diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api.proto b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
index 34be6e4aa2..a4c2557ffe 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api.proto
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ message ListEntitiesFanResponse {
   bool disabled_by_default = 9;
   string icon = 10 [(field_ifdef) = "USE_ENTITY_ICON"];
   EntityCategory entity_category = 11;
-  repeated string supported_preset_modes = 12 [(container_pointer) = "FixedVector"];
+  repeated string supported_preset_modes = 12 [(container_pointer) = "std::vector"];
   uint32 device_id = 13 [(field_ifdef) = "USE_DEVICES"];
 }
 // Deprecated in API version 1.6 - only used in deprecated fields
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 05a4f9e63e..7c135946f8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ uint16_t APIConnection::try_send_fan_state(EntityBase *entity, APIConnection *co
                                            bool is_single) {
   auto *fan = static_cast<fan::Fan *>(entity);
   FanStateResponse msg;
-  const auto &traits = fan->get_traits();
+  auto traits = fan->get_traits();
   msg.state = fan->state;
   if (traits.supports_oscillation())
     msg.oscillating = fan->oscillating;
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ uint16_t APIConnection::try_send_fan_info(EntityBase *entity, APIConnection *con
                                           bool is_single) {
   auto *fan = static_cast<fan::Fan *>(entity);
   ListEntitiesFanResponse msg;
-  const auto &traits = fan->get_traits();
+  auto traits = fan->get_traits();
   msg.supports_oscillation = traits.supports_oscillation();
   msg.supports_speed = traits.supports_speed();
   msg.supports_direction = traits.supports_direction();
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
index 647dd47b89..e71ad2c64e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ class ListEntitiesFanResponse final : public InfoResponseProtoMessage {
   bool supports_speed{false};
   bool supports_direction{false};
   int32_t supported_speed_count{0};
-  const FixedVector<std::string> *supported_preset_modes{};
+  const std::vector<std::string> *supported_preset_modes{};
   void encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const override;
   void calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const override;
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
diff --git a/esphome/components/binary/fan/binary_fan.h b/esphome/components/binary/fan/binary_fan.h
index b87e1c5d9d..16bce2e6af 100644
--- a/esphome/components/binary/fan/binary_fan.h
+++ b/esphome/components/binary/fan/binary_fan.h
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class BinaryFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   void set_oscillating(output::BinaryOutput *oscillating) { this->oscillating_ = oscillating; }
   void set_direction(output::BinaryOutput *direction) { this->direction_ = direction; }
 
-  const fan::FanTraits &get_traits() override;
+  fan::FanTraits get_traits() override;
 
  protected:
   void control(const fan::FanCall &call) override;
diff --git a/esphome/components/copy/fan/copy_fan.h b/esphome/components/copy/fan/copy_fan.h
index 194827b9f8..e1212537f1 100644
--- a/esphome/components/copy/fan/copy_fan.h
+++ b/esphome/components/copy/fan/copy_fan.h
@@ -12,11 +12,10 @@ class CopyFan : public fan::Fan, public Component {
   void setup() override;
   void dump_config() override;
 
-  const fan::FanTraits &get_traits() override;
+  fan::FanTraits get_traits() override;
 
  protected:
   void control(const fan::FanCall &call) override;
-  ;
 
   fan::Fan *source_;
 };
diff --git a/esphome/components/demo/demo_fan.h b/esphome/components/demo/demo_fan.h
index 568e90b826..09edc4e0b7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/demo/demo_fan.h
+++ b/esphome/components/demo/demo_fan.h
@@ -16,9 +16,8 @@ enum class DemoFanType {
 class DemoFan : public fan::Fan, public Component {
  public:
   void set_type(DemoFanType type) { type_ = type; }
-  const fan::FanTraits &get_traits() override {
-    // Note: Demo fan builds traits dynamically, so we store it as a member
-    this->traits_ = fan::FanTraits{};
+  fan::FanTraits get_traits() override {
+    fan::FanTraits traits{};
 
     // oscillation
     // speed
@@ -28,22 +27,22 @@ class DemoFan : public fan::Fan, public Component {
       case DemoFanType::TYPE_1:
         break;
       case DemoFanType::TYPE_2:
-        this->traits_.set_oscillation(true);
+        traits.set_oscillation(true);
         break;
       case DemoFanType::TYPE_3:
-        this->traits_.set_direction(true);
-        this->traits_.set_speed(true);
-        this->traits_.set_supported_speed_count(5);
+        traits.set_direction(true);
+        traits.set_speed(true);
+        traits.set_supported_speed_count(5);
         break;
       case DemoFanType::TYPE_4:
-        this->traits_.set_direction(true);
-        this->traits_.set_speed(true);
-        this->traits_.set_supported_speed_count(100);
-        this->traits_.set_oscillation(true);
+        traits.set_direction(true);
+        traits.set_speed(true);
+        traits.set_supported_speed_count(100);
+        traits.set_oscillation(true);
         break;
     }
 
