How to make Lapis Lazuli in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to craft lapis lazuli with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, lapis lazuli is an item that you would normally find and gather in the game. However, you can also make lapis lazuli with a crafting table as well as a furnace or a blast furnace.

lapis lazuli

Let's explore how to add lapis lazuli to your inventory.

Supported Platforms

Lapis lazuli is available in the following versions of Minecraft:

Platform	Supported (Version*)
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	Yes
Pocket Edition (PE)	Yes
Xbox 360	Yes
Xbox One	Yes
PS3	Yes
PS4	Yes
Wii U	Yes
Nintendo Switch	Yes
Windows 10 Edition	Yes
Education Edition	Yes

* 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 Lapis Lazuli in Creative Mode

Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)

Here is where you can find lapis lazuli in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	1.8 - 1.11	Materials
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	1.12 - 1.19	Miscellaneous
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	1.19.3 - 1.20	Ingredients

Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE)

Here is where you can find lapis lazuli in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Pocket Edition (PE)	0.14.1 - 1.1.3	Miscellaneous
Pocket Edition (PE)	1.2 - 1.20.0	Nature

Minecraft Xbox Editions

Here is where you can find lapis lazuli in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Xbox 360	TU35 - TU69	Materials
Xbox One	CU23 - CU43	Materials
Xbox One	1.2.5 - 1.20.0	Nature

Minecraft PS Editions

Here is where you can find lapis lazuli in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
PS3	1.26 - 1.76	Materials
PS4	1.26 - 1.91	Materials
PS4	1.14.0 - 1.20.0	Nature

Minecraft Nintendo

Here is where you can find lapis lazuli in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Wii U	Patch 3 - Patch 38	Materials
Nintendo Switch	1.04 - 1.11	Materials
Nintendo Switch	1.5.0 - 1.20.0	Nature

Minecraft Windows 10 Edition

Here is where you can find lapis lazuli in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Windows 10 Edition	0.14.1 - 1.1.3	Miscellaneous
Windows 10 Edition	1.2 - 1.20.0	Nature

Minecraft Education Edition

Here is where you can find lapis lazuli in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Education Edition	0.14.2 - 1.0.18	Miscellaneous
Education Edition	1.0.21 - 1.17.30	Nature

Definitions

Platform is the platform that applies.
Version(s) is the Minecraft version numbers where the item can be found in the menu location listed (we have tested and confirmed this version number).
Creative Menu Location is the location of the item in the Creative Inventory menu.

How to mine Lapis Lazuli in Survival Mode

You can add lapis lazuli to your inventory in Survival mode by mining lapis lazuli ore. So, let's get started!

1. Find a Block of Lapis Lazuli Ore

First, let's explore where to find lapis lazuli ore. In Minecraft, lapis lazuli ore is very hard to find and is found in small deposits. You can usually find lapis lazuli ore between 11 and 27 blocks below the ground.

lapis lazuli ore location

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

This is what a block of lapis lazuli ore looks like:

lapis lazuli and pickaxe

2. Hold a Diamond, Iron, Stone or Netherite Pickaxe

To mine for lapis lazuli, you need to dig up the lapis lazuli ore with a diamond pickaxe, iron pickaxe, stone pickaxe, or netherite pickaxe:

How to make a Netherite Pickaxe

How to make a Diamond Pickaxe

How to make an Iron Pickaxe

How to make a Stone Pickaxe

Other tools will not work.

In this example, we are going to use a diamond pickaxe to dig up the lapis lazuli ore.

3. Mine the Lapis Lazuli Ore

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

For Java Edition (PC/Mac), left click and hold on the lapis lazuli ore.
For Pocket Edition (PE), you tap and hold on the lapis lazuli 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 lapis lazuli ore.
For Education Edition, left click and hold on the lapis lazuli ore.

lapis lazuli dropped

You will need to continue to dig until the block breaks and lapis lazuli finally appears. The lapis lazuli will float on the ground.

4. Pick up the Lapis Lazuli

Make sure you pick up the lapis lazuli before it disappears.

lapis lazuli gathered

Once you pick up the lapis lazuli, it will appear in your hotbar.

lapis lazuli

Lapis lazuli is a useful item and should be kept in your inventory to be used later.

How to craft Lapis Lazuli 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 Lapis Lazuli

In the crafting menu, you should see a crafting area that is made up of a 3x3 crafting grid. To make lapis lazuli, place 1 lapis lazuli block in the 3x3 crafting grid.

When making lapis lazuli, it is important that the lapis lazuli block is placed in the exact pattern as the image below. In the first row, there should be 1 lapis lazuli block in the first box. This is the Minecraft crafting recipe for lapis lazuli.

Crafting recipe for lapis lazuli

Now that you have filled the crafting area with the correct pattern, 9 lapis lazuli will appear in the box to the right.

lapis lazuli

3. Move the Lapis Lazuli to Inventory

Once you have crafted lapis lazuli, you need to move the new items to your inventory.

Completed lapis lazuli

Congratulations, you have made lapis lazuli in Minecraft!

How to smelt Lapis Lazuli in Survival Mode

You can craft lapis lazuli in Survival Mode using either a furnace or blast furnace.

Furnace
Blast Furnace

1. Open the Furnace Menu

First, open your furnace so that you have the Furnace menu that looks like this:

furnace menu

2. Add Fuel to the Furnace

Next, you need to add fuel to the bottom fuel box in the furnace.

furnace menu with fuel

In this tutorial, we are going to use coal as our fuel.

TIP: Read our tutorial called How to Add Fuel to a Furnace if you aren't sure what items can be used as fuel, the length of time each fuel will burn, or how many items each fuel can smelt/cook.

3. Add Items to make Lapis Lazuli

Next, place the lapis lazuli ore in the top box of the furnace. You should see the flames smelting the lapis lazuli ore.

Furnace recipe for lapis lazuli

Once the lapis lazuli ore has been smelted in the furnace, the lapis lazuli will appear in the box to the right.

lapis lazuli

4. Move the Lapis Lazuli to Inventory

Now that you have made lapis lazuli in your furnace, you need to move the new item to your inventory.

Completed lapis lazuli

Congratulations, you have made lapis lazuli in a furnace!

1. Open the Blast Furnace Menu

First, open your blast furnace so that you have a Blast Furnace menu that looks like this:

blast furnace menu

2. Add Fuel to the Blast Furnace

Next, you need to add fuel to the bottom fuel box in the blast furnace.

blast furnace menu with fuel

In this tutorial, we are going to use coal as our fuel.

3. Add Items to make Lapis Lazuli

Next, place the lapis lazuli ore in the top box of the blast furnace. You should see the flames smelting the lapis lazuli ore.

Furnace recipe for lapis lazuli

Once the lapis lazuli ore has been smelted in the blast furnace, the lapis lazuli will appear in the box to the right.

lapis lazuli

4. Move the Lapis Lazuli to Inventory

Now that you have made lapis lazuli in your blast furnace, you need to move the new item to your inventory.

Completed lapis lazuli