diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 2126000c4..b8c50ccff 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -4335,8 +4335,6 @@ name = "uv-cache"
 version = "0.0.1"
 dependencies = [
  "clap",
- "directories",
- "etcetera",
  "fs-err",
  "nanoid",
  "rmp-serde",
@@ -4347,6 +4345,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "url",
  "uv-cache-info",
  "uv-cache-key",
+ "uv-dirs",
  "uv-distribution-types",
  "uv-fs",
  "uv-normalize",
@@ -4533,6 +4532,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "walkdir",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "uv-dirs"
+version = "0.0.1"
+dependencies = [
+ "directories",
+ "dirs-sys",
+ "etcetera",
+ "uv-static",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "uv-dispatch"
 version = "0.0.1"
@@ -5212,10 +5221,9 @@ dependencies = [
 name = "uv-state"
 version = "0.0.1"
 dependencies = [
- "directories",
- "etcetera",
  "fs-err",
  "tempfile",
+ "uv-dirs",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -5226,7 +5234,6 @@ version = "0.0.1"
 name = "uv-tool"
 version = "0.0.1"
 dependencies = [
- "dirs-sys",
  "fs-err",
  "pathdiff",
  "serde",
@@ -5235,6 +5242,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "toml_edit",
  "tracing",
  "uv-cache",
+ "uv-dirs",
  "uv-fs",
  "uv-install-wheel",
  "uv-installer",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 99b0dcf79..36618fe2b 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ uv-cli = { path = "crates/uv-cli" }
 uv-client = { path = "crates/uv-client" }
 uv-configuration = { path = "crates/uv-configuration" }
 uv-console = { path = "crates/uv-console" }
+uv-dirs = { path = "crates/uv-dirs" }
 uv-dispatch = { path = "crates/uv-dispatch" }
 uv-distribution = { path = "crates/uv-distribution" }
 uv-distribution-filename = { path = "crates/uv-distribution-filename" }
diff --git a/crates/uv-cache/Cargo.toml b/crates/uv-cache/Cargo.toml
index 8f33d81f0..577a84cf5 100644
--- a/crates/uv-cache/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/uv-cache/Cargo.toml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ doctest = false
 workspace = true
 
 [dependencies]
+uv-dirs = { workspace = true }
 uv-cache-info = { workspace = true }
 uv-cache-key = { workspace = true }
 uv-distribution-types = { workspace = true }
@@ -26,8 +27,6 @@ uv-pypi-types = { workspace = true }
 uv-static = { workspace = true }
 
 clap = { workspace = true, features = ["derive", "env"], optional = true }
-directories = { workspace = true }
-etcetera = { workspace = true }
 fs-err = { workspace = true, features = ["tokio"] }
 nanoid = { workspace = true }
 rmp-serde = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/crates/uv-cache/src/cli.rs b/crates/uv-cache/src/cli.rs
index 781b74017..a975a07f4 100644
--- a/crates/uv-cache/src/cli.rs
+++ b/crates/uv-cache/src/cli.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ use uv_static::EnvVars;
 
 use crate::Cache;
 use clap::Parser;
-use directories::ProjectDirs;
-use etcetera::BaseStrategy;
 use tracing::{debug, warn};
 
