diff --git a/.changeset/pack-dist-only.md b/.changeset/pack-dist-only.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8e445b3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/pack-dist-only.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@tanstack/create': patch
+---
+
+Publish only built files and package metadata, leaving sources and tests out of the installed package.
diff --git a/packages/create/package.json b/packages/create/package.json
index 55265dec..2369ec65 100644
--- a/packages/create/package.json
+++ b/packages/create/package.json
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
   "type": "module",
   "main": "./dist/index.js",
   "types": "./dist/types/index.d.ts",
+  "files": [
+    "dist"
+  ],
   "exports": {
     ".": {
       "types": "./dist/types/index.d.ts",