-    return this->traits_;
+    return traits;
   }
 
  protected:
@@ -61,7 +60,6 @@ class DemoFan : public fan::Fan, public Component {
   }
 
   DemoFanType type_;
-  fan::FanTraits traits_;
 };
 
 }  // namespace demo
diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp b/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
index 839b0d08cc..ea9cfd0c37 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ FanCall Fan::make_call() { return FanCall(*this); }
 
 void Fan::add_on_state_callback(std::function<void()> &&callback) { this->state_callback_.add(std::move(callback)); }
 void Fan::publish_state() {
-  const auto &traits = this->get_traits();
+  auto traits = this->get_traits();
 
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s' - Sending state:", this->name_.c_str());
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "  State: %s", ONOFF(this->state));
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ void Fan::save_state_() {
 }
 
 void Fan::dump_traits_(const char *tag, const char *prefix) {
-  const auto &traits = this->get_traits();
+  auto traits = this->get_traits();
 
   if (traits.supports_speed()) {
     ESP_LOGCONFIG(tag,
diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/fan.h b/esphome/components/fan/fan.h
index 901181903a..b74187eb4a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/fan.h
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/fan.h
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class Fan : public EntityBase {
 
   void publish_state();
 
-  virtual const FanTraits &get_traits() = 0;
+  virtual FanTraits get_traits() = 0;
 
   /// Set the restore mode of this fan.
   void set_restore_mode(FanRestoreMode restore_mode) { this->restore_mode_ = restore_mode; }
diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h b/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h
index e0b64aa0fa..9e1b669a2b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #include <utility>
-#include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
+#include <vector>
 
 #pragma once
 
@@ -36,18 +36,9 @@ class FanTraits {
   /// Set whether this fan supports changing direction
   void set_direction(bool direction) { this->direction_ = direction; }
   /// Return the preset modes supported by the fan.
-  const FixedVector<std::string> &supported_preset_modes() const { return this->preset_modes_; }
-  /// Set the preset modes supported by the fan (from initializer list).
-  void set_supported_preset_modes(const std::initializer_list<std::string> &preset_modes) {
-    this->preset_modes_ = preset_modes;
-  }
-  /// Set the preset modes supported by the fan (from FixedVector).
-  template<typename T> void set_supported_preset_modes(const T &preset_modes) {
-    this->preset_modes_.init(preset_modes.size());
-    for (const auto &mode : preset_modes) {
-      this->preset_modes_.push_back(mode);
-    }
-  }
+  const std::vector<std::string> &supported_preset_modes() const { return this->preset_modes_; }
+  /// Set the preset modes supported by the fan.
+  void set_supported_preset_modes(const std::vector<std::string> &preset_modes) { this->preset_modes_ = preset_modes; }
   /// Return if preset modes are supported
   bool supports_preset_modes() const { return !this->preset_modes_.empty(); }
 
@@ -59,13 +50,13 @@ class FanTraits {
   // It is used by the API to avoid copying data when encoding messages.
   // Warning: Do not use this method outside of the API connection code.
   // It returns a reference to internal data that can be invalidated.
-  const FixedVector<std::string> &supported_preset_modes_for_api_() const { return this->preset_modes_; }
+  const std::vector<std::string> &supported_preset_modes_for_api_() const { return this->preset_modes_; }
 #endif
   bool oscillation_{false};
   bool speed_{false};
   bool direction_{false};
   int speed_count_{};
-  FixedVector<std::string> preset_modes_{};
+  std::vector<std::string> preset_modes_{};
 };
 
