diff --git a/pkg/proxy/metrics/metrics.go b/pkg/proxy/metrics/metrics.go
index 55696e147fb..96b4f42487f 100644
--- a/pkg/proxy/metrics/metrics.go
+++ b/pkg/proxy/metrics/metrics.go
@@ -316,6 +316,8 @@ func RegisterMetrics(mode kubeproxyconfig.ProxyMode) {
 			legacyregistry.MustRegister(IPTablesRestoreFailuresTotal)
 
 		case kubeproxyconfig.ProxyModeNFTables:
+			legacyregistry.MustRegister(SyncFullProxyRulesLatency)
+			legacyregistry.MustRegister(SyncPartialProxyRulesLatency)
 			legacyregistry.MustRegister(NFTablesSyncFailuresTotal)
 			legacyregistry.MustRegister(NFTablesCleanupFailuresTotal)
 
diff --git a/pkg/proxy/nftables/proxier.go b/pkg/proxy/nftables/proxier.go
index c4b9aa803fa..c770be081dd 100644
--- a/pkg/proxy/nftables/proxier.go
+++ b/pkg/proxy/nftables/proxier.go
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ type Proxier struct {
 	// updating nftables with some partial data after kube-proxy restart.
 	endpointSlicesSynced bool
 	servicesSynced       bool
+	needFullSync         bool
 	initialized          int32
 	syncRunner           *async.BoundedFrequencyRunner // governs calls to syncProxyRules
 	syncPeriod           time.Duration
@@ -194,6 +195,13 @@ type Proxier struct {
 	serviceCIDRs string
 
 	logger klog.Logger
+
+	clusterIPs          *nftElementStorage
+	serviceIPs          *nftElementStorage
+	firewallIPs         *nftElementStorage
+	noEndpointServices  *nftElementStorage
+	noEndpointNodePorts *nftElementStorage
+	serviceNodePorts    *nftElementStorage
 }
 
 // Proxier implements proxy.Provider
@@ -243,6 +251,7 @@ func NewProxier(ctx context.Context,
 		serviceChanges:      proxy.NewServiceChangeTracker(newServiceInfo, ipFamily, recorder, nil),
 		endpointsMap:        make(proxy.EndpointsMap),
 		endpointsChanges:    proxy.NewEndpointsChangeTracker(hostname, newEndpointInfo, ipFamily, recorder, nil),
+		needFullSync:        true,
 		syncPeriod:          syncPeriod,
 		nftables:            nft,
 		masqueradeAll:       masqueradeAll,
@@ -258,11 +267,18 @@ func NewProxier(ctx context.Context,
 		networkInterfacer:   proxyutil.RealNetwork{},
 		staleChains:         make(map[string]time.Time),
 		logger:              logger,
+		clusterIPs:          newNFTElementStorage("set", clusterIPsSet),
+		serviceIPs:          newNFTElementStorage("map", serviceIPsMap),
+		firewallIPs:         newNFTElementStorage("map", firewallIPsMap),
+		noEndpointServices:  newNFTElementStorage("map", noEndpointServicesMap),
+		noEndpointNodePorts: newNFTElementStorage("map", noEndpointNodePortsMap),
+		serviceNodePorts:    newNFTElementStorage("map", serviceNodePortsMap),
 	}
 
 	burstSyncs := 2
 	logger.V(2).Info("NFTables sync params", "minSyncPeriod", minSyncPeriod, "syncPeriod", syncPeriod, "burstSyncs", burstSyncs)
-	proxier.syncRunner = async.NewBoundedFrequencyRunner("sync-runner", proxier.syncProxyRules, minSyncPeriod, syncPeriod, burstSyncs)
+	// We need to pass *some* maxInterval to NewBoundedFrequencyRunner. time.Hour is arbitrary.
+	proxier.syncRunner = async.NewBoundedFrequencyRunner("sync-runner", proxier.syncProxyRules, minSyncPeriod, time.Hour, burstSyncs)
 
 	return proxier, nil
 }
@@ -421,17 +437,22 @@ var nftablesJumpChains = []nftablesJumpChain{
 // ensureChain adds commands to tx to ensure that chain exists and doesn't contain
 // anything from before this transaction (using createdChains to ensure that we don't
 // Flush a chain more than once and lose *new* rules as well.)
-func ensureChain(chain string, tx *knftables.Transaction, createdChains sets.Set[string]) {
+// If skipCreation is true, chain will not be added to the transaction, but will be added to the createdChains
+// for proper cleanup in the end of the sync iteration.
+func ensureChain(chain string, tx *knftables.Transaction, createdChains sets.Set[string], skipCreation bool) {
 	if createdChains.Has(chain) {
 		return
 	}
+	createdChains.Insert(chain)
+	if skipCreation {
+		return
+	}
 	tx.Add(&knftables.Chain{
 		Name: chain,
 	})
 	tx.Flush(&knftables.Chain{
 		Name: chain,
 	})
-	createdChains.Insert(chain)
 }
 