 #[derive(Parser, Debug, Clone)]
@@ -45,18 +43,13 @@ impl Cache {
             Self::temp()
         } else if let Some(cache_dir) = cache_dir {
             Ok(Self::from_path(cache_dir))
-        } else if let Some(cache_dir) = ProjectDirs::from("", "", "uv")
-            .map(|dirs| dirs.cache_dir().to_path_buf())
-            .filter(|dir| dir.exists())
+        } else if let Some(cache_dir) = uv_dirs::legacy_user_cache_dir().filter(|dir| dir.exists())
         {
             // If the user has an existing directory at (e.g.) `/Users/user/Library/Caches/uv`,
             // respect it for backwards compatibility. Otherwise, prefer the XDG strategy, even on
             // macOS.
             Ok(Self::from_path(cache_dir))
-        } else if let Some(cache_dir) = etcetera::base_strategy::choose_base_strategy()
-            .ok()
-            .map(|dirs| dirs.cache_dir().join("uv"))
-        {
+        } else if let Some(cache_dir) = uv_dirs::user_cache_dir() {
             if cfg!(windows) {
                 // On Windows, we append `cache` to the LocalAppData directory, i.e., prefer
                 // `C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\uv\cache` over `C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\uv`.
diff --git a/crates/uv-dirs/Cargo.toml b/crates/uv-dirs/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d32a4a4e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/uv-dirs/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+[package]
+name = "uv-dirs"
+version = "0.0.1"
+description = "Resolution of directories for storage of uv state"
+edition = { workspace = true }
+rust-version = { workspace = true }
+homepage = { workspace = true }
+documentation = { workspace = true }
+repository = { workspace = true }
+authors = { workspace = true }
+license = { workspace = true }
+
+[lib]
+doctest = false
+
+[lints]
+workspace = true
+
+[dependencies]
+uv-static = { workspace = true }
+
+dirs-sys = { workspace = true }
+directories = { workspace = true }
+etcetera = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/crates/uv-dirs/src/lib.rs b/crates/uv-dirs/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..759a4df75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/uv-dirs/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+use etcetera::BaseStrategy;
+
+use uv_static::EnvVars;
+
+/// Returns an appropriate user-level directory for storing executables.
+///
+/// This follows, in order:
+///
+/// - `$OVERRIDE_VARIABLE` (if provided)
+/// - `$XDG_BIN_HOME`
+/// - `$XDG_DATA_HOME/../bin`
+/// - `$HOME/.local/bin`
+///
+/// On all platforms.
+///
+/// Returns `None` if a directory cannot be found, i.e., if `$HOME` cannot be resolved. Does not
+/// check if the directory exists.
+pub fn user_executable_directory(override_variable: Option<&'static str>) -> Option<PathBuf> {
+    override_variable
+        .and_then(std::env::var_os)
+        .and_then(dirs_sys::is_absolute_path)
+        .or_else(|| std::env::var_os(EnvVars::XDG_BIN_HOME).and_then(dirs_sys::is_absolute_path))
+        .or_else(|| {
+            std::env::var_os(EnvVars::XDG_DATA_HOME)
+                .and_then(dirs_sys::is_absolute_path)
+                .map(|path| path.join("../bin"))
+        })
+        .or_else(|| {
+            // See https://github.com/dirs-dev/dirs-rs/blob/50b50f31f3363b7656e5e63b3fa1060217cbc844/src/win.rs#L5C58-L5C78
+            #[cfg(windows)]
+            let home_dir = dirs_sys::known_folder_profile();
+            #[cfg(not(windows))]
+            let home_dir = dirs_sys::home_dir();
+            home_dir.map(|path| path.join(".local").join("bin"))
+        })
+}
+
+/// Returns an appropriate user-level directory for storing the cache.
+///
+/// Corresponds to `$XDG_CACHE_HOME/uv` on Unix.
+pub fn user_cache_dir() -> Option<PathBuf> {
+    etcetera::base_strategy::choose_base_strategy()
+        .ok()
+        .map(|dirs| dirs.cache_dir().join("uv"))
+}
+
+/// Returns the legacy cache directory path.
+///
+/// Uses `/Users/user/Library/Application Support/uv` on macOS, in contrast to the new preference
+/// for using the XDG directories on all Unix platforms.
+pub fn legacy_user_cache_dir() -> Option<PathBuf> {
+    directories::ProjectDirs::from("", "", "uv").map(|dirs| dirs.cache_dir().to_path_buf())
+}
+
+/// Returns an appropriate user-level directory for storing application state.
+///
+/// Corresponds to `$XDG_DATA_HOME/uv` on Unix.
+pub fn user_state_dir() -> Option<PathBuf> {
+    etcetera::base_strategy::choose_base_strategy()
+        .ok()
+        .map(|dirs| dirs.data_dir().join("uv"))
+}
+
+/// Returns the legacy state directory path.
+///
+/// Uses `/Users/user/Library/Application Support/uv` on macOS, in contrast to the new preference
+/// for using the XDG directories on all Unix platforms.
+pub fn legacy_user_state_dir() -> Option<PathBuf> {
+    directories::ProjectDirs::from("", "", "uv").map(|dirs| dirs.data_dir().to_path_buf())
+}
diff --git a/crates/uv-state/Cargo.toml b/crates/uv-state/Cargo.toml
index f90413be4..5e3d8bd5b 100644
--- a/crates/uv-state/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/uv-state/Cargo.toml
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ doctest = false
 workspace = true
 
