---
title: distDir
description: Set a custom build directory to use instead of the default .next directory.
---

{/* The content of this doc is shared between the app and pages router. You can use the `<PagesOnly>Content</PagesOnly>` component to add content that is specific to the Pages Router. Any shared content should not be wrapped in a component. */}

You can specify a name to use for a custom build directory to use instead of `.next`.

Open `next.config.js` and add the `distDir` config:

```js filename="next.config.js"
module.exports = {
  distDir: 'build',
}
```

Now if you run `next build` Next.js will use `build` instead of the default `.next` folder.

> **Good To Know:** Next.js takes ownership of `distDir` and will sometimes delete its contents. Point it at a directory used only by Next.js.

`distDir` is resolved relative to the directory holding your `next.config.js`, and may
point to a dedicated directory inside the workspace that contains it. In a monorepo, an
application at `apps/web` can build into `../.next`.

To protect against data loss, Next.js refuses to use the directory and fails with an
[Invalid distDir](/docs/messages/invalid-dist-dir) error when `distDir` resolves outside
the application and workspace, or when it is the application directory itself or one of
its ancestors.