diff --git a/.github/actions/base/prettier/action.yml b/.github/actions/base/prettier/action.yml
index 847c4c9..67efce8 100644
--- a/.github/actions/base/prettier/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/base/prettier/action.yml
@@ -43,11 +43,33 @@ runs:
           echo "files=$files" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
         fi
 
-    - name: Install Prettier
+    - name: Install dependencies
+      if: steps.resolved-files.outputs.any-changed == 'true'
+      shell: bash
+      working-directory: ${{ env.HOLDEX_WORKING_DIR || '.' }}
+      run: |
+        if [ -f package.json ]; then
+          if [ "${{ inputs.package-manager }}" = "pnpm" ]; then
+            pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
+          elif [ "${{ inputs.package-manager }}" = "npm" ]; then
+            npm ci
+          else
+            bun i --frozen-lockfile
+          fi
+        else
+          echo "No package.json found, skipping dependency installation."
+        fi
+
+    - name: Install Prettier (fallback)
       if: steps.resolved-files.outputs.any-changed == 'true'
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ${{ env.HOLDEX_WORKING_DIR || '.' }}
       run: |
+        if [ -x "./node_modules/.bin/prettier" ]; then
+          echo "Using project-local Prettier."
+          exit 0
+        fi
+
         if [ "${{ inputs.package-manager }}" = "pnpm" ]; then
           pnpm add -g prettier
         elif [ "${{ inputs.package-manager }}" = "npm" ]; then
@@ -62,10 +84,21 @@ runs:
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ${{ env.HOLDEX_WORKING_DIR || '.' }}
       run: |
+        run_prettier() {
+          if [ -x "./node_modules/.bin/prettier" ]; then
+            ./node_modules/.bin/prettier "$@"
+          elif command -v prettier >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            prettier "$@"
+          else
+            echo "::error::Prettier not found locally or globally." >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+        }
+
         probe_file=".prettier-config-probe.tmp"
         touch "$probe_file"
 
-        if prettier --find-config-path "$probe_file" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        if run_prettier --find-config-path "$probe_file" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
           echo "has-config=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
         else
           echo "has-config=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
@@ -79,23 +112,6 @@ runs:
 
         rm -f "$probe_file"
 
-    - name: Install dependencies
-      if: steps.resolved-files.outputs.any-changed == 'true'
-      shell: bash
-      working-directory: ${{ env.HOLDEX_WORKING_DIR || '.' }}
-      run: |
-        if [ -f package.json ]; then
-          if [ "${{ inputs.package-manager }}" = "pnpm" ]; then
-            pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
-          elif [ "${{ inputs.package-manager }}" = "npm" ]; then
-            npm ci
-          else
-            bun i --frozen-lockfile
-          fi
-        else
-          echo "No package.json found, skipping dependency installation."
-        fi
-
     - name: Skip when no files changed
       if: steps.resolved-files.outputs.any-changed != 'true'
       shell: bash
@@ -106,4 +122,16 @@ runs:
       if: steps.resolved-files.outputs.any-changed == 'true'
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ${{ env.HOLDEX_WORKING_DIR || '.' }}
-      run: prettier --check --ignore-unknown ${{ steps.resolved-files.outputs.files }}
+      run: |
+        run_prettier() {
+          if [ -x "./node_modules/.bin/prettier" ]; then
+            ./node_modules/.bin/prettier "$@"
+          elif command -v prettier >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            prettier "$@"
+          else
+            echo "::error::Prettier not found locally or globally." >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+        }
+
+        run_prettier --check --ignore-unknown ${{ steps.resolved-files.outputs.files }}
diff --git a/ACTIONS.md b/ACTIONS.md
index 04c378e..0eeb53e 100644
--- a/ACTIONS.md
+++ b/ACTIONS.md
@@ -58,10 +58,11 @@ Path: `/.github/actions/base/prettier`
 
 - Discovers changed files itself if `changed-files` is not provided.
 - Skips execution if no changed files exist.
-- Installs Prettier globally using selected package manager.
-- Verifies a resolvable Prettier config exists.
 - Runs dependency install in repo context when `package.json` exists:
   - `bun i --frozen-lockfile`, `pnpm install --frozen-lockfile`, or `npm ci`.
+- Uses project-local Prettier (`./node_modules/.bin/prettier`) when available after dependency install.
+- Installs Prettier globally as a fallback only when no local binary is found.
+- Verifies a resolvable Prettier config exists.
 - Runs `prettier --check --ignore-unknown` on changed files.
 - Respects `HOLDEX_WORKING_DIR` env var: all steps run in that directory when set.