diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3bb7ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+.git/
+.gitignore
+.gitattributes
+.github/
+output/
+installer/output/
+*.bin
+html_data.c
+html_data.h
+*.o
+*.rel
+*.lst
+*.sym
+*.asm
+*.ihx
+*.img
+*.map
+*.mem
+*.lk
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ed31e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+FROM debian:13-slim
+
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
+    make \
+    gcc \
+    sdcc \
+    xxd \
+    python3 \
+    libjson-c-dev \
+    golang-go \
+    git \
+    && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+
+# git safe.directory for mounted repos (Makefile uses git describe)
+RUN git config --global --add safe.directory /workspace
+
+WORKDIR /workspace
+
+CMD ["bash"]
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a1d11bf..9044a0c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -60,6 +60,42 @@ still has an older version of sdcc, but you will need sdcc version 4.5 for the c
 sudo apt install make gcc sdcc xxd python-is-python3 libjson-c-dev
 ```
 
+<details>
+<summary>If using Docker (click to expand)</summary>
+
+A Dockerfile is provided for a reproducible build environment:
+
+```
+docker build -t rtlplayground-dev .
+```
+
+Build the firmware (replace MACHINE with your target, e.g. `DEFAULT_8C_1SFP`):
+
+```
+docker run --rm -v $(pwd):/workspace rtlplayground-dev make MACHINE=DEFAULT_8C_1SFP
+```
+
+The resulting `.bin` file appears in `output/` on your host.
+
+Build host tools only:
+
+```
+docker run --rm -v $(pwd):/workspace rtlplayground-dev make -C tools
+```
+
+Run the web-interface simulator locally:
+
+```
+docker run --rm -p 8080:8080 -v $(pwd):/workspace rtlplayground-dev \
+  tools/output/httpd_sim /workspace/html
+```
+
+Edit `machine.h` or `config.txt` on your host, then re-run `make` — the
+source directory is mounted into the container, so changes take effect
+immediately. To build for a different machine, pass `MACHINE=...`.
+
+</details>
+
 ## (1) Compiling for direct chip flashing AND upgrading an existing RTLPlayground running device
 
 Edit machine.h with an editor like vi or nano. Select the correct machine the firmware should build for.