diff --git a/assets/js/api-search/src/reducer.js b/assets/js/api-search/src/reducer.js
index b4250ac86..01f641939 100644
--- a/assets/js/api-search/src/reducer.js
+++ b/assets/js/api-search/src/reducer.js
@@ -3,6 +3,54 @@
  */
 import { getArgsWithoutConstraints } from './utilities';
 
+/**
+ * Reorder search results to respect Custom Results ordering.
+ *
+ * Posts with an ep_custom_result taxonomy term matching the search term
+ * are placed at their specified term_order positions. Mirrors the PHP
+ * SearchOrdering::posts_results() logic.
+ *
+ * @param {Array}  hits       Elasticsearch hits array.
+ * @param {string} searchTerm Current search term.
+ * @returns {Array} Reordered hits.
+ */
+const applyCustomResultsOrdering = (hits, searchTerm) => {
+	if (!searchTerm || !hits.length) {
+		return hits;
+	}
+
+	const normalizedTerm = searchTerm.toLowerCase();
+	const toInject = {};
+	const remaining = [];
+
+	for (const hit of hits) {
+		const customResults = hit._source?.terms?.ep_custom_result;
+		const matchingTerm = Array.isArray(customResults)
+			? customResults.find((term) => term.name && term.name.toLowerCase() === normalizedTerm)
+			: null;
+
+		if (matchingTerm && matchingTerm.term_order) {
+			toInject[matchingTerm.term_order] = hit;
+		} else {
+			remaining.push(hit);
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (!Object.keys(toInject).length) {
+		return hits;
+	}
+
+	const sortedPositions = Object.keys(toInject)
+		.map(Number)
+		.sort((a, b) => a - b);
+
+	for (const position of sortedPositions) {
+		remaining.splice(position - 1, 0, toInject[position]);
+	}
+
+	return remaining;
+};
+
 /**
  * Reducer function.
  *
@@ -74,7 +122,7 @@ export default (state, action) => {
 			const totalNumber = typeof total === 'number' ? total : total.value;
 
 			newState.aggregations = aggregations;
-			newState.searchResults = hits;
+			newState.searchResults = applyCustomResultsOrdering(hits, newState.args.search);
 			newState.searchTerm = newState.args.search;
 			newState.totalResults = totalNumber;
 			newState.suggestedTerms = suggest?.ep_suggestion?.[0]?.options || [];
diff --git a/tests/e2e/src/specs/instant-results.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/src/specs/instant-results.spec.ts
index 6a40945cb..794634027 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/src/specs/instant-results.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/src/specs/instant-results.spec.ts
@@ -463,6 +463,89 @@ test.describe('Instant Results Feature', { tag: '@group1' }, () => {
 				);
 			});
 
+			test('Custom Results pointer order is respected in Instant Results', async ({
+				loggedInPage,
+			}) => {
+				const searchTerm = 'block';
+
+				await maybeEnableFeature('instant-results');
+				await maybeEnableFeature('searchordering');
+				await wpCli('elasticpress put-search-template', true);
+
+				// Remove any existing pointers to avoid pollution from prior tests.
+				await wpCliEval(`
+					$ep_pointers = get_posts(
+						[
+							'post_type'   => 'ep-pointer',
+							'numberposts' => 999,
+						]
+					);
+					foreach ( $ep_pointers as $pointer ) {
+						wp_delete_post( $pointer->ID, true );
+					}
+				`);
+
+				/**
+				 * Create a pointer that pins results for the search term in a
+				 * non-default order.
+				 */
+				await goToAdminPage(loggedInPage, 'post-new.php?post_type=ep-pointer');
+
+				const previewResponsePromise = loggedInPage.waitForResponse(
+					'**/wp-json/elasticpress/v1/pointer_preview*',
+				);
+				await loggedInPage.locator('#titlewrap input').pressSequentially(searchTerm);
+				await previewResponsePromise;
+
+				const initialOrder = await loggedInPage
+					.locator('.pointers .pointer .title')
+					.allTextContents();
+				expect(initialOrder.length).toBeGreaterThan(1);
+
+				// Swap the first two results via keyboard drag.
+				await loggedInPage
+					.locator('.pointers > div')
+					.first()
+					.locator('.dashicons-menu')
+					.focus();
+				await loggedInPage.keyboard.press('Space');
+				await loggedInPage.keyboard.press('ArrowDown');
+				await loggedInPage.keyboard.press('Space');
+
+				const expectedOrder = await loggedInPage
+					.locator('.pointers .pointer .title')
+					.allTextContents();
+				expect(expectedOrder).not.toEqual(initialOrder);
+
+				await loggedInPage.click('#publish');
+				await loggedInPage.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
+
+				// Allow Elasticsearch time to index the pointer assignments.
+				await loggedInPage.waitForTimeout(2000);
+
+				/**
+				 * Search via Instant Results and verify the modal returns the
+				 * pinned posts in the order configured on the pointer.
+				 */
+				const responsePromise = instantResultRequestPromise(
+					loggedInPage,
+					`search=${searchTerm}`,
+				);
+				await loggedInPage.goto('/');
+				await searchFor(loggedInPage, searchTerm);
+				await expect(loggedInPage.locator('.ep-search-modal')).toBeVisible();
+				await responsePromise;
+				await expect(loggedInPage.locator('.ep-search-result').first()).toBeVisible();
+
+				const irTitles = await loggedInPage
+					.locator('.ep-search-result__title')
+					.allTextContents();
+
+				for (let index = 0; index < expectedOrder.length; index++) {
+					expect(irTitles[index]).toBe(expectedOrder[index]);
+				}
+			});
+
 			test('Is possible to set the default post type from a search form', async ({
 				loggedInPage,
 			}) => {