diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8d5c7fb..aa8f9eb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ The 'bolt card creation' instructions describe how to set up bolt cards for use
 | [Specification](docs/SPEC.md) | Bolt card specifications |
 | [System](docs/SYSTEM.md) | Bolt card system overview |
 | [Service Install](docs/INSTALL.md) | Bolt card service installation |
+| [Docker Service Install](docs/DOCKER_INSTALL.md) | Bolt card service docker installation |
 | [Automatic Card Creation](docs/CARD_ANDROID.md) | Bolt card creation using the Bolt Card app|
 | [Manual Card Creation](docs/CARD_MANUAL.md) | Bolt card creation using NXP TagXplorer software|
 | [FAQ](docs/FAQ.md) | Frequently asked questions |
diff --git a/docs/DOCKER_INSTALL.md b/docs/DOCKER_INSTALL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08e1096
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/DOCKER_INSTALL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# Bolt card service installation using Docker
+
+### install Docker engine and Docker compose
+
+[Docker engine download & install](https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/)
+[Docker compose download & install](https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/)
+
+### Set up the boltcard server
+edit `.env` to set up the database connection
+edit `settings.sql` to set up [bolt card system settings](SETTINGS.md)
+edit `Caddyfile` to set the boltcard domain name
+
+### https setup
+
+set up the domain A record to point to the server
+
+set up the server hosting firewall to allow open access to https (port 443) only
+
+
+### service bring-up and running
+```
+$ docker volumes create caddy_data
+// add -d for detached mode
+$ docker-compose up -d
+```
+
+### stop docker
+```
+$ docker-compose down
+```
+To delete the database and reset the docker volume, run `docker-compose down --volumes`
+*NOTE:  caddy_data volume won't be removed even if you run `docker-compose down --volumes` because it's an external volume.*  
+
+
+#### running create bolt card command
+-  `docker exec boltcard_main createboltcard/createboltcard`  to see options
+-  `docker exec boltcard_main createboltcard/createboltcard -enable -allow_neg_bal -tx_max=1000 -day_max=10000 -name=card_1`  for example
+-  this will give you a one-time link in text and QR code form
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