diff --git a/frontend/src/components/FiltersForm/FiltersForm.jsx b/frontend/src/components/FiltersForm/FiltersForm.jsx
index c4124ee2..89afb7ca 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/FiltersForm/FiltersForm.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/FiltersForm/FiltersForm.jsx
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ const LoadingSkeleton = () => (
 );
 
 export const FiltersForm = () => {
-    const { setCategories } = useCategories();
+    const { categories: selectedFilters, setCategories } = useCategories();
     const [categoriesData, setCategoriesData] = useState([]);
     const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);
 
@@ -188,8 +188,11 @@ export const FiltersForm = () => {
     useEffect(() => {
         const fetchCategories = async () => {
             setIsLoading(true);
-            const categoriesData = await httpService.getCategoriesData();
-            setCategoriesData(categoriesData);
+            const { categories, defaultChecked } = await httpService.getCategoriesData();
+            setCategoriesData(categories);
+            if (Object.keys(defaultChecked).length > 0) {
+                setCategories(defaultChecked);
+            }
             setIsLoading(false);
         };
         fetchCategories();
@@ -208,6 +211,7 @@ export const FiltersForm = () => {
                         type="checkbox"
                         id={name}
                         value={name}
+                        checked={Boolean(selectedFilters[category]?.includes(name))}
                     />
                     <OptionText>{translation}</OptionText>
                     {tooltipData && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/http/httpService.js b/frontend/src/services/http/httpService.js
index 678a90c5..93a0c97c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/services/http/httpService.js
+++ b/frontend/src/services/http/httpService.js
@@ -47,13 +47,15 @@ export const httpService = {
      * Fetches complete categories data including subcategories in a single request.
      * Uses the /api/categories-full endpoint to avoid waterfall requests.
      *
-     * @returns {Promise<Array>} Promise resolving to array of category data tuples
+     * @returns {Promise<{categories: Array, defaultChecked: Object}>} Promise resolving to
+     *   the array of category data tuples plus a map of category key to the option values
+     *   that should be pre-checked by default.
      */
     getCategoriesData: async () => {
         const response = await fetch(CATEGORIES_FULL).then(res => res.json());
 
         // Transform to expected format: [[key, name], options, help?, optionsHelp?]
-        return response.categories.map(category => {
+        const categories = response.categories.map(category => {
             const categoryTuple = [category.key, category.name];
             const options = category.options;
 
@@ -67,6 +69,15 @@ export const httpService = {
             }
             return [categoryTuple, options];
         });
+
+        const defaultChecked = {};
+        for (const category of response.categories) {
+            if (category.default_checked?.length) {
+                defaultChecked[category.key] = category.default_checked;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return { categories, defaultChecked };
     },
 
     /**
diff --git a/frontend/tests/FiltersForm.test.jsx b/frontend/tests/FiltersForm.test.jsx
index cc4c2261..d97d390c 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/FiltersForm.test.jsx
+++ b/frontend/tests/FiltersForm.test.jsx
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ const categories = [
     ],
 ];
 
-httpService.getCategoriesData.mockResolvedValue(categories);
+httpService.getCategoriesData.mockResolvedValue({ categories, defaultChecked: {} });
 
 describe('Creates good filter_form box', () => {
     beforeAll(() => {
@@ -90,3 +90,29 @@ describe('Creates good filter_form box', () => {
         expect(queryByLabelText(/Help: Inaczej rodzaje/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
     });
 });
+
+describe('Pre-checks options configured as default-checked', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+        httpService.getCategoriesData.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+            categories,
+            defaultChecked: { types: ['shoes'] },
+        });
+        return act(() =>
+            render(
+                <CategoriesProvider>
+                    <FiltersForm />
+                </CategoriesProvider>,
+            ),
+        );
+    });
+
+    it('renders the default-checked option as checked', () => {
+        const shoesCheckbox = document.querySelector('#shoes');
+        expect(shoesCheckbox.checked).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('leaves options not listed as default-checked unchecked', () => {
+        const clothesCheckbox = document.querySelector('#clothes');
+        expect(clothesCheckbox.checked).toBe(false);
+    });
+});
diff --git a/goodmap/core_api.py b/goodmap/core_api.py
index 2def128f..47b7fce0 100644
--- a/goodmap/core_api.py
+++ b/goodmap/core_api.py
@@ -440,12 +440,14 @@ def get_categories_full():
         result = []
 
         categories_options_help = categories_data.get("categories_options_help", {})
+        categories_default_checked = categories_data.get("categories_default_checked", {})
 
