How To Make A Nether Portal: Your Gateway To Minecraft's Fiery World

Noel Wisozk 25 Aug 2025

Stepping into Minecraft's Nether dimension is, you know, a huge deal for many players. This burning world holds unique mobs, special vegetation, interesting structures, and rare treasures. It's truly a place that can change your game. Yet, for players who haven't spent years in the game, figuring out how to get there can feel like a puzzle. Well, thankfully, you can build a Nether Portal, which acts as your personal transport system to this fiery place. It's more or less the only way in and out, outside of using game commands or mods, which is kind of cheating, right?

Learning how to make a Nether Portal in Minecraft is, actually, super important if you want to beat the game. Players need to build this special structure in the Overworld to reach the Nether. Once there, you can gather resources and rare items, which you'll use to craft new things or even to get to the End dimension to take on the Ender Dragon. So, you see, it's a pretty big step in your adventure.

In this guide, we're going to show you how to make a Nether Portal. We'll break down everything you need to know, including what materials you'll need, how to put it all together, and what kind of things you might find once you step through. It's a bit of a process, but definitely worth it, you know, for all the cool stuff waiting for you.

Understanding the Nether Portal
What Does "Make" Really Mean Here?
Gathering Your Essential Materials

Obsidian: The Core Component
Flint and Steel: Lighting the Way

Three Ways to Obtain Obsidian

The Diamond Pickaxe Method
The Water and Lava Trick (Bucket Method)
Finding Obsidian in the World

Building Your Nether Portal Frame

The Classic 4x5 Frame
A Smaller, More Resourceful Frame

Lighting Up Your Portal
Stepping Through: What to Expect in the Nether
Common Questions About Nether Portals

Understanding the Nether Portal

A Nether Portal is, basically, a manufactured structure that works like a gateway. It links the Overworld, where you usually play, with the Nether dimension. This portal is built as a vertical, rectangular frame made of a very tough block called obsidian. The most common size, you know, is a 4x5 frame, but you can make it a little smaller if you're careful with your resources. It's really the only way to get to this other place without, like, breaking the game's rules.

What Does "Make" Really Mean Here?

When we talk about "how to make a Nether Portal," we're really talking about creating something new by putting parts together. As a matter of fact, the meaning of "make" is to bring into being by forming, shaping, or altering material. People make things by combining parts or ingredients, shaping materials, or even just triggering them to happen through their actions. So, to make a Nether Portal means you're going to gather materials and then shape them into the right form to create this new gateway. You're causing something to be as specified, you know, turning raw materials into a functional structure.

Gathering Your Essential Materials

To make a Nether Portal, you'll need to obtain some specific items. Luckily, the materials you need are, for the most part, fairly easy to come across in the game. You just need to know where to look and how to get them. The two main things you'll absolutely need are obsidian and something to light it up. It's pretty straightforward, actually.

Obsidian: The Core Component

Obsidian is, you know, the main building block for your portal frame. It's a very dark, purplish-black block known for being extremely tough. You'll need at least 10 blocks of obsidian for the smallest functional portal, but 14 blocks are needed for the classic 4x5 frame. Getting this stuff is probably the most time-consuming part of the whole process, so, you know, be ready for a bit of work.

Flint and Steel: Lighting the Way

Once your obsidian frame is up, you need a way to activate it. That's where Flint and Steel come in. This item, you know, is used to create fire. You simply right-click (or use the equivalent action on your platform) on any of the inner blocks of the obsidian frame, and poof! The portal will light up. Making Flint and Steel is pretty simple; you just need one piece of flint and one iron ingot. Flint is often found when digging gravel, and iron ingots come from smelting iron ore, which is, well, pretty common.

Three Ways to Obtain Obsidian

Getting obsidian is the main challenge, so it's good to know a few different ways to get it. Some methods are, you know, more direct than others, and some require a bit more planning. But, with a little effort, you'll have all the blocks you need. It's not, like, impossible, just takes some persistence.

The Diamond Pickaxe Method

This is, arguably, the most common and direct way to get obsidian. You need a diamond pickaxe to mine obsidian. Any other pickaxe will just break the block without dropping it, which is, you know, a bit of a waste. To get a diamond pickaxe, you first need to find diamonds, which are rather rare and typically found deep underground. You'll then need to craft the pickaxe at a crafting table. Once you have it, you can mine any obsidian you find. It's a pretty solid method, honestly.

You can find naturally generated obsidian in a few places. For example, it often forms when lava and water mix together, like at the bottom of ravines or in caves. You might also find it in certain structures, like woodland mansions or ruined portals, which are, you know, incomplete Nether Portals scattered around the Overworld. Mining these with your diamond pickaxe is a straightforward way to collect the blocks you need.

The Water and Lava Trick (Bucket Method)

This method is, actually, pretty clever because it lets you create obsidian without needing a diamond pickaxe first. You just need a few buckets, some lava, and some water. The trick is to carry lava from a lava pool to a place where you want to build your portal, or, you know, just bring water to a lava pool. When flowing water touches a lava source block, it turns into obsidian. This is a bit slower, but it's a great option if you haven't found diamonds yet. It's a classic strategy, honestly.

Here's how you do it, more or less: First, find a lava pool. Then, with an empty bucket, scoop up some lava. Next, find a water source, or, you know, just bring your water bucket with you. Place the lava where you want an obsidian block to form, then carefully pour water over it. The lava will turn into obsidian. You can then mine this obsidian with your diamond pickaxe. If you don't have a diamond pickaxe yet, you can actually use this method to build the *frame* directly, by placing lava and water strategically to form the obsidian blocks in the right shape. This way, you're not mining it, but rather, you're making the portal frame itself, which is pretty neat.