 func (proxier *Proxier) setupNFTables(tx *knftables.Transaction) {
@@ -477,7 +498,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) setupNFTables(tx *knftables.Transaction) {
 	// Create and flush ordinary chains and add rules jumping to them
 	createdChains := sets.New[string]()
 	for _, c := range nftablesJumpChains {
-		ensureChain(c.dstChain, tx, createdChains)
+		ensureChain(c.dstChain, tx, createdChains, false)
 		tx.Add(&knftables.Rule{
 			Chain: c.srcChain,
 			Rule: knftables.Concat(
@@ -489,7 +510,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) setupNFTables(tx *knftables.Transaction) {
 
 	// Ensure all of our other "top-level" chains exist
 	for _, chain := range []string{servicesChain, clusterIPsCheckChain, masqueradingChain, markMasqChain} {
-		ensureChain(chain, tx, createdChains)
+		ensureChain(chain, tx, createdChains, false)
 	}
 
 	// Add the rules in the mark-for-masquerade and masquerading chains
@@ -639,7 +660,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) setupNFTables(tx *knftables.Transaction) {
 		Comment: ptr.To("destinations that are subject to LoadBalancerSourceRanges"),
 	})
 
-	ensureChain(firewallCheckChain, tx, createdChains)
+	ensureChain(firewallCheckChain, tx, createdChains, false)
 	tx.Add(&knftables.Rule{
 		Chain: firewallCheckChain,
 		Rule: knftables.Concat(
@@ -686,6 +707,14 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) setupNFTables(tx *knftables.Transaction) {
 			),
 		})
 	}
+
+	// flush containers
+	proxier.clusterIPs.reset(tx)
+	proxier.serviceIPs.reset(tx)
+	proxier.firewallIPs.reset(tx)
+	proxier.noEndpointServices.reset(tx)
+	proxier.noEndpointNodePorts.reset(tx)
+	proxier.serviceNodePorts.reset(tx)
 }
 
 // CleanupLeftovers removes all nftables rules and chains created by the Proxier
@@ -830,6 +859,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) OnNodeAdd(node *v1.Node) {
 	for k, v := range node.Labels {
 		proxier.nodeLabels[k] = v
 	}
+	proxier.needFullSync = true
 	proxier.mu.Unlock()
 	proxier.logger.V(4).Info("Updated proxier node labels", "labels", node.Labels)
 
@@ -854,6 +884,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) OnNodeUpdate(oldNode, node *v1.Node) {
 	for k, v := range node.Labels {
 		proxier.nodeLabels[k] = v
 	}
+	proxier.needFullSync = true
 	proxier.mu.Unlock()
 	proxier.logger.V(4).Info("Updated proxier node labels", "labels", node.Labels)
 
@@ -871,6 +902,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) OnNodeDelete(node *v1.Node) {
 
 	proxier.mu.Lock()
 	proxier.nodeLabels = nil
+	proxier.needFullSync = true
 	proxier.mu.Unlock()
 
 	proxier.Sync()
@@ -1015,6 +1047,96 @@ func isAffinitySetName(set string) bool {
 	return strings.HasPrefix(set, servicePortEndpointAffinityNamePrefix)
 }
 
