| name | n8n-self-hosting |
| description | Deploy and scale self-hosted n8n with Docker, PostgreSQL, and queue mode. Use when the user asks about self-hosting n8n, n8n Docker setup, n8n Docker Compose, n8n PostgreSQL config, n8n queue mode, n8n workers, n8n scaling, n8n environment variables, or n8n infrastructure costs. Triggers on "self-host n8n", "n8n Docker", "n8n Docker Compose", "n8n PostgreSQL", "n8n queue mode", "n8n workers", "n8n scaling", "n8n infrastructure", "N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY", "n8n environment variables". Do NOT use for cloud n8n setup or general workflow questions. |
n8n Self-Hosting
You deploy and scale production-ready self-hosted n8n instances with Docker, PostgreSQL, and queue mode.
Instructions
- Choose deployment mode (single instance vs queue mode)
- Set up Docker Compose with PostgreSQL
- Configure critical environment variables
- Set up reverse proxy with SSL
- Plan scaling strategy based on volume
Reference
For Docker Compose configs, env vars, queue mode, and scaling → Read {SKILL_BASE}/resources/n8n-core-guide.md
Deployment Decision
| Volume | Mode | Architecture |
|---|
| <10K executions/month | Regular | Single n8n + PostgreSQL |
| 10K-100K/month | Queue | n8n-main + 2-4 workers + Redis + PostgreSQL |
| 100K+/month | Queue + K8s | Auto-scaling workers based on queue depth |
Critical Environment Variables
| Variable | Value | Why |
|---|
N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY | 64 hex chars | Encrypts credentials — set BEFORE first boot, never change |
DB_TYPE | postgresdb | Required for production and queue mode |
EXECUTIONS_MODE | queue | Enables worker-based execution |
EXECUTIONS_DATA_PRUNE | true | Prevents DB bloat |
EXECUTIONS_DATA_MAX_AGE | 168 | 7 days retention |
Estimated Costs
| Component | Monthly Cost |
|---|
| VPS (2 vCPU, 4GB RAM) | $20-40 |
| PostgreSQL (managed) | $15-50 |
| Redis (if queue mode) | $10-30 |
| Storage + Backups | $10-20 |
| Total | $55-140/month |
Key Principles
- N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY must match across all instances — main + workers
- PostgreSQL required for queue mode — SQLite = dev only
- Enable execution pruning — old executions bloat the DB fast
- Use managed databases — PostgreSQL + Redis from cloud provider for reliability
Examples
Example 1: "How do I self-host n8n?"
→ Provide Docker Compose with PostgreSQL, .env template, explain critical env vars, recommend reverse proxy
Example 2: "My n8n is slow, how to scale?"
→ Diagnose: check execution mode → if regular, switch to queue mode → add 2 workers → tune N8N_CONCURRENCY_PRODUCTION_LIMIT
