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There’s more to the Nether than just spooky Ghasts, Wither Skeletons, and Piglins. Yes, it’s a terrifying and difficult place to live, but to get the best gear in Minecraft (Netherite), you need to make a Nether portal. Outside of using mods or commands (and cheating), it’s the only way in and out. Luckily, the materials you need to make a Nether portal are fairly easy to come across in Minecraft! Here’s what you need to do to cross to the other side.
How Many Obsidian Do You Need for a Nether Portal?
[Updated June 6, 2024 – Rewrote, added, and clarified information]
To make a Nether portal in Minecraft, the only ingredients you need are Obsidian and a flint & steel tool. How many Obsidian blocks do you need for a Nether portal? Well, it depends on how big you want the portal to be. The smallest Nether portal only needs 14 blocks!
Minecraft Nether Portal Guide
Of course, getting your hands on Obsidian is a different matter entirely. For that, you’re going to need a diamond pickaxe. So, if you haven’t crafted one yet, go do that first. Other than a Netherite pickaxe, it’s the only tool that can mine Obsidian.
You’re also going to need a bucket of lava and a natural water source. Rather than running all over the overworld looking for naturally occurring Obsidian or even a ruined portal structure, you can make your own Obsidian by dumping lava into, say, a natural pond or even the ocean.
With the Obsidian in hand, place four blocks on the ground, then add another four on each of the ends. That’ll bring the sides up to five blocks high. Next, bridge the tops with the remaining Obsidian. You should have a 4 x 5 Nether portal (4 blocks wide, 5 blocks high).
Using the flint & steel, try to light a fire on the inside edges of the portal. It can be along the bottom, sides, or top. It doesn’t matter as long as it isn’t on the outside. The Nether portal will activate, and you’re on your way!
Minecraft is available for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Mobile.
