What's the easiest way to get TNT?

In Survival Mode, craft it using 5 gunpowder and 4 sand (or red sand). Gunpowder drops from creepers, and sand is found on beaches and in deserts. Alternatively, find it in Creative Mode from the Redstone tab.

Can I use red sand instead of regular sand?

Yes. Both recipes work identically. Use whichever you have available. Red sand is found in badlands biomes.

What's the difference between explode_bit true and false in Bedrock?

When false, TNT breaks and drops as an item if hit or exposed to fire. When true, TNT ignites immediately and explodes. Use setblock commands to control this when placing TNT.

How do I detonate TNT?

Hit it with a flame, flint and steel, fire charge, redstone signal, or have it catch fire. It has a 4-second fuse before exploding.

Which versions is TNT available in?

TNT is in all versions of Minecraft. Java Edition supports 1.8 and up. Bedrock (Pocket Edition, Windows 10/11, Switch, etc.) also has full support.

How to Craft TNT in Minecraft

TNT is one of Minecraft’s most useful building blocks. Whether you’re mining, clearing terrain, or just blowing stuff up for fun, you’ll need to know how to craft it. Here’s everything you need to know.

Finding TNT in Creative Mode

Java Edition (PC/Mac)

In Creative Mode, TNT is located in different menu tabs depending on your version:

Version	Menu Location
1.8 – 1.19	Redstone
1.19.3 – 1.19.4+	Redstone Blocks

Materials You Need

To craft TNT, you’ll need one of these two combinations:

5 Gunpowder + 4 Sand
5 Gunpowder + 4 Red Sand

How to Craft TNT

Step 1: Open Your Crafting Table

Right-click a crafting table to open the 3×3 crafting grid.

Step 2: Place Items in the Grid

You can use either recipe below. The pattern matters, so place items exactly as shown:

Recipe 1 (Sand): Place gunpowder in the center and all four corners, then fill the remaining four spaces with sand.

Recipe 2 (Red Sand): Same pattern as above, but use red sand instead of regular sand.

Step 3: Move to Your Inventory

Click the TNT in the result box and drag it to your inventory. Done.

TNT Technical Info

Minecraft Java Edition

Item	ID Name	Data Value	Stack Size	Versions
TNT	minecraft:tnt	0 (1.8-1.12)	64	1.8 – 1.12
TNT	minecraft:tnt	N/A	64	1.13 – 1.19.4

Give Command

Java 1.13+: /give @p tnt 1

Java 1.8-1.12: /give @p tnt 1 0

Bedrock Edition Block States

In Bedrock, TNT has two important states:

State	Options	Default	What It Does
allow_underwater_bit	false / true	false	Controls if TNT can be detonated underwater
explode_bit	false / true	false	false = breaks on hit, true = ignites and explodes