How to Get Lapis Lazuli in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Mine lapis ore around Y=-2: it generates between Y=-64 and Y=64 and is most common near Y=0. A stone pickaxe or better works, and each ore drops 4-9 lapis (up to 36 with Fortune III), so one vein usually covers several enchanting sessions.

What you need

Stone pickaxe or better (Fortune III ideal)
Torches
An enchanting setup to spend it on
Emeralds (cleric trade option)

Step by step

Mine at the right height: lapis ore generates in two batches, a triangle peaking around Y=0 (between -32 and 32) and an even spread from -64 to 64. Branch mining at Y=-2 hits both.
Any stone pickaxe or better works: lapis is one of the few ores that doesn't need iron. Each block drops 4-9 lapis lazuli, and Fortune III can push a single block up to 36.
Watch for the deepslate variant: below Y=0 the ore embeds in deepslate and takes longer to break, with the same drops.
Trade for it: apprentice-level cleric villagers sell 1 lapis for 1 emerald. In Bedrock this trade is the only renewable source of lapis in the game.
Loot chests: lapis appears in mineshaft chests, shipwreck treasure chests and village temple chests.
What you need it for: 1-3 lapis per enchantment at the enchanting table, and blue dye for wool, glass, terracotta, banners and firework stars.

Java vs Bedrock

Ore generation and drops match in both editions. Two differences: in Bedrock the cleric lapis trade is the ONLY renewable lapis source, while in Java clerics can also gift lapis when you have Hero of the Village.

Versions: Lapis lazuli was added in Java Beta 1.2 (January 2011) and became the enchanting fuel in 1.8. In Pocket Edition it exists since v0.3.0. Its current Y=-64 to 64 distribution dates from 1.18.

Frequently asked questions

What Y level is best for lapis?

Around Y=-2. One ore batch peaks near Y=0 between levels -32 and 32, and a second batch spreads evenly from -64 to 64, so mining at Y=-2 catches both at good rates.

What pickaxe do you need for lapis?

Only a stone pickaxe or better. Wood and gold pickaxes break the ore with no drops. Fortune III multiplies the 4-9 base drop up to 36 per block.

How much lapis do you need for enchanting?

Each enchantment costs 1, 2 or 3 lapis depending on the tier you pick, and one lapis vein typically yields 4-9 (or far more with Fortune), so a short mining trip covers many enchants.

Is lapis renewable?

Yes: cleric villagers sell lapis lazuli for emeralds, and emeralds are renewable through trading. Mining remains the fastest source.