diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 444e912221..eb59352d55 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ Do not hand-edit `COMMAND_CATALOG`, `OPERATION_MEMBER_PATH_MAP`, `OPERATION_REFE
 - `pnpm check:types` - raw TS compile across all referenced projects (`tsc -b tsconfig.references.json`). Does NOT run the public-interface chain. Legacy alias: `pnpm run type-check`.
 - `pnpm check:public` - **canonical pre-merge command for typed public surfaces.** Validates both `superdoc` (tier discipline + jsdoc ratchet + vite build + postbuild chain + consumer typecheck matrix + deep-type audit + package-shape + snapshots + classification closure) and Document API (contract parity + output staleness + examples + overview). ~5 min. Non-mutating. Combines `check:public:superdoc` + `check:public:docapi`.
 - `pnpm check:public:superdoc` - SuperDoc public package surface only. Wraps nine stages in cheap-to-expensive order: `contract-tiers-test`, `contract-tiers`, `jsdoc-ratchet`, `build`, `consumer-typecheck-matrix`, `deep-type-audit-supported-root`, `package-shape`, `export-snapshots`, `root-classification-closure`. Legacy alias: `pnpm run check:public-contract`.
-- `pnpm check:public:docapi` - Document API public surface only. Clean-checkout safe: gitignored generated artifacts are built in memory; tracked outputs (reference docs, overview block) are compared byte-for-byte. No mutation. Legacy alias: `pnpm run docapi:check`.
+- `pnpm check:public:docapi` - Document API public surface only. Wraps four stages: `contract-parity`, `contract-outputs`, `examples`, `overview-alignment`. Clean-checkout safe: gitignored generated artifacts are built in memory; tracked outputs (reference docs, overview block) are compared byte-for-byte. No mutation. Legacy alias: `pnpm run docapi:check`.
 - `pnpm generate:docapi` - regenerate Document API outputs after editing the contract (alias of `docapi:sync`). Writes gitignored Document API generated artifacts. Run only when you need the artifacts materialized locally (SDK builds, publishing); `check:public:docapi` does not require it.
 - `pnpm generate:all` - regenerate schemas, SDK clients, tool catalogs, reference docs.
 - `pnpm report:public:superdoc` - print public-contract tier metadata (supported / legacy / legacy-raw / asset / deprecated). Read-only, not a gate. Use `check:public:superdoc` (or its `contract-tiers` stage) to enforce. Source of truth: `packages/superdoc/scripts/type-surface.config.cjs`.
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index d206948dfe..ac9a86ab93 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
     "docapi:sync:check": "pnpm run generate:docapi && pnpm run check:public:docapi",
     "check:types": "tsc -b tsconfig.references.json",
     "check:public:superdoc": "node scripts/check-public-contract.mjs",
-    "check:public:docapi": "pnpm exec tsx packages/document-api/scripts/check-contract-parity.ts && pnpm exec tsx packages/document-api/scripts/check-contract-outputs.ts && pnpm exec tsx packages/document-api/scripts/check-examples.ts && pnpm exec tsx packages/document-api/scripts/check-overview-alignment.ts",
+    "check:public:docapi": "node scripts/check-public-docapi.mjs",
     "check:public": "pnpm run check:public:superdoc && pnpm run check:public:docapi",
     "generate:docapi": "pnpm exec tsx packages/document-api/scripts/generate-contract-outputs.ts",
     "report:public:superdoc": "node scripts/report-public-contract.mjs",
diff --git a/packages/superdoc/scripts/README.md b/packages/superdoc/scripts/README.md
index aabe3dc2c1..a4a51636d3 100644
--- a/packages/superdoc/scripts/README.md
+++ b/packages/superdoc/scripts/README.md
@@ -178,12 +178,17 @@ canonical source, and several artifacts are generated from it.
 | `check-examples.ts` | check | Asserts contract examples compile. |
 | `check-overview-alignment.ts` | check | Asserts the documentation overview reflects the current operation set. |
 
-The four `check-*` scripts run together via `check:public:docapi` and
-are **clean-checkout safe**: a fresh `git clone` followed by
-`pnpm install && pnpm check:public` succeeds without `generate:docapi`
-having run first. `generate:docapi` remains the explicit way to
-materialize the gitignored artifacts when you need them locally (SDK
-builds, publishing).
+The four `check-*` scripts run together via `check:public:docapi`,
+which invokes the staged wrapper at `scripts/check-public-docapi.mjs`.
+Same shape as `check:public:superdoc`: cheap-to-expensive ordering,
+named stages (`contract-parity`, `contract-outputs`, `examples`,
+`overview-alignment`), stage headers + final elapsed time, and a
+re-run hint on failure.
