diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.h b/esphome/core/helpers.h
index 234d2a7d7d..9b0591c9c5 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.h
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.h
@@ -194,12 +194,8 @@ template<typename T> class FixedVector {
     size_ = 0;
   }
 
- public:
-  FixedVector() = default;
-
-  /// Constructor from initializer list - allocates exact size needed
-  /// This enables brace initialization: FixedVector<int> v = {1, 2, 3};
-  FixedVector(std::initializer_list<T> init_list) {
+  // Helper to assign from initializer list (shared by constructor and assignment operator)
+  void assign_from_initializer_list_(std::initializer_list<T> init_list) {
     init(init_list.size());
     size_t idx = 0;
     for (const auto &item : init_list) {
@@ -209,6 +205,13 @@ template<typename T> class FixedVector {
     size_ = init_list.size();
   }
 
+ public:
+  FixedVector() = default;
+
+  /// Constructor from initializer list - allocates exact size needed
+  /// This enables brace initialization: FixedVector<int> v = {1, 2, 3};
+  FixedVector(std::initializer_list<T> init_list) { assign_from_initializer_list_(init_list); }
+
   ~FixedVector() { cleanup_(); }
 
   // Disable copy operations (avoid accidental expensive copies)
@@ -234,6 +237,15 @@ template<typename T> class FixedVector {
     return *this;
   }
 
+  /// Assignment from initializer list - avoids temporary and move overhead
+  /// This enables: FixedVector<int> v; v = {1, 2, 3};
+  FixedVector &operator=(std::initializer_list<T> init_list) {
+    cleanup_();
+    reset_();
+    assign_from_initializer_list_(init_list);
+    return *this;
+  }
+
   // Allocate capacity - can be called multiple times to reinit
   void init(size_t n) {
     cleanup_();