---
name: "docker-container-export"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "docker"
version: "1:29.9.2-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/docker-container-export"
---

# docker-container-export(1)

Export a container's filesystem as a tar archive

## NAME

docker-container-export - Export a container's filesystem as a tar archive

## SYNOPSIS

**docker container export \[OPTIONS\] CONTAINER**

## DESCRIPTION

Export the contents of a container's filesystem using the full or shortened container ID or container name. The output is exported to STDOUT and can be redirected to a tar file.

Stream to a file instead of STDOUT by using **-o**.

## EXAMPLES

Export the contents of the container called angry\_bell to a tar file called angry\_bell.tar:

```
$ docker export angry_bell > angry_bell.tar
$ docker export --output=angry_bell-latest.tar angry_bell
$ ls -sh angry_bell.tar
321M angry_bell.tar
$ ls -sh angry_bell-latest.tar
321M angry_bell-latest.tar
```

## See also

**[docker-import(1)](/docker-import/1.md)** to create an empty filesystem image and import the contents of the tarball into it, then optionally tag it.

## OPTIONS

**-o**, **--output**=""\
 	Write to a file, instead of STDOUT

## SEE ALSO

**[docker-container(1)](/docker-container/1.md)**