diff --git a/.dir-locals.el b/.dir-locals.el
index 50d1a911..967cb411 100644
--- a/.dir-locals.el
+++ b/.dir-locals.el
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-((c++-mode . (mode . clang-format-on-save)))
+((c++-mode . ((mode . clang-format-on-save))))
 
 ((c-mode . ((mode c++-mode))))
diff --git a/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_chunk.cpp b/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_chunk.cpp
index dbca0bbd..83d48ad9 100644
--- a/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_chunk.cpp
+++ b/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_chunk.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 #include "terrain_chunk.h"
+#include "core/config/engine.h"
+#include "macros.h"
+#include "scene/3d/camera_3d.h"
+#include "scene/main/viewport.h"
 #include "terrain_editor/terrain_mesh_generator.h"
 
-void TerrainChunk::_bind_methods() {}
+void TerrainChunk::_bind_methods() {
+	BIND_PROPERTY(Variant::FLOAT, size);
+	BIND_PROPERTY(Variant::INT, lod0_detail);
+}
 
 void TerrainChunk::ready() {
 	if ((this->generator = cast_to<TerrainMeshGenerator>(get_parent()))) {
@@ -10,41 +17,85 @@ void TerrainChunk::ready() {
 		print_error(vformat("Chunk %s ready without generator.", get_path()));
 		return;
 	}
-	this->set_mesh(this->lod1);
+	process_lod();
 	on_terrain_changed();
 }
 
 void TerrainChunk::on_terrain_changed() {
 	if (this->generator) {
 		Vector3 const position{ get_global_position() };
-		this->generator->generate_grid({ { position.x, position.z }, { this->size, this->size } }, this->mesh, this->lod1_detail);
+		this->meshes.resize_zeroed(5);
+		size_t lod{ 0 };
+		for (MeshStatus &status : this->meshes) {
+			if (!status.mesh.is_valid()) {
+				status.mesh.instantiate();
+			}
+			size_t base_detail{ lod == 0 ? this->lod0_detail : this->lod0_detail / (2 * lod * lod) };
+			status.dirty = true;
+			this->generator->push_task({ { position.x, position.z }, { this->size, this->size } }, status.mesh, base_detail > 1 ? base_detail : 1, callable_mp(this, &self_type::lod_generated).bind(lod));
+			lod++;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+void TerrainChunk::lod_generated(size_t lod) {
+	this->meshes.set(lod, MeshStatus{ this->meshes[lod].mesh, false });
+}
+
+void TerrainChunk::process_lod() {
+	size_t result{ (size_t)this->meshes.size() };
+	if (is_ready() && this->meshes.size() > 0) {
+		Vector3 position{ get_global_position() };
+		Vector3 camera{ get_viewport()->get_camera_3d()->get_global_position() };
+		position.y = camera.y = 0;
+		float distance{ camera.distance_to(position) };
+		size_t lod{ size_t(Math::floor(distance / (this->lod4_distance / 5.f))) };
+		result = lod < 5 ? lod : 4;
+		while (this->meshes[result].dirty && result < (this->meshes.size() - 1)) {
+			result++;
+		}
+		if (this->meshes[result].mesh != this->get_mesh()) {
+			this->set_mesh(this->meshes[result].mesh);
+		}
 	}
 }
 
 void TerrainChunk::_notification(int what) {
+	if (Engine::get_singleton()->is_editor_hint()) {
+		return;
+	}
 	switch (what) {
 		default:
 			return;
 		case NOTIFICATION_READY:
+			set_process_thread_group(ProcessThreadGroup::PROCESS_THREAD_GROUP_SUB_THREAD);
+			set_process(true);
 			ready();
 			return;
+		case NOTIFICATION_PROCESS:
+			process_lod();
+			return;
 	}
 }
 
 void TerrainChunk::set_size(float size) {
 	this->size = size;
-	on_terrain_changed();
+	if (is_ready()) {
+		on_terrain_changed();
+	}
 }
 
 float TerrainChunk::get_size() const {
 	return this->size;
 }
 
-void TerrainChunk::set_lod1_detail(int detail) {
-	this->lod1_detail = detail;
-	on_terrain_changed();
+void TerrainChunk::set_lod0_detail(int detail) {
+	this->lod0_detail = detail;
+	if (is_ready()) {
+		on_terrain_changed();
+	}
 }
 
