How to make Diamond Ore in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to craft diamond ore with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, diamond ore is an item that you can not make with a crafting table or furnace. Instead, you need to find and gather this item in the game.

diamond ore

Let's explore how to add diamond ore to your inventory.

Supported Platforms

Diamond ore 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 Diamond Ore in Creative Mode

How to get Diamond Ore in Survival Mode

You can add diamond ore to your inventory in Survival mode by mining diamond ore with a diamond pickaxe, iron pickaxe, or netherite pickaxe that is enchanted with Silk Touch. So, let's get started!

1. Find a Block of Diamond Ore

First, let's explore where to find diamond ore. In Minecraft, diamond ore is hard to find and is found in large deposits. You can usually find diamond ore between 13 and 31 blocks below the ground.

TIP: Look for diamond ore at a y-coordinate = 12.

diamond ore location

In this example, we are going to dig into a mountain to find diamond ore.

This is what a block of diamond ore looks like:

diamond ore and pickaxe

2. Hold a Diamond, Iron, or Netherite Pickaxe with Silk Touch

To mine for diamond ore, you need to dig up the diamond ore with a diamond pickaxe, iron pickaxe, or netherite pickaxe that has been enchanted with Silk Touch.

Other tools will not dig up the diamond ore and let you add it to your inventory.

In this example, we are going to use a diamond pickaxe with Silk Touch to dig up the diamond ore.

3. Mine the Diamond Ore

The game control to mine the diamond ore depends on the version of Minecraft:

  • For Java Edition (PC/Mac), left click and hold on the block of diamond ore.
  • For Pocket Edition (PE), you tap and hold on the block of diamond ore.
  • For Xbox 360 and Xbox One, press and hold the RT button on the Xbox controller.
  • For PS3 and PS4, press and hold the R2 button on the PS controller.
  • For Wii U, press and hold the ZR button on the gamepad.
  • For Nintendo Switch, press and hold the ZR button on the controller.
  • For Windows 10 Edition, left click and hold on the block of diamond ore.
  • For Education Edition, left click and hold on the block of diamond ore.

diamond ore dropped

You will need to continue to mine until the block breaks and a smaller block of diamond ore finally appears. The diamond ore will float on the ground.

TIP: Normally when you mine diamond ore, you get a diamond as the drop. However, when you mine the diamond ore using a diamond pickaxe, iron pickaxe, or netherite pickaxe enchanted with Silk Touch, you will get the diamond ore itself as the drop.

4. Pick up the Diamond Ore

Make sure you pick up the diamond ore before it disappears.

diamond ore gathered

Once you pick up the diamond ore, it will appear in your hotbar.

diamond ore

Diamond ore is a very useful item and should be kept in your inventory to be used later.

Item ID and Name

Give Command for Diamond Ore

Things to Make with Diamond Ore

You can use diamond ore to make items in Minecraft such as:

Things to Do with Diamond Ore

Here are some activities that you can do with diamond ore in Minecraft: