Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for automated cluster member management based on node capabilities. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for automated cluster member management based on node capabilities can be provided. The method can include defining a membership policy for a cluster, the membership policy specifying a nodal configuration required for a node in a cluster. The method further can include evaluating different nodes in a computing environment against the membership policy for the cluster. Finally, the method can include associating cluster members in the cluster to only those of the nodes having respective configurations meeting the nodal configuration of the membership policy. Likewise, the method can include evaluating nodes already in the cluster, and disassociating cluster members in the cluster from those of the nodes having respective configurations failing to meet the nodal configuration of the membership policy.