverrides = Omit<Partial<SandboxBetaCreateOpts>, "timeoutMs" | "autoPause">;
+type E2BConnectOverrides = Omit<Partial<SandboxConnectOpts>, "timeoutMs">;
 
 export interface E2BProviderOptions {
-  create?: Record<string, unknown> | (() => Record<string, unknown> | Promise<Record<string, unknown>>);
-  connect?: Record<string, unknown> | ((sandboxId: string) => Record<string, unknown> | Promise<Record<string, unknown>>);
+  create?: E2BCreateOverrides | (() => E2BCreateOverrides | Promise<E2BCreateOverrides>);
+  connect?: E2BConnectOverrides | ((sandboxId: string) => E2BConnectOverrides | Promise<E2BConnectOverrides>);
   agentPort?: number;
+  timeoutMs?: number;
+  autoPause?: boolean;
 }
 
 async function resolveOptions(value: E2BProviderOptions["create"] | E2BProviderOptions["connect"], sandboxId?: string): Promise<Record<string, unknown>> {
@@ -23,13 +30,15 @@ async function resolveOptions(value: E2BProviderOptions["create"] | E2BProviderO
 
 export function e2b(options: E2BProviderOptions = {}): SandboxProvider {
   const agentPort = options.agentPort ?? DEFAULT_AGENT_PORT;
+  const timeoutMs = options.timeoutMs ?? DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS;
+  const autoPause = options.autoPause ?? true;
 
   return {
     name: "e2b",
     async create(): Promise<string> {
       const createOpts = await resolveOptions(options.create);
       // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-      const sandbox = await Sandbox.create({ allowInternetAccess: true, ...createOpts } as any);
+      const sandbox = await Sandbox.betaCreate({ allowInternetAccess: true, ...createOpts, timeoutMs, autoPause } as any);
 
       await sandbox.commands.run(`curl -fsSL ${SANDBOX_AGENT_INSTALL_SCRIPT} | sh`).then((r) => {
         if (r.exitCode !== 0) throw new Error(`e2b install failed:\n${r.stderr}`);
@@ -44,18 +53,37 @@ export function e2b(options: E2BProviderOptions = {}): SandboxProvider {
       return sandbox.sandboxId;
     },
     async destroy(sandboxId: string): Promise<void> {
+      await this.pause?.(sandboxId);
+    },
+    async reconnect(sandboxId: string): Promise<void> {
       const connectOpts = await resolveOptions(options.connect, sandboxId);
-      const sandbox = await Sandbox.connect(sandboxId, connectOpts as any);
+      try {
+        await Sandbox.connect(sandboxId, { ...connectOpts, timeoutMs } as SandboxConnectOpts);
+      } catch (error) {
+        if (error instanceof NotFoundError) {
+          throw new SandboxDestroyedError(sandboxId, "e2b", { cause: error });
+        }
+        throw error;
+      }
+    },
+    async pause(sandboxId: string): Promise<void> {
+      const connectOpts = await resolveOptions(options.connect, sandboxId);
+      const sandbox = await Sandbox.connect(sandboxId, { ...connectOpts, timeoutMs } as SandboxConnectOpts);
+      await sandbox.betaPause();
+    },
+    async kill(sandboxId: string): Promise<void> {
+      const connectOpts = await resolveOptions(options.connect, sandboxId);
+      const sandbox = await Sandbox.connect(sandboxId, { ...connectOpts, timeoutMs } as SandboxConnectOpts);
       await sandbox.kill();
     },
     async getUrl(sandboxId: string): Promise<string> {
       const connectOpts = await resolveOptions(options.connect, sandboxId);
-      const sandbox = await Sandbox.connect(sandboxId, connectOpts as any);
+      const sandbox = await Sandbox.connect(sandboxId, { ...connectOpts, timeoutMs } as SandboxConnectOpts);
       return `https://${sandbox.getHost(agentPort)}`;
     },
     async ensureServer(sandboxId: string): Promise<void> {
       const connectOpts = await resolveOptions(options.connect, sandboxId);
-      const sandbox = await Sandbox.connect(sandboxId, connectOpts as any);
+      const sandbox = await Sandbox.connect(sandboxId, { ...connectOpts, timeoutMs } as SandboxConnectOpts);
       await sandbox.commands.run(`sandbox-agent server --no-token --host 0.0.0.0 --port ${agentPort}`, { background: true, timeoutMs: 0 });
     },
   };
diff --git a/sdks/typescript/src/providers/types.ts b/sdks/typescript/src/providers/types.ts
index ea778de..ab996e1 100644
--- a/sdks/typescript/src/providers/types.ts
+++ b/sdks/typescript/src/providers/types.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,25 @@ export interface SandboxProvider {
   /** Permanently tear down a sandbox. */
   destroy(sandboxId: string): Promise<void>;
 
