How to Use a Composter in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to use a composter with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, the composter takes compostable items and turns them into bone meal. Let's explore how to use a composter.

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Required Materials to use a Composter

In Minecraft, these are some of the compostable items you can use with a composter:

Steps to Use a Composter

1. Place the Composter

To use a composter, first, select the composter in your hotbar. If you don't have a composter in your inventory, you can quickly make one with a crafting recipe for a composter.

Next, position your pointer (the plus sign) on the block where you want to place the composter. You should see the block become highlighted in your game window.

how to use composter

The game control to place the composter depends on the version of Minecraft:

  • For Java Edition (PC/Mac), right click on the block.
  • For Pocket Edition (PE), you tap on the block.
  • For Xbox One, press the LT button on the Xbox controller.
  • For PS4, press the L2 button on the PS controller.
  • For Nintendo Switch, press the ZL button on the controller.
  • For Windows 10 Edition, right click on the block.
  • For Education Edition, right click on the block.

how to use composter

2. Add Compostable Items

Next, add compostable items to the composter. The game control to place a compostable item in the composter depends on the version of Minecraft:

  • For Java Edition (PC/Mac), right click on the composter.
  • For Pocket Edition (PE), you tap on the composter.
  • For Xbox One, press the LT button on the Xbox controller.
  • For PS4, press the L2 button on the PS controller.
  • For Nintendo Switch, press the ZL button on the controller.
  • For Windows 10 Edition, right click on the composter.
  • For Education Edition, right click on the composter.

how to use composter

When you see the green particles, a new layer is created in the composter. You will need to create 7 compost layers to fill the composter.

TIP #1: Each compostable item has a different success rate of creating a compost layer. The more complex the item, the higher chance it has of creating a compost layer. For example, items such as cake and pumpkin pie will always create a compost layer, but saplings may take 4 or more to create a compost layer.

TIP #2: Each time you compost, it may take different amounts to create a compost layer (even if you are composting the same item each time).

3. Collect the Bone Meal

Once you have the 7 layers created in the composter, the composter will be ready and you can collect the bone meal out of it. The game control to collect the bone meal depends on the version of Minecraft:

  • For Java Edition (PC/Mac), right click on the composter.
  • For Pocket Edition (PE), you tap on the composter.
  • For Xbox One, press the LT button on the Xbox controller.
  • For PS4, press the L2 button on the PS controller.
  • For Nintendo Switch, press the ZL button on the controller.
  • For Windows 10 Edition, right click on the composter.
  • For Education Edition, right click on the composter.

how to use composter

You should see the bone meal pop out of the composter.

how to use composter

Now, pick up the bone meal to add it to your inventory.

Congratulations, you just learned how to use a composter in Minecraft.