Self-host Next.js + PostgreSQL with Docker

The SSR-plus-database pairing behind most Next.js apps, wired with a healthchecked Postgres.

This page describes the Levelrail template for Next.js + PostgreSQL (Starter Kits). It deploys the services below as one Docker Compose app on your own server.

Project site: https://nextjs.org/docs/app/building-your-application/deploying.

Recommended memory: about 384 MiB.

Services, ports and volumes

Service	Image	Container ports	Volumes
db	postgres:16-alpine	none	nextjs_postgres_db_data -> /var/lib/postgresql/data
web	node:22-alpine	3000	none

Environment variables

Service	Variable	Value
db	POSTGRES_DB	Preset in the template
db	POSTGRES_PASSWORD	Generated at deploy
db	POSTGRES_USER	Preset in the template
web	DATABASE_URL	Generated at deploy
web	NEXT_TELEMETRY_DISABLED	Preset in the template

Passwords and keys marked as generated are created for you when the app is deployed and stored as secrets. Values are not shown here.

Deploy Next.js + PostgreSQL with Levelrail

In the dashboard, open Apps, choose New app, then Browse templates, and select Next.js + PostgreSQL. Review the Compose body and deploy.

With the CLI:

levelrail-cli templates deploy nextjs-postgres-starter --name my-nextjs-postgres-starter

See Service template catalog for how templates work, and Getting started if you have not installed Levelrail yet.

More Starter Kits templates

• FastAPI + PostgreSQL
• Nginx Reverse Proxy (Multi-Backend)
• Node.js API + PostgreSQL
• Redis Cache Starter
• Static Site + API Backend
• Background Worker + Redis Queue

All templates are listed in the self-host gallery.