+  /**
+   * Reconnect to an existing sandbox before the SDK attempts health checks.
+   * Providers can use this to resume paused sandboxes or surface provider-specific
+   * reconnect errors.
+   */
+  reconnect?(sandboxId: string): Promise<void>;
+
+  /**
+   * Gracefully stop or pause a sandbox without permanently deleting it.
+   * When omitted, callers should fall back to `destroy()`.
+   */
+  pause?(sandboxId: string): Promise<void>;
+
+  /**
+   * Permanently delete a sandbox. When omitted, callers should fall back to
+   * `destroy()`.
+   */
+  kill?(sandboxId: string): Promise<void>;
+
   /**
    * Return the sandbox-agent base URL for this sandbox.
    * Providers that cannot expose a URL should implement `getFetch()` instead.
diff --git a/sdks/typescript/tests/provider-lifecycle.test.ts b/sdks/typescript/tests/provider-lifecycle.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06c85f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sdks/typescript/tests/provider-lifecycle.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,193 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { SandboxAgent, SandboxDestroyedError, type SandboxProvider } from "../src/index.ts";
+
+const e2bMocks = vi.hoisted(() => {
+  class MockNotFoundError extends Error {
+    constructor(message: string) {
+      super(message);
+      this.name = "NotFoundError";
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    MockNotFoundError,
+    betaCreate: vi.fn(),
+    connect: vi.fn(),
+  };
+});
+
+vi.mock("@e2b/code-interpreter", () => ({
+  NotFoundError: e2bMocks.MockNotFoundError,
+  Sandbox: {
+    betaCreate: e2bMocks.betaCreate,
+    connect: e2bMocks.connect,
+  },
+}));
+
+import { e2b } from "../src/providers/e2b.ts";
+
+function createFetch(): typeof fetch {
+  return async () => new Response(null, { status: 200 });
+}
+
+function createBaseProvider(overrides: Partial<SandboxProvider> = {}): SandboxProvider {
+  return {
+    name: "mock",
+    async create(): Promise<string> {
+      return "created";
+    },
+    async destroy(): Promise<void> {},
+    async getUrl(): Promise<string> {
+      return "http://127.0.0.1:3000";
+    },
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
+function createMockSandbox() {
+  return {
+    sandboxId: "sbx-123",
+    getHost: vi.fn(() => "sandbox.example"),
+    betaPause: vi.fn(async () => true),
+    kill: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+    commands: {
+      run: vi.fn(async () => ({ exitCode: 0, stderr: "" })),
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+describe("SandboxAgent provider lifecycle", () => {
+  it("reconnects an existing sandbox before ensureServer", async () => {
+    const order: string[] = [];
+    const provider = createBaseProvider({
+      reconnect: vi.fn(async () => {
+        order.push("reconnect");
+      }),
+      ensureServer: vi.fn(async () => {
+        order.push("ensureServer");
+      }),
+    });
+
+    const sdk = await SandboxAgent.start({
+      sandbox: provider,
+      sandboxId: "mock/existing",
+      skipHealthCheck: true,
+      fetch: createFetch(),
+    });
+
+    expect(order).toEqual(["reconnect", "ensureServer"]);
+
+    await sdk.killSandbox();
+  });
+
+  it("surfaces SandboxDestroyedError from reconnect", async () => {
+    const provider = createBaseProvider({
+      reconnect: vi.fn(async () => {
+        throw new SandboxDestroyedError("existing", "mock");
+      }),
+      ensureServer: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+    });
+
+    await expect(
+      SandboxAgent.start({
+        sandbox: provider,
+        sandboxId: "mock/existing",
+        skipHealthCheck: true,
+        fetch: createFetch(),
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(SandboxDestroyedError);
+
+    expect(provider.ensureServer).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("uses provider pause and kill hooks for explicit lifecycle control", async () => {