+// nftElementStorage is an internal representation of nftables map or set.
+type nftElementStorage struct {
+	elements      map[string]string
+	leftoverKeys  sets.Set[string]
+	containerType string
+	containerName string
+}
+
+// joinNFTSlice converts nft element key or value (type []string) to string to store in the nftElementStorage.
+// The separator is the same as the one used by nft commands, so we know that the parsing is going to be unambiguous.
+func joinNFTSlice(k []string) string {
+	return strings.Join(k, " . ")
+}
+
+// splitNFTSlice converts nftElementStorage key or value string representation back to slice.
+func splitNFTSlice(k string) []string {
+	return strings.Split(k, " . ")
+}
+
+// newNFTElementStorage creates an empty nftElementStorage.
+// nftElementStorage.reset() must be called before the first usage.
+func newNFTElementStorage(containerType, containerName string) *nftElementStorage {
+	c := &nftElementStorage{
+		elements:      make(map[string]string),
+		leftoverKeys:  sets.New[string](),
+		containerType: containerType,
+		containerName: containerName,
+	}
+	return c
+}
+
+// reset clears the internal state and flushes the nftables map/set.
+func (s *nftElementStorage) reset(tx *knftables.Transaction) {
+	clear(s.elements)
+	if s.containerType == "set" {
+		tx.Flush(&knftables.Set{
+			Name: s.containerName,
+		})
+	} else {
+		tx.Flush(&knftables.Map{
+			Name: s.containerName,
+		})
+	}
+	s.resetLeftoverKeys()
+}
+
+// resetLeftoverKeys is only called internally by nftElementStorage methods.
+func (s *nftElementStorage) resetLeftoverKeys() {
+	clear(s.leftoverKeys)
+	for key := range s.elements {
+		s.leftoverKeys.Insert(key)
+	}
+}
+
+// ensureElem adds elem to the transaction if elem is not present in the container, and updates internal
+// leftoverKeys set to track unused elements.
+func (s *nftElementStorage) ensureElem(tx *knftables.Transaction, elem *knftables.Element) {
+	newKey := joinNFTSlice(elem.Key)
+	newValue := joinNFTSlice(elem.Value)
+	existingValue, exists := s.elements[newKey]
+	if exists {
+		if existingValue != newValue {
+			// value is different, delete and re-add
+			tx.Delete(elem)
+			tx.Add(elem)
+			s.elements[newKey] = newValue
+		}
+		delete(s.leftoverKeys, newKey)
+	} else {
+		tx.Add(elem)
+		s.elements[newKey] = newValue
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *nftElementStorage) cleanupLeftoverKeys(tx *knftables.Transaction) {
+	for key := range s.leftoverKeys {
+		e := &knftables.Element{
+			Key: splitNFTSlice(key),
+		}
+		if s.containerType == "set" {
+			e.Set = s.containerName
+		} else {
+			e.Map = s.containerName
+		}
+		tx.Delete(e)
+		delete(s.elements, key)
+	}
+	s.resetLeftoverKeys()
+}
+
 // This is where all of the nftables calls happen.
 // This assumes proxier.mu is NOT held
 func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
@@ -1031,10 +1153,19 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 	// Below this point we will not return until we try to write the nftables rules.
 	//
 
+	// The value of proxier.needFullSync may change before the defer funcs run, so
+	// we need to keep track of whether it was set at the *start* of the sync.
+	tryPartialSync := !proxier.needFullSync
+
 	// Keep track of how long syncs take.
 	start := time.Now()
 	defer func() {
 		metrics.SyncProxyRulesLatency.Observe(metrics.SinceInSeconds(start))
+		if tryPartialSync {
+			metrics.SyncPartialProxyRulesLatency.Observe(metrics.SinceInSeconds(start))
+		} else {
+			metrics.SyncFullProxyRulesLatency.Observe(metrics.SinceInSeconds(start))
+		}
 		proxier.logger.V(2).Info("SyncProxyRules complete", "elapsed", time.Since(start))
 	}()
 
@@ -1048,6 +1179,10 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 		if !success {
 			proxier.logger.Info("Sync failed", "retryingTime", proxier.syncPeriod)
 			proxier.syncRunner.RetryAfter(proxier.syncPeriod)
+			// proxier.serviceChanges and proxier.endpointChanges have already
+			// been flushed, so we've lost the state needed to be able to do
+			// a partial sync.
+			proxier.needFullSync = true
 		}
 	}()
 
@@ -1081,7 +1216,9 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 
 	// Now start the actual syncing transaction
 	tx := proxier.nftables.NewTransaction()
-	proxier.setupNFTables(tx)
+	if !tryPartialSync {
+		proxier.setupNFTables(tx)
+	}
 
 	// We need to use, eg, "ip daddr" for IPv4 but "ip6 daddr" for IPv6
 	ipX := "ip"
@@ -1091,26 +1228,6 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 		ipvX_addr = "ipv6_addr"
 	}
 
