The film originated from an ultra-low-budget spec script by Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken titled 'The Cellar,' which was included in The Tracking Board's 'Hit List' of 2012 before Paramount purchased it.

The production was given the codename 'Valencia' by Bad Robot to keep the project's exact details secret during development and filming.

Damien Chazelle was originally brought on to rewrite the script and direct the film, but he dropped out to direct Whiplash once that project received funding.

During production, the filmmakers noticed thematic similarities to Cloverfield and decided to reframe the film as a spiritual successor rather than a direct sequel; J.J. Abrams came up with the final title after finishing Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Lead actors Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Gallagher Jr. said they were aware of thematic similarities to Cloverfield during filming but did not learn of an official connection until they were told the chosen title just days before the trailer's release.

Bradley Cooper provided an uncredited voice cameo as Michelle's fiancé Ben, while Suzanne Cryer appeared as the woman trying to enter the bunker.

Filming took place in chronological order on only one set in New Orleans, Louisiana, from October 20 to December 15, 2014, with explosion and fire scenes shot separately in Hahnville, Louisiana.

J.J. Abrams revealed that the creative team had considered ideas for a direct Cloverfield sequel, but abandoned them after films like Godzilla (2014) and Pacific Rim (2013) made them feel the kaiju genre had become played out.

In the later film The Cloverfield Paradox, Donal Logue's character Mark Stambler shares his surname with Howard Stambler from 10 Cloverfield Lane, and Suzanne Cryer returns in a different cameo role as a newscaster.

A viral marketing campaign for the film included updating the Tagruato.jp alternate reality game website originally used to promote Cloverfield, revealing backstory about the character Howard Stambler and his daughter.