How to make a Lectern in Minecraft

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

In Minecraft, the lectern is a basic item in your inventory.

lectern

Let's explore how to make a lectern.

Supported Platforms

A lectern is available in the following versions of Minecraft:

PlatformSupported (Version*)
Java Edition (PC/Mac) Java Edition (PC/Mac)Yes (1.14)
Pocket Edition (PE) Pocket Edition (PE)Yes (1.10.0)
Xbox 360 Xbox 360No
Xbox One Xbox OneYes (1.10.0)
PS3 PS3No
PS4 PS4Yes (1.90)
Wii U Wii UNo
Nintendo Switch Nintendo SwitchYes (1.10.0)
Windows 10 Edition Windows 10 EditionYes (1.10.0)
Education Edition Education EditionYes (1.12.0)

* 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 Lectern in Creative Mode

Required Materials to make a Lectern

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

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

How to craft a Lectern 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 Lectern

In the crafting menu, you should see a crafting area that is made up of a 3x3 crafting grid. To make a lectern, place 1 bookshelf and 4 wooden slabs in the 3x3 crafting grid.

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

When making a lectern, it is important that the bookshelf and slabs are placed in the exact pattern as the image below. In the first row, there should be 3 wooden slabs. In the second row, there should be 1 bookshelf in the middle box. In the third row, there should be 1 wood slab in the middle box. This is the Minecraft crafting recipe for a lectern.

Crafting recipe for lectern

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

lectern

3. Move the Lectern to Inventory

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

Completed lectern

Congratulations, you have made a lectern in Minecraft!

Item ID and Name

Block States for Lectern

Give Command for Lectern