SendGrid SPF Setup

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is an email authentication protocol that helps prevent unauthorized senders from sending emails using your domain. It works by verifying that SendGrid is allowed to send on your behalf.

This guide explains how to configure SPF for SendGrid, a cloud-based email delivery service used for sending transactional and marketing emails.

SendGrid SPF Requirements

Adding SendGrid to your domain’s SPF record is optional. When you authenticate your domain in SendGrid, the platform uses subdomain alignment, which ensures DMARC compliance without needing SPF alignment.

However, if you’d still like to include SendGrid in your existing SPF record, you can add the following entry:

Include Stringinclude:sendgrid.net ~all

Note: if you’re already using Sendmarc for SPF management, simply copy ‘include:sendgrid.net ~all’ and follow the steps here.

To authorize SendGrid to send emails on your domain’s behalf:

  1. Log in to your domain’s DNS dashboard.
  2. Go to the page where you can update the DNS settings on that domain.
  3. Check if a TXT record starting with v=spf1 already exists.
    • If it exists, modify the existing record to include SendGrid (details in the table below).
    • If not, create a new TXT record.

Example of an updated SPF record:

HostTypeValue
@ or blankTXTv=spf1 include:another.net include:sendgrid.net ~all

Example of a new SPF record:

HostTypeValue
@ or blankTXTv=spf1 include:sendgrid.net ~all
  1. Save your changes in the DNS control panel.

Allow up to 48 hours for DNS propagation, depending on your DNS host.

How to update your SPF settings using Sendmarc

For detailed instructions on how to update your SPF record through Sendmarc, refer to the Sendmarc SPF Setup Documentation. 

SendGrid’s Documentation

Refer to SendGrid’s official documentation for SPF setup here.

Looking for DKIM Settings?

Find out how to configure your SendGrid DKIM settings here.