How to Build a Nether Portal
Entering the Nether in Minecraft opens up a completely different dimension filled with dangerous mobs, valuable resources, and unique structures. To explore this fiery underworld, you need to build a Nether Portal. This structure acts as a gateway between the Overworld and the Nether, and learning how to build a Nether Portal correctly is essential for progressing in your survival or adventure journey. Whether you’re a new player or someone returning after a long break, this guide will take you through each step required to construct, activate, and safely use a Nether Portal in Minecraft.
What You Need to Build a Nether Portal
Required Materials
Before you can build a Nether Portal, you need to gather the essential material: obsidian. Obsidian is a dark, sturdy block that is only mineable with a diamond or netherite pickaxe. Here are the materials you’ll need:
- Obsidian (at least 10 blocks, but 14 for a complete frame)
- Flint and Steel (used to light the portal)
- Diamond Pickaxe (to mine obsidian, if you haven’t gathered it already)
- Water Bucket and Lava Source Blocks (optional if crafting obsidian manually)
You can find obsidian naturally in ruined portals, or you can create it by pouring water over lava source blocks. It’s important to remember that obsidian cannot be broken by hand or with basic tools it takes time and the right equipment to harvest it.
Constructing the Portal Frame
Minimum Size
The standard Nether Portal frame requires a rectangular shape standing vertically. The smallest possible frame that works is 4 blocks tall and 5 blocks wide including corners. However, you can skip the corner blocks, using only 10 obsidian. Here’s the configuration:
- 2 blocks wide (inside)
- 3 blocks tall (inside)
- Add 1 obsidian block to each side and on the top and bottom to complete the frame
So the portal structure looks like a tall vertical rectangle standing upright. Players often use other materials like dirt or cobblestone in the corners if they want to conserve obsidian, as the game doesn’t require those blocks for portal function.
Placing the Obsidian
Choose a flat area with enough space around it. Place two blocks on the ground vertically for the left side. Then add three blocks going upward on both sides. Finally, connect the top with two more obsidian blocks. The full frame (without corners) should have the following block placement:
- Bottom: 2 obsidian blocks
- Sides: 3 obsidian blocks high each
- Top: 2 obsidian blocks connecting both vertical sides
Make sure there is a hollow rectangle in the middle. That is where the portal will activate.
Activating the Nether Portal
Using Flint and Steel
Once the frame is in place, light the portal using Flint and Steel. Simply aim at the inside bottom of the portal and right-click (or use the action button on console). If done correctly, a glowing purple field will appear in the middle. This is your active Nether Portal.
Alternative Activation Methods
While Flint and Steel is the most common tool, you can also activate a Nether Portal with other fire sources if you’re in a tough situation. For example:
- Fire charges
- Lava and flammable blocks (like wood)
- Using a ghast fireball (rare but possible)
However, these methods are unreliable compared to Flint and Steel, which should be your go-to tool.
Traveling Through the Portal
What to Expect
After activation, simply step into the purple glow and stand still for a few seconds. You’ll be transported into the Nether dimension. On your first arrival, the game will automatically generate a matching portal inside the Nether at the corresponding coordinates. It’s important to be cautious Nether environments are hostile, filled with lava, and aggressive mobs like Ghasts, Piglins, and Blazes.
Returning to the Overworld
To return, walk back into the Nether Portal you entered from. You’ll be taken to the same Overworld portal unless it was destroyed or moved. Always protect your portal in the Nether by placing it in a secure location or surrounding it with blocks to avoid mob interference or accidental destruction.
Tips for Building Efficient Portals
Portal Placement Strategy
Where you place your Nether Portal in the Overworld will affect where it appears in the Nether. The game uses a coordinate ratio of 8:1 eight Overworld blocks equal one Nether block. If you want to travel long distances quickly, you can build portals in strategic locations to take advantage of this mechanic. This technique is known as fast travel through the Nether.
Protecting Your Portal
Once inside the Nether, portals can be dangerous if not well-guarded. Consider doing the following:
- Build a base or enclosure around the Nether-side portal
- Carry an extra Flint and Steel in case the portal is disabled by mobs
- Mark your coordinates before going far from the portal
This ensures you can find your way back and avoid being stranded in a hostile biome.
Advanced Portal Building Techniques
Creating Large Portals
While the minimum size is 4×5, you can build portals as large as 23 blocks wide and 23 blocks tall. These giant Nether Portals function the same as the small ones and are often used in decorative builds or multiplayer servers. To build a large portal:
- Use at least 84 obsidian blocks for a full 23×23 frame
- Follow the same activation steps with Flint and Steel
These portals can accommodate multiple players or mobs passing through at once, making them useful for larger-scale transport systems.
Linking Portals for Fast Travel
Experienced players often create multiple Nether Portals to link different parts of the Overworld. Because of the coordinate compression between dimensions, you can place portals at calculated Nether positions to reach distant Overworld points quickly. This involves doing some math:
- Take your Overworld coordinates and divide them by 8
- Build a Nether Portal at the resulting location in the Nether
This method is excellent for building interconnected bases, mining hubs, or multiplayer transportation networks.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Incorrect Frame Size
The portal must be a complete vertical rectangle. Incorrect block placement such as too short or too wide will not activate the portal. Remember, at minimum you need 10 obsidian blocks without corners, arranged properly.
Using the Wrong Tools
Trying to mine obsidian with an iron or stone pickaxe will not yield anything and only wastes time. Always use a diamond or netherite pickaxe. Also, placing obsidian incorrectly can be frustrating, as it takes a long time to break and re-place.
Entering Unprepared
Before traveling to the Nether, ensure you have proper gear, food, and blocks. The Nether is unforgiving. Bring:
- Armor (preferably enchanted)
- Weapons and tools
- Food and torches
- Building blocks like cobblestone or netherrack
- Extra obsidian and Flint and Steel
Never assume you’ll have time to gather supplies once inside the Nether.
Building a Nether Portal in Minecraft is a crucial milestone that opens up entirely new possibilities in your gameplay. From harvesting rare resources like quartz and ancient debris to creating fast travel routes between biomes, the Nether offers both challenge and reward. Mastering how to build and use a Nether Portal properly will make your journey more efficient and exciting. With the right materials, careful planning, and a bit of courage, you’ll soon be walking through the portal to face whatever lies beyond the flames.