Crafting

How to Make TNT in Minecraft

Craft TNT from 5 Gunpowder and 4 Sand arranged in a checkerboard. Ignite it with a Flint and Steel, redstone, or fire.

You'll need

  • 5× Gunpowder
  • 4× Sand

Station / tools

  • Crafting Table

Yields: 1 TNT

Step by step

  1. 1

    Arrange the checkerboard

    Place Gunpowder in the corners and center, and Sand in the four edge slots — an alternating pattern.

  2. 2

    Ignite it

    Use Flint and Steel, a redstone signal, a flaming arrow, or fire to set it off. It detonates after about 4 seconds.

Tips

  • Red Sand works just as well as regular Sand in the recipe.
  • TNT mining destroys most of the blocks it breaks — for resource farming, water can preserve some drops.

FAQ

How do you set off TNT?

Activate it with Flint and Steel, a redstone current (button, lever, pressure plate), a flaming projectile, or nearby fire/lava.

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