DOCKER(1) Docker User Manuals DOCKER(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

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

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

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

# [DESCRIPTION](#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](#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](#See_also)

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

# [OPTIONS](#OPTIONS)

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

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**docker-container(1)**](/man/enterprise-packages/docker-cli-fips/docker-container.1)

Oct 2026 Docker Community

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Document: docker-container-export(1) from docker-cli-fips 29.9.0-r1 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/docker/cli