 }  // namespace fan
diff --git a/esphome/components/hbridge/fan/hbridge_fan.h b/esphome/components/hbridge/fan/hbridge_fan.h
index 68458d7922..8562fd20be 100644
--- a/esphome/components/hbridge/fan/hbridge_fan.h
+++ b/esphome/components/hbridge/fan/hbridge_fan.h
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@ class HBridgeFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   void set_pin_a(output::FloatOutput *pin_a) { pin_a_ = pin_a; }
   void set_pin_b(output::FloatOutput *pin_b) { pin_b_ = pin_b; }
   void set_enable_pin(output::FloatOutput *enable) { enable_ = enable; }
-  void set_preset_modes(const std::initializer_list<std::string> &presets) { preset_modes_ = presets; }
+  void set_preset_modes(const std::vector<std::string> &presets) { preset_modes_ = presets; }
 
   void setup() override;
   void dump_config() override;
-  const fan::FanTraits &get_traits() override { return this->traits_; }
+  fan::FanTraits get_traits() override { return this->traits_; }
 
   fan::FanCall brake();
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class HBridgeFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   int speed_count_{};
   DecayMode decay_mode_{DECAY_MODE_SLOW};
   fan::FanTraits traits_;
-  FixedVector<std::string> preset_modes_{};
+  std::vector<std::string> preset_modes_{};
 
   void control(const fan::FanCall &call) override;
   void write_state_();
diff --git a/esphome/components/speed/fan/speed_fan.h b/esphome/components/speed/fan/speed_fan.h
index 60c2267b04..d994ddd15e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/speed/fan/speed_fan.h
+++ b/esphome/components/speed/fan/speed_fan.h
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ class SpeedFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   void set_output(output::FloatOutput *output) { this->output_ = output; }
   void set_oscillating(output::BinaryOutput *oscillating) { this->oscillating_ = oscillating; }
   void set_direction(output::BinaryOutput *direction) { this->direction_ = direction; }
-  void set_preset_modes(const std::initializer_list<std::string> &presets) { this->preset_modes_ = presets; }
-  const fan::FanTraits &get_traits() override { return this->traits_; }
+  void set_preset_modes(const std::vector<std::string> &presets) { this->preset_modes_ = presets; }
+  fan::FanTraits get_traits() override { return this->traits_; }
 
  protected:
   void control(const fan::FanCall &call) override;
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class SpeedFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   output::BinaryOutput *direction_{nullptr};
   int speed_count_{};
   fan::FanTraits traits_;
-  FixedVector<std::string> preset_modes_{};
+  std::vector<std::string> preset_modes_{};
 };
 
 }  // namespace speed
diff --git a/esphome/components/template/fan/template_fan.cpp b/esphome/components/template/fan/template_fan.cpp
index 477e2c4981..5f4a2ae8f7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/template/fan/template_fan.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/template/fan/template_fan.cpp
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@ void TemplateFan::setup() {
   // Construct traits
   this->traits_ =
       fan::FanTraits(this->has_oscillating_, this->speed_count_ > 0, this->has_direction_, this->speed_count_);
-  if (!this->preset_modes_.empty())
-    this->traits_.set_supported_preset_modes(this->preset_modes_);
+  this->traits_.set_supported_preset_modes(this->preset_modes_);
 }
 
 void TemplateFan::dump_config() { LOG_FAN("", "Template Fan", this); }
diff --git a/esphome/components/template/fan/template_fan.h b/esphome/components/template/fan/template_fan.h
index 5b175b21a4..4a32c912fc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/template/fan/template_fan.h
+++ b/esphome/components/template/fan/template_fan.h
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ class TemplateFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   void set_has_direction(bool has_direction) { this->has_direction_ = has_direction; }
   void set_has_oscillating(bool has_oscillating) { this->has_oscillating_ = has_oscillating; }
   void set_speed_count(int count) { this->speed_count_ = count; }
-  void set_preset_modes(const std::initializer_list<std::string> &presets) { this->preset_modes_ = presets; }
-  const fan::FanTraits &get_traits() override { return this->traits_; }
+  void set_preset_modes(const std::vector<std::string> &presets) { this->preset_modes_ = presets; }
+  fan::FanTraits get_traits() override { return this->traits_; }
 
  protected:
   void control(const fan::FanCall &call) override;
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ class TemplateFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   bool has_direction_{false};
   int speed_count_{0};
   fan::FanTraits traits_;
-  FixedVector<std::string> preset_modes_{};
+  std::vector<std::string> preset_modes_{};
 };
 
 }  // namespace template_
diff --git a/esphome/components/tuya/fan/tuya_fan.h b/esphome/components/tuya/fan/tuya_fan.h
index 100579ea9f..527efa8246 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tuya/fan/tuya_fan.h
+++ b/esphome/components/tuya/fan/tuya_fan.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class TuyaFan : public Component, public fan::Fan {
   void set_oscillation_id(uint8_t oscillation_id) { this->oscillation_id_ = oscillation_id; }
   void set_direction_id(uint8_t direction_id) { this->direction_id_ = direction_id; }
 
-  const fan::FanTraits &get_traits() override;
+  fan::FanTraits get_traits() override;
 
  protected:
   void control(const fan::FanCall &call) override;