-	// We currently fully-rebuild our sets and maps on each resync
-	tx.Flush(&knftables.Set{
-		Name: clusterIPsSet,
-	})
-	tx.Flush(&knftables.Map{
-		Name: firewallIPsMap,
-	})
-	tx.Flush(&knftables.Map{
-		Name: noEndpointServicesMap,
-	})
-	tx.Flush(&knftables.Map{
-		Name: noEndpointNodePortsMap,
-	})
-	tx.Flush(&knftables.Map{
-		Name: serviceIPsMap,
-	})
-	tx.Flush(&knftables.Map{
-		Name: serviceNodePortsMap,
-	})
-
 	// Accumulate service/endpoint chains and affinity sets to keep.
 	activeChains := sets.New[string]()
 	activeAffinitySets := sets.New[string]()
@@ -1134,6 +1251,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 			proxier.logger.Error(nil, "Failed to cast serviceInfo", "serviceName", svcName)
 			continue
 		}
+
 		protocol := strings.ToLower(string(svcInfo.Protocol()))
 		svcPortNameString := svcInfo.nameString
 
@@ -1144,10 +1262,20 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 		allEndpoints := proxier.endpointsMap[svcName]
 		clusterEndpoints, localEndpoints, allLocallyReachableEndpoints, hasEndpoints := proxy.CategorizeEndpoints(allEndpoints, svcInfo, proxier.nodeLabels)
 
+		// skipServiceUpdate is used for all service-related chains and their elements.
+		// If no changes were done to the service or its endpoints, these objects may be skipped.
+		skipServiceUpdate := tryPartialSync &&
+			!serviceUpdateResult.UpdatedServices.Has(svcName.NamespacedName) &&
+			!endpointUpdateResult.UpdatedServices.Has(svcName.NamespacedName)
+
 		// Note the endpoint chains that will be used
 		for _, ep := range allLocallyReachableEndpoints {
 			if epInfo, ok := ep.(*endpointInfo); ok {
-				ensureChain(epInfo.chainName, tx, activeChains)
+				ensureChain(epInfo.chainName, tx, activeChains, skipServiceUpdate)
+				// Note the affinity sets that will be used
+				if svcInfo.SessionAffinityType() == v1.ServiceAffinityClientIP {
+					activeAffinitySets.Insert(epInfo.affinitySetName)
+				}
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -1155,14 +1283,14 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 		clusterPolicyChain := svcInfo.clusterPolicyChainName
 		usesClusterPolicyChain := len(clusterEndpoints) > 0 && svcInfo.UsesClusterEndpoints()
 		if usesClusterPolicyChain {
-			ensureChain(clusterPolicyChain, tx, activeChains)
+			ensureChain(clusterPolicyChain, tx, activeChains, skipServiceUpdate)
 		}
 
 		// localPolicyChain contains the endpoints used with "Local" traffic policy
 		localPolicyChain := svcInfo.localPolicyChainName
 		usesLocalPolicyChain := len(localEndpoints) > 0 && svcInfo.UsesLocalEndpoints()
 		if usesLocalPolicyChain {
-			ensureChain(localPolicyChain, tx, activeChains)
+			ensureChain(localPolicyChain, tx, activeChains, skipServiceUpdate)
 		}
 
 		// internalPolicyChain is the chain containing the endpoints for
@@ -1204,7 +1332,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 		// are no externally-usable endpoints.
 		usesExternalTrafficChain := hasEndpoints && svcInfo.ExternallyAccessible()
 		if usesExternalTrafficChain {
-			ensureChain(externalTrafficChain, tx, activeChains)
+			ensureChain(externalTrafficChain, tx, activeChains, skipServiceUpdate)
 		}
 
 		var internalTrafficFilterVerdict, externalTrafficFilterVerdict string
@@ -1235,12 +1363,12 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 		}
 
