How to Run a Single Model in dbt
Last updated July 25, 2026 · By the SaturnSQL team
Use dbt run --select my_model to run exactly one model. Add graph operators to include dependencies: +my_model also runs everything upstream, my_model+ everything downstream, and +my_model+ both.
dbt run --select fct_ordersGraph operators
dbt run --select +fct_orders # model and all upstream parents
dbt run --select fct_orders+ # model and all downstream children
dbt run --select +fct_orders+ # both directions
dbt run --select 2+fct_orders # only 2 generations upstreamThe same --select syntax works for dbt test, dbt build, and dbt compile, so you can test or build a single model the same way.
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