diff --git a/include/env_config.h b/include/env_config.h
index e7b4443..121ae58 100644
--- a/include/env_config.h
+++ b/include/env_config.h
@@ -72,3 +72,7 @@ void init_analysis(const std::string& analysis_str);
 // 1 = NDJSON+Zstd (compressed JSON)
 // 2 = NDJSON only (uncompressed JSON, good for debugging)
 extern int trace_format_ndjson;
+
+// Zstd compression level (1-22, higher = better compression but slower)
+// Default: 9 (good compression with reasonable speed)
+extern int zstd_compression_level;
diff --git a/include/trace_writer.h b/include/trace_writer.h
index 1c9d2c9..b99b926 100644
--- a/include/trace_writer.h
+++ b/include/trace_writer.h
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ class TraceWriter {
   // ========== Mode 1 (Zstd compression) support ==========
   ZSTD_CCtx* zstd_ctx_;                  // Zstd compression context
   std::vector<char> compressed_buffer_;  // Pre-allocated compression output buffer
-  int compression_level_;                // Zstd compression level (1-22, default 9)
+  int compression_level_;                // Zstd compression level (1-22, default 22)
 
  public:
   /**
diff --git a/pr.md b/pr.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3ca399
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pr.md
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+## Summary
+
+Add `CUTRACER_ZSTD_LEVEL` environment variable to configure zstd compression level (1-22). This allows users to trade off compression speed vs compression ratio based on their use case.
+
+## Changes
+
+- `include/env_config.h`: Add extern declaration for `zstd_compression_level`
+- `src/env_config.cu`: Add environment variable reading logic with validation (range 1-22)
+- `src/trace_writer.cpp`: Use configurable compression level instead of hardcoded value 22
+- `readme.md`: Document new `CUTRACER_ZSTD_LEVEL` environment variable
+
+## Configuration
+
+`CUTRACER_ZSTD_LEVEL`: Zstd compression level (1-22, default 22)
+- Lower values (1-3): Faster compression, slightly larger output
+- Higher values (19-22): Maximum compression, slower but smallest output
+- Default of 22 provides maximum compression for smallest output
+
+## Motivation
+
+The default compression level of 22 (maximum) prioritizes compression ratio over speed. For use cases where compression speed is more important, users can set a lower level (e.g., 3) to get nearly the same compression ratio with significantly faster compression. This change allows users to choose the trade-off that best suits their workflow.
+
+## Example Usage
+
+```bash
+# Fast compression (level 1)
+CUTRACER_ZSTD_LEVEL=1 CUDA_INJECTION64_PATH=~/CUTracer/lib/cutracer.so ./app
+
+# Maximum compression (level 22, default)
+CUDA_INJECTION64_PATH=~/CUTracer/lib/cutracer.so ./app
+
+# Balanced compression (level 9)
+CUTRACER_ZSTD_LEVEL=9 CUDA_INJECTION64_PATH=~/CUTracer/lib/cutracer.so ./app
+```
+
+## Test Plan
+
+1. Build CUTracer: `make -j$(nproc)`
+2. Verify default level works: Run with `TRACE_FORMAT_NDJSON=1` and check output
+3. Verify custom level: Set `CUTRACER_ZSTD_LEVEL=1` and verify faster compression
+4. Verify validation: Set invalid value (e.g., 25) and verify warning + fallback to default
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 8ece312..a4cfce6 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@ CUDA_INJECTION64_PATH=~/CUTracer/lib/cutracer.so \
     -   **1** (default): NDJSON+Zstd compressed (`.ndjson.zst`, ~12x compression, 92% space savings)
     -   0: Plain text (`.log`, legacy format, verbose)
     -   2: NDJSON uncompressed (`.ndjson`, for debugging)
+-   `CUTRACER_ZSTD_LEVEL`: Zstd compression level (1-22, default 22)
+    -   Lower values (1-3): Faster compression, slightly larger output
+    -   Higher values (19-22): Maximum compression, slower but smallest output
+    -   Default of 22 provides maximum compression for smallest output
 
 Note: The tool sets `CUDA_MANAGED_FORCE_DEVICE_ALLOC=1` to simplify channel memory handling.
 
diff --git a/src/env_config.cu b/src/env_config.cu
index 7f653e9..8a1cc37 100644
--- a/src/env_config.cu
+++ b/src/env_config.cu
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ std::unordered_set<AnalysisType> enabled_analysis_types;
 // Trace format configuration variable
 int trace_format_ndjson;
 
+// Zstd compression level
+int zstd_compression_level;
+
 /**
  * @brief Parses a comma-separated string of kernel name filters for substring matching.
  *
@@ -226,6 +229,15 @@ void init_config_from_env() {
     trace_format_ndjson = 0;
   }
 
+  // Zstd compression level (only used when trace_format_ndjson == 1)
+  get_var_int(zstd_compression_level, "CUTRACER_ZSTD_LEVEL", 22, "Zstd compression level (1-22, default 22)");
+
+  // Validate compression level range
+  if (zstd_compression_level < 1 || zstd_compression_level > 22) {
+    printf("WARNING: Invalid CUTRACER_ZSTD_LEVEL=%d. Using default=22.\n", zstd_compression_level);
+    zstd_compression_level = 22;
+  }
+
   std::string pad(100, '-');
   loprintf("%s\n", pad.c_str());
 }
diff --git a/src/trace_writer.cpp b/src/trace_writer.cpp
index 00a5fec..d31bed1 100644
--- a/src/trace_writer.cpp
+++ b/src/trace_writer.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 
+#include "env_config.h"
+
 // ============================================================================
 // Constructor & Destructor
 // ============================================================================
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ TraceWriter::TraceWriter(const std::string& filename, int trace_mode, size_t buf
       trace_mode_(trace_mode),
       enabled_(true),
       zstd_ctx_(nullptr),
-      compression_level_(22) {  // Maximum compression level for best compression ratio
+      compression_level_(zstd_compression_level) {  // Use configurable compression level from env_config
 
   // Validate trace mode
   if (trace_mode < 0 || trace_mode > 2) {