-int TerrainChunk::get_lod1_detail() const {
-	return this->lod1_detail;
+int TerrainChunk::get_lod0_detail() const {
+	return this->lod0_detail;
 }
diff --git a/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_chunk.h b/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_chunk.h
index 8598a03a..3359d385 100644
--- a/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_chunk.h
+++ b/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_chunk.h
@@ -1,13 +1,21 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include "core/templates/pair.h"
+#include "core/templates/vector.h"
 #include "scene/3d/mesh_instance_3d.h"
 class TerrainMeshGenerator;
 
 class TerrainChunk : public MeshInstance3D {
 	GDCLASS(TerrainChunk, MeshInstance3D);
+	struct MeshStatus {
+		Ref<ArrayMesh> mesh;
+		bool dirty;
+	};
 	static void _bind_methods();
 	void ready();
 	void on_terrain_changed();
+	void lod_generated(size_t lod);
+	void process_lod();
 
 protected:
 	void _notification(int what);
@@ -15,12 +23,13 @@ protected:
 public:
 	void set_size(float size);
 	float get_size() const;
-	void set_lod1_detail(int detail);
-	int get_lod1_detail() const;
+	void set_lod0_detail(int detail);
+	int get_lod0_detail() const;
 
 private:
-	Ref<ArrayMesh> lod1{ memnew(ArrayMesh) };
+	Vector<MeshStatus> meshes{};
 	TerrainMeshGenerator *generator{ nullptr };
-	int lod1_detail{ 100 };
-	float size{ 50 };
+	int lod0_detail{ 200 };
+	float lod4_distance{ 1500 };
+	float size{ 200 };
 };
diff --git a/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_mesh_generator.cpp b/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_mesh_generator.cpp
index aeeed8b7..569f3fd2 100644
--- a/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_mesh_generator.cpp
+++ b/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_mesh_generator.cpp
@@ -23,31 +23,79 @@ void TerrainMeshGenerator::_bind_methods() {
 	BIND_HPROPERTY(Variant::OBJECT, chunk_scene, PROPERTY_HINT_RESOURCE_TYPE, "PackedScene");
 	ADD_SIGNAL(MethodInfo(sig_primitives_changed));
 	ADD_SIGNAL(MethodInfo(sig_primitive_list_changed, PropertyInfo(Variant::ARRAY, "array", PROPERTY_HINT_ARRAY_TYPE, vformat("%s/%s:TerrainPrimitive", Variant::OBJECT, PROPERTY_HINT_RESOURCE_TYPE))));
-	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("generate_grid", "area", "out_mesh", "side_points"), &self_type::generate_grid);
+	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("push_task", "area", "out_mesh", "side_points"), &self_type::push_task);
 }
 
-void TerrainMeshGenerator::ready() {
-    this->thread.instantiate();
-	if (this->chunks.is_empty()) {
-		rebuild_chunks();
+void TerrainMeshGenerator::enter_tree() {
+	this->thread.start(&TerrainMeshGenerator::background_generation_thread, this);
+}
+
+void TerrainMeshGenerator::process() {
+	if (this->output_lock.try_lock()) {
+		for (TerrainMeshTask &task : this->output_queue) {
+			task.mesh->clear_surfaces();
+			task.out_surface->commit(task.mesh);
+			task.callback.call();
+		}
+		this->output_queue.clear();
+		this->output_lock.unlock();
+	}
+	if (this->input_lock.try_lock()) {
+		set_process(!this->input_queue.is_empty());
+		this->input_lock.unlock();
 	}
 }
 
 void TerrainMeshGenerator::on_configuration_changed() {
-	emit_signal(sig_primitives_changed);
+	this->settings_lock.lock();
+	// copy main thread primitives buffer data to worker thread buffer
+	this->primitives.clear();
+	for (Variant var : this->primitives_buffer) {
+		Ref<TerrainPrimitive> primitive{ var };
+		if (primitive.is_valid()) {
+			this->primitives.push_back(primitive->duplicate(true));
+		}
+	}
+	this->settings_lock.unlock();
+	if (is_ready()) {
+		emit_signal(sig_primitive_list_changed, get_primitives());
+		emit_signal(sig_primitives_changed);
+	}
 }
 