         for key, options in categories_data["categories"].items():
             category_entry = {
                 "key": key,
                 "name": gettext(key),
                 "options": make_tuple_translation(options),
+                "default_checked": categories_default_checked.get(key, []),
             }
 
             if CategoriesHelp in feature_flags:
diff --git a/goodmap/db.py b/goodmap/db.py
index 91aec3c5..3b745381 100644
--- a/goodmap/db.py
+++ b/goodmap/db.py
@@ -608,11 +608,17 @@ def json_db_get_category_data(self, category_type=None):
             "categories_options_help": {
                 category_type: self.data.get("categories_options_help", {}).get(category_type, [])
             },
+            "categories_default_checked": {
+                category_type: self.data.get("categories_default_checked", {}).get(
+                    category_type, []
+                )
+            },
         }
     return {
         "categories": self.data["categories"],
         "categories_help": self.data.get("categories_help", []),
         "categories_options_help": self.data.get("categories_options_help", {}),
+        "categories_default_checked": self.data.get("categories_default_checked", {}),
     }
 
 
@@ -627,11 +633,15 @@ def json_file_db_get_category_data(self, category_type=None):
                 "categories_options_help": {
                     category_type: data.get("categories_options_help", {}).get(category_type, [])
                 },
+                "categories_default_checked": {
+                    category_type: data.get("categories_default_checked", {}).get(category_type, [])
+                },
             }
         return {
             "categories": data["categories"],
             "categories_help": data.get("categories_help", []),
             "categories_options_help": data.get("categories_options_help", {}),
+            "categories_default_checked": data.get("categories_default_checked", {}),
         }
 
 
@@ -645,11 +655,15 @@ def google_json_db_get_category_data(self, category_type=None):
             "categories_options_help": {
                 category_type: data.get("categories_options_help", {}).get(category_type, [])
             },
+            "categories_default_checked": {
+                category_type: data.get("categories_default_checked", {}).get(category_type, [])
+            },
         }
     return {
         "categories": data.get("categories", {}),
         "categories_help": data.get("categories_help", []),
         "categories_options_help": data.get("categories_options_help", {}),
+        "categories_default_checked": data.get("categories_default_checked", {}),
     }
 
 
@@ -668,13 +682,24 @@ def mongodb_db_get_category_data(self, category_type=None):
                         category_type, []
                     )
                 },
+                "categories_default_checked": {
+                    category_type: config_doc.get("categories_default_checked", {}).get(
+                        category_type, []
+                    )
+                },
             }
         return {
             "categories": config_doc.get("categories", {}),
             "categories_help": config_doc.get("categories_help", []),
             "categories_options_help": config_doc.get("categories_options_help", {}),
+            "categories_default_checked": config_doc.get("categories_default_checked", {}),
         }
-    return {"categories": {}, "categories_help": [], "categories_options_help": {}}
+    return {
+        "categories": {},
+        "categories_help": [],
+        "categories_options_help": {},
+        "categories_default_checked": {},
+    }
 
 
 def get_category_data(db):
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_core_api.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_core_api.py
index a613ccd5..75da7aed 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_core_api.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_core_api.py
@@ -170,6 +170,42 @@ def test_categories_full_endpoint(test_app):
     assert category["options"][0] == ["test", "test-translated"]
     assert category["options"][1] == ["test2", "test2-translated"]
 
+    # No default-checked options configured for this category
+    assert category["default_checked"] == []
+
+
+@mock.patch("goodmap.core_api.gettext", fake_translation)
+def test_categories_full_endpoint_with_default_checked():
+    test_app = create_test_app(
+        db_overrides={
+            "categories": {"test-category": ["opt1", "opt2"]},
+            "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["opt1"]},
+        }
+    )
+    response = test_app.get("/api/categories-full")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json
+    assert data is not None
+
+    category = data["categories"][0]
+    assert category["default_checked"] == ["opt1"]
+
+
+@mock.patch("goodmap.core_api.gettext", fake_translation)
+def test_categories_full_endpoint_without_default_checked():
+    test_app = create_test_app(
+        db_overrides={
+            "categories": {"test-category": ["opt1", "opt2"]},
+        }
+    )
+    response = test_app.get("/api/categories-full")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json
+    assert data is not None
+
+    category = data["categories"][0]
+    assert category["default_checked"] == []
+
 
 @mock.patch("goodmap.core_api.gettext", fake_translation)
 def test_categories_full_endpoint_with_multiple_categories():
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_db.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_db.py
index 893e53d9..6243166d 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_db.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_db.py
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@
     "location_obligatory_fields": [["name", "str"]],
     "categories_help": ["Help text for categories"],
     "categories_options_help": {"test-category": ["Help for test category"]},
+    "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["searchable"]},
 }
 data_json = json.dumps({"map": data})
 
