How to Get Emeralds in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Trade with villagers: for example 32 sticks for 1 emerald (fletcher), 24 paper for 1 emerald (librarian), 20 wheat for 1 emerald (farmer) or 32 rotten flesh for 1 emerald (cleric). You can also mine emerald ore in mountains and windswept hills with an iron pickaxe or better.

What you need

Villagers with jobs (fletcher first)
Farms: sugar cane, pumpkins or melons

Step by step

Trade with villagers: emeralds are their currency. Novice trades include 32 sticks for 1 emerald, 24 paper for 1 emerald, 20 wheat for 1 emerald and 32 rotten flesh for 1 emerald.
Prices can shift: price changes affect the first item in the trade, so 32 sticks for 1 emerald might drop as low as 1 stick or rise to 64.
Coal also sells: some trades take 10 or 15 coal for 1 emerald.
Mine emerald ore: it generates only in mountains and windswept hills biomes, 100 attempts per chunk in blobs of 0-3 ores, from Y=-16 to Y=320, most likely at Y=232.
Because there is little terrain in the upper half of that range, the actual ore quantity peaks around Y=90.
Mine it with an iron pickaxe or better: it drops 1 emerald (up to 4 with Fortune) and 3-7 XP. Silk Touch drops the ore block.
Deepslate emerald ore only generates between Y=-16 and Y=8 and is extremely rare.

Java vs Bedrock

Emerald ore can be exposed to the sky. In Java Edition and Bedrock Edition alike, emerald ore generates only in mountains and windswept hills biomes.

Versions: Describes the current Java and Bedrock releases. See the edition note above for differences.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way to get emeralds in Minecraft?

Trading with villagers. For example a fletcher takes 32 sticks for 1 emerald at novice level.

Where does emerald ore spawn?

Only in mountains and windswept hills biomes, from Y=-16 to Y=320. The chance peaks at Y=232, but actual ore quantity peaks around Y=90.

Does Fortune work on emerald ore?

Yes. It drops 1 emerald, or up to 4 with Fortune. Silk Touch drops the ore block.

What tool do I need?

An iron pickaxe or better; otherwise it drops nothing.