What a TNT cannon is and why you'd build one

A TNT cannon is a Minecraft contraption that uses redstone and TNT to launch blocks, mobs, or yourself across the map at high speed. It works by igniting TNT in a specific pattern so the explosions push a block (usually sand or gravel) forward instead of destroying it. The result is a machine that can break through terrain, launch you into the air, or clear large areas without you having to do it by hand.

Most players build TNT cannons for three reasons: to travel long distances quickly, to break through bedrock or obsidian in the End or Nether, or just to see how far they can launch themselves. They're most useful in Survival mode when you need to move a lot of material or reach a distant location, though they're fun to experiment with in Creative mode too.

The basic design works the same way across most versions, though the exact redstone wiring changes depending on whether you're playing Java Edition or Bedrock Edition. This guide covers the Java Edition version, which is the most common.

Key Takeaways

  • A TNT cannon needs a redstone clock to ignite TNT in the right order, a chamber to hold the TNT, and a barrel to direct the blast.
  • Sand or gravel works best as the projectile because it doesn't break when TNT explodes nearby.
  • The repeater delay (1, 2, 3, or 4 ticks) controls how fast the cannon fires and how far it launches you.
  • You need to test your cannon in a safe location first, because the blast radius is large and unpredictable until you dial in the timing.
  • Cannons work differently in multiplayer servers and modded versions, so check your server rules before building one.

Gather the materials you'll need

Before you start building, collect these items: at least 20 TNT blocks, 10 to 15 sand or gravel blocks, 5 redstone repeaters, 10 redstone dust, 1 redstone comparator, 1 lever, and 20 to 30 solid blocks (stone, dirt, or wood work fine). You'll also want a crafting table and a furnace nearby so you can make more TNT if you run out.

The solid blocks form the frame and chamber of the cannon, so grab whatever you have plenty of. The TNT and sand are the working parts — the TNT explodes and the sand gets pushed. The redstone pieces control the timing. If you don't have a comparator yet, you can build a simpler cannon without one, but it will fire slower and less reliably.

Set up in a flat, empty area away from anything you care about. TNT cannons are loud, destructive, and hard to predict when you're first testing them. A desert or ocean is ideal because there's nothing to accidentally blow up.

Build the chamber and barrel

Start by placing a 3×3 square of solid blocks on the ground. This is your base. On top of that, build a 3×3 square of solid blocks again — you now have a 3×3×2 tower. On the top layer, dig out the center block so you have a 3×3 square with a hole in the middle.

Place TNT in the four corner blocks of that top layer (the four blocks around the center hole). Leave the center hole empty and the four edge blocks solid. This is your TNT chamber. The four TNT blocks will explode in sequence and push whatever is in the center hole forward.

In front of the chamber, build a barrel by stacking solid blocks in a 1×1 column extending 5 to 8 blocks forward from the center hole. This barrel guides the sand projectile and focuses the blast. At the very front of the barrel, place one sand or gravel block — this is what gets launched.

Wire the redstone clock

The redstone clock is the heart of the cannon. It sends pulses to the TNT in the right order so they explode one after another instead of all at once. Without it, all four TNT blocks ignite at the same time and you get a mess instead of a launch.

Place redstone dust in a line from the center hole of your chamber backward, away from the barrel. Run it about 5 blocks back and then turn it 90 degrees to the side. Place a redstone repeater facing the direction the dust came from (so it's pointing back toward the chamber). Set the repeater to 2 ticks by right-clicking it twice.

Continue the redstone dust from the output side of that repeater, loop it back around, and connect it to the input side of the same repeater. You've now made a loop — the repeater will fire, send a pulse down the dust, the pulse comes back and triggers the repeater again, and the cycle repeats. This is your clock.

From the repeater, run another line of redstone dust back to the center hole of your chamber. Place a lever next to the repeater and flip it on. The redstone should light up and pulse. If it does, your clock is working. Turn it off with the lever for now.

Connect the TNT to the redstone

Now you need to wire each of the four TNT blocks so they ignite one after another as the redstone pulses. This is where the timing gets tricky. Place redstone dust on top of each of the four corner TNT blocks. Each piece of dust should connect to the main redstone line you ran from the clock.

The order matters. The TNT closest to the barrel should ignite first, then the ones behind it. To control the order, place repeaters in the redstone lines leading to each TNT block and set them to different delays. The front TNT gets a 1-tick repeater, the next one back gets a 2-tick repeater, and so on. This staggered timing makes each TNT explode slightly after the one in front of it, creating a pushing effect instead of a blast.

If you have a comparator, you can use it to split the signal more cleanly, but the repeater method works fine for a basic cannon. Test the wiring by turning the lever on and watching the redstone light up. All four TNT blocks should light up in sequence, not all at once.

Test your cannon safely

Before you stand in front of it, test the cannon from the side or behind. Turn the lever on and stand at least 20 blocks away. The TNT will ignite, the sand will launch, and you'll see how far it goes. Watch where the sand lands and whether it launches straight or at an angle.

If the sand doesn't move, the TNT timing is wrong — adjust the repeater delays. If it launches but explodes in mid-air, the TNT is too close together. If it launches but goes sideways, your chamber or barrel isn't lined up straight. These are all fixable with small adjustments.

Once the sand launches cleanly, you can test launching yourself. Stand on top of the sand block in the barrel, turn the lever on, and you'll be launched forward. You'll take fall damage when you land, so have a water bucket ready or build a landing pad. The higher the repeater delay, the more time the TNT has to build up force, and the farther you'll go.

Adjust the cannon for distance and power

The repeater delay is your main control for how the cannon behaves. A 1-tick repeater fires fast but launches you a short distance. A 4-tick repeater fires slower but launches you much farther. Most players use 2 or 3 ticks as a balance between speed and distance.

You can also change the number of TNT blocks in the chamber. More TNT means more power but also more lag and more damage to the surrounding terrain. Four TNT blocks is standard, but some cannons use six or eight for extra range.

If you want to launch items or mobs instead of yourself, place them on the sand block before you activate the cannon. The sand will carry them along. This is useful for moving large quantities of material or launching mobs into traps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my cannon only launch the sand a few blocks?

The repeater delays are probably too short. Try increasing them to 3 or 4 ticks and test again. Also check that all four TNT blocks are actually igniting — if one isn't lighting up, the redstone connection to it is broken.

Can I use this cannon to break through obsidian?

No, obsidian is explosion-proof in Survival mode. TNT cannons work on stone, dirt, sand, and most other blocks, but obsidian and bedrock won't break. You can use a cannon to launch yourself over obsidian walls, though.

Will my server let me build a TNT cannon?

Many multiplayer servers disable TNT damage or ban TNT cannons entirely because they can lag the server and grief the landscape. Check your server rules or ask an admin before building one. Some servers allow them only in specific areas.

What's the difference between a sand cannon and a gravel cannon?

Both work the same way. Sand is slightly faster and more predictable, while gravel is slightly heavier and launches a bit farther. Use whichever you have more of.

Can I automate the cannon so it fires repeatedly?

Yes, but it requires more redstone wiring. You'd need a second clock to toggle the main clock on and off at intervals. Most players just flip the lever manually each time they want to fire, since automating it can cause lag and makes the cannon harder to control.