How to Make Lanterns in Minecraft: Plus, Where to Find Them

Step-by-step guide to crafting lanterns in Minecraft

Written by Kyle Smith

Last Updated: March 6, 2023

Crafting a Lantern

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Other Ways to Get a Lantern

Trying to get a lantern in Minecraft? Fortunately, they're pretty easy to craft. All you need is a torch and some iron nuggets. You can use a soul torch instead to make a soul lantern. There are also a few places you can find a torch, if you prefer a more adventurous method. This wikiHow guide will show you how to make and find lanterns in Minecraft.

Things You Should Know

You'll need 1 torch (or soul torch) and 8 iron nuggets.
Place the torch in the center of the crafting menu. Then, put the 8 iron nuggets around the torch.
Alternatively, you can find torches in snowy tundra villages and bastion remnants.
You can also sometimes trade with a librarian villager for a lantern.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Crafting a Lantern

1
Gather the required materials. Lanterns are a great light source and decoration. They have a light level of 15 (the highest level). For reference, torches are at a 14. Soul lanterns are a variant with a dimmer, turquoise light at level 10 — they also repel piglins! You'll need two ingredients to craft a lantern:^{[1]
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Research source}
- 1 torch or 1 soul torch: You can make regular torches using sticks and coal. To make a soul torch, you'll need soul soil or soul sand from the Nether.^{[2]
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  Research source}
- 8 iron nuggets: Place 1 iron ingot in the crafting menu to yield 9 iron nuggets.^{[3]
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  Research source}
2
Open the crafting menu. Once you have the required materials, you're ready to start crafting!

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3
Place the torch in the center slot. In the 3 by 3 crafting menu, put the torch directly in the center. Use a soul torch instead to make a soul lantern.
- The soul lantern has a weaker light at light level 10, but it also repels piglins.
4
Place the 8 iron nuggets around the torch. The iron nuggets should make up every side of the 3 by 3 crafting menu now. The lantern will appear in the item slot to the right of the crafting menu.
5
Click the lantern. This will place the newly crafted lantern into your inventory. You're ready to place the lantern on a tree, near your house, or in your underground base.
- Lanterns can be placed on a block or they can hang from a ceiling. When placed on a block, the lantern will have a handle. When placed on the ceiling, the lantern will have a chain connecting it to the block above it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Other Ways to Get a Lantern

1
Find a lantern naturally. Lanterns spawn in a variety of places! You're likely to find a few while playing Minecraft. You can find them in snowy tundra villages and bastion remnants. Soul lanterns sometimes appear in ancient cities.
2
Trade with a librarian. A village librarian (apprentice-level) sometimes sells lanterns for one emerald.
3
Get a lantern from the creative menu. While in creative mode, search for "lantern" in the search bar at the top of the creative inventory menu to find the lantern.
4
Type /give lantern in the chat. Typing this command in the chat will place a lantern in your inventory.