⚡ How to Use Cloudflare Cache Rules for WordPress

Cloudflare’s Cache Rules allow you to control how and when your site’s content is cached at the edge — improving speed and reducing load on your server.

WordPress is a dynamic platform, so caching must be configured carefully to avoid issues like caching the admin panel, cart pages, or user-specific content.

📌 What You’ll Learn

• What Cloudflare Cache Rules are

• Which pages to cache vs. bypass

• How to set up smart rules for WordPress

• How to test and fine-tune your configuration

🧰 What You Need

• A WordPress site

• Cloudflare account (free is okay!)

• Your domain connected to Cloudflare

• Basic familiarity with WordPress and the Cloudflare dashboard

🔍 Step 1: Understand What to Cache

✅ Good Candidates for Caching:

These pages are the same for all users and don’t change often.

• Homepage (/)

• Blog posts (/blog/*)

• Categories (/category/*)

• Tags (/tag/*)

• Static pages (/about, /contact)

❌ Pages You Should Bypass:

These are dynamic and often user-specific — caching them can break things.

• /wp-login.php (WordPress login)

• /wp-admin/* (Admin dashboard)

• /cart, /checkout, /my-account (WooCommerce)

• Search URLs like ?s=query

🔧 Step 2: Create Cloudflare Cache Rules

Cloudflare’s new Cache Rules (introduced in 2022+) replace and improve upon the old “Page Rules.”

🔹 Access Cache Rules:

1. Go to your Cloudflare dashboard

2. Select your site

3. Navigate to Rules > Cache Rules

4. Click Create Rule

✅ Rule #1: Cache Public Content

Rule Name: Cache Static Pages
When incoming requests match:

• Field: URL path

• Operator: matches

• Value: / (or /blog/*, /category/*, etc.)

Then apply:

• Cache Level: Cache Everything

• Edge TTL: 1 day (or longer)

• Origin Cache-Control: Respect or Override (based on needs)

Repeat this rule for multiple static paths if needed.

❌ Rule #2: Bypass Admin and Login

Rule Name: Bypass Admin Pages
When incoming requests match:

• URL path matches /wp-admin/*

• OR URL path is /wp-login.php

Then apply:

• Cache Level: Bypass

💡 Tip: Add a second rule for logged-in users if needed using cookies (paid plans only).

❌ Rule #3: Bypass Dynamic Content

Rule Name: Bypass Search and Checkout
When incoming requests match:

• URI query contains s=

• OR URL path matches /cart*

• OR URL path matches /checkout*

• OR URL path matches /my-account*

Then apply:

• Cache Level: Bypass

🧪 Step 3: Test Your Setup

How to check if a page is being cached:

1. Open a private/incognito window

2. Visit a public page (e.g., homepage)

3. Right-click > Inspect > Network > Reload

4. Click the document request and look for:

• HIT: Page is cached correctly

• MISS: Page wasn’t cached (yet)

• DYNAMIC: Page was skipped intentionally (good for admin/cart pages)

🛠 Optional Tools for WordPress

To make cache management easier:

🔹 Official Cloudflare Plugin

• Purge cache when content updates

• Set recommended performance/security settings

• Add WordPress-specific rules easily

🔹 WP Cloudflare Super Page Cache

• Full page caching with smart purge logic

• Works well with WooCommerce and logged-in users

• Gives you more control without coding

🧼 Step 4: Managing Cache

You can clear cache manually if needed:

• Go to Cloudflare > Caching > Configuration

• Click Purge Everything (or choose URLs)

Pro Tip: Set WordPress to automatically purge Cloudflare cache when posts are updated using a plugin.

✅ Recap: Sample Cache Rule Table

🚀 Final Tips

• Don’t cache pages that change based on user state (e.g., cart, login)

• Use plugins to automate cache purging

• Combine with browser cache settings for faster delivery

• Paid Cloudflare plans offer cookie-based bypass, cache by device type, and custom cache keys if needed