diff --git a/esphome/components/x9c/output.py b/esphome/components/x9c/output.py
index 56820efdfa..4497994982 100644
--- a/esphome/components/x9c/output.py
+++ b/esphome/components/x9c/output.py
@@ -27,7 +27,13 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
             cv.Optional(CONF_INITIAL_VALUE, default=1.0): cv.float_range(
                 min=0.01, max=1.0
             ),
-            cv.Optional(CONF_STEP_DELAY, default=1): cv.int_range(min=1, max=100),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_STEP_DELAY, default="1us"): cv.All(
+                cv.positive_time_period_microseconds,
+                cv.Range(
+                    min=cv.TimePeriod(microseconds=1),
+                    max=cv.TimePeriod(microseconds=100),
+                ),
+            ),
         }
     )
 )
diff --git a/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32-c3-idf.yaml b/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32-c3-idf.yaml
index 1234581329..972c743fcd 100644
--- a/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32-c3-idf.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32-c3-idf.yaml
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@ output:
     inc_pin: 4
     ud_pin: 5
     initial_value: 0.5
-    step_delay: 50
+    step_delay: 50us
diff --git a/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32-c3.yaml b/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32-c3.yaml
index 1234581329..972c743fcd 100644
--- a/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32-c3.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32-c3.yaml
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@ output:
     inc_pin: 4
     ud_pin: 5
     initial_value: 0.5
-    step_delay: 50
+    step_delay: 50us
diff --git a/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32-idf.yaml b/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32-idf.yaml
index 5f1468e94b..f587b69b4f 100644
--- a/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32-idf.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32-idf.yaml
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@ output:
     inc_pin: 14
     ud_pin: 15
     initial_value: 0.5
-    step_delay: 50
+    step_delay: 50us
diff --git a/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32.yaml b/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32.yaml
index 5f1468e94b..f587b69b4f 100644
--- a/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/x9c/test.esp32.yaml
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@ output:
     inc_pin: 14
     ud_pin: 15
     initial_value: 0.5
-    step_delay: 50
+    step_delay: 50us
diff --git a/tests/components/x9c/test.esp8266.yaml b/tests/components/x9c/test.esp8266.yaml
index 5f1468e94b..f587b69b4f 100644
--- a/tests/components/x9c/test.esp8266.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/x9c/test.esp8266.yaml
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@ output:
     inc_pin: 14
     ud_pin: 15
     initial_value: 0.5
-    step_delay: 50
+    step_delay: 50us
diff --git a/tests/components/x9c/test.rp2040.yaml b/tests/components/x9c/test.rp2040.yaml
index 1234581329..972c743fcd 100644
--- a/tests/components/x9c/test.rp2040.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/x9c/test.rp2040.yaml
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@ output:
     inc_pin: 4
     ud_pin: 5
     initial_value: 0.5
-    step_delay: 50
+    step_delay: 50us