Finding Obsidian in the World

Sometimes, you can just get lucky and find obsidian already formed. Ruined portals, which are, you know, partial Nether Portals that generate naturally in the Overworld, often have some obsidian blocks that you can mine. These also sometimes come with a chest nearby that might contain useful items, including gold ingots or even a piece of flint and steel. It's a bit of a treasure hunt, in a way. End cities also have obsidian, but getting there is, you know, way past the point of needing a Nether Portal, so that's not really a starting option.

Building Your Nether Portal Frame

A Nether Portal is built as a vertical, rectangular frame of obsidian. The smallest size that works is 4 blocks wide by 5 blocks high. This means the outer dimensions are 4x5, and the inner opening will be 2x3 blocks. It's a pretty specific shape, you know, so getting it right is important. You can actually make the frame with fewer obsidian blocks if you're smart about it.

The Classic 4x5 Frame

For the standard portal, you'll need 14 obsidian blocks. Here's how you set it up, basically:

Start by placing four obsidian blocks in a row on the ground. This will be the base.
Then, on each end of this base, place four more obsidian blocks vertically, making a total of five blocks high on each side (including the base block). So, you know, you're building up the sides.
Finally, connect the tops of these two vertical pillars with another row of four obsidian blocks. This forms the top of your rectangle.

You'll end up with a frame that has a 2-block wide by 3-block high empty space in the middle. This empty space is where the portal's purple swirly magic will appear once it's lit. It's pretty satisfying to see it come together, actually.

A Smaller, More Resourceful Frame

If you're short on obsidian, you can actually build a functional portal with just 10 blocks. This is, you know, a bit of a trick for saving resources. The game only needs the corner blocks of the frame to be obsidian; the corners themselves don't actually need to be obsidian for the portal to work. You can use any other solid block, like cobblestone or dirt, for the corners. This saves you four precious obsidian blocks, which is, well, pretty significant early on.

To do this, you'd place two obsidian blocks on the ground, then build up three obsidian blocks on each side, and then place two more obsidian blocks across the top. The corners would be filled in with, say, cobblestone. It still creates that 2x3 inner opening, which is what truly matters. This is a good tip for efficiency, honestly, especially if you're struggling to find enough obsidian. Learn more about how to make nether portal on our site, and link to this page Discover more Minecraft guides here.

Lighting Up Your Portal

Once your obsidian frame is built, the next step is to activate it. This is, you know, the moment of truth! You'll need your Flint and Steel for this. Hold the Flint and Steel in your hand and then right-click (or the equivalent action) on any of the inner blocks of the obsidian frame. It doesn't matter which one, as long as it's part of the inside area. A purple, shimmering, somewhat swirly block will appear, filling the empty space within your obsidian frame. This means your portal is active and ready for use. It's a pretty cool sight, actually, seeing it come to life.

Sometimes, you know, if you're in a hurry or you've found a ruined portal, you might not even need to craft Flint and Steel. Ruined portals occasionally generate with a chest that contains a piece of Flint and Steel, or even some fire charges. A fire charge can also be used to light the portal, just like Flint and Steel. So, you know, keep an eye out for those chests!

Stepping Through: What to Expect in the Nether

When you step into the purple shimmering part of your active Nether Portal, you'll feel a slight, you know, pull, and then your screen will get a bit distorted for a few seconds. After that, you'll find yourself in the Nether. It's a completely different dimension, visually and in terms of what's there. The sky is red, the ground is mostly netherrack, and there's lava everywhere. It's, well, pretty intense.

The Nether is, actually, home to many unique mobs like Ghasts, Piglins, Blazes, and Hoglins. It also has its own set of resources, like Nether Quartz, Nether Gold Ore, and Ancient Debris (which is used to make Netherite, the strongest material in the game). You'll find different biomes, too, like the Crimson Forest, Warped Forest, Soul Sand Valley, and Basalt Deltas. Each has its own look and feel, and, you know, different dangers and treasures. Just be careful, because some mobs there are not very friendly at all. It's a place of great rewards, but also, you know, significant risks. For more details on the Nether, you can visit the official Minecraft site, which is, like, a good resource: Minecraft Official Website.

Common Questions About Nether Portals

People often have questions about Nether Portals, especially when they're just starting out. Here are a few things that come up a lot, which is, you know, pretty understandable.

Can you build a Nether Portal without diamonds?

Yes, you absolutely can build a Nether Portal without diamonds! The trick is to use the water and lava method. You can, actually, place lava source blocks and then flow water over them to create obsidian blocks directly in the shape of your portal frame. This way, you don't need to mine the obsidian with a diamond pickaxe. It's a bit slower, but, you know, very effective if diamonds are hard to find.

What is the smallest size a Nether Portal can be?

The smallest functional Nether Portal has an inner frame of 2 blocks wide by 3 blocks high. This means the outer obsidian frame would be 4 blocks wide by 5 blocks high. However, you can use other blocks for the four corner pieces of the frame, reducing the amount of obsidian needed to just 10 blocks. It's a neat little trick, honestly, for saving resources.

What happens if I break my Nether Portal in the Nether?

If you break your Nether Portal in the Nether, you won't be able to use it to get back to the Overworld. You'll need to rebuild it in the Nether, and then light it again with Flint and Steel. It's, you know, a good idea to always carry extra obsidian and Flint and Steel with you when you travel to the Nether, just in case. You don't want to get stuck there, which is, well, pretty easy to do if you're not careful.

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