 void TerrainMeshGenerator::_notification(int what) {
+	if (Engine::get_singleton()->is_editor_hint()) {
+		return;
+	}
 	switch (what) {
 		default:
 			return;
+		case NOTIFICATION_ENTER_TREE:
+			set_process(true);
+			enter_tree();
+			return;
 		case NOTIFICATION_READY:
-			ready();
+			rebuild_chunks();
+			break;
+		case NOTIFICATION_PROCESS:
+			process();
+			return;
+		case NOTIFICATION_EXIT_TREE:
+			if (this->thread.is_started()) {
+				this->input_lock.lock();
+				this->end_thread = true;
+				this->input_lock.unlock();
+				this->work_signal.post();
+				this->thread.wait_to_finish();
+			}
 			return;
 	}
 }
 
 void TerrainMeshGenerator::rebuild_chunks() {
+	if (!is_ready()) {
+		return;
+	}
 	for (TerrainChunk *chunk : this->chunks) {
 		chunk->queue_free();
 	}
@@ -71,6 +119,43 @@ void TerrainMeshGenerator::rebuild_chunks() {
 	}
 }
 
+void TerrainMeshGenerator::background_generation_thread(void *user) {
+	TerrainMeshGenerator *self{ static_cast<TerrainMeshGenerator *>(user) };
+	if (self == nullptr) {
+		return;
+	}
+	TerrainMeshTask task{};
+	for (;;) {
+		// await more work signal
+		self->work_signal.wait();
+		// pull task from input queue
+		self->input_lock.lock();
+		if (self->end_thread) {
+			self->input_lock.unlock();
+			break;
+		} else {
+			task = self->input_queue[0];
+			self->input_queue.remove_at(0);
+			self->input_lock.unlock();
+			// create surface
+			task.out_surface.instantiate();
+			// lock settings and generate grid
+			self->settings_lock.lock();
+			if (self->primitives.is_empty()) {
+				print_error("Terrain mesh generator thread has no primitive list");
+			} else {
+				self->generate_grid(task.area, task.out_surface, task.side_points);
+			}
+			self->settings_lock.unlock();
+			// push output onto output queue
+			self->output_lock.lock();
+			self->output_queue.push_back(task);
+			self->call_deferred("set_process", true);
+			self->output_lock.unlock();
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 Color TerrainMeshGenerator::color_at_height(float height) const {
 	float const mapped{ Math::remap(height, this->color_gradient_start_height, this->color_gradient_end_height, 0.f, 1.f) };
 	return this->vertex_color_gradient.is_valid()
@@ -111,19 +196,17 @@ void face_from(Ref<SurfaceTool> surface, size_t tl, size_t side_points) {
 	}
 }
 
-void TerrainMeshGenerator::generate_grid(Rect2 area, Ref<ArrayMesh> mesh, size_t side_points) {
-	mesh->clear_surfaces();
-	surface->clear();
+void TerrainMeshGenerator::generate_grid(Rect2 area, Ref<SurfaceTool> mesh, size_t side_points) {
 	Vector2 point_distance{ area.size / (float)side_points };
 	++side_points;
 	Vector2 at{ area.position };
-	surface->begin(Mesh::PRIMITIVE_TRIANGLES);
+	mesh->begin(Mesh::PRIMITIVE_TRIANGLES);
 	for (size_t xpoint{ 0 }; xpoint < side_points; ++xpoint) {
 		for (size_t ypoint{ 0 }; ypoint < side_points; ++ypoint) {
 			float const height{ evaluate_point(at) };
-			surface->set_color(color_at_height(height));
-			surface->set_uv({ at / area.size });
-			surface->add_vertex({ at.x - area.position.x, height, at.y - area.position.y });
+			mesh->set_color(color_at_height(height));
+			mesh->set_uv({ at / area.size });
+			mesh->add_vertex({ at.x - area.position.x, height, at.y - area.position.y });
 			at.y += point_distance.y;
 		}
 		at.y = area.position.y;
@@ -131,41 +214,68 @@ void TerrainMeshGenerator::generate_grid(Rect2 area, Ref<ArrayMesh> mesh, size_t
 	}
 	for (size_t xface{ 0 }; xface < side_points - 1; ++xface) {
 		for (size_t yface{ 0 }; yface < side_points - 1; ++yface) {
-			face_from(surface, xface + yface * (size_t)side_points, side_points);
+			face_from(mesh, xface + yface * (size_t)side_points, side_points);
 		}
 	}
-	surface->generate_normals();
-	surface->generate_tangents();
-	surface->commit(mesh);
+	mesh->generate_normals();
+	mesh->generate_tangents();
+}
+
+void TerrainMeshGenerator::push_task(Rect2 area, Ref<ArrayMesh> mesh, size_t points, Callable callback) {
+	this->input_lock.lock();
+	for (TerrainMeshTask &task : this->input_queue) {
+		if (task.mesh == mesh) {
+			task.area = area;
+			task.side_points = points;
+			task.callback = callback;
+			this->input_lock.unlock();
+			return;
+		}
+	}
+	TerrainMeshTask task{
+		.mesh = mesh,
+		.area = area,
+		.side_points = points,
+		.out_surface = nullptr,
+		.callback = callback
+	};
+	for (size_t i{ 0 }; i < this->input_queue.size(); ++i) {
+		if (this->input_queue[i].side_points >= points) {
+			this->input_queue.insert(i, task);
+			this->work_signal.post();
+			this->input_lock.unlock();
+			return;
+		}
+	}
+	this->input_queue.push_back(task);
+	this->work_signal.post();
+	this->input_lock.unlock();
 }
 