 		// Capture the clusterIP.
-		tx.Add(&knftables.Element{
+		proxier.clusterIPs.ensureElem(tx, &knftables.Element{
 			Set: clusterIPsSet,
 			Key: []string{svcInfo.ClusterIP().String()},
 		})
 		if hasInternalEndpoints {
-			tx.Add(&knftables.Element{
+			proxier.serviceIPs.ensureElem(tx, &knftables.Element{
 				Map: serviceIPsMap,
 				Key: []string{
 					svcInfo.ClusterIP().String(),
@@ -1253,7 +1381,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 			})
 		} else {
 			// No endpoints.
-			tx.Add(&knftables.Element{
+			proxier.noEndpointServices.ensureElem(tx, &knftables.Element{
 				Map: noEndpointServicesMap,
 				Key: []string{
 					svcInfo.ClusterIP().String(),
@@ -1272,7 +1400,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 			if hasEndpoints {
 				// Send traffic bound for external IPs to the "external
 				// destinations" chain.
-				tx.Add(&knftables.Element{
+				proxier.serviceIPs.ensureElem(tx, &knftables.Element{
 					Map: serviceIPsMap,
 					Key: []string{
 						externalIP.String(),
@@ -1288,7 +1416,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 				// Either no endpoints at all (REJECT) or no endpoints for
 				// external traffic (DROP anything that didn't get
 				// short-circuited by the EXT chain.)
-				tx.Add(&knftables.Element{
+				proxier.noEndpointServices.ensureElem(tx, &knftables.Element{
 					Map: noEndpointServicesMap,
 					Key: []string{
 						externalIP.String(),
@@ -1306,41 +1434,13 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 		usesFWChain := len(svcInfo.LoadBalancerVIPs()) > 0 && len(svcInfo.LoadBalancerSourceRanges()) > 0
 		fwChain := svcInfo.firewallChainName
 		if usesFWChain {
-			ensureChain(fwChain, tx, activeChains)
-			var sources []string
-			allowFromNode := false
-			for _, cidr := range svcInfo.LoadBalancerSourceRanges() {
-				if len(sources) > 0 {
-					sources = append(sources, ",")
-				}
-				sources = append(sources, cidr.String())
-				if cidr.Contains(proxier.nodeIP) {
-					allowFromNode = true
-				}
-			}
-			// For VIP-like LBs, the VIP is often added as a local
-			// address (via an IP route rule).  In that case, a request
-			// from a node to the VIP will not hit the loadbalancer but
-			// will loop back with the source IP set to the VIP.  We
-			// need the following rules to allow requests from this node.
-			if allowFromNode {
-				for _, lbip := range svcInfo.LoadBalancerVIPs() {
-					sources = append(sources, ",", lbip.String())
-				}
-			}
-			tx.Add(&knftables.Rule{
-				Chain: fwChain,
-				Rule: knftables.Concat(
-					ipX, "saddr", "!=", "{", sources, "}",
-					"drop",
-				),
-			})
+			ensureChain(fwChain, tx, activeChains, skipServiceUpdate)
 		}
 
 		// Capture load-balancer ingress.
 		for _, lbip := range svcInfo.LoadBalancerVIPs() {
 			if hasEndpoints {
-				tx.Add(&knftables.Element{
+				proxier.serviceIPs.ensureElem(tx, &knftables.Element{
 					Map: serviceIPsMap,
 					Key: []string{
 						lbip.String(),
@@ -1354,7 +1454,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 			}
 
 			if usesFWChain {
-				tx.Add(&knftables.Element{
+				proxier.firewallIPs.ensureElem(tx, &knftables.Element{
 					Map: firewallIPsMap,
 					Key: []string{
 						lbip.String(),
@@ -1372,7 +1472,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 			// external traffic (DROP anything that didn't get short-circuited
 			// by the EXT chain.)
 			for _, lbip := range svcInfo.LoadBalancerVIPs() {
-				tx.Add(&knftables.Element{
+				proxier.noEndpointServices.ensureElem(tx, &knftables.Element{
 					Map: noEndpointServicesMap,
 					Key: []string{
 						lbip.String(),
@@ -1391,9 +1491,9 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 		if svcInfo.NodePort() != 0 {
 			if hasEndpoints {
 				// Jump to the external destination chain.  For better or for
-				// worse, nodeports are not subect to loadBalancerSourceRanges,
+				// worse, nodeports are not subject to loadBalancerSourceRanges,
 				// and we can't change that.
-				tx.Add(&knftables.Element{
+				proxier.serviceNodePorts.ensureElem(tx, &knftables.Element{
 					Map: serviceNodePortsMap,
 					Key: []string{
 						protocol,
@@ -1408,7 +1508,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 				// Either no endpoints at all (REJECT) or no endpoints for
 				// external traffic (DROP anything that didn't get
 				// short-circuited by the EXT chain.)
-				tx.Add(&knftables.Element{
+				proxier.noEndpointNodePorts.ensureElem(tx, &knftables.Element{
 					Map: noEndpointNodePortsMap,
 					Key: []string{
 						protocol,
@@ -1422,6 +1522,12 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 			}
 		}
 
+		// All the following operations are service-chain related and may be skipped if no svc or endpoint
+		// changes are required.
+		if skipServiceUpdate {
+			continue
+		}
+
 		// Set up internal traffic handling.
 		if hasInternalEndpoints {
 			if proxier.masqueradeAll {
@@ -1520,6 +1626,37 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 			}
 		}
 
