How to npm install to a specified directory?

As of npm version 3.8.6, you can use

npm install --prefix ./install/here <package>

to install in the specified directory. NPM automatically creates node_modules folder even when a node_modules directory already exists in the higher up hierarchy. You can also have a package.json in the current directory and then install it in the specified directory using --prefix option:

npm install --prefix ./install/here

As of npm 6.0.0, you can use

npm install --prefix ./install/here ./

to install the package.json in current directory to "./install/here" directory. There is one thing that I have noticed on Mac that it creates a symlink to parent folder inside the node_modules directory. But, it still works.

NOTE: NPM honours the path that you've specified through the --prefix option. It resolves as per npm documentation on folders, only when npm install is used without the --prefix option.

You can use the --prefix option:

mkdir -p ./install/here/node_modules
npm install --prefix ./install/here <package>

The package(s) will then be installed in ./install/here/node_modules. The mkdir is needed since npm might otherwise choose an already existing node_modules directory higher up in the hierarchy. (See npm documentation on folders.)