Running a Laravel application is common for dynamic web platforms, dashboards, and APIs. However, many businesses and developers also want to run a simple HTML website on the same server—often for landing pages, marketing content, or static informational pages.

The good news is that Laravel and a pure HTML website can run together smoothly on the same domain or server, if structured correctly.

In this blog, we’ll explain why this setup is useful, the best ways to implement it, and step-by-step methods you can follow safely in production.

Why Run an HTML Site Alongside Laravel?

There are several practical reasons developers choose this approach:

• Marketing or SEO pages are easier to manage in HTML
• Faster loading for static content
• Reduced server overhead for simple pages
• Clean separation between application logic and content
• Ability to update the website without touching Laravel code

This setup is especially useful when Laravel is already running, and you want to add a lightweight website without rebuilding everything inside Blade templates.

Understanding Laravel’s Public Folder (Very Important)

Laravel serves all public web traffic from the public directory.
This means:

• Any HTML, CSS, JS, or image file inside public can be accessed directly
• Laravel routes only handle requests not matching a physical file

This behavior allows us to safely place a static HTML site alongside Laravel.

Method 1: Run HTML Website Inside Laravel’s Public Folder (Recommended)

This is the simplest and safest method when Laravel is already live.

Folder Structure Example

laravel-project/
├── app/
├── routes/
├── resources/
├── public/
│   ├── index.php        (Laravel entry point)
│   ├── assets/
│   └── html-site/
│       ├── index.html
│       ├── about.html
│       ├── css/
│       ├── js/
│       └── images/

How It Works

• Laravel continues running normally
• Static HTML files are served directly
• No route conflict with Laravel
• No performance impact

Access URLs

https://yourdomain.com/html-site/
https://yourdomain.com/html-site/about.html

Important Notes

• Do not create Laravel routes for this folder
• Laravel automatically skips routing if a file exists
• Keep HTML assets fully static (no PHP files)

Method 2: HTML as Main Site, Laravel in a Subfolder

Use this method when:

• HTML website is the main homepage
• Laravel is used as an application or admin panel

Folder Structure

public_html/
├── index.html          (Main website)
├── css/
├── js/
├── images/
└── app/
    └── laravel/
        └── public/
            └── index.php

Access URLs

https://yourdomain.com/        → HTML site
https://yourdomain.com/app/    → Laravel app

When to Use This

• Marketing website is primary
• Laravel is secondary (dashboard, CRM, portal)
• Shared hosting or cPanel setup

Method 3: HTML on Main Domain, Laravel on Subdomain (Best for Production)

This is the most professional and scalable approach.

Example Setup

Benefits

• No routing conflicts
• Better SEO separation
• Easier scaling and maintenance
• Clean architecture

Recommended For

• Growing platforms
• SaaS products
• Business websites with dashboards
• Long-term projects

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Mixing Laravel Routes with HTML Files

Never define Laravel routes for static HTML folders.

2. Wrong Asset Paths

Use absolute paths in HTML files:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="/html-site/css/style.css">

3. Exposing Sensitive Files

Do not place:

• .env
• PHP scripts
• configuration files
  inside the HTML folder.

Security Best Practices

• Keep HTML folders static only
• Laravel .htaccess should remain untouched
• Do not allow uploads inside HTML directories
• Use correct file permissions

Which Method Should You Choose?

👉 If Laravel is already live, Method 1 is the fastest and safest solution.

Final Thoughts

Running an HTML website alongside a Laravel project is not only possible but also a best practice in many real-world scenarios. The key is understanding how Laravel serves files and keeping a clean folder structure.

Whether you’re adding landing pages, marketing content, or a separate static site, the right setup ensures:

• Better performance
• Cleaner codebase
• Easier maintenance
• No routing conflicts

Choose the method that fits your project size and future plans—and keep Laravel and HTML working together smoothly.