How to Make a Nether Portal in Minecraft (26.3)

How to build a nether portal

1. Mine 10 obsidian (diamond/netherite pickaxe) — or cast it in place with lava + water buckets
2. Frame it: two 4-block columns on the sides, two 5-block rows on top and bottom — corners optional. Minimum interior: 2×3
3. Light the inside: flint and steel is standard, but a fire charge, spreading fire from lava, or a well-placed fireball all work

Frames can scale all the way to 23×23 — giant portals look great but function identically.

No diamonds? Two workarounds

• Ruined portals — generate naturally in both dimensions, missing a few frame blocks; patch with spare obsidian and light. They come with loot chests and gold blocks — see our structures list
• Lava casting — mold the frame in dirt, pour lava, place water — no mining at all

The 1:8 coordinate rule

The Nether is compressed 8:1 — one block traveled there equals eight in the Overworld:

• Linking portals: divide Overworld X/Z by 8, keep Y, build the Nether-side portal at those coordinates — the pair then links cleanly for fast travel
• Hub bases: a nether roof or tunnel network turns 8,000-block journeys into 1,000-block walks
• Zombified piglins occasionally spawn inside portal frames — fence overworld portals or deal with surprise visitors

First trips through

• Stand in the portal a few seconds to teleport; re-entering the same way returns you
• Bring a shield, gold armor piece (piglins), cobblestone (ghast-proof), and your coordinates written down
• Goal one: a nether fortress for blaze rods — the gateway to brewing, eyes of ender, and the stronghold

What to read next

• Brewing Guide — what the blaze rods and nether wart unlock
• Beginner Guide — where the portal fits in progression
• Java vs Bedrock — portal quirks by edition