+    const pause = vi.fn(async () => undefined);
+    const kill = vi.fn(async () => undefined);
+    const provider = createBaseProvider({ pause, kill });
+
+    const paused = await SandboxAgent.start({
+      sandbox: provider,
+      skipHealthCheck: true,
+      fetch: createFetch(),
+    });
+    await paused.pauseSandbox();
+    expect(pause).toHaveBeenCalledWith("created");
+
+    const killed = await SandboxAgent.start({
+      sandbox: provider,
+      skipHealthCheck: true,
+      fetch: createFetch(),
+    });
+    await killed.killSandbox();
+    expect(kill).toHaveBeenCalledWith("created");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("e2b provider", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    e2bMocks.betaCreate.mockReset();
+    e2bMocks.connect.mockReset();
+  });
+
+  it("creates sandboxes with betaCreate, autoPause, and the default timeout", async () => {
+    const sandbox = createMockSandbox();
+    e2bMocks.betaCreate.mockResolvedValue(sandbox);
+
+    const provider = e2b({
+      create: {
+        envs: { ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: "test" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    await expect(provider.create()).resolves.toBe("sbx-123");
+
+    expect(e2bMocks.betaCreate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        allowInternetAccess: true,
+        autoPause: true,
+        timeoutMs: 3_600_000,
+        envs: { ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: "test" },
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("allows timeoutMs and autoPause to be overridden", async () => {
+    const sandbox = createMockSandbox();
+    e2bMocks.betaCreate.mockResolvedValue(sandbox);
+
+    const provider = e2b({
+      timeoutMs: 123_456,
+      autoPause: false,
+    });
+
+    await provider.create();
+
+    expect(e2bMocks.betaCreate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        autoPause: false,
+        timeoutMs: 123_456,
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("pauses by default in destroy and uses kill for permanent deletion", async () => {
+    const sandbox = createMockSandbox();
+    e2bMocks.connect.mockResolvedValue(sandbox);
+    const provider = e2b();
+
+    await provider.destroy("sbx-123");
+    expect(e2bMocks.connect).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith("sbx-123", { timeoutMs: 3_600_000 });
+    expect(sandbox.betaPause).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(sandbox.kill).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    await provider.kill?.("sbx-123");
+    expect(sandbox.kill).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("maps missing reconnect targets to SandboxDestroyedError", async () => {
+    e2bMocks.connect.mockRejectedValue(new e2bMocks.MockNotFoundError("gone"));
+    const provider = e2b();
+
+    await expect(provider.reconnect?.("missing-sandbox")).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(SandboxDestroyedError);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/sdks/typescript/tests/providers.test.ts b/sdks/typescript/tests/providers.test.ts
index 3376026..d98672d 100644
--- a/sdks/typescript/tests/providers.test.ts
+++ b/sdks/typescript/tests/providers.test.ts
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ function providerSuite(entry: ProviderEntry) {
 
     afterEach(async () => {
       if (!sdk) return;
-      await sdk.destroySandbox().catch(async () => {
+      await sdk.killSandbox().catch(async () => {
         await sdk?.dispose().catch(() => {});
       });
       sdk = undefined;
@@ -364,6 +364,11 @@ function providerSuite(entry: ProviderEntry) {
           });
           await expect(reconnected.listAgents()).rejects.toThrow();
         }
+
+        if (entry.name === "e2b") {
+          const rawSandboxId = sandboxId?.slice(sandboxId.indexOf("/") + 1);
+          await entry.createProvider().kill?.(rawSandboxId!);
+        }
       },
       entry.startTimeoutMs,
     );