Block of Iron

A block of iron is a precious metal block equivalent to nine iron ingots.

Obtaining

Breaking

Blocks of iron can be mined only with a stone pickaxe or better. If a block of iron is mined without the use of a pickaxe, it drops nothing.

Block	Block of Iron
Hardness	5
Tool
Breaking time^[A]
Default	25
Wooden	12.5
Stone	1.9
Iron	1.25
Diamond	0.95
Netherite	0.85
Golden	2.1

↑ Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Chest loot

Item	Structure	Container	Quantity	Chance
Java Edition
Block of Iron	Bastion remnant	Generic chest	1	19%
Block of Iron	Bastion remnant	Treasure chest	2–5	33.7%
Bedrock Edition
Block of Iron	Bastion remnant	Generic chest	1	19%
Block of Iron	Bastion remnant	Treasure chest	2–5	33.7%

Crafting

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Iron Ingot

Usage

Blocks of iron can be used to store iron ingots in a compact fashion.

Beacons

Blocks of iron can be used to "power" a beacon. The beacon can be powered by a 3×3 square of iron blocks underneath it, and can optionally also include a 5×5, 7×7 and 9×9 layer in the shape of a pyramid under the original layer to increase the effects from the beacon. The layers do not have to be entirely blocks of iron, as they may also contain blocks of gold, blocks of diamond, blocks of netherite or blocks of emerald.

Spawning iron golems

Iron golem build configuration.

Blocks of iron and pumpkins‌^{[Bedrock Edition only]}, carved pumpkins or jack o'lanterns are used to build iron golems. The pumpkin, carved pumpkin or jack o'lantern must be placed last, and the golem spawns immediately after placing it.

Crafting ingredient

Name	Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Anvil	Block of Iron + Iron Ingot
Iron Ingot	Block of Iron	9

Note blocks

Blocks of iron can be placed under note blocks to produce iron xylophone sounds.

Sounds

Java Edition:

Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	`block.metal.break`	`subtitles.block.generic.break`	1.0	1.2	16
Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	`block.metal.place`	`subtitles.block.generic.place`	1.0	1.2	16
Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`block.metal.hit`	`subtitles.block.generic.hit`	0.25	0.75	16
None^{[sound 1]}	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	`block.metal.fall`	None^{[sound 1]}	0.5	1.25	16
Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	`block.metal.step`	`subtitles.block.generic.footsteps`	0.15	1.5	16

↑ ^a ^b MC-177082

Bedrock Edition:

Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
Blocks	Once the block has broken	`dig.stone`	1.0	1.1-1.2
Blocks	When the block is placed	`use.stone`	1.0	1.2-1.25
Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`hit.stone`	0.3	0.75
Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	`fall.stone`	0.4	1.0
Players	Walking on the block	`step.stone`	0.35	1.0
Players	Jumping from the block	`jump.stone`	0.12	1.0
Players	Falling on the block without fall damage	`land.stone`	0.22	1.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Block tags	Translation key
Block of Iron	`iron_block`	Block & Item	`beacon_base_blocks` `mineable/pickaxe` `needs_stone_tool`	`block.minecraft.iron_block`

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID^{[i 1]}	Translation key
Block of Iron	`iron_block`	`42`	Block & Giveable Item^{[i 2]}	Identical^{[i 3]}	`tile.iron_block.name`

↑ ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
↑ Available with /give command.
↑ The block's direct item form has the same id as the block.

Achievements

Icon		Achievement	In-game description	Actual requirements (if different)	Gamerscore earned	Trophy type (PS4)
PS4	Other	Achievement	In-game description	Actual requirements (if different)	Gamerscore earned	Trophy type (PS4)
		Body Guard	Create an Iron Golem	—	20G	Bronze

Advancements

Icon	Advancement	In-game description	Parent	Actual requirements (if different)	Resource location
	Hired Help	Summon an Iron Golem to help defend a village	What a Deal!	Summon an iron golem.	`adventure/summon_iron_golem`

History

Java Edition Classic
May 21, 2009					Notch shows interest in adding a "metal block".
October 24, 2009					Notch teased a block of iron.
0.26 SURVIVAL TEST					Added blocks of iron.
Java Edition Indev
0.31		20100128			Iron ore no longer drops iron blocks.
		20100129			Blocks of iron can now be crafted from 4 iron ingots.
		20100130			Blocks of iron are now more expensive, requiring 9 iron ingots (3×3) instead of 4 (2×2).
?		?			Iron blocks can be uncrafted into 9 ingots.
Java Edition Alpha
v1.2.0		?			The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
Java Edition Beta
1.2					The side and bottom textures of blocks of iron have been removed from terrain.png.
Java Edition
1.0.0		Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5			The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
1.2.1		12w06a			Blocks of iron are now renewable, due to zombies occassionally dropping iron ingots.
1.2.1		12w08a			Blocks of iron can be used to make iron golems.
1.4.2		12w32a			Blocks of iron can be used to activate a beacon.
		12w41a			Blocks of iron are now used to craft anvils.
		12w42a			A new crafting recipe for anvils call for 3 blocks of iron instead of the original 6.
1.9		15w31a			9 iron blocks generate in the end ships.
		15w33c			End ships generate with only 8 iron blocks now.
		15w41a			End ships no longer generate with iron blocks.
July 18, 2017					Jeb tweets an image of new textures for iron blocks, obsidian, and birch logs.
1.14		18w43a			The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
1.14		19w09a			Blocks of iron can now be used to play the xylophone, if they are under note blocks.
1.16.2		20w30a			Blocks of iron can now be found in bastion remnant chests.
Pocket Edition Alpha
Pre-release					Added blocks of iron.
v0.1.0					The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
v0.2.0					The texture of blocks of iron has been changed, once again.
v0.12.1		build 1			Blocks of iron are now used to craft anvils.
v0.12.1		build 1			Blocks of iron can now be used to create iron golems.
v0.16.0		build 4			Blocks of iron can now be used to activate beacons.
Bedrock Edition
1.10.0		beta 1.10.0.3			The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
1.13.0		beta 1.13.0.9			Blocks of iron can now be used to play the xylophone, if they are under note blocks.
Legacy Console Edition
TU1	CU1	1.00	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added blocks of iron.
TU3		1.00			The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
TU14		1.05			Blocks of iron are now used to craft anvils.
TU19	CU7	1.12			Blocks of iron can now be used to construct beacon pyramids.
		1.90			The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0					Added blocks of iron.