---
title: Delete a table
description: Use the influxdb3 delete table command or the HTTP API to delete a table from a specified database in InfluxDB 3 Core. Supports both soft delete and hard delete operations.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/core/admin/tables/delete/
estimated_tokens: 807
product: InfluxDB 3 Core
version: core
publisher: InfluxData
canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/core/admin/tables/delete/
date: '2025-07-11T08:12:40-05:00'
lastmod: '2025-07-11T08:12:40-05:00'
---

Use the [`influxdb3 delete table` command](/influxdb3/core/reference/cli/influxdb3/delete/table/)or the [HTTP API](/influxdb3/core/api/v3/) to delete a table from a specified database in InfluxDB 3 Core.

With InfluxDB 3 Core, tables and measurements are synonymous.
By default, InfluxDB 3 Core performs a soft delete, which schedules the table for deletion and makes it unavailable for querying.
You can also schedule a hard deletion to permanently remove the table and its data.

#### Deleting a table cannot be undone

Deleting a table is a destructive action.
Once a table is deleted, data stored in that table cannot be recovered.

* [Delete a table using the influxdb3 CLI](#delete-a-table-using-the-influxdb3-cli)
* [Delete a table using the HTTP API](#delete-a-table-using-the-http-api)

## Delete a table using the influxdb3 CLI

Use the `influxdb3 delete table` command to delete a table:

```sh
influxdb3 delete table \
  --database DATABASE_NAME \
  --token AUTH_TOKEN \
  TABLE_NAME
```

Replace the following:

* `DATABASE_NAME`: the name of the database containing the table
* `TABLE_NAME`: the name of the table to delete
* `AUTH_TOKEN`: your [admin token](/influxdb3/core/admin/tokens/)

### Hard delete a table immediately

To permanently delete a table and its data immediately, use the `--hard-delete now` flag:

```sh
influxdb3 delete table \
  --database DATABASE_NAME \
  --token AUTH_TOKEN \
  --hard-delete now \
  TABLE_NAME
```

### Schedule a hard deletion

To schedule a table for hard deletion at a specific time, use the `--hard-delete` flag with a timestamp:

```sh
influxdb3 delete table \
  --database DATABASE_NAME \
  --token AUTH_TOKEN \
  --hard-delete "2025-12-31T23:59:59Z" \
  TABLE_NAME
```

## Delete a table using the HTTP API

To delete a table using the HTTP API, send a `DELETE` request to the `/api/v3/configure/table` endpoint:

```
DELETE localhost:8181/api/v3/configure/table
```

Include the following in your request:

* **Query parameters**:
  * `db`: Database name
  * `table`: Table name to delete
  * `hard_delete_at`: *(Optional)* Timestamp for hard deletion

* **Headers**:
  * `Authorization: Bearer` with your authentication token

### Soft delete a table

```bash
curl -X DELETE "localhost:8181/api/v3/configure/table?db=DATABASE_NAME&table=TABLE_NAME" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer AUTH_TOKEN"
```

Replace the following:

* `DATABASE_NAME`: the name of the database containing the table
* `TABLE_NAME`: the name of the table to delete
* `AUTH_TOKEN`: your [admin token](/influxdb3/core/admin/tokens/)

### Schedule a hard deletion

To schedule a hard deletion at a specific time, include the `hard_delete_at` parameter with an ISO 8601 timestamp:

```bash
curl -X DELETE "localhost:8181/api/v3/configure/table?db=DATABASE_NAME&table=TABLE_NAME&hard_delete_at=2025-12-31T23:59:59Z" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer AUTH_TOKEN"
```

### Response

A successful deletion returns HTTP status `200` with no content body.

#### Example error response

If the table doesn’t exist, the API returns HTTP status `404`:

```json
{
  "error": "Table not found"
}
```

#### Related

* [influxdb3 delete table](/influxdb3/core/reference/cli/influxdb3/delete/table/)