This Minecraft tutorial explains how to craft coal with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.
In Minecraft, coal ore is an item that you can not make with a crafting table or furnace. Instead, you need to find and gather this item in the game.
Let’s explore how to add coal ore to your inventory.
Where to find Coal Ore in Creative Mode
Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)
Here is where you can find coal ore in the Creative Inventory menu:
Platform
Version(s)
Creative Menu Location
Java Edition (PC/Mac)
1.8 – 1.19
Building Blocks
Java Edition (PC/Mac)
1.19.3
Natural Blocks
Platform is the platform that applies.
Version(s)Â is the Minecraft version numbers where the item can be found in the menu location listed (we have tested and confirmed this version number).
Creative Menu Location is the location of the item in the Creative Inventory menu.
How to get Coal Ore in Survival Mode
You can add coal ore to your inventory in Survival mode by mining coal ore with a pickaxe that is enchanted with Silk Touch. So, let’s get started!
1. Find a Block of Coal Ore
First, let’s explore where to find coal ore. In Minecraft, coal ore is easy to find and is found in large deposits. You can usually find coal ore between 4 and 15 blocks below the ground.
In this example, we are going to dig into a mountain to find coal ore.
This is what a block of coal ore looks like:
2. Hold a Pickaxe with Silk Touch
To mine for coal ore, you need to dig up the coal ore with a pickaxe that has been enchanted with Silk Touch. These are the pickaxes you can choose from:
How to make a Diamond Pickaxe How to make a Golden Pickaxe How to make a Iron Pickaxe How to make a Stone Pickaxe How to make a Wooden Pickaxe How to make a Netherite Pickaxe
Other tools will not dig up the coal ore and let you add it to your inventory.
In this example, we are going to use a diamond pickaxe with Silk Touch to dig up the coal ore.
3. Mine the Coal Ore
The game control to mine the coal ore depends on the version of Minecraft:
For Java Edition (PC/Mac), left click and hold on the block of coal ore.
For Pocket Edition (PE), you tap and hold on the block of coal ore.
For Xbox 360 and Xbox One, press and hold the RT button on the Xbox controller.
For PS3 and PS4, press and hold the R2 button on the PS controller.
For Wii U, press and hold the ZR button on the gamepad.
For Nintendo Switch, press and hold the ZR button on the controller.
For Windows 10 Edition, left click and hold on the block of coal ore.
For Education Edition, left click and hold on the block of coal ore.
You will need to continue to mine until the block breaks and a smaller block of coal ore finally appears. The coal ore will float on the ground.
TIP: Normally when you mine coal ore, you get coal as the drop. However, when you mine the coal ore using a pickaxe enchanted with Silk Touch, you will get the coal ore itself as the drop.
4. Pick up the Coal Ore
Make sure you pick up the coal ore before it disappears.
Once you pick up the coal ore, it will appear in your hotbar.
Coal ore is a very useful item and should be kept in your inventory to be used later.
Item ID and Name
Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)
In Minecraft, coal ore has the following Name, ID and DataValue:
Item
Description
(Minecraft ID Name)
Minecraft ID
Data Value
Stack Size
Platform
Version(s)
Coal Ore
(minecraft:coal_ore)
16
0
64
Java
1.8 – 1.12
Coal Ore
(minecraft:coal_ore)
16
64
Java
1.13 – 1.19.3
Description is what the item is called and (Minecraft ID Name) is the string value that is used in game commands.
Minecraft IDÂ is the Internal number for the item.
Data Value (or damage value) identifies the variation of the block if more than one type exists for the Minecraft ID.
Stack Size is the maximum stack size for this item. While some items in Minecraft are stackable up to 64, other items can only be stacked up to 16 or 1. (NOTE: These stack sizes are for vanilla Minecraft only. If you are running a mod, some mods may change the stack size for an item.)
Platform is the platform that applies.
Version(s)Â is the Minecraft version numbers that the Minecraft ID and Name are valid for.
Give Command for Coal Ore
Give Command in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)
In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.19.3, the /give command for Coal Ore is:
/give @p coal_ore 1
In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11 and 1.12, the /give command for Coal Ore is:
/give @p coal_ore 1 0
Things to Make with Coal Ore
You can use coal ore to make items in Minecraft such as:
 How to make Coal
Things to Do with Coal Ore
Here are some activities that you can do with coal ore in Minecraft:
How to Use a Blast Furnace
Other Ores
There are other ores in Minecraft such as:
How to make Iron Ore How to make Copper Ore How to make Gold Ore How to make Redstone Ore How to make Emerald Ore How to make Lapis Lazuli Ore How to make Diamond Ore How to make Nether Gold Ore How to make Nether Quartz Ore How to make Deepslate Coal Ore How to make Deepslate Iron Ore How to make Deepslate Copper Ore How to make Deepslate Gold Ore How to make Deepslate Redstone Ore  How to make Deepslate Emerald Ore How to make Deepslate Lapis Lazuli Ore How to make Deepslate Diamond Ore
Other Items Requiring Silk Touch to Gather
The following are other items in Minecraft that you can only gather with a tool enchanted with Silk Touch:
How to make a Small Amethyst Bud How to make a Medium Amethyst Bud How to make a Large Amethyst Bud How to make an Amethyst Cluster How to make Iron Ore How to make Copper Ore How to make Gold Ore How to make Redstone Ore How to make Emerald Ore How to make Lapis Lazuli Ore How to make Diamond Ore How to make Nether Gold Ore How to make Nether Quatz Ore How to make Deepslate Coal Ore How to make Deepslate Iron Ore How to make Deepslate Copper Ore How to make Deepslate Gold Ore How to make Deepslate Redstone Ore How to make Deepslate Lapis Lazuli Ore How to make Deepslate Diamond Ore How to make a Grass Block How to make Podzo How to make Mycelium How to make Crimson Nylium How to make Warped Nylium How to make a Tube Coral Fan How to make a Brain Coral Fan How to make a Bubble Coral Fan How to make a Fire Coral Fan How to make a Horn Coral Fan How to make a Tube Coral Block How to make a Brain Coral Block How to make a Bubble Coral Block How to make a Fire Coral Block How to make a Horn Coral Block How to make a Red Mushroom Block How to make a Brown Mushroom Block How to make Ice How to make Packed Ice How to make Blue Ice How to make Deepslate How to make a Bee Nest How to make Sculk How to make a Sculk Vein How to make a Sculk Catalyst How to make a Sculk Shrieker How to make a Sculk Sensor