diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bf99be5d..7e22e024 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ If an object or a class with a `.toJSON()` method is passed to the `body` option
 
 `ofetch` utilizes `JSON.stringify()` to convert the passed object. Classes without a `.toJSON()` method have to be converted into a string value in advance before being passed to the `body` option.
 
-For `PUT`, `PATCH`, and `POST` request methods, when a string or object body is set, `ofetch` adds the default `"content-type": "application/json"` and `accept: "application/json"` headers (which you can always override).
+For `PUT`, `PATCH`, `POST`, `DELETE`, and `QUERY` request methods, when a string or object body is set, `ofetch` adds the default `"content-type": "application/json"` and `accept: "application/json"` headers (which you can always override).
 
 Additionally, `ofetch` supports binary responses with `Buffer`, `ReadableStream`, `Stream`, and [compatible body types](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/fetch#body). `ofetch` will automatically set the `duplex: "half"` option for streaming support!
 
@@ -114,7 +114,15 @@ await ofetch("/url", { ignoreResponseError: true });
 
 You can specify the amount of retry and delay between them using `retry` and `retryDelay` options and also pass a custom array of codes using `retryStatusCodes` option.
 
-The default for `retry` is `1` retry, except for `POST`, `PUT`, `PATCH`, and `DELETE` methods where `ofetch` does not retry by default to avoid introducing side effects. If you set a custom value for `retry` it will **always retry** for all requests.
+The default retry behavior depends on the request method:
+
+- **Default** (`retry: 1`) — applies to `GET`, `HEAD`, `QUERY`, and other safe methods.
+- **No retry by default** (`retry: 0`) — applies to `POST`, `PUT`, `PATCH`, and `DELETE` to avoid introducing side effects.
+
+You can override the default by setting `retry` explicitly:
+
+- A **positive number** overrides the method-specific default and will retry for all requests.
+- **`false`** or **`0`** disables retries entirely.
 
 The default for `retryDelay` is `0` ms.
 
diff --git a/src/fetch.ts b/src/fetch.ts
index 10c91583..40a1a696 100644
--- a/src/fetch.ts
+++ b/src/fetch.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { withBase, withQuery } from "./utils.url.ts";
 import { createFetchError } from "./error.ts";
 import {
   isPayloadMethod,
+  isNonRetryableMethod,
   isJSONSerializable,
   detectResponseType,
   resolveFetchOptions,
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ export function createFetch(globalOptions: CreateFetchOptions = {}): $Fetch {
       if (typeof context.options.retry === "number") {
         retries = context.options.retry;
       } else {
-        retries = isPayloadMethod(context.options.method) ? 0 : 1;
+        retries = isNonRetryableMethod(context.options.method) ? 0 : 1;
       }
 
       const responseCode = (context.response && context.response.status) || 500;
diff --git a/src/utils.ts b/src/utils.ts
index 3bc0dbf5..0b12ba8b 100644
--- a/src/utils.ts
+++ b/src/utils.ts
@@ -8,12 +8,22 @@ import type {
 } from "./types.ts";
 
 const payloadMethods = new Set(
-  Object.freeze(["PATCH", "POST", "PUT", "DELETE"])
+  Object.freeze(["PATCH", "POST", "PUT", "DELETE", "QUERY"])
 );
 export function isPayloadMethod(method = "GET"): boolean {
   return payloadMethods.has(method.toUpperCase());
 }
 
+// Payload methods that are NOT safe/idempotent — these won't retry by default
+// to avoid unintended side effects. QUERY is excluded because it's defined as
+// safe and idempotent per RFC 10008.
+const nonRetryableMethods = new Set(
+  Object.freeze(["POST", "PUT", "PATCH", "DELETE"])
+);
+export function isNonRetryableMethod(method = "GET"): boolean {
+  return nonRetryableMethods.has(method.toUpperCase());
+}
+
 export function isJSONSerializable(value: any): boolean {
   if (value === undefined) {
     return false;
diff --git a/test/index.test.ts b/test/index.test.ts
index 5ac20b07..13b42c34 100644
--- a/test/index.test.ts
+++ b/test/index.test.ts
@@ -158,6 +158,21 @@ describe("ofetch", () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it("stringifies QUERY body automatically", async () => {
+    const { body } = await $fetch(getURL("post"), {
+      method: "QUERY",
+      body: { query: "{ users { name } }" },
+    });
+    expect(body).to.deep.eq({ query: "{ users { name } }" });
+
+    const { headers } = await $fetch(getURL("post"), {
+      method: "QUERY",
+      body: { query: "{ users { name } }" },
+    });
+    expect(headers).to.include({ "content-type": "application/json" });
+    expect(headers).to.include({ accept: "application/json" });
+  });
+
   it("does not stringify body when content type != application/json", async () => {
     const message = '"Hallo von Pascal"';
     const { body } = await $fetch(getURL("echo"), {