DevOps

How to Deploy a Next.js App with Docker on a VPS

A complete step-by-step guide to deploying your Next.js application using Docker on a Virtual Private Server. From Dockerfile to live site.

📊 Intermediate⏱ 45 minutes📋 6 Steps

Overview

This guide walks you through the entire process of deploying a Next.js application to a VPS using Docker and Docker Compose.

1

Prepare Your Next.js Project

Before deploying, make sure your Next.js project is production-ready. Update your next.config.ts to enable standalone output:

const nextConfig = {
  output: 'standalone',
};

export default nextConfig;

Then test your production build locally:

npm run build
npm run start
💡
Tip

Always test your build locally before deploying. This catches most issues early.

2

Create a Dockerfile

Create a multi-stage Dockerfile in your project root. This keeps the final image small and secure:

FROM node:20-alpine AS builder
WORKDIR /app
COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm ci
COPY . .
RUN npm run build

FROM node:20-alpine AS runner
WORKDIR /app
COPY --from=builder /app/.next/standalone ./
COPY --from=builder /app/.next/static ./.next/static
COPY --from=builder /app/public ./public

EXPOSE 3000
CMD ["node", "server.js"]
💡
Tip

Multi-stage builds reduce your final image size by up to 80%.

⚠️
Warning

Make sure your .dockerignore includes node_modules and .next to speed up builds.

3

Set Up Docker Compose

Create a docker-compose.yml to orchestrate your services:

services:
  app:
    build: .
    ports:
      - '3000:3000'
    environment:
      - NODE_ENV=production
    restart: always

  nginx:
    image: nginx:alpine
    ports:
      - '80:80'
      - '443:443'
    volumes:
      - ./nginx.conf:/etc/nginx/nginx.conf
    depends_on:
      - app
    restart: always
4

SSH Into Your VPS and Clone

Connect to your VPS and set up your project:

ssh deploy@your-server-ip

# Install Docker if not already installed
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

# Clone your project
git clone https://github.com/your-repo.git
cd your-repo
💡
Tip

Use SSH keys instead of passwords for better security.

⚠️
Warning

Never run containers as root in production.

5

Configure Environment Variables

Create your production .env file on the server:

cp .env.example .env
nano .env

Set all required variables including database URLs, API keys, and secrets. Generate a secure secret:

openssl rand -base64 32
💡
Tip

Use a password manager to store your production credentials securely.

⚠️
Warning

Never commit your .env file to version control. Add it to .gitignore.

6

Build and Deploy

Build and start your containers:

# Build and start in detached mode
docker compose up -d --build

# Check if everything is running
docker compose ps

# View logs
docker compose logs -f app

Your app should now be live at your server's IP address or domain!

💡
Tip

Set up a webhook or CI/CD pipeline for automatic deployments on git push.

🎉

You're Done!

Congratulations on completing this guide. You've successfully learned how to deploy a next.js app with docker on a vps.

DockerNext.jsNginxLinux

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