---
title: TanStack Start
description: Install and configure shadcn/ui for TanStack Start.
---

Choose the setup that matches your starting point.

<div className="mt-6 grid gap-4 sm:grid-cols-3 sm:gap-6">
  <LinkedCard
    href="#scaffold-with-create"
    className="items-start gap-1 p-6 text-sm md:p-6"
  >
    <div className="font-medium">Use shadcn/create</div>
    <div className="leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground">
      Build your preset and generate a TanStack project command.
    </div>
  </LinkedCard>
  <LinkedCard
    href="#scaffold-with-cli"
    className="items-start gap-1 p-6 text-sm md:p-6"
  >
    <div className="font-medium">Use the CLI</div>
    <div className="leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground">
      Scaffold a new TanStack project from the terminal.
    </div>
  </LinkedCard>
  <LinkedCard
    href="#existing-start-project"
    className="items-start gap-1 p-6 text-sm md:p-6"
  >
    <div className="font-medium">Existing Project</div>
    <div className="leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground">
      Configure shadcn/ui manually in an existing TanStack project.
    </div>
  </LinkedCard>
</div>

<div id="scaffold-with-create" className="scroll-mt-24" />
## Use shadcn/create

<Steps>

### Build Your Preset

Open [shadcn/create](/create?template=start) and build your preset visually. Choose your style, colors, fonts, icons, and more.

<Button asChild size="sm">
  <Link
    href="/create?template=start"
    target="_blank"
    rel="noopener noreferrer"
    className="mt-6 no-underline!"
  >
    Open shadcn/create
  </Link>
</Button>

### Create Project

Click `Create Project`, choose your package manager, and copy the generated command.

The generated command will look similar to this:

```bash
npx shadcn@latest init --preset [CODE] --template start
```

The exact command will include your selected options such as `--base`, `--monorepo`, or `--rtl`.

### Add Components

Add the `Card` component to your project:

```bash
npx shadcn@latest add card
```

If you created a monorepo, run the command from `apps/web` or specify the workspace from the repo root:

```bash
npx shadcn@latest add card -c apps/web
```

The command above will add the `Card` component to your project. You can then import it like this:

```tsx showLineNumbers title="src/routes/index.tsx"
import { createFileRoute } from "@tanstack/react-router"

import {
  Card,
  CardContent,
  CardDescription,
  CardHeader,
  CardTitle,
} from "@/components/ui/card"

export const Route = createFileRoute("/")({
  component: App,
})

function App() {
  return (
    <Card className="max-w-sm">
      <CardHeader>
        <CardTitle>Project Overview</CardTitle>
        <CardDescription>
          Track progress and recent activity for your TanStack Start app.
        </CardDescription>
      </CardHeader>
      <CardContent>
        Your design system is ready. Start building your next component.
      </CardContent>
    </Card>
  )
}
```

If you created a monorepo, update `apps/web/src/routes/index.tsx` and import from `@workspace/ui/components/card` instead.

</Steps>

<div id="scaffold-with-cli" className="scroll-mt-24" />
## Use the CLI

<Steps>

### Create Project

Run the `init` command to scaffold a new TanStack Start project. Follow the prompts to configure your project: base, preset, monorepo, and more.

```bash
npx shadcn@latest init -t start
```

**For a monorepo project, use `--monorepo` flag:**

```bash
npx shadcn@latest init -t start --monorepo
```

### Add Components

Add the `Card` component to your project:

```bash
npx shadcn@latest add card
```

If you created a monorepo, run the command from `apps/web` or specify the workspace from the repo root:

```bash
npx shadcn@latest add card -c apps/web
```

The command above will add the `Card` component to your project. You can then import it like this:

```tsx showLineNumbers title="src/routes/index.tsx"
import { createFileRoute } from "@tanstack/react-router"

import {
  Card,
  CardContent,
  CardDescription,
  CardHeader,
  CardTitle,
} from "@/components/ui/card"

export const Route = createFileRoute("/")({
  component: App,
})

function App() {
  return (
    <Card className="max-w-sm">
      <CardHeader>
        <CardTitle>Project Overview</CardTitle>
        <CardDescription>
          Track progress and recent activity for your TanStack Start app.
        </CardDescription>
      </CardHeader>
      <CardContent>
        Your design system is ready. Start building your next component.
      </CardContent>
    </Card>
  )
}
```

If you created a monorepo, update `apps/web/src/routes/index.tsx` and import from `@workspace/ui/components/card` instead.

</Steps>

<div id="existing-start-project" className="scroll-mt-24" />
## Existing Project

<Steps>

### Create Project

If you need a new TanStack Start project, create one first. Otherwise, skip this step.

```bash
npx @tanstack/cli@latest create
```

Choose TanStack Start, the React framework, and the recommended defaults so Tailwind CSS and the `@/*` import alias are configured for you.

<Callout className="mt-6">

Do not add the `shadcn` add-on when prompted. The `shadcn` CLI will configure shadcn/ui later in this guide.

</Callout>

The TanStack CLI already configures Tailwind CSS and the default `@/*` import alias for you. If you're adding shadcn/ui to an older or custom TanStack Start app, make sure both are configured before continuing.

### Run the CLI

Run the `shadcn` init command to set up shadcn/ui in your project.

```bash
npx shadcn@latest init
```

### Add Components

You can now start adding components to your project.

```bash
npx shadcn@latest add button
```

The command above will add the `Button` component to your project. You can then import it like this:

```tsx showLineNumbers title="src/routes/index.tsx"
import { createFileRoute } from "@tanstack/react-router"

import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button"

export const Route = createFileRoute("/")({
  component: App,
})

function App() {
  return (
    <div className="flex min-h-svh items-center justify-center p-6">
      <Button>Click me</Button>
    </div>
  )
}
```

</Steps>
