How to Get Gunpowder in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Kill creepers or ghasts: each drops 0-2 gunpowder by default and up to 0-5 with Looting III. Witches drop it too. You can also loot chests, brush suspicious sand in desert pyramids, or buy 4 gunpowder for 1 emerald from a wandering trader.

What you need

Sword or bow (Looting III sword ideal)
Tamed cat (optional, scares creepers)
Armor and shield for night hunting
Emeralds for wandering traders (optional)

Step by step

Kill creepers before they explode (an exploded creeper drops nothing useful here): 0-2 gunpowder by default, 0-3 with Looting I, 0-4 with II and 0-5 with III. There is a 66.67% chance of at least 1 gunpowder by default, up to 94.44% with Looting III.
Kill ghasts in the Nether: the drop table is the same as creepers (0-2, up to 0-5 with Looting III).
Kill witches: they can drop 0-6 gunpowder by default (0-15 with Looting III), but the chance of getting any is much lower, about 17.87% by default.
Loot chests: monster rooms (1-8, 57.8%), woodland mansions (1-8, 57.8%), desert pyramid chests (1-8, 59%), shipwreck supply chests (1-5, 20.8%) and abandoned camp common chests (2-4, 27.5%).
Brush suspicious sand in desert pyramids for a 12.5% chance of 1 gunpowder.
Buy it: wandering traders can occasionally sell 4 gunpowder for 1 emerald.
Use it: TNT (gunpowder + sand or red sand), fire charges, firework stars and rockets (up to three gunpowder in a rocket for longer flight), and splash potions (gunpowder + any potion).

Java vs Bedrock

In Bedrock Edition, a wandering trader killed while showing the gunpowder trade can drop 4 gunpowder with a 25% chance (plus 1% per Looting level) if the player holds an emerald.

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

Frequently asked questions

How much gunpowder does a creeper drop?

0-2 by default, up to 0-5 with Looting III (66.67% chance of at least 1 by default, 94.44% with Looting III).

Do ghasts drop gunpowder?

Yes, with the same drop table as creepers.

Can I buy gunpowder?

Wandering traders can occasionally sell 4 gunpowder for 1 emerald.