The Minecraft torch might look humble, but it’s imperative if you want to see in the dark or make your surroundings look a little homier. They’re quite simple to make once you have the items to craft them. As is commonplace with many Minecraft items, sticks are an important part of the construction. 

Materials Required to Make Torches

To make a torch, you need one stick and a piece of coal or charcoal. You don’t need both. Just one of the two types of material will do alongside a stick. 

These instructions apply to Minecraft on all platforms, including Java Edition on PC, and Bedrock Edition on PC and consoles.

How to Get Coal or Charcoal in Minecraft

It’s easiest to find coal than wonder how to get charcoal in Minecraft, but we’ve got a quick overview on how to produce either so you can then craft a torch.

  • Find coal.
  • Coal is typically between four and 15 blocks below the ground. Make sure to dig in a way that means you can get out of the hole afterward.
  • Hold a pickaxe to mine for it.
  • Any type of pickaxe will do.
  • Mine for the block of coal through one of these methods -
  • PC - Left-clickMobile - TapXbox 360/One/Series X/S - Holding the RT buttonPlayStation 4/5 - Holding the R2 buttonNintendo Switch - Holding the ZR button
  • Pick up the block of coal before it disappears.
  • Open your crafting table and place 1 block of coal in the crafting grid.
  • Hover over the coal and click Craft.
  • You’ve now made coal.

Craft Some Charcoal

Crafting charcoal is a little more complicated but very convenient if you already have a furnace as it requires easier to source items such as wood. Here’s what to do.

Find coal. 

Coal is typically between four and 15 blocks below the ground. Make sure to dig in a way that means you can get out of the hole afterward.

Hold a pickaxe to mine for it. 

Any type of pickaxe will do.

Mine for the block of coal through one of these methods -

  • PC - Left-clickMobile - TapXbox 360/One/Series X/S - Holding the RT buttonPlayStation 4/5 - Holding the R2 buttonNintendo Switch - Holding the ZR button

Pick up the block of coal before it disappears.

Open your crafting table and place 1 block of coal in the crafting grid.

Hover over the coal and click Craft.

You’ve now made coal.

  • Craft a furnace.
  • Open your furnace.
  • Add fuel to your furnace in the bottom fuel box.
  • As a general rule, most woods burn in addition to coal.
  • Wait for the furnace to produce charcoal.
  • The progress is indicated by flames growing between the two grids.
  • Click Take on the charcoal to collect it and move it to your inventory.

How to Craft a Torch in Minecraft

Whether you use coal or charcoal, the principle behind crafting a torch in Minecraft is very similar. Here’s what to do.

Craft a furnace.

Open your furnace.

Add fuel to your furnace in the bottom fuel box.

As a general rule, most woods burn in addition to coal.

Wait for the furnace to produce charcoal.

The progress is indicated by flames growing between the two grids.

Click Take on the charcoal to collect it and move it to your inventory.

  • Open your crafting table.
  • Either pick the Torch recipe from your Recipe book or add the coal/charcoal and stick to your crafting grid yourself.
  • Click Select Recipe.
  • Scroll over to the Torch icon and click Craft.
  • Click Craft All if you want to use all your items to make torches.

How to Craft a Blue Torch in Minecraft

Wondering how to make blue torches in Minecraft? Blue torches are a little harder to make as the process is similar but requires Soul or Soul Sand to produce. Here’s what to do.

Each stick and piece of coal produces 4 torches.

Open your crafting table.

Either pick the Torch recipe from your Recipe book or add the coal/charcoal and stick to your crafting grid yourself.

Click Select Recipe.

Scroll over to the Torch icon and click Craft.

Click Craft All if you want to use all your items to make torches.

  • Find Soul Soil or Soul Sand. Soul Soil is naturally found only in the soul sand valley while Soul Sand is only found in the Nether. Both can be mined.
  • Open your crafting table.
  • Either pick the Soul Torch recipe from the Recipe book or add the crafting ingredients yourself.
  • You need one charcoal or one coal, along with one stick and one Soul Sand or Soul Soil.
  • Click Craft to make the Blue/Soul Torch.

What Can You Do With a Torch in Minecraft?

The essential advantage to having a torch is that light prevents monsters from appearing inside your structures, such as the home you may have built. It also helps illuminate areas when you’re exploring underground, so there’s less chance of you falling to your death or getting into trouble. It’s worth having a few torches spare at all times. 

Blue Torches are also commonly known as Soul Torches in Minecraft.

Find Soul Soil or Soul Sand. Soul Soil is naturally found only in the soul sand valley while Soul Sand is only found in the Nether. Both can be mined.

Either pick the Soul Torch recipe from the Recipe book or add the crafting ingredients yourself.

You need one charcoal or one coal, along with one stick and one Soul Sand or Soul Soil.

Click Craft to make the Blue/Soul Torch. 

A Soul Torch works much the same, but it offers a blue light instead of regular light, which can be more appealing. 

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