+		if usesFWChain {
+			var sources []string
+			allowFromNode := false
+			for _, cidr := range svcInfo.LoadBalancerSourceRanges() {
+				if len(sources) > 0 {
+					sources = append(sources, ",")
+				}
+				sources = append(sources, cidr.String())
+				if cidr.Contains(proxier.nodeIP) {
+					allowFromNode = true
+				}
+			}
+			// For VIP-like LBs, the VIP is often added as a local
+			// address (via an IP route rule).  In that case, a request
+			// from a node to the VIP will not hit the loadbalancer but
+			// will loop back with the source IP set to the VIP.  We
+			// need the following rules to allow requests from this node.
+			if allowFromNode {
+				for _, lbip := range svcInfo.LoadBalancerVIPs() {
+					sources = append(sources, ",", lbip.String())
+				}
+			}
+			tx.Add(&knftables.Rule{
+				Chain: fwChain,
+				Rule: knftables.Concat(
+					ipX, "saddr", "!=", "{", sources, "}",
+					"drop",
+				),
+			})
+		}
+
 		if svcInfo.SessionAffinityType() == v1.ServiceAffinityClientIP {
 			// Generate the per-endpoint affinity sets
 			for _, ep := range allLocallyReachableEndpoints {
@@ -1553,20 +1690,19 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 					},
 					Timeout: ptr.To(time.Duration(svcInfo.StickyMaxAgeSeconds()) * time.Second),
 				})
-				activeAffinitySets.Insert(epInfo.affinitySetName)
 			}
 		}
 
 		// If Cluster policy is in use, create the chain and create rules jumping
 		// from clusterPolicyChain to the clusterEndpoints
 		if usesClusterPolicyChain {
-			proxier.writeServiceToEndpointRules(tx, svcPortNameString, svcInfo, clusterPolicyChain, clusterEndpoints)
+			proxier.writeServiceToEndpointRules(tx, svcInfo, clusterPolicyChain, clusterEndpoints)
 		}
 
 		// If Local policy is in use, create rules jumping from localPolicyChain
 		// to the localEndpoints
 		if usesLocalPolicyChain {
-			proxier.writeServiceToEndpointRules(tx, svcPortNameString, svcInfo, localPolicyChain, localEndpoints)
+			proxier.writeServiceToEndpointRules(tx, svcInfo, localPolicyChain, localEndpoints)
 		}
 
 		// Generate the per-endpoint chains
@@ -1648,6 +1784,13 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 		proxier.logger.Error(err, "Failed to list nftables sets: stale affinity sets will not be deleted")
 	}
 
+	proxier.clusterIPs.cleanupLeftoverKeys(tx)
+	proxier.serviceIPs.cleanupLeftoverKeys(tx)
+	proxier.firewallIPs.cleanupLeftoverKeys(tx)
+	proxier.noEndpointServices.cleanupLeftoverKeys(tx)
+	proxier.noEndpointNodePorts.cleanupLeftoverKeys(tx)
+	proxier.serviceNodePorts.cleanupLeftoverKeys(tx)
+
 	// Sync rules.
 	proxier.logger.V(2).Info("Reloading service nftables data",
 		"numServices", len(proxier.svcPortMap),
@@ -1669,6 +1812,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 		return
 	}
 	success = true
+	proxier.needFullSync = false
 
 	for name, lastChangeTriggerTimes := range endpointUpdateResult.LastChangeTriggerTimes {
 		for _, lastChangeTriggerTime := range lastChangeTriggerTimes {
@@ -1699,7 +1843,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 	conntrack.CleanStaleEntries(proxier.conntrack, proxier.svcPortMap, serviceUpdateResult, endpointUpdateResult)
 }
 
