diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2f4e899..89a3e68 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -172,6 +172,9 @@ prmaven why -project .
 prmaven why -project . -format json
 prmaven why -project . -module payment-core
 prmaven why -project . -format json -output prmaven-report.json
+prmaven -h
+prmaven help
+prmaven version
 ```
 
 Stage 1 treats `fails` and `why` as equivalent commands. The distinction is reserved for future UX where `fails` may list failures and `why` may include richer causality evidence.
diff --git a/cmd/prmaven/main.go b/cmd/prmaven/main.go
index 1ea6c37..a991986 100644
--- a/cmd/prmaven/main.go
+++ b/cmd/prmaven/main.go
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ func main() {
 }
 
 func run(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
+	if wantsHelp(args) {
+		writeUsage(stdout)
+		return 0
+	}
+
 	command := "fails"
 	if len(args) > 0 && args[0] != "" && args[0][0] != '-' {
 		command = args[0]
@@ -26,12 +31,16 @@ func run(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
 
 	flags := flag.NewFlagSet("prmaven", flag.ContinueOnError)
 	flags.SetOutput(stderr)
+	flags.Usage = func() {
+		writeUsage(stderr)
+	}
 	projectDir := flags.String("project", ".", "Maven project directory")
 	format := flags.String("format", "text", "output format: text or json")
 	moduleFilter := flags.String("module", "", "limit findings to a Maven module path or artifactId")
 	outputPath := flags.String("output", "", "write output to file instead of stdout")
 
 	if err := flags.Parse(args); err != nil {
+		writeUsage(stderr)
 		return 2
 	}
 
@@ -40,13 +49,18 @@ func run(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
 	}
 
 	switch command {
-	case "fails", "why", "version":
+	case "fails", "why", "version", "help":
 	default:
 		fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "unknown command %q\n", command)
-		fmt.Fprintln(stderr, "available commands: fails, why, version")
+		writeUsage(stderr)
 		return 2
 	}
 
+	if command == "help" {
+		writeUsage(stdout)
+		return 0
+	}
+
 	if command == "version" {
 		fmt.Fprintln(stdout, version)
 		return 0
@@ -103,6 +117,57 @@ func run(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
 	return 0
 }
 
+func wantsHelp(args []string) bool {
+	if len(args) > 0 && args[0] == "help" {
+		return true
+	}
+	for _, arg := range args {
+		switch arg {
+		case "-h", "--help", "-help":
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func writeUsage(w io.Writer) {
+	fmt.Fprint(w, `PR Maven CLI - Maven-aware PR/CI failure context
+
+Usage:
+  prmaven [command] [flags]
+
+Commands:
+  fails     Analyze local Maven reports and print actionable failure context.
+  why       Analyze local Maven reports; reserved for richer causality context.
+  version   Print the CLI version.
+  help      Print this help.
+
+Flags:
+  -project string
+      Maven project directory to analyze. Defaults to ".".
+  -format string
+      Output format: text or json. Defaults to "text".
+  -module string
+      Limit findings to a Maven module path or artifactId.
+  -output string
+      Write output to a file instead of stdout.
+  -h, -help, --help
+      Print this help.
+
+Examples:
+  prmaven fails -project .
+  prmaven fails -project . -format json
+  prmaven why -project . -module payment-core
+  prmaven why -project . -format json -output prmaven-report.json
+  prmaven version
+
+Exit codes:
+  0  Analysis completed with no findings, or help/version completed.
+  1  Analysis completed with Maven findings, or analysis/output failed.
+  2  Invalid CLI usage.
+`)
+}
+
 func filterReportByModule(report prmaven.Report, moduleFilter string) prmaven.Report {
 	moduleFilter = strings.TrimSpace(moduleFilter)
 	if moduleFilter == "" {
diff --git a/cmd/prmaven/main_test.go b/cmd/prmaven/main_test.go
index edb417f..0f08c5a 100644
--- a/cmd/prmaven/main_test.go
+++ b/cmd/prmaven/main_test.go
@@ -219,6 +219,72 @@ func TestRunReturnsUsageExitCode(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), `unknown command "unknown"`) {
 		t.Fatalf("stderr missing unknown command\n%s", stderr.String())
 	}
+	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "Commands:") {
+		t.Fatalf("stderr missing usage commands\n%s", stderr.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunHelpIncludesCommandsFlagsAndExamples(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := [][]string{
+		{"-h"},
+		{"--help"},
+		{"help"},
+	}
+
+	for _, args := range tests {
+		t.Run(strings.Join(args, " "), func(t *testing.T) {
+			var stdout bytes.Buffer
+			var stderr bytes.Buffer
+
+			code := run(args, &stdout, &stderr)
+			if code != 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("exit code = %d, want 0", code)
+			}
+			if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("stderr = %q, want empty", stderr.String())
+			}
+
+			text := stdout.String()
+			for _, expected := range []string{
+				"Usage:",
+				"Commands:",
+				"fails     Analyze local Maven reports",
+				"why       Analyze local Maven reports",
+				"Flags:",
+				"-project string",
+				"-format string",
+				"-module string",
+				"-output string",
+				"Examples:",
+				"prmaven why -project . -format json -output prmaven-report.json",
+				"Exit codes:",
+			} {
+				if !strings.Contains(text, expected) {
+					t.Fatalf("help output missing %q\n%s", expected, text)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCLIEndToEndHelp(t *testing.T) {
+	command := exec.Command("go", "run", ".", "-h")
+	output, err := command.CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CLI help exit error = %v\n%s", err, string(output))
+	}
+
+	text := string(output)
+	for _, expected := range []string{
+		"PR Maven CLI - Maven-aware PR/CI failure context",
+		"Commands:",
+		"Flags:",
+		"Examples:",
+	} {
+		if !strings.Contains(text, expected) {
+			t.Fatalf("CLI help output missing %q\n%s", expected, text)
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func TestRunVersion(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/docs/implementation-status.md b/docs/implementation-status.md
index ff24341..af73e68 100644
--- a/docs/implementation-status.md
+++ b/docs/implementation-status.md
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ Implemented commands:
 
 - `fails`;
 - `why`;
+- `help`;
 - `version`.
 
 Implemented flags:
diff --git a/docs/usage.md b/docs/usage.md
index 9fe2667..5441561 100644
--- a/docs/usage.md
+++ b/docs/usage.md
@@ -17,17 +17,22 @@ prmaven why -project .
 prmaven why -project . -format json
 prmaven why -project . -module payment-core
 prmaven why -project . -format json -output prmaven-report.json
+prmaven -h
+prmaven help
 prmaven version
 ```
 
 Stage 1 treats `fails` and `why` as equivalent analysis commands. The separate names leave room for future UX where `fails` lists failures and `why` adds richer causality evidence.
 
+Built-in help is available with `prmaven -h`, `prmaven --help`, `prmaven -help`, or `prmaven help`. It lists commands, flags, examples, and exit codes without requiring network access or extra dependencies.
+
 ## Flags
 
 - `-project`: Maven project directory to analyze. Defaults to `.`.
 - `-format`: output format. Supported values are `text` and `json`. Defaults to `text`.
 - `-module`: optional Maven module filter. Matches either a module path, such as `payment-core`, or a module artifactId. Limits emitted findings to matching modules.
 - `-output`: optional file path for the generated text or JSON report. When omitted, output is written to stdout.
+- `-h`, `-help`, `--help`: print built-in CLI help.
 
 When `-module` is set and no module matches, PR Maven CLI emits zero findings for that filtered view.