Iron Ore Wiki Guide
This Minecraft tutorial explains how to craft iron ore with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.
In Minecraft, iron ore is an item that you can not make with a crafting table or furnace. Instead, you need to find and gather this item in the game.
Let’s explore how to add iron ore to your inventory.
Where to find Iron Ore in Creative Mode
Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)
Here is where you can find iron ore in the Creative Inventory menu:
| Platform | Version(s) | Creative Menu Location |
|---|---|---|
 Java Edition (PC/Mac) |
1.8 – 1.19 |  Building Blocks |
| Java Edition (PC/Mac) |
1.19.3 |  Natural Blocks |
- Platform is the platform that applies.
- Version(s)Â is the Minecraft version numbers where the item can be found in the menu location listed (we have tested and confirmed this version number).
- Creative Menu Location is the location of the item in the Creative Inventory menu.
How to get Iron Ore in Survival Mode
You can add iron ore to your inventory in Survival mode by mining iron ore. So, let’s get started!
1. Find a Block of Iron Ore
First, let’s explore where to find iron ore. In Minecraft, iron ore is easy to find and is found in large deposits. You can usually find iron ore in the Overworld at y-coordinates between 1 and 63.
In this example, we are going to dig into a mountain to find iron ore.
This is what a block of iron ore looks like:
2. Hold a Pickaxe
To mine iron ore, you need to dig up the iron ore with a diamond pickaxe, iron pickaxe, stone pickaxe, or netherite pickaxe.
How to make a Diamond Pickaxe
How to make a Iron Pickaxe
How to make a Stone Pickaxe
How to make a Netherite Pickaxe
Other tools will not dig up the iron ore and let you add it to your inventory.
In this example, we are going to use a diamond pickaxe to dig up the iron ore.
3. Mine the Block of Iron Ore
The game control to mine the block of iron ore depends on the version of Minecraft:
- For Java Edition (PC/Mac), left click and hold on the block of iron ore.
- For Pocket Edition (PE), you tap and hold on the block of iron ore.
- For Xbox 360 and Xbox One, press and hold the RT button on the Xbox controller.
- For PS3 and PS4, press and hold the R2 button on the PS controller.
- For Wii U, press and hold the ZR button on the gamepad.
- For Nintendo Switch, press and hold the ZR button on the controller.
- For Windows 10 Edition, left click and hold on the block of iron ore.
- For Education Edition, left click and hold on the block of iron ore.
You will need to continue to dig until the block breaks and a smaller block of iron ore finally appears. The block of iron ore will float on the ground.
4. Pick up the Iron Ore
Make sure you pick up the iron ore before it disappears.
Once you pick up the iron ore, it will appear in your hotbar.
Iron ore is a useful item and should be kept in your inventory to be used later.
Item ID and Name
Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)
In Minecraft, iron ore has the following Name, ID and DataValue:
| Description (Minecraft ID Name) |
Minecraft ID |
Data Value | Stack Size | Platform | Version(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Ore (minecraft: |
15 | 0 | 64 | Java |
1.8 – 1.12 |
| Iron Ore (minecraft: |
15 | 64 | Java |
1.13 – 1.19.3 |
- Description is what the item is called and (Minecraft ID Name) is the string value that is used in game commands.
- Minecraft IDÂ is the Internal number for the item.
- Data Value (or damage value) identifies the variation of the block if more than one type exists for the Minecraft ID.
- Stack Size is the maximum stack size for this item. While some items in Minecraft are stackable up to 64, other items can only be stacked up to 16 or 1. (NOTE: These stack sizes are for vanilla Minecraft only. If you are running a mod, some mods may change the stack size for an item.)
- Platform is the platform that applies.
- Version(s)Â is the Minecraft version numbers that the Minecraft ID and Name are valid for.
Give Command for Iron Ore
Give Command in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)
In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.19.3, the /give command for Iron Ore is:
/give @p iron_ore 1
In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11 and 1.12, the /give command for Iron Ore is:
/give @p iron_ore 1 0
Things to Do with Iron Ore
Here are some activities that you can do with iron ore in Minecraft:
How to Use a Blast Furnace
Other Ores
There are other ores in Minecraft such as:
How to make Coal Ore
How to make Copper Ore
How to make Gold Ore
How to make Redstone Ore
How to make Emerald Ore
How to make Lapis Lazuli Ore
How to make Diamond Ore
How to make Nether Gold Ore
How to make Nether Quartz Ore
How to make Deepslate Coal Ore
How to make Deepslate Iron Ore
How to make Deepslate Copper Ore
How to make Deepslate Gold Ore
How to make Deepslate Redstone Ore
 How to make Deepslate Emerald Ore
How to make Deepslate Lapis Lazuli Ore
How to make Deepslate Diamond Ore