> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rafftechnologies.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Add a Kubernetes node pool

> Add a pool of worker nodes with its own labels, taints and autoscaling bounds

<sub>Updated August 24, 2026</sub>

Node pools group workers, labels and taints. Use separate pools to organize workloads — e.g. a general pool plus a tainted pool reserved for databases. All pools use the cluster's worker plan.

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Pools tab">
    On the cluster page, open **Node pools** and click **Add node pool**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name it and choose size and count">
    Pool names follow the same rules as cluster names. Pick a node plan and 2–20 nodes; optionally enable autoscaling with min/max bounds.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm">
    On pay-as-you-go clusters the pool is created immediately and bills per node-hour. On subscription clusters you are taken through checkout for the pro-rated cost first.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Verify

The new pool appears with status **provisioning**, then **running** once every node has joined. Nodes carry the pool's labels and taints automatically — check with `kubectl get nodes --show-labels`.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Scale a node pool" icon="arrow-up-right-dots" href="/products/build/kubernetes/quickstart-guides/scale-a-node-pool">
    Change node counts or let autoscaling manage them
  </Card>

  <Card title="Node pools & autoscaling" icon="layer-group" href="/products/build/kubernetes/concepts/node-pools-and-autoscaling">
    How pools, labels, taints and the autoscaler work
  </Card>
</CardGroup>