-func (proxier *Proxier) writeServiceToEndpointRules(tx *knftables.Transaction, svcPortNameString string, svcInfo *servicePortInfo, svcChain string, endpoints []proxy.Endpoint) {
+func (proxier *Proxier) writeServiceToEndpointRules(tx *knftables.Transaction, svcInfo *servicePortInfo, svcChain string, endpoints []proxy.Endpoint) {
 	// First write session affinity rules, if applicable.
 	if svcInfo.SessionAffinityType() == v1.ServiceAffinityClientIP {
 		ipX := "ip"
diff --git a/pkg/proxy/nftables/proxier_test.go b/pkg/proxy/nftables/proxier_test.go
index 937fcaaf1f0..1d774cad065 100644
--- a/pkg/proxy/nftables/proxier_test.go
+++ b/pkg/proxy/nftables/proxier_test.go
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ func NewFakeProxier(ipFamily v1.IPFamily) (*knftables.Fake, *Proxier) {
 		serviceChanges:      proxy.NewServiceChangeTracker(newServiceInfo, ipFamily, nil, nil),
 		endpointsMap:        make(proxy.EndpointsMap),
 		endpointsChanges:    proxy.NewEndpointsChangeTracker(testHostname, newEndpointInfo, ipFamily, nil, nil),
+		needFullSync:        true,
 		nftables:            nft,
 		masqueradeMark:      "0x4000",
 		conntrack:           conntrack.NewFake(),
@@ -130,6 +131,12 @@ func NewFakeProxier(ipFamily v1.IPFamily) (*knftables.Fake, *Proxier) {
 		networkInterfacer:   networkInterfacer,
 		staleChains:         make(map[string]time.Time),
 		serviceCIDRs:        serviceCIDRs,
+		clusterIPs:          newNFTElementStorage("set", clusterIPsSet),
+		serviceIPs:          newNFTElementStorage("map", serviceIPsMap),
+		firewallIPs:         newNFTElementStorage("map", firewallIPsMap),
+		noEndpointServices:  newNFTElementStorage("map", noEndpointServicesMap),
+		noEndpointNodePorts: newNFTElementStorage("map", noEndpointNodePortsMap),
+		serviceNodePorts:    newNFTElementStorage("map", serviceNodePortsMap),
 	}
 	p.setInitialized(true)
 	p.syncRunner = async.NewBoundedFrequencyRunner("test-sync-runner", p.syncProxyRules, 0, time.Minute, 1)
@@ -4082,6 +4089,12 @@ func TestSyncProxyRulesRepeated(t *testing.T) {
 		add rule ip kube-proxy endpoint-2OCDJSZQ-ns3/svc3/tcp/p80__10.0.3.1/80 meta l4proto tcp dnat to 10.0.3.1:80
 		`)
 	assertNFTablesTransactionEqual(t, getLine(), expected, nft.Dump())
+	// add 1 element to cluster-ips and service-ips = 2 operations
+	// add+flush 2 chains for service and endpoint, add 2 rules in each = 8 operations
+	// 10 operations total.
+	if nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations() != 10 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected 10 trasaction operations, got %d", nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations())
+	}
 
 	// Delete a service; its chains will be flushed, but not immediately deleted.
 	fp.OnServiceDelete(svc2)
@@ -4110,6 +4123,12 @@ func TestSyncProxyRulesRepeated(t *testing.T) {
 		add rule ip kube-proxy endpoint-2OCDJSZQ-ns3/svc3/tcp/p80__10.0.3.1/80 meta l4proto tcp dnat to 10.0.3.1:80
 		`)
 	assertNFTablesTransactionEqual(t, getLine(), expected, nft.Dump())
+	// delete 1 element from cluster-ips and service-ips = 2 operations
+	// flush 2 chains for service and endpoint = 2 operations
+	// 4 operations total.
+	if nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations() != 4 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected 4 trasaction operations, got %d", nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations())
+	}
 
 	// Fake the passage of time and confirm that the stale chains get deleted.
 	ageStaleChains()
@@ -4135,6 +4154,10 @@ func TestSyncProxyRulesRepeated(t *testing.T) {
 		add rule ip kube-proxy endpoint-2OCDJSZQ-ns3/svc3/tcp/p80__10.0.3.1/80 meta l4proto tcp dnat to 10.0.3.1:80
 		`)
 	assertNFTablesTransactionEqual(t, getLine(), expected, nft.Dump())
+	// delete stale chains happens in a separate transaction, nothing else changed => last transaction will have 0 operations.
+	if nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations() != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected 0 trasaction operations, got %d", nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations())
+	}
 
 	// Add a service, sync, then add its endpoints.
 	makeServiceMap(fp,
@@ -4173,6 +4196,10 @@ func TestSyncProxyRulesRepeated(t *testing.T) {
 		add element ip kube-proxy no-endpoint-services { 172.30.0.44 . tcp . 80 comment "ns4/svc4:p80" : goto reject-chain }
 		`)
 	assertNFTablesTransactionEqual(t, getLine(), expected, nft.Dump())
+	// add 1 element to cluster-ips and no-endpoint-services = 2 operations
+	if nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations() != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected 2 trasaction operations, got %d", nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations())
+	}
 
 	populateEndpointSlices(fp,
 		makeTestEndpointSlice("ns4", "svc4", 1, func(eps *discovery.EndpointSlice) {
@@ -4218,6 +4245,11 @@ func TestSyncProxyRulesRepeated(t *testing.T) {
 		add rule ip kube-proxy endpoint-WAHRBT2B-ns4/svc4/tcp/p80__10.0.4.1/80 meta l4proto tcp dnat to 10.0.4.1:80
 		`)
 	assertNFTablesTransactionEqual(t, getLine(), expected, nft.Dump())
+	// add 1 element to service-ips, remove 1 element from no-endpoint-services = 2 operations
+	// add+flush 2 chains for service and endpoint, add 2 rules in each = 8 operations
+	if nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations() != 10 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected 10 trasaction operations, got %d", nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations())
+	}
 