+
+**Clean-checkout safe**: a fresh `git clone` followed by `pnpm install
+&& pnpm check:public` succeeds without `generate:docapi` having run
+first. `generate:docapi` remains the explicit way to materialize the
+gitignored artifacts when you need them locally (SDK builds, publishing).
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/scripts/check-public-docapi.mjs b/scripts/check-public-docapi.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..19b51cbf8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/check-public-docapi.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+/**
+ * Document API public-surface gate. Sibling of `check-public-contract.mjs`
+ * (SuperDoc); same staged shape, same failure UX.
+ *
+ * Non-mutating, clean-checkout safe: stage 2 builds gitignored
+ * artifacts in memory so `generate:docapi` is not a prerequisite.
+ * Cheap-to-expensive ordering — contract drift fails in seconds.
+ *
+ * Stages:
+ *   1. contract-parity      - operation IDs, member maps, runtime API
+ *                             shape must agree.
+ *   2. contract-outputs     - tracked outputs (reference docs, overview
+ *                             block) match the contract; gitignored
+ *                             outputs (schemas, agent artifacts) are
+ *                             built in memory so builder errors still
+ *                             surface. The longest stage.
+ *   3. examples             - required workflow example headings exist
+ *                             in `packages/document-api/src/README.md`.
+ *   4. overview-alignment   - `apps/docs/document-api/available-
+ *                             operations.mdx` structural correctness:
+ *                             reference link, section markers, every
+ *                             `editor.doc.*` path references a known
+ *                             member.
+ *
+ * Local usage:
+ *   pnpm check:public           (umbrella, runs SuperDoc + Document API)
+ *   pnpm check:public:docapi    (Document API only, this script)
+ *
+ * Legacy alias preserved: `pnpm run docapi:check`.
+ */
+
+import { spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
+import { dirname, resolve } from 'node:path';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+
+const REPO_ROOT = resolve(dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)), '..');
+
+const stages = [
+  {
+    name: 'contract-parity',
+    cwd: REPO_ROOT,
+    cmd: 'pnpm',
+    args: ['exec', 'tsx', 'packages/document-api/scripts/check-contract-parity.ts'],
+    blurb:
+      'Operation IDs, operation/member maps, and runtime API shape must agree. ' +
+      'Fast; runs first so contract drift fails before slower stages.',
+  },
+  {
+    name: 'contract-outputs',
+    cwd: REPO_ROOT,
+    cmd: 'pnpm',
+    args: ['exec', 'tsx', 'packages/document-api/scripts/check-contract-outputs.ts'],
+    blurb:
+      'Tracked outputs (reference docs, overview block) compared byte-for-byte. ' +
+      'Gitignored outputs (schemas, agent artifacts) built in memory; no need to ' +
+      'run `pnpm run generate:docapi` first.',
+  },
+  {
+    name: 'examples',
+    cwd: REPO_ROOT,
+    cmd: 'pnpm',
+    args: ['exec', 'tsx', 'packages/document-api/scripts/check-examples.ts'],
+    blurb:
+      'Required workflow example headings exist in ' +
+      'packages/document-api/src/README.md.',
+  },
+  {
+    name: 'overview-alignment',
+    cwd: REPO_ROOT,
+    cmd: 'pnpm',
+    args: ['exec', 'tsx', 'packages/document-api/scripts/check-overview-alignment.ts'],
+    blurb:
+      'Overview page structure: reference link, section markers, no stale ' +
+      'placeholders, every `editor.doc.*` path references a known member.',
+  },
+];
+
+const HR = '='.repeat(72);
+const start = Date.now();
+
+let failed = null;
+for (const [i, s] of stages.entries()) {
+  console.log('');
+  console.log(HR);
+  console.log(`[${i + 1}/${stages.length}] ${s.name}`);
+  console.log(s.blurb);
+  console.log(HR);
+  const result = spawnSync(s.cmd, s.args, { cwd: s.cwd, stdio: 'inherit' });
+  if (result.status !== 0) {
+    failed = { stage: s.name, status: result.status ?? 1 };
+    break;
+  }
+}
+
+const elapsed = ((Date.now() - start) / 1000).toFixed(1);
+console.log('');
+console.log(HR);
+if (failed) {
+  console.log(`FAIL: stage "${failed.stage}" exited ${failed.status} (after ${elapsed}s)`);
+  console.log('');
+  console.log('Re-run the failing stage directly to iterate:');
+  const failedStage = stages.find((s) => s.name === failed.stage);
+  console.log(`  cd ${failedStage.cwd}`);
+  console.log(`  ${failedStage.cmd} ${failedStage.args.join(' ')}`);
+  process.exit(failed.status);
+} else {
+  console.log(`PASS: ${stages.length} stages, ${elapsed}s`);
+}