diff --git a/include/swaynag/types.h b/include/swaynag/types.h
index 24da9418..3c3b2754 100644
--- a/include/swaynag/types.h
+++ b/include/swaynag/types.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ struct swaynag_type {
 	char *font;
 	char *output;
 	uint32_t anchors;
+	int32_t layer; // enum zwlr_layer_shell_v1_layer or -1 if unset
 
 	// Colors
 	uint32_t button_text;
diff --git a/swaynag/config.c b/swaynag/config.c
index c6b4e431..6db7cce5 100644
--- a/swaynag/config.c
+++ b/swaynag/config.c
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ int swaynag_parse_options(int argc, char **argv, struct swaynag *swaynag,
 		{"config", required_argument, NULL, 'c'},
 		{"debug", no_argument, NULL, 'd'},
 		{"edge", required_argument, NULL, 'e'},
+		{"layer", required_argument, NULL, 'y'},
 		{"font", required_argument, NULL, 'f'},
 		{"help", no_argument, NULL, 'h'},
 		{"detailed-message", no_argument, NULL, 'l'},
@@ -104,6 +105,8 @@ int swaynag_parse_options(int argc, char **argv, struct swaynag *swaynag,
 		"  -c, --config <path>             Path to config file.\n"
 		"  -d, --debug                     Enable debugging.\n"
 		"  -e, --edge top|bottom           Set the edge to use.\n"
+		"  -y, --layer overlay|top|bottom|background\n"
+	    "                                  Set the layer to use.\n"
 		"  -f, --font <font>               Set the font to use.\n"
 		"  -h, --help                      Show help message and quit.\n"
 		"  -l, --detailed-message          Read a detailed message from stdin.\n"
@@ -133,7 +136,7 @@ int swaynag_parse_options(int argc, char **argv, struct swaynag *swaynag,
 
 	optind = 1;
 	while (1) {
-		int c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "b:B:z:Z:c:de:f:hlL:m:o:s:t:v", opts, NULL);
+		int c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "b:B:z:Z:c:de:y:f:hlL:m:o:s:t:v", opts, NULL);
 		if (c == -1) {
 			break;
 		}
@@ -184,6 +187,24 @@ int swaynag_parse_options(int argc, char **argv, struct swaynag *swaynag,
 				}
 			}
 			break;
+		case 'y': // Layer
+			if (type) {
+				if (strcmp(optarg, "background") == 0) {
+					type->layer = ZWLR_LAYER_SHELL_V1_LAYER_BACKGROUND;
+				} else if (strcmp(optarg, "bottom") == 0) {
+					type->layer = ZWLR_LAYER_SHELL_V1_LAYER_BOTTOM;
+				} else if (strcmp(optarg, "top") == 0) {
+					type->layer = ZWLR_LAYER_SHELL_V1_LAYER_TOP;
+				} else if (strcmp(optarg, "overlay") == 0) {
+					type->layer = ZWLR_LAYER_SHELL_V1_LAYER_OVERLAY;
+				} else {
+					fprintf(stderr, "Invalid layer: %s\n"
+							"Usage: --layer overlay|top|bottom|background\n",
+							optarg);
+					return EXIT_FAILURE;
+				}
+			}
+			break;
 		case 'f': // Font
 			if (type) {
 				free(type->font);
diff --git a/swaynag/swaynag.1.scd b/swaynag/swaynag.1.scd
index 4a03469e..1cc85db7 100644
--- a/swaynag/swaynag.1.scd
+++ b/swaynag/swaynag.1.scd
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ _swaynag_ [options...]
 *-e, --edge* top|bottom
 	Set the edge to use.
 
+*-y, --layer* overlay|top|bottom|background
+	Set the layer to use.
+
 *-f, --font* <font>
 	Set the font to use.
 
diff --git a/swaynag/swaynag.5.scd b/swaynag/swaynag.5.scd
index 2b583db3..3c367d0f 100644
--- a/swaynag/swaynag.5.scd
+++ b/swaynag/swaynag.5.scd
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ Additionally, the following options can be assigned a default per-type:
 *edge=top|bottom*
 	Set the edge to use.
 
+*layer=overlay|top|bottom|background*
+	Set the layer to use.
+
 *font=<font>*
 	Set the font to use.
 
diff --git a/swaynag/swaynag.c b/swaynag/swaynag.c
index 609e4831..dd17c0b0 100644
--- a/swaynag/swaynag.c
+++ b/swaynag/swaynag.c
@@ -476,7 +476,8 @@ void swaynag_setup(struct swaynag *swaynag) {
 	swaynag->layer_surface = zwlr_layer_shell_v1_get_layer_surface(
 			swaynag->layer_shell, swaynag->surface,
 			swaynag->output ? swaynag->output->wl_output : NULL,
-			ZWLR_LAYER_SHELL_V1_LAYER_TOP, "swaynag");
+			swaynag->type->layer,
+			"swaynag");
 	assert(swaynag->layer_surface);
 	zwlr_layer_surface_v1_add_listener(swaynag->layer_surface,
 			&layer_surface_listener, swaynag);
diff --git a/swaynag/types.c b/swaynag/types.c
index fa045532..7bef0f87 100644
--- a/swaynag/types.c
+++ b/swaynag/types.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ struct swaynag_type *swaynag_type_new(const char *name) {
 	type->button_gap_close = -1;
 	type->button_margin_right = -1;
 	type->button_padding = -1;
+	type->layer = -1;
 	return type;
 }
 
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ void swaynag_types_add_default(list_t *types) {
 	type_defaults->anchors = ZWLR_LAYER_SURFACE_V1_ANCHOR_TOP
 		| ZWLR_LAYER_SURFACE_V1_ANCHOR_LEFT
 		| ZWLR_LAYER_SURFACE_V1_ANCHOR_RIGHT;
+	type_defaults->layer = ZWLR_LAYER_SHELL_V1_LAYER_TOP;
 	type_defaults->button_background = 0x333333FF;
 	type_defaults->details_background = 0x333333FF;
 	type_defaults->background = 0x323232FF;
@@ -100,6 +102,10 @@ void swaynag_type_merge(struct swaynag_type *dest, struct swaynag_type *src) {
 		dest->anchors = src->anchors;
 	}
 
+	if (src->layer >= 0) {
+		dest->layer = src->layer;
+	}
+
 	// Colors
 	if (src->button_background > 0) {
 		dest->button_background = src->button_background;