 	// Change an endpoint of an existing service.
 	eps3update := eps3.DeepCopy()
@@ -4257,6 +4289,11 @@ func TestSyncProxyRulesRepeated(t *testing.T) {
 		add rule ip kube-proxy endpoint-WAHRBT2B-ns4/svc4/tcp/p80__10.0.4.1/80 meta l4proto tcp dnat to 10.0.4.1:80
 		`)
 	assertNFTablesTransactionEqual(t, getLine(), expected, nft.Dump())
+	// add+flush 2 chains for service and endpoint, add 2 rules in each = 8 operations
+	// flush old endpoint chain = 1 operation
+	if nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations() != 9 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected 9 trasaction operations, got %d", nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations())
+	}
 
 	// (Ensure the old svc3 chain gets deleted in the next sync.)
 	ageStaleChains()
@@ -4300,6 +4337,10 @@ func TestSyncProxyRulesRepeated(t *testing.T) {
 		add rule ip kube-proxy endpoint-WAHRBT2B-ns4/svc4/tcp/p80__10.0.4.1/80 meta l4proto tcp dnat to 10.0.4.1:80
 		`)
 	assertNFTablesTransactionEqual(t, getLine(), expected, nft.Dump())
+	// add+flush 3 chains for 1 service and 2 endpoints, add 2 rules in each = 12 operations
+	if nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations() != 12 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected 12 trasaction operations, got %d", nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations())
+	}
 
 	// Empty a service's endpoints; its chains will be flushed, but not immediately deleted.
 	eps3update3 := eps3update2.DeepCopy()
@@ -4333,6 +4374,12 @@ func TestSyncProxyRulesRepeated(t *testing.T) {
 		add rule ip kube-proxy endpoint-WAHRBT2B-ns4/svc4/tcp/p80__10.0.4.1/80 meta l4proto tcp dnat to 10.0.4.1:80
 		`)
 	assertNFTablesTransactionEqual(t, getLine(), expected, nft.Dump())
+	// remove 1 element from service-ips, add 1 element to no-endpoint-services = 2 operations
+	// flush 3 chains = 3 operations
+	if nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations() != 5 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected 5 trasaction operations, got %d", nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations())
+	}
+
 	expectedStaleChains := sets.NewString("service-4AT6LBPK-ns3/svc3/tcp/p80", "endpoint-SWWHDC7X-ns3/svc3/tcp/p80__10.0.3.2/80", "endpoint-TQ2QKHCZ-ns3/svc3/tcp/p80__10.0.3.3/80")
 	gotStaleChains := sets.StringKeySet(fp.staleChains)
 	if !expectedStaleChains.Equal(gotStaleChains) {
@@ -4374,6 +4421,12 @@ func TestSyncProxyRulesRepeated(t *testing.T) {
 		add rule ip kube-proxy endpoint-WAHRBT2B-ns4/svc4/tcp/p80__10.0.4.1/80 meta l4proto tcp dnat to 10.0.4.1:80
 		`)
 	assertNFTablesTransactionEqual(t, getLine(), expected, nft.Dump())
+	// remove 1 element from no-endpoint-services, add 1 element to service-ips = 2 operations
+	// add+flush 3 chains for 1 service and 2 endpoints, add 2 rules in each = 12 operations
+	if nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations() != 14 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected 14 trasaction operations, got %d", nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations())
+	}
+
 	if len(fp.staleChains) != 0 {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected stale chains: %v", fp.staleChains)
 	}
@@ -4392,6 +4445,9 @@ func TestSyncProxyRulesRepeated(t *testing.T) {
 	// Sync with no new changes, so same expected rules as last time
 	fp.syncProxyRules()
 	assertNFTablesTransactionEqual(t, getLine(), expected, nft.Dump())
+	if nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations() != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected 0 trasaction operations, got %d", nft.LastTransaction.NumOperations())
+	}
 }
 
 func TestNoEndpointsMetric(t *testing.T) {