Terraform MCP Server for Claude Code: Setup & Config

What you can do with Terraform in Claude Code

Choose it for Terraform Registry research and platform workspace operations through one MCP integration.

• Look up provider and module information while drafting Terraform configuration.
• Expose selected Terraform capabilities to a shared HTTP MCP client.

Before you start: Terraform in Claude Code

• Docker installed and running
• An MCP-compatible assistant

This command is the README's local Claude Code Docker launch. HCP Terraform or Enterprise access additionally uses TFE_ADDRESS and TFE_TOKEN, which must be forwarded into the container as shown in the README's client-specific examples. Public Registry use and platform access are distinct configurations.

Terraform Claude Code configuration

1. Choose Claude Code configuration scope

   For Terraform MCP Server, open Project scope: .mcp.json at the repository root. Project JSON: merge into mcpServers; user scope: use the CLI.

2. Add Terraform MCP Server to Claude Code

   Use the terraform-mcp-server entry below in mcpServers. Keep Terraform MCP Server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Claude Code entries.

3. Check Terraform MCP Server in Claude Code

   Terraform MCP Server: Inspect claude mcp list and /mcp status.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "terraform-mcp-server": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

claude mcp add-json --scope project 'terraform-mcp-server' '{"type":"stdio","command":"docker","args":["run","-i","--rm","hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server"],"env":{}}'

Terraform tools available to Claude Code

Terraform's stored tool list documents 2 tools; compare it with Claude Code's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

search_providers

For Terraform's search_providers, review the permission request and arguments in Claude Code before approval.

Search Terraform providers; named in the README's tool-filtering example.

get_provider_details

For Terraform's get_provider_details, review the permission request and arguments in Claude Code before approval.

Terraform: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting Terraform in Claude Code

• If Terraform MCP Server fails to start, check docker and a running Docker engine, the working directory, and Claude Code's selected scope; inspect claude mcp list and /mcp.
• Terraform MCP Server uses stdio here: Claude Code must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Connected clients and models may receive sensitive Terraform data.
• Known limitation: Write-capable platform operations need deliberate permission and tool configuration.
• Known limitation: The complete tool catalog is linked externally rather than included in the supplied README.
• General Claude Code troubleshooting lives in the /clients/claude-code guide.

Frequently asked questions