Set up Docker MCP in Claude Code

Manage Docker containers, images, volumes, and networks. Run, stop, inspect, and monitor containers from your AI editor.

Locate the config file

Claude Code reads MCP server configuration from the following file:

~/.claude.json

Create this file if it does not already exist.

You can configure Docker MCP using the CLI command or by editing the config file directly.

Option A: CLI command

bash

claude mcp add docker-mcp -- npx -y docker-mcp

Option B: Config file

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "docker-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "docker-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

No environment variables needed. Docker MCP works out of the box without any API keys or tokens.

Restart Claude Code. Docker MCP should appear in your MCP server list with 14 tools available.

This server adds approximately 7,210 tokens to your context window for tool definitions.