How to Create Different Sized Maps in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to create different sized maps with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, you can create up to 5 different sizes of maps in the game. The bigger the map, the more of the terrain you can see. With larger maps, you can easily find your friends and see their movements when they join your world.

Let's explore how to create the different sizes of maps in Minecraft.

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Required Materials

In Minecraft, these are the required materials to upgrade your map to Level 4 which is the largest size:

Steps to Create Different Sized Maps

1. You need a Locator Map

First, you will need a locator map that is crafted using 8 paper and 1 compass. This type of map allows you to see the location of yourself and your friends that join your world. The map starts out as a Level 0 map which is the smallest sized map that you can craft in the game.

When you open this map, it should look something like this:

how to create different sized map

You can see yourself (the white dot) and the direction you are facing. We are currently facing down which is South on the map.

2. Upgrade the Map to Level 1

To upgrade the size of you map, you need to upgrade your map from Level 0 to Level 1. To do this, add the Level 0 map and 8 more paper to the 3x3 crafting grid.

how to create different sized map

The newly crafted map will now be upgraded to a Level 1 map which is larger than the previous. When you open this map, it won't be completely filled in.

how to create different sized map

You will need to travel around in the world to fill in the detail.

3. Upgrade the Map to Level 2

To upgrade your map to an even larger size, you need to upgrade your map from Level 1 to Level 2. Add the Level 1 map and 8 more paper to the 3x3 crafting grid.

how to create different sized map

The newly crafted map will now be even larger and will be upgraded to a Level 2 map.

how to create different sized map

When you open this map, only a portion of the map will be filled in.

4. Upgrade the Map to Level 3

To upgrade your map to an even larger size, you need to upgrade your map from Level 2 to Level 3. To do so, add the Level 2 map and 8 more paper to the 3x3 crafting grid.

how to create different sized map

The newly crafted map will now be upgraded to a Level 3 map which is larger than the previous.

how to create different sized map

When you open this map, there will be even more to fill in than the last size.

4. Upgrade the Map to Level 4

To upgrade your map to the largest size, you need to upgrade your map from Level 3 to Level 4. Add the Level 3 map and 8 more paper to the 3x3 crafting grid.

how to create different sized map

The newly crafted map will now be upgraded to a Level 4 map which is largest map size in Minecraft.

how to create different sized map

This map takes very long time to fill in. Here is what our Level 4 map looks like once it has been filled in.

how to create different sized map

On the map, you are the white dot and the other colored dots are your friends that join your world. As the players travel around in the world, the player dots in the map will show their current location (so you can literally watch the players move around in the game on the map).

Congratulations, you just learned how to create different sized maps in Minecraft.