 [dependencies]
-directories = { workspace = true }
-etcetera = { workspace = true }
+uv-dirs = { workspace = true }
 tempfile = { workspace = true }
 fs-err = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/crates/uv-state/src/lib.rs b/crates/uv-state/src/lib.rs
index 9d1f65485..90c930ccc 100644
--- a/crates/uv-state/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/uv-state/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,14 +4,13 @@ use std::{
     sync::Arc,
 };
 
-use directories::ProjectDirs;
-use etcetera::BaseStrategy;
 use fs_err as fs;
 use tempfile::{tempdir, TempDir};
 
 /// The main state storage abstraction.
 ///
-/// This is appropriate
+/// This is appropriate for storing persistent data that is not user-facing, such as managed Python
+/// installations or tool environments.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct StateStore {
     /// The state storage.
@@ -85,18 +84,12 @@ impl StateStore {
     pub fn from_settings(state_dir: Option<PathBuf>) -> Result<Self, io::Error> {
         if let Some(state_dir) = state_dir {
             StateStore::from_path(state_dir)
-        } else if let Some(data_dir) = ProjectDirs::from("", "", "uv")
-            .map(|dirs| dirs.data_dir().to_path_buf())
-            .filter(|dir| dir.exists())
-        {
+        } else if let Some(data_dir) = uv_dirs::legacy_user_state_dir().filter(|dir| dir.exists()) {
             // If the user has an existing directory at (e.g.) `/Users/user/Library/Application Support/uv`,
             // respect it for backwards compatibility. Otherwise, prefer the XDG strategy, even on
             // macOS.
             StateStore::from_path(data_dir)
-        } else if let Some(data_dir) = etcetera::base_strategy::choose_base_strategy()
-            .ok()
-            .map(|dirs| dirs.data_dir().join("uv"))
-        {
+        } else if let Some(data_dir) = uv_dirs::user_state_dir() {
             StateStore::from_path(data_dir)
         } else {
             StateStore::from_path(".uv")
diff --git a/crates/uv-tool/Cargo.toml b/crates/uv-tool/Cargo.toml
index f74b29fc2..b82791800 100644
--- a/crates/uv-tool/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/uv-tool/Cargo.toml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ workspace = true
 
 [dependencies]
 uv-cache = { workspace = true }
+uv-dirs = { workspace = true }
 uv-fs = { workspace = true }
 uv-install-wheel = { workspace = true }
 uv-installer = { workspace = true }
@@ -28,8 +29,6 @@ uv-settings = { workspace = true }
 uv-state = { workspace = true }
 uv-static = { workspace = true }
 uv-virtualenv = { workspace = true }
-
-dirs-sys = { workspace = true }
 fs-err = { workspace = true }
 pathdiff = { workspace = true }
 serde = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/crates/uv-tool/src/lib.rs b/crates/uv-tool/src/lib.rs
index 20b3e559f..631d6c026 100644
--- a/crates/uv-tool/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/uv-tool/src/lib.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ use core::fmt;
 
 use fs_err as fs;
 
+use uv_dirs::user_executable_directory;
 use uv_pep440::Version;
 use uv_pep508::{InvalidNameError, PackageName};
 
