In Minecraft, lighting is more than just a visual feature it’s a key part of survival, exploration, and decoration. From torches to glowstone, players have many options to illuminate their worlds. One of the most attractive and functional lighting items is the lantern. Lanterns not only offer a brighter light level than torches, but they also bring a more refined and medieval touch to your builds. Whether you’re constructing a cozy cottage, a grand castle, or a spooky mine, learning how to make a lantern in Minecraft can enhance both aesthetics and safety.
Why Use a Lantern Instead of a Torch?
Better Lighting and Design
Lanterns emit a light level of 15, which is the highest light level possible in Minecraft. This makes them more efficient than torches in terms of visibility and mob prevention. Additionally, lanterns can be placed on the ground or hung from the ceiling, giving players more design flexibility.
Decoration and Style
For builders who value appearance as much as function, lanterns offer a sophisticated, old-world charm. Their warm glow and iron framework make them perfect for rustic homes, medieval cities, or even enchanted forests.
Materials Needed to Make a Lantern
Required Items
To craft a lantern in Minecraft, you will need two primary materials:
- 1 Torch
- 8 Iron Nuggets
These components are simple to gather, especially once you have access to iron ore and a furnace.
Optional: Soul Lantern Variant
You can also make a soul lantern by using a soul torch instead of a regular torch. Soul lanterns give off a cooler, bluish light and are perfect for spooky or magical builds. To craft a soul torch, combine one stick, one piece of coal or charcoal, and one soul soil or soul sand.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Lantern
Step 1: Gather Iron Ore
The first step in crafting a lantern is gathering iron ore. You can find iron ore in caves, ravines, and underground from Y-levels 16 to 56 in the Overworld. Use a stone pickaxe or better to mine it.
- Look for iron veins in exposed mountains or underground
- Mine with a pickaxe to obtain raw iron
- Collect at least one piece of raw iron to start
Step 2: Smelt the Raw Iron
Place the raw iron in a furnace to smelt it into iron ingots. Each piece of raw iron yields one iron ingot.
- Place the furnace on the ground
- Insert raw iron in the top slot
- Add fuel such as coal, charcoal, or wood in the bottom slot
- Wait for the iron to smelt
Once the smelting is complete, you’ll have an iron ingot ready to convert into iron nuggets.
Step 3: Craft Iron Nuggets
One iron ingot can be crafted into nine iron nuggets using a crafting table.
- Open the crafting table interface
- Place one iron ingot into any slot
- This yields nine iron nuggets
You’ll only need eight nuggets for one lantern, but the extra can be saved for future crafting needs like chains or additional lanterns.
Step 4: Craft a Torch
If you don’t already have a torch, crafting one is simple. You’ll need:
- 1 Stick
- 1 Coal or Charcoal
Place the stick in the bottom slot and the coal or charcoal directly above it in the crafting grid to make one torch.
Step 5: Assemble the Lantern
Now that you have your iron nuggets and torch, it’s time to craft the lantern itself.
- Open the crafting table
- Place the torch in the center slot
- Surround the torch with eight iron nuggets
- Drag the lantern into your inventory
Congratulations, you now have a lantern that’s ready to light up your world!
How to Use Lanterns in Minecraft
Placement Options
Lanterns can be placed on most solid surfaces or hung from the underside of blocks, fences, chains, or even trapdoors.
- Ground Placement: Click the top of a block to place it standing up
- Ceiling Hanging: Click the bottom of a block or chain to hang it down
Lanterns add visual charm and functionality wherever they’re placed, especially in villages, walkways, or custom lampposts.
Decoration Tips
- Hang lanterns under tree branches for forest builds
- Use chains to suspend lanterns from high ceilings
- Combine lanterns with wood and stone to create medieval streetlights
- Mix soul lanterns and regular lanterns for contrast and color variety
Light Level and Safety
Since lanterns emit a light level of 15, they are perfect for preventing mob spawns. Place them strategically around your base, farms, and pathways to keep hostile mobs like zombies, skeletons, and creepers at bay.
How to Make a Soul Lantern
Crafting a Soul Torch
To make a soul lantern, you’ll need to craft a soul torch first. Gather the following:
- 1 Stick
- 1 Piece of Coal or Charcoal
- 1 Soul Sand or Soul Soil
Place the stick in the bottom slot, coal above it, and soul sand or soul soil below. This creates one soul torch.
Crafting the Soul Lantern
Follow the same method as with the regular lantern:
- Place the soul torch in the center of the crafting grid
- Surround it with eight iron nuggets
- This will yield one soul lantern
Soul lanterns emit a light level of 10, slightly lower than standard lanterns, but their blue flame gives off an eerie, mystical appearance that fits certain themes.
Tips for Farming Iron
Set Up an Iron Farm
If you want to mass-produce lanterns, it’s a good idea to set up an iron farm. By using villagers and golems, you can automate iron production. This gives you a steady supply of iron ingots, which can be converted into nuggets for lantern crafting.
Efficient Mining
Always carry a stone or iron pickaxe when mining iron ore. Use fortune-enchanted tools if possible to increase your output. Explore caves and mine shafts for exposed iron deposits to speed up collection.
Lanterns in Minecraft are one of the most versatile and stylish light sources available. Not only do they provide the highest level of illumination, but they also add a decorative element to any build. By following the simple steps of mining iron, smelting it, crafting nuggets, and assembling them with a torch, you can easily make lanterns for all your lighting needs. Whether you’re building a cozy village, an epic castle, or an underground base, knowing how to make and use lanterns will elevate your Minecraft experience both visually and practically. Don’t forget to explore the soul lantern variant for a unique and eerie aesthetic that can set the mood for magical or mysterious locations.