@@ -1422,6 +1423,7 @@ def test_json_db_get_category_data():
         "categories": {"test-category": ["searchable", "unsearchable"]},
         "categories_help": ["Help text for categories"],
         "categories_options_help": {"test-category": ["Help for test category"]},
+        "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["searchable"]},
     }
     assert category_data == expected
 
@@ -1434,6 +1436,7 @@ def test_json_db_get_category_data_specific_category():
         "categories": {"test-category": ["searchable", "unsearchable"]},
         "categories_help": ["Help text for categories"],
         "categories_options_help": {"test-category": ["Help for test category"]},
+        "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["searchable"]},
     }
     assert category_data == expected
 
@@ -1449,6 +1452,7 @@ def test_json_file_db_get_category_data(tmp_path):
         "categories": {"test-category": ["searchable", "unsearchable"]},
         "categories_help": ["Help text for categories"],
         "categories_options_help": {"test-category": ["Help for test category"]},
+        "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["searchable"]},
     }
     assert category_data == expected
 
@@ -1464,6 +1468,7 @@ def test_json_file_db_get_category_data_specific_category(tmp_path):
         "categories": {"test-category": ["searchable", "unsearchable"]},
         "categories_help": ["Help text for categories"],
         "categories_options_help": {"test-category": ["Help for test category"]},
+        "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["searchable"]},
     }
     assert category_data == expected
 
@@ -1480,6 +1485,7 @@ def test_google_json_db_get_category_data(mock_cli):
         "categories": {"test-category": ["searchable", "unsearchable"]},
         "categories_help": ["Help text for categories"],
         "categories_options_help": {"test-category": ["Help for test category"]},
+        "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["searchable"]},
     }
     assert category_data == expected
 
@@ -1496,6 +1502,7 @@ def test_google_json_db_get_category_data_specific_category(mock_cli):
         "categories": {"test-category": ["searchable", "unsearchable"]},
         "categories_help": ["Help text for categories"],
         "categories_options_help": {"test-category": ["Help for test category"]},
+        "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["searchable"]},
     }
     assert category_data == expected
 
@@ -1509,6 +1516,7 @@ def test_mongodb_db_get_category_data(mock_client):
         "categories": {"test-category": ["searchable", "unsearchable"]},
         "categories_help": ["Help text for categories"],
         "categories_options_help": {"test-category": ["Help for test category"]},
+        "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["searchable"]},
     }
 
     db = MongoDB("mongodb://localhost:27017", "test_db")
@@ -1518,6 +1526,7 @@ def test_mongodb_db_get_category_data(mock_client):
         "categories": {"test-category": ["searchable", "unsearchable"]},
         "categories_help": ["Help text for categories"],
         "categories_options_help": {"test-category": ["Help for test category"]},
+        "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["searchable"]},
     }
     assert category_data == expected
 
@@ -1531,6 +1540,7 @@ def test_mongodb_db_get_category_data_specific_category(mock_client):
         "categories": {"test-category": ["searchable", "unsearchable"]},
         "categories_help": ["Help text for categories"],
         "categories_options_help": {"test-category": ["Help for test category"]},
+        "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["searchable"]},
     }
 
     db = MongoDB("mongodb://localhost:27017", "test_db")
@@ -1540,6 +1550,7 @@ def test_mongodb_db_get_category_data_specific_category(mock_client):
         "categories": {"test-category": ["searchable", "unsearchable"]},
         "categories_help": ["Help text for categories"],
         "categories_options_help": {"test-category": ["Help for test category"]},
+        "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["searchable"]},
     }
     assert category_data == expected
 
@@ -1553,7 +1564,12 @@ def test_mongodb_db_get_category_data_no_config(mock_client):
     db = MongoDB("mongodb://localhost:27017", "test_db")
     extend_db_with_goodmap_queries(db, LocationBase)
     category_data = mongodb_db_get_category_data(db)
-    expected = {"categories": {}, "categories_help": [], "categories_options_help": {}}
+    expected = {
+        "categories": {},
+        "categories_help": [],
+        "categories_options_help": {},
+        "categories_default_checked": {},
+    }
     assert category_data == expected
 
 
@@ -1565,6 +1581,7 @@ def test_get_category_data():
         "categories": {"test-category": ["searchable", "unsearchable"]},
         "categories_help": ["Help text for categories"],
         "categories_options_help": {"test-category": ["Help for test category"]},
+        "categories_default_checked": {"test-category": ["searchable"]},
     }
     assert category_data == expected