This Minecraft tutorial explains how to craft detector rails with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.
In Minecraft, detector rails are one of the many transportation items that you can make. The crafting process will create 6 detector rails at a time.
Let’s explore how to make detector rails.
Where to find Detector Rails in Creative Mode
Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)
Here is where you can find a detector rail in the Creative Inventory menu:
Platform
Version(s)
Creative Menu Location
Java Edition (PC/Mac)
1.8 – 1.19
Transportation
Java Edition (PC/Mac)
1.19.3 – 1.20
Redstone Blocks
Java Edition (PC/Mac)
1.19.3 – 1.20
Tools & Utilities
Platform is the platform that applies.
Version(s) 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.
Required Materials to make Detector Rails
In Minecraft, these are the materials you can use to craft a detector rail:
6 Iron Ingots 1 Redstone Dust 1 Stone Pressure Plate
How to craft Detector Rails in Survival Mode
1. Open the Crafting Menu
First, open your crafting table so that you have the 3×3 crafting grid that looks like this:
2. Add Items to make Detector Rails
In the crafting menu, you should see a crafting area that is made up of a 3×3 crafting grid. To make detector rails, place 6 iron ingots, 1 stone pressure plate, and 1 redstone dust in the 3×3 crafting grid.
When making detector rails, it is important that the iron ingots, stone pressure plate, and redstone dust are placed in the exact pattern as the image below. In this first row, there should be 1 iron ingot in the first box and 1 iron ingot in the third box (the second box should be left empty). In the second row, there should be 1 iron ingot in the first box, 1 stone pressure plate in the second box, and 1 iron ingot in the third box. In the third row, there should be 1 iron ingot in the first box, 1 redstone dust in the second box, and 1 iron ingot in the third box. This is the Minecraft crafting recipe for detector rails.
Now that you have filled the crafting area with the correct pattern, six detector rails will appear in the box to the right.
3. Move the Detector Rails to Inventory
Once you have crafted rails, you need to move the new item to your inventory.
Congratulations, you have made detector rails in Minecraft!
Item ID and Name
Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)
In Minecraft, detector rails have the following Name, ID and DataValue:
Item
Description
(Minecraft ID Name)
Data Value
Stack Size
Platform
Version(s)
Detector Rails
(minecraft:detector_rail)
0
64
Java
1.8 – 1.12
Detector Rails
(minecraft:detector_rail)
64
Java
1.13 – 1.20
Description is what the item is called and (Minecraft ID Name) is the string value that is used in game commands.
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) is the Minecraft version numbers that the Minecraft ID and Name are valid for.
Block States for Detector Rails
Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE)
In Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE), the block states for Detector Rails are:
Block State
Value
Default
Required
Example
Description
rail_data_bit
false
Yes
No
[“rail_data_bit”=false]
Rail is not activated
rail_data_bit
true
No
No
[“rail_data_bit”=true]
Rail is activated
rail_direction
0
Yes
No
[“rail_direction”=0]
Straight rail connecting South and North
rail_direction
1
No
No
[“rail_direction”=1]
Straight rail connecting East and West
rail_direction
2
No
No
[“rail_direction”=2]
Sloped rail rising to the East
rail_direction
3
No
No
[“rail_direction”=3]
Sloped rail rising to the West
rail_direction
4
No
No
[“rail_direction”=4]
Sloped rail rising to the North
rail_direction
5
No
No
[“rail_direction”=5]
Sloped rail rising to the South
Block State is the internal name for the block state.
Value is the value for the block state.
Default indicates that it is the default, if omitted.
Required indicates that it must be included in command to properly identify this item/block.
Example shows how to format the block state to be used in the /fill, /setblock, /clone, or /testforblock command.
Give Command for Detector Rails
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 1.20, the /give command for Detector Rails is:
/give @p detector_rail 1
In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11 and 1.12, the /give command for Detector Rails is: