How to Get String in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Kill spiders or cave spiders (0-2 string, up to 0-5 with Looting III), break cobwebs with a sword, or kill striders in the Nether (2-5 string, up to 2-8 with Looting III). Tamed cats, piglin bartering, tripwire and loot chests also give string.

What you need

Iron sword or better (Looting III ideal)
Armor for night hunts
A tamed cat and a bed (passive option)
Gold ingots (bartering option)

Step by step

Hunt spiders and cave spiders: they drop 0-2 string by default (0-3 with Looting I, 0-4 with II, 0-5 with III), with a 66.67% chance of at least 1 by default.
Kill striders in the Nether: they drop 2-5 string by default, up to 2-8 with Looting III.
Break cobwebs with a sword: cobwebs also drop string when pushed by a piston or washed away by flowing water (flowing lava destroys them without leaving string).
Break tripwire: it can be broken instantly with any tool and drops string. Five pieces of tripwire generate in every jungle pyramid, and several appear next to dispensers in trial chambers.
Sleep near a tamed cat: it has a 70% chance of giving a gift when you wake up, and 16.13% of gifts are string.
Barter with piglins: a gold ingot has a ~4.26% chance (20 in 469) to return 3-9 string.
Loot chests: monster rooms and woodland mansions (1-8, 57.8%), desert pyramids (1-8, 59%), pillager outposts (1-6, 39.1%).
Use it: bow, fishing rod, crossbow, lead, loom, scaffolding and white wool (4 string).

Java vs Bedrock

Chest chances shown can differ slightly by edition.

Versions: Cats offer string as gifts and crossbows and looms use string since snapshot 18w43a (Java 1.14); bartering with piglins since 20w09a (Java 1.16).

Frequently asked questions

What mobs drop string?

Spiders and cave spiders drop 0-2 (up to 0-5 with Looting III). Striders drop 2-5 (up to 2-8 with Looting III).

Can cats give string?

Yes: tamed cats have a 70% chance of a gift on waking, and 16.13% of gifts are string.

Can I barter for string?

Piglins have a ~4.26% chance to give 3-9 string for a gold ingot.

What is string used for?

Bows, fishing rods, crossbows, leads, looms, scaffolding and white wool.