 void TerrainMeshGenerator::set_primitives(Array primitives) {
-	for (Ref<TerrainPrimitive> primitive : this->primitives) {
+	// synchronise primitives
+	for (Variant var : this->primitives_buffer) {
+		Ref<TerrainPrimitive> primitive{ var };
 		if (primitive.is_valid()) {
 			primitive->disconnect_changed(this->generation_changed);
 		}
 	}
-	this->primitives.clear();
-	for (Variant var : primitives) {
+	this->primitives_buffer = primitives;
+	for (Variant var : this->primitives_buffer) {
 		Ref<TerrainPrimitive> primitive{ var };
-		this->primitives.push_back(primitive);
 		if (primitive.is_valid()) {
 			primitive->connect_changed(this->generation_changed);
 		}
 	}
-	emit_signal(sig_primitive_list_changed, get_primitives());
 	on_configuration_changed();
 }
 
 Array TerrainMeshGenerator::get_primitives() const {
-	Array a;
-	for (Ref<TerrainPrimitive> primitive : this->primitives) {
-		a.push_back(primitive);
-	}
-	return a;
+	return this->primitives_buffer;
 }
 
 void TerrainMeshGenerator::set_vertex_color_gradient(Ref<Gradient> gradient) {
+	this->settings_lock.lock();
 	if (this->vertex_color_gradient.is_valid()) {
 		this->vertex_color_gradient->disconnect_changed(this->generation_changed);
 	}
@@ -173,6 +283,7 @@ void TerrainMeshGenerator::set_vertex_color_gradient(Ref<Gradient> gradient) {
 	if (gradient.is_valid()) {
 		this->vertex_color_gradient->connect_changed(this->generation_changed);
 	}
+	this->settings_lock.unlock();
 	on_configuration_changed();
 }
 
@@ -181,7 +292,9 @@ Ref<Gradient> TerrainMeshGenerator::get_vertex_color_gradient() const {
 }
 
 void TerrainMeshGenerator::set_color_gradient_start_height(float value) {
+	this->settings_lock.lock();
 	this->color_gradient_start_height = value;
+	this->settings_lock.unlock();
 	on_configuration_changed();
 }
 
@@ -190,7 +303,9 @@ float TerrainMeshGenerator::get_color_gradient_start_height() const {
 }
 
 void TerrainMeshGenerator::set_color_gradient_end_height(float value) {
+	this->settings_lock.lock();
 	this->color_gradient_end_height = value;
+	this->settings_lock.unlock();
 	on_configuration_changed();
 }
 
@@ -199,10 +314,12 @@ float TerrainMeshGenerator::get_color_gradient_end_height() const {
 }
 
 void TerrainMeshGenerator::set_chunk_count(int num) {
+	this->settings_lock.lock();
 	if (num != this->chunks_per_side) {
 		this->chunks_per_side = num;
 		rebuild_chunks();
 	}
+	this->settings_lock.unlock();
 }
 
 int TerrainMeshGenerator::get_chunk_count() const {
@@ -210,9 +327,11 @@ int TerrainMeshGenerator::get_chunk_count() const {
 }
 
 void TerrainMeshGenerator::set_chunk_scene(Ref<PackedScene> scene) {
+	this->settings_lock.lock();
 	if (!scene.is_valid() || scene->get_state()->get_node_type(0) == TerrainChunk::get_class_static()) {
 		this->chunk_scene = scene;
 	}
+	this->settings_lock.unlock();
 }
 