@@ -354,36 +355,9 @@ impl fmt::Display for InstalledTool {
     }
 }
 
-/// Find a directory to place executables in.
-///
-/// This follows, in order:
-///
-/// - `$UV_TOOL_BIN_DIR`
-/// - `$XDG_BIN_HOME`
-/// - `$XDG_DATA_HOME/../bin`
-/// - `$HOME/.local/bin`
-///
-/// On all platforms.
-///
-/// Errors if a directory cannot be found.
-pub fn find_executable_directory() -> Result<PathBuf, Error> {
-    std::env::var_os(EnvVars::UV_TOOL_BIN_DIR)
-        .and_then(dirs_sys::is_absolute_path)
-        .or_else(|| std::env::var_os(EnvVars::XDG_BIN_HOME).and_then(dirs_sys::is_absolute_path))
-        .or_else(|| {
-            std::env::var_os(EnvVars::XDG_DATA_HOME)
-                .and_then(dirs_sys::is_absolute_path)
-                .map(|path| path.join("../bin"))
-        })
-        .or_else(|| {
-            // See https://github.com/dirs-dev/dirs-rs/blob/50b50f31f3363b7656e5e63b3fa1060217cbc844/src/win.rs#L5C58-L5C78
-            #[cfg(windows)]
-            let home_dir = dirs_sys::known_folder_profile();
-            #[cfg(not(windows))]
-            let home_dir = dirs_sys::home_dir();
-            home_dir.map(|path| path.join(".local").join("bin"))
-        })
-        .ok_or(Error::NoExecutableDirectory)
+/// Find the tool executable directory.
+pub fn tool_executable_dir() -> Result<PathBuf, Error> {
+    user_executable_directory(Some(EnvVars::UV_TOOL_BIN_DIR)).ok_or(Error::NoExecutableDirectory)
 }
 
 /// Find the `.dist-info` directory for a package in an environment.
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/common.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/common.rs
index 82ce665a4..08fae7fa6 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/common.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/common.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use uv_pypi_types::Requirement;
 use uv_python::PythonEnvironment;
 use uv_settings::ToolOptions;
 use uv_shell::Shell;
-use uv_tool::{entrypoint_paths, find_executable_directory, InstalledTools, Tool, ToolEntrypoint};
+use uv_tool::{entrypoint_paths, tool_executable_dir, InstalledTools, Tool, ToolEntrypoint};
 use uv_warnings::warn_user;
 
 use crate::commands::ExitStatus;
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ pub(crate) fn install_executables(
     };
 
     // Find a suitable path to install into
-    let executable_directory = find_executable_directory()?;
+    let executable_directory = tool_executable_dir()?;
     fs_err::create_dir_all(&executable_directory)
         .context("Failed to create executable directory")?;
 
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/dir.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/dir.rs
index 880a8eee3..e8b1a6a40 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/dir.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/dir.rs
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@ use owo_colors::OwoColorize;
 
 use uv_configuration::PreviewMode;
 use uv_fs::Simplified;
-use uv_tool::{find_executable_directory, InstalledTools};
+use uv_tool::{tool_executable_dir, InstalledTools};
 
 /// Show the tool directory.
 pub(crate) fn dir(bin: bool, _preview: PreviewMode) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     if bin {
-        let executable_directory = find_executable_directory()?;
+        let executable_directory = tool_executable_dir()?;
         println!("{}", executable_directory.simplified_display().cyan());
     } else {
         let installed_tools =
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/update_shell.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/update_shell.rs
index 58637c422..9a6191761 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/update_shell.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/tool/update_shell.rs
@@ -9,14 +9,14 @@ use tracing::debug;
 
 use uv_fs::Simplified;
 use uv_shell::Shell;
-use uv_tool::find_executable_directory;
+use uv_tool::tool_executable_dir;
 
 use crate::commands::ExitStatus;
 use crate::printer::Printer;
 
 /// Ensure that the executable directory is in PATH.
 pub(crate) async fn update_shell(printer: Printer) -> Result<ExitStatus> {
-    let executable_directory = find_executable_directory()?;
+    let executable_directory = tool_executable_dir()?;
     debug!(
         "Ensuring that the executable directory is in PATH: {}",
         executable_directory.simplified_display()