Custom Domains

Learn how to add a custom domain.

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This section provides information on how to add a custom domain to the Pantheon platform.

Custom Domains

Pantheon provides the values for your DNS records that are assigned with your DNS service provider when adding a custom domain to your site:

DNS Recommendations

If you don't already own a domain name, register one with a third-party provider. Pantheon is not a domain registrar, but we've created documentation for several popular DNS managers:

Connect your custom domain on the Site Dashboard, and point DNS at Pantheon to trigger automated HTTPS provisioning.

A paid plan is required to connect custom domains to your site, up to the following limits:

Custom Domain Limit (per site)Free and Managed HTTPS
Basic5
Performance S10
Performance M15
Performance L35
Performance XL70
Elite270

For more details on connecting custom domains, see https://docs.pantheon.io/guides/domains/custom-domains

 Note

Add all domains (example.com and www.example.com are different domains) you want to resolve to Pantheon within the Site Dashboard, for each respective environment, as described in Launch Essentials. Automatic resolution of domains and wildcards are not supported.

Note that each custom domain is counted regardless of the environment to which it's added.

Add a Custom Domain

  1. Log in as an Admin, Team Member, or Privileged User.

  2. Go to the Site Dashboard for the environment you want the domain to point to (usually Live), and then click the Domains / HTTPS tab.

  3. Enter a domain and click Connect Domain:

    Adding a first domain to the Site Dashboard

    If one (or more) domains have already been added, click Connect Domain:

    Adding an additional domain to the Site Dashboard

  4. Verify ownership by adding a new DNS TXT value or by uploading a file to a specific URL.

  5. Select the method you prefer, and follow the instructions. Note that the values are randomized for security.

  6. Click Verify Ownership to confirm, or to skip HTTPS provisioning for now, click Skip without HTTPS:

    Verify domain ownership for HTTPS by DNS or by uploading a file to an existing site

    It might take 30 minutes or more for DNS records to propagate, depending on your DNS host and your domain's TTL values. If you encounter issues after 30 minutes, check some of the following:

    • Ensure that there's no "parking page" or redirect configured in your DNS.

    • The TXT record's Host value doesn't have a trailing ..

    • That the DNS value has propagated.

      You'll automatically be taken to the domain's Details page where you will see both the current DNS records detected (the Detected Values), as well as the values to be added at your DNS host (Required Values):

      Custom domain Details page

    If you instead see:

    Waiting for HTTPS, DNS records will be provided when HTTPS provisioning completes.

    Wait a minute, then refresh the page.

  7. Add the values to your DNS management service. Refer to Introduction to Domain Name Services for more details.

    • Note that if the Platform detects a CNAME record, the Status will show Remove this detected record on the line with the CNAME. Remove the CNAME from the DNS management service to avoid potential issues or interruptions.

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