 Ref<PackedScene> TerrainMeshGenerator::get_chunk_scene() const {
diff --git a/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_mesh_generator.h b/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_mesh_generator.h
index 08c6f709..283396f6 100644
--- a/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_mesh_generator.h
+++ b/modules/terrain_editor/terrain_mesh_generator.h
@@ -4,11 +4,9 @@
 #include "core/object/object.h"
 #include "core/os/semaphore.h"
 #include "core/os/thread.h"
-#include "core/templates/hash_map.h"
 #include "core/variant/callable.h"
 #include "scene/main/node.h"
 #include "scene/resources/gradient.h"
-#include "scene/resources/material.h"
 #include "scene/resources/mesh.h"
 #include "scene/resources/surface_tool.h"
 #include "terrain_editor/terrain_chunk.h"
@@ -16,18 +14,29 @@
 
 class TerrainMeshGenerator : public Node {
 	GDCLASS(TerrainMeshGenerator, Node);
+	struct TerrainMeshTask {
+		Ref<ArrayMesh> mesh;
+		Rect2 area;
+		size_t side_points;
+		Ref<SurfaceTool> out_surface;
+		Callable callback;
+	};
 	static void _bind_methods();
-	void ready();
+	void enter_tree();
+	void process();
 	void on_configuration_changed();
 
 protected:
 	void _notification(int what);
 	void rebuild_chunks();
+	static void background_generation_thread(void *user);
 
-public:
 	Color color_at_height(float height) const;
 	float evaluate_point(Vector2 at) const;
-	void generate_grid(Rect2 area, Ref<ArrayMesh> mesh, size_t side_points);
+	void generate_grid(Rect2 area, Ref<SurfaceTool> mesh, size_t side_points);
+
+public:
+	void push_task(Rect2 area, Ref<ArrayMesh> mesh, size_t side_points, Callable callback = Callable());
 	void set_primitives(Array array);
 	Array get_primitives() const;
 	void set_vertex_color_gradient(Ref<Gradient> gradient);
@@ -42,14 +51,27 @@ public:
 	Ref<PackedScene> get_chunk_scene() const;
 
 private:
-	Vector<Ref<TerrainPrimitive>> primitives{};
-	Ref<SurfaceTool> surface{ memnew(SurfaceTool) };
+	// main thread exclusive data
+	Ref<PackedScene> chunk_scene{};
+	Vector<TerrainChunk *> chunks{};
+
+	// worker thread owned data
+	Mutex settings_lock{}; // needs to be locked to modify any of the below, worker thread locks while working
+	Array primitives_buffer{}; // main thread buffer for primitives
+	Vector<Ref<TerrainPrimitive>> primitives{}; // work thread buffer for primitives
 	Ref<Gradient> vertex_color_gradient{};
 	float color_gradient_start_height{ 0.f };
 	float color_gradient_end_height{ 10.f };
 	int chunks_per_side{ 10 };
-	Ref<PackedScene> chunk_scene{};
-	Vector<TerrainChunk *> chunks{};
+
+	Thread thread{};
+	Mutex input_lock{};
+	bool end_thread{ false };
+	Vector<TerrainMeshTask> input_queue{};
+	Semaphore work_signal{};
+
+	Mutex output_lock{};
+	Vector<TerrainMeshTask> output_queue{};
 
 private:
 	Callable generation_changed{ callable_mp(this, &self_type::on_configuration_changed) };
diff --git a/project/scenes/editor.tscn b/project/scenes/editor.tscn
index 00a1dfb4..1fef7d23 100644
--- a/project/scenes/editor.tscn
+++ b/project/scenes/editor.tscn
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=12 format=3 uid="uid://xm383pc5pcnn"]
+[gd_scene load_steps=13 format=3 uid="uid://xm383pc5pcnn"]
 
 [ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://cnux2fqne284i" path="res://objects/primitive_nodes/point_primitive_node.tscn" id="1_b1cmn"]
+[ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://wkqhvjnxs2mx" path="res://objects/terrain_chunk.tscn" id="1_pxqd5"]
 
 [sub_resource type="PointPrimitive" id="PointPrimitive_pxqd5"]
 slope = -0.585
@@ -107,6 +108,7 @@ primitives = [SubResource("PointPrimitive_pxqd5"), SubResource("NoisePrimitive_b
 vertex_color_gradient = SubResource("Gradient_b1cmn")
 color_gradient_end_height = 200.0
 chunk_count = 5
+chunk_scene = ExtResource("1_pxqd5")
 point_primitive_object = ExtResource("1_b1cmn")
 
 [node name="WorldEnvironment" type="WorldEnvironment" parent="."]