# MCP Toolbox for Databases

> Connect your assistant to Postgres, MySQL, BigQuery, Spanner and other databases to explore schemas and run SQL, or define custom tools.

- Listing: https://mcp.tc/i/mcp-toolbox
- Connect: this is a local (stdio) server; install it on your machine (see Install). The listing link is a page, not an MCP endpoint.
- Type: local (stdio)
- Auth: no API key needed
- Category: [Databases & Backend](https://mcp.tc/c/databases)
- Vendor: Google
- Verified: yes, mcp.tc checked that this is the official server (https://mcp.tc/verify). It says who runs the server, not that it is safe.
- Homepage: <https://mcp-toolbox.dev>
- Repository: <https://github.com/googleapis/mcp-toolbox>
- Package: npm `@toolbox-sdk/server`

## About

MCP Toolbox for Databases is an open source server that connects AI agents and IDEs to databases. Prebuilt tools cover data exploration such as listing tables and running SQL. Supported sources include PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite, BigQuery, AlloyDB, Spanner, Firestore, Oracle, MongoDB, Redis, ClickHouse and more. A tools.yaml file lets you define custom tools with structured queries.

It runs locally over stdio, for example with npx -y @toolbox-sdk/server --prebuilt=postgres --stdio. A Docker image and binaries are also available. The server itself needs no sign-in, but you set the connection environment variables for your chosen database.

## What it can do

- Query databases in plain language through prebuilt tools
- List tables and explore schemas
- Run SQL statements against the connected database
- Choose a prebuilt config per database with the --prebuilt flag
- Define custom tools and sources in a tools.yaml file
- Connect to Google Cloud and third-party databases

## Example prompts

- "List the tables in my Postgres database"
- "Show the schema of the orders table"
- "Run a query for the ten newest customers"
- "Help me write code against this database schema"

## Install

### Claude Code

1. Run this in a terminal, in your project folder:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport stdio mcp-toolbox -- npx -y @toolbox-sdk/server --prebuilt=postgres --stdio
```

2. Start Claude Code and type `/mcp`. **mcp-toolbox** should show as connected.

Add `--scope user` to make it available in every project.

### Claude Desktop

1. Open **Settings → Developer → Edit Config**. It opens `claude_desktop_config.json`. Add:

`claude_desktop_config.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-toolbox": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@toolbox-sdk/server",
        "--prebuilt=postgres",
        "--stdio"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

2. Save the file and restart Claude Desktop.

Needs Node.js on your computer. The file lives in `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/` on macOS and `%APPDATA%\Claude\` on Windows.

### Cursor

[Add to Cursor](<https://cursor.com/install-mcp?name=mcp-toolbox&config=eyJjb21tYW5kIjoibnB4IiwiYXJncyI6WyIteSIsIkB0b29sYm94LXNkay9zZXJ2ZXIiLCItLXByZWJ1aWx0PXBvc3RncmVzIiwiLS1zdGRpbyJdfQ%3D%3D>) (opens Cursor)

Or add it by hand to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (all projects) or `.cursor/mcp.json` (this project):

`mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-toolbox": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@toolbox-sdk/server",
        "--prebuilt=postgres",
        "--stdio"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Needs Node.js on your computer.

### VS Code

[Install in VS Code](<https://vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=mcp-toolbox&config=%7B%22type%22%3A%22stdio%22%2C%22command%22%3A%22npx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22-y%22%2C%22%40toolbox-sdk%2Fserver%22%2C%22--prebuilt%3Dpostgres%22%2C%22--stdio%22%5D%7D>) (opens VS Code)

Or from a terminal:

```bash
code --add-mcp '{"name":"mcp-toolbox","type":"stdio","command":"npx","args":["-y","@toolbox-sdk/server","--prebuilt=postgres","--stdio"]}'
```

Or commit it to the repo in `.vscode/mcp.json`:

`.vscode/mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "mcp-toolbox": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@toolbox-sdk/server",
        "--prebuilt=postgres",
        "--stdio"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Needs Node.js on your computer.

### Devin Desktop

1. Add it to `~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json` (macOS and Linux) or `%APPDATA%\devin\mcp_config.json` (Windows):

`mcp_config.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-toolbox": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@toolbox-sdk/server",
        "--prebuilt=postgres",
        "--stdio"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

2. Refresh the MCP server list in Cascade.

Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf.

### Codex

```bash
codex mcp add mcp-toolbox -- npx -y @toolbox-sdk/server --prebuilt=postgres --stdio
```

Or edit `~/.codex/config.toml` directly:

`config.toml`:

```toml
[mcp_servers.mcp-toolbox]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "@toolbox-sdk/server", "--prebuilt=postgres", "--stdio"]
```

Needs Node.js on your computer.

### Gemini CLI

```bash
gemini mcp add mcp-toolbox npx -- -y @toolbox-sdk/server --prebuilt=postgres --stdio
```

This adds it to the current project. Add `-s user` to use it everywhere.

### Any client

Most clients that start local servers accept this shape:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-toolbox": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@toolbox-sdk/server",
        "--prebuilt=postgres",
        "--stdio"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Zed puts servers under `context_servers` in its settings, with the same `command`, `args` and `env` fields.

Needs Node.js on your computer.

## Details

- Server version: 1.13.1
- Last checked: 2026-10-03
- Listed: 2026-10-03
- Updated: 2026-10-03

---
Source: https://mcp.tc/i/mcp-toolbox (mcp.tc is an independent directory, not affiliated with this server's publisher). Corrections: https://mcp.tc/report