diff --git a/esphome/components/interval/__init__.py b/esphome/components/interval/__init__.py
index 4514f80ba3..db3232c4b0 100644
--- a/esphome/components/interval/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/interval/__init__.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import esphome.codegen as cg
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome import automation
-from esphome.const import CONF_ID, CONF_INTERVAL
+from esphome.const import CONF_ID, CONF_INTERVAL, CONF_STARTUP_DELAY
 
 CODEOWNERS = ["@esphome/core"]
 interval_ns = cg.esphome_ns.namespace("interval")
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = automation.validate_automation(
     cv.Schema(
         {
             cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(IntervalTrigger),
+            cv.Optional(
+                CONF_STARTUP_DELAY, default="0s"
+            ): cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
             cv.Required(CONF_INTERVAL): cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
         }
     ).extend(cv.COMPONENT_SCHEMA)
@@ -26,3 +29,4 @@ async def to_code(config):
         await automation.build_automation(var, [], conf)
 
         cg.add(var.set_update_interval(conf[CONF_INTERVAL]))
+        cg.add(var.set_startup_delay(conf[CONF_STARTUP_DELAY]))
diff --git a/esphome/components/interval/interval.h b/esphome/components/interval/interval.h
index 605ac868f3..5b8bc3081f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/interval/interval.h
+++ b/esphome/components/interval/interval.h
@@ -8,8 +8,26 @@ namespace interval {
 
 class IntervalTrigger : public Trigger<>, public PollingComponent {
  public:
-  void update() override { this->trigger(); }
+  void update() override {
+    if (this->started_)
+      this->trigger();
+  }
+
+  void setup() override {
+    if (this->startup_delay_ == 0) {
+      this->started_ = true;
+    } else {
+      this->set_timeout(this->startup_delay_, [this] { this->started_ = true; });
+    }
+  }
+
+  void set_startup_delay(const uint32_t startup_delay) { this->startup_delay_ = startup_delay; }
+
   float get_setup_priority() const override { return setup_priority::DATA; }
+
+ protected:
+  uint32_t startup_delay_{0};
+  bool started_{false};
 };
 
 }  // namespace interval
diff --git a/tests/test2.yaml b/tests/test2.yaml
index bfc886eaa4..aaf14eaa57 100644
--- a/tests/test2.yaml
+++ b/tests/test2.yaml
@@ -718,6 +718,7 @@ stepper:
 
 interval:
   interval: 5s
+  startup_delay: 10s
   then:
     - logger.log: Interval Run