What DNS records do you need for custom domain email?

Your email hosting is ready. Your domain is registered. You create a mailbox and send a test message, but it bounces back. The missing piece is almost always DNS. Without the right records, the internet does not know where to send mail for your domain.

DNS records for custom domain email are settings in your domain panel that route messages to your email hosting provider. They are not complicated once you know which ones to add. Here is the list and what each record does.

What DNS records do you need for custom domain email?

At minimum, you need MX records. These tell the internet which server handles incoming mail for your domain. Your email hosting provider gives you the exact values to enter.

Beyond MX records, authentication records help your messages reach inboxes instead of spam folders. Most providers recommend adding all of them during initial setup.

The essential DNS records explained

1. MX records

MX stands for Mail Exchange. These records point your domain to the server that receives incoming messages. You typically add two MX records with different priority values so mail has a backup route if the primary server is unavailable.

2. SPF record

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is a TXT record that lists which servers are allowed to send mail on behalf of your domain. Receiving servers check this record to verify your messages are legitimate.

3. DKIM record

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) adds a digital signature to your outgoing messages. The receiving server verifies the signature against a public key stored in your DNS. This helps prove your messages were not altered in transit.

4. DMARC record

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) tells receiving servers what to do when SPF or DKIM checks fail. It also enables reporting so you can monitor unauthorized use of your domain.

How to add DNS records for email

Log into your domain registrar or DNS management panel. Your email hosting provider supplies the exact record types, hostnames, and values. Copy each value carefully and save. Changes can take a few hours to propagate.

After adding records, send a test message to confirm mail flows in both directions. If messages bounce or land in spam, recheck your MX and authentication records first. The chapter on connect email to your website domain walks through the connection process. For hosting context, read email hosting vs web hosting.

Frequently asked questions