diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a6f39a0..d8aadc5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -162,6 +162,21 @@ type: 'custom:config-template-card'
         name: '${ setTempMessage(currentTemp) }'
 ````
 
+## Dashboard wide variables
+
+If you need to use the same variable in multiple cards, then instead of defining it in each card's `variables` you can do that once for the entire dashboard.
+
+```yaml
+title: My dashboard
+
+config_template_card_vars:
+  - states['sensor.light'].state
+
+views:
+```
+
+Both arrays and objects are supported, just like in card's local variables. It is allowed to mix the two types, i.e. use an array in dashboard variables and an object in card variables, or the other way around. If both definitions are arrays, then dashboard variables are put first in `vars`. In the mixed mode, `vars` have array indices and as well as variable names.
+
 ### Note: All templates must be enclosed by `${}`
 
 [Troubleshooting](https://github.com/thomasloven/hass-config/wiki/Lovelace-Plugins)
diff --git a/src/config-template-card.ts b/src/config-template-card.ts
index 1786415..15582e0 100644
--- a/src/config-template-card.ts
+++ b/src/config-template-card.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,30 @@ export class ConfigTemplateCard extends LitElement {
     this.loadCardHelpers();
   }
 
+  private getLovelacePanel() {
+    const ha = document.querySelector("home-assistant");
+
+    if (ha && ha.shadowRoot) {
+      const haMain = ha.shadowRoot.querySelector("home-assistant-main");
+
+      if (haMain && haMain.shadowRoot) {
+        return haMain.shadowRoot.querySelector('ha-panel-lovelace');
+      }
+    }
+
+    return null
+  }
+
+  private getLovelaceConfig() {
+    const panel = this.getLovelacePanel() as any;
+
+    if (panel && panel.lovelace && panel.lovelace.config && panel.lovelace.config.config_template_card_vars) {
+      return panel.lovelace.config.config_template_card_vars
+    }
+
+    return {}
+  }
+
   protected shouldUpdate(changedProps: PropertyValues): boolean {
     if (!this._initialized) {
       this._initialize();
@@ -194,29 +218,41 @@ export class ConfigTemplateCard extends LitElement {
     /* eslint-disable @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars */
     const user = this.hass ? this.hass.user : undefined;
     const states = this.hass ? this.hass.states : undefined;
-    let vars: any[] | { [key: string]: any };
+    const vars: any[] = [];
+    const namedVars: { [key: string]: any } = {};
+    const arrayVars: string[] = [];
     let varDef = '';
 
     if (this._config) {
       if (Array.isArray(this._config.variables)) {
-        // if variables are an array, create vars as an array
-        vars = [];
-        for (const v in this._config.variables) {
-          const newV = eval(this._config.variables[v]);
-          vars.push(newV);
-        }
+        arrayVars.push(...this._config.variables);
       } else {
-        // if it is an object, then create a key-value map containing
-        // the values
-        vars = {};
-        for (const varName in this._config.variables) {
-          const newV = eval(this._config.variables[varName]);
-          vars[varName] = newV;
-          // create variable definitions to be injected:
-          varDef = varDef + `var ${varName} = vars['${varName}'];\n`;
-        }
+        Object.assign(namedVars, this._config.variables);
+      }
+    }
+
+    const localVars = this.getLovelaceConfig();
+
+    if (localVars) {
+      if (Array.isArray(localVars)) {
+        arrayVars.push(...localVars);
+      } else {
+        Object.assign(namedVars, localVars);
       }
     }
+
+    for (const v in arrayVars) {
+      const newV = eval(arrayVars[v]);
+      vars.push(newV);
+    }
+
+    for (const varName in namedVars) {
+      const newV = eval(namedVars[varName]);
+      vars[varName] = newV;
+      // create variable definitions to be injected:
+      varDef = varDef + `var ${varName} = vars['${varName}'];\n`;
+    }
+
     return eval(varDef + template.substring(2, template.length - 1));
   }
 }