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How Much Obsidian Do You Need for a Nether Portal?

Use 10 obsidian for the smallest standard Nether portal frame with corners omitted, or 14 for the full rectangular frame. The opening is 2 blocks wide by 3 high.
Length1 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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You need 10 obsidian blocks for the smallest standard Nether portal frame, with its four corner blocks omitted. A full rectangular frame uses 14 obsidian. Either way, the portal opening is 2 blocks wide and 3 blocks high; light the completed frame with flint and steel.

How many obsidian blocks do you need?

Frame Obsidian needed When to use it
Smallest frame, corners omitted 10 When conserving obsidian
Full rectangular frame 14 When you want the complete outline

Minecraft’s official guide describes the smallest frame as two blocks across the top and bottom, with three blocks on each side. Counting the outline gives 14 blocks; leaving out the four corners reduces the total to 10.

Can you leave the corners out?

Yes. The four corner blocks are not needed for the smallest standard frame described in Minecraft’s guide. The opening remains 2 blocks wide by 3 blocks high whether you use the 10-block frame or build all four corners for a 14-block frame. Minecraft’s Feedback entry also describes the traditional frame as 14 obsidian around a 2-by-3 portal area.

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How do you activate the frame?

  1. Build the frame with the 2-by-3 opening inside it, leaving out the corners if you are using 10 obsidian.
  2. Use flint and steel on the frame to light it and activate the portal.

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