What You Need to Build a Nether Portal

A Nether Portal requires 14 blocks of obsidian arranged in a rectangular frame. You place them in a 4-block-wide by 5-block-tall pattern, leaving the inside empty — the portal itself fills that empty space once it activates. You do not need to fill in the corners; only the edges matter.

The only tool that mines obsidian is a diamond pickaxe or better (netherite pickaxe). A stone, iron, or wooden pickaxe will not break it. If you do not have a diamond pickaxe yet, you need to find diamonds underground, smelt iron ore in a furnace to make an iron pickaxe, then use that to mine diamonds at Y-level 5 to 12.

Once you have your obsidian blocks, you need a way to light the portal. A flint and steel is the standard tool — craft it from one iron ingot and one flint. Flint comes from gravel (dig it until flint drops), and iron ingots come from smelting iron ore. You can also use a fire charge or lava and wood, but flint and steel is fastest.

Key Takeaways

  • Obsidian only breaks with a diamond pickaxe or better, so you must find diamonds before you can gather the 14 blocks you need.
  • The frame is 4 blocks wide and 5 blocks tall, with the inside left empty — the portal fills the empty space when you light it.
  • You light the portal by right-clicking the inside of the frame with flint and steel, which you craft from iron ingots and flint.
  • The portal works in both the Overworld and the Nether, so you can travel back and forth between dimensions.

Finding and Mining Obsidian

Obsidian forms naturally where lava meets water. The easiest place to find it is at the bottom of the Overworld, near lava pools. Dig down to Y-level 0 to 5 and look for lava. When you find a lava pool, pour water on top of it from a bucket. The lava will turn to obsidian where the water touches it.

Alternatively, you can find obsidian in the Nether itself, but that requires already having a portal — a catch-22 if you are building your first one. Nether fortresses and bastions contain obsidian blocks, but you cannot reach those without a portal first.

Once you have your diamond pickaxe, mine the obsidian by holding down the attack button. Each block takes about 10 seconds. You need 14 blocks total, so plan to spend 2 to 3 minutes mining if you find a good lava pool.

Building the Frame in the Right Shape

The frame must be exactly 4 blocks wide and 5 blocks tall on the inside. Place obsidian in this pattern: four blocks in a row on the ground, then three more rows of two blocks each (the left and right sides), then four blocks across the top. The four corners can be obsidian or empty — they are optional.

The easiest way to build this is to place your first row of four blocks on flat ground, then build up the sides. Stand inside the frame as you build so you can see the shape clearly. The frame does not have to be perfectly level, but it should be roughly rectangular.

You can build the portal anywhere — in your base, in the middle of a field, or deep underground. The location does not matter for the portal to work. However, building it in a safe, enclosed space is smart because the Nether is dangerous, and you want to know exactly where your portal is when you return.

Lighting the Portal with Flint and Steel

Once the frame is built, stand in front of it and right-click on any of the empty space inside the frame with flint and steel in your hand. A purple, swirling texture will fill the frame — that is your active portal. You can now walk through it to enter the Nether.

If nothing happens when you right-click, check that you have the correct tool (flint and steel, not something else) and that you are clicking inside the frame, not on the obsidian blocks themselves. You can also use a fire charge instead of flint and steel, or place lava and wood inside the frame and light the wood with flint and steel.

The portal stays active forever once lit. You do not need to relight it each time you use it. If you break the obsidian frame, the portal closes, but you can rebuild it in the same spot and light it again.

What Happens When You Enter the Nether

Walking through the portal takes you to the Nether, a dangerous dimension filled with lava, hostile mobs, and valuable resources. You will spawn near a corresponding portal on the Nether side — the game creates one automatically if it does not exist.

The Nether is much more dangerous than the Overworld. Ghasts shoot fireballs, Blazes deal heavy damage, and the ground is often lava. Wear armor, bring a sword, and bring water or a shield. Do not wander far from your portal until you are comfortable with the dimension.

To return to the Overworld, find your Nether portal (or build a new one if you cannot find it) and walk through. You will return to the Overworld portal you built, or near it if the portal was destroyed.

Troubleshooting Common Portal Problems

If your portal does not light, the most common cause is an incomplete frame. Count your obsidian blocks — you need exactly 14 in the right shape. The corners are optional, but all four sides must be complete. If you are missing even one block on an edge, the portal will not activate.

If you light the portal but it closes immediately, you may have built it in a location where the Nether portal already exists. The game sometimes closes one portal when you create another too close by. Move at least 100 blocks away and try again.

If you cannot find your Nether portal when you return, the Nether is 8 times smaller than the Overworld in terms of coordinates. A portal at coordinates 100, 100 in the Overworld links to roughly 12, 12 in the Nether. If you are lost, build a new portal in the Nether and light it — it will create a corresponding portal in the Overworld near your original location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to fill in the corners of the obsidian frame?

No. The four corner blocks are optional. You only need the 14 blocks that form the edges of the frame — four on top, four on bottom, and three on each side. The corners can be empty or filled; either way works.

Can I use something other than flint and steel to light the portal?

Yes. You can use a fire charge (crafted from blaze powder, coal, and gunpowder) or place lava inside the frame and light it with flint and steel. Flint and steel is the easiest because you only need iron and flint, both common early-game materials.

What if I break the obsidian frame after I light the portal?

The portal closes immediately. You can rebuild the frame in the same spot and light it again. The portal does not need to stay lit — once you have built it once, you know where it is and can relight it anytime.

Can I build a Nether portal in the Nether itself?

Yes. You can build a second portal in the Nether to create a new exit point in the Overworld. This is useful for exploring the Nether without getting lost — you can build portals at different locations to mark your path.

How do I find my way back to my portal in the Nether?

Write down your coordinates before you enter the Nether. Open the debug screen (F3 on Java Edition) to see your current coordinates. The Nether is 8 times smaller, so divide your Overworld coordinates by 8 to estimate where your portal is in the Nether. Build a tall pillar or place torches to mark your path back.