How to make a Bookshelf in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to craft a bookshelf with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, a bookshelf is a bookcase that is filled with colorful red, blue, and yellow books. It is one of the many building blocks that you can make and is used to maximize the available enchantments in an enchanting table. You can stack bookshelves next to each other or on top of one another to create your own library.

bookshelf

Let's explore how to make a bookshelf.

Supported Platforms

A bookshelf is available in the following versions of Minecraft:

PlatformSupported (Version*)
Java Edition (PC/Mac) Java Edition (PC/Mac)Yes
Pocket Edition (PE) Pocket Edition (PE)Yes
Xbox 360 Xbox 360Yes
Xbox One Xbox OneYes
PS3 PS3Yes
PS4 PS4Yes
Wii U Wii UYes
Nintendo Switch Nintendo SwitchYes
Windows 10 Edition Windows 10 EditionYes
Education Edition Education EditionYes

* The version that it was added or removed, if applicable.
NOTE: Pocket Edition (PE), Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Windows 10 Edition are now called Bedrock Edition. We will continue to show them individually for version history.

Where to find a Bookshelf in Creative Mode

Required Materials to make a Bookshelf

In Minecraft, these are the materials you can use to craft a bookshelf:

TIP: You can use any type of wood planks! You don't have to gather them all.

How to craft a Bookshelf in Survival Mode

1. Open the Crafting Menu

First, open your crafting table so that you have the 3x3 crafting grid that looks like this:

3x3 crafting area

2. Add Items to make a Bookshelf

In the crafting menu, you should see a crafting area that is made up of a 3x3 crafting grid. To make a bookshelf, place 6 wood planks and 3 books in the 3x3 crafting grid.

When crafting with wood planks, you can use any kind of wood planks, such as oak, spruce, birch, jungle, acacia, dark oak, mangrove, bamboo, crimson, warped or cherry planks. In our example, we are using oak planks.

When making bookshelf, it is important that the wood planks and the books are placed in the exact pattern as the image below. There should be 3 wood planks in the first row, 3 books in the second row, and 3 wood planks in the third row. This is the Minecraft crafting recipe for a bookshelf.

Crafting recipe for bookshelf

Now that you have filled the crafting area with the correct pattern, the bookshelf will appear in the box to the right.

bookshelf

3. Move the Bookshelf to Inventory

Once you have crafted bookshelf, you need to move the new item to your inventory.

Completed bookshelf

Congratulations, you have made a bookshelf in Minecraft!

Item ID and Name

Give Command for Bookshelf

Things to Make with Bookshelf

You can use a bookshelf to make items in Minecraft such as:

Things to Do with Bookshelf

Here are some activities that you can do with a bookshelf in Minecraft: