How to Make a Chain in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Craft an iron chain with 2 iron nuggets and 1 iron ingot in a vertical line: nugget on top, ingot in the middle, nugget on the bottom. Chains hang lanterns and bells from ceilings and connect visually when placed in a line.

What you need

2 iron nuggets
1 iron ingot

Step by step

Make 2 iron nuggets (1 iron ingot crafts into 9 nuggets).
Smelt or set aside 1 more iron ingot.
Open the crafting table.
Place 1 iron nugget in the top-center slot.
Place the iron ingot directly below it in the center.
Place the second iron nugget in the bottom-center slot.
Take the chain. Place it under a block and hang a lantern or bell below it for clean ceiling lighting.

Java vs Bedrock

The chain recipe works the same in Java and Bedrock and was added in 1.16. Chains cost less than one iron ingot each in practice, since one ingot makes 9 nuggets, and chains have no collision for walking, so you can walk straight through a hanging chain line. A copper chain variant now exists from copper nuggets and a copper ingot, and it oxidizes like other copper blocks unless waxed.

Versions: javabedrock

Frequently asked questions

What are chains used for in Minecraft?

Decoration and hanging: they suspend lanterns and bells from ceilings, connect into vertical or horizontal lines, and pass through each other visually. They are the standard support for hanging lights.

Can you walk through chains in Minecraft?

Yes. Chains are not solid for movement, so players and mobs pass through a hanging chain. That makes them safe to hang low over paths.

How do you make a copper chain?

Same pattern with copper: 2 copper nuggets and 1 copper ingot in a vertical line. Copper chains oxidize over time unless you wax them with a honeycomb.

How do you hang a lantern on a chain?

Place the chain under a ceiling block, then place the lantern on the bottom of the chain. The lantern visually attaches to the chain above it.