How to Make Charcoal in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Smelt any log or wood in a furnace with any fuel. Each log gives 1 charcoal and 0.15 XP. Charcoal burns as long as coal does and makes torches, soul torches, campfires and fire charges. You can also get 2 charcoal by breaking a campfire without Silk Touch.

What you need

Logs or wood (any type)
Furnace
Any fuel
Sticks (for torches)

Step by step

Chop a tree. Any log, stripped log, wood or stripped wood works as the ingredient.
Place a furnace (8 cobblestone) and put the log in the top slot.
Add fuel in the bottom slot. Any fuel works. Using a log or planks as fuel turns your wood into a self-feeding charcoal loop.
Take the charcoal from the output slot. Each log makes 1 charcoal and gives 0.15 XP.
Craft with it: charcoal + stick makes 4 torches, and charcoal + stick + soul sand or soul soil makes 4 soul torches.
Make a campfire from a stick, charcoal and any log, or a fire charge from blaze powder, charcoal and gunpowder.
Remember the limits: charcoal cannot be traded with villagers, cannot be crafted into a block of coal, and does not stack with coal.

Java vs Bedrock

Smelting and crafting work the same in Java and Bedrock. Charcoal is renewable because trees regrow. In Bedrock Edition and Minecraft Education it can also be made with the compound creator.

Versions: Charcoal is smelted from logs and wood in every current version.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make charcoal in Minecraft?

Smelt any log, stripped log, wood or stripped wood in a furnace with any fuel. Each one gives 1 charcoal.

Is charcoal the same as coal?

As fuel and for torches, yes: both burn for the same time. But charcoal cannot be traded with villagers or crafted into a block of coal, and it does not stack with coal.

Is charcoal renewable?

Yes. Trees regrow, so logs and charcoal are renewable.

What can charcoal craft?

Torches, soul torches, campfires and fire charges, plus copper torches with a copper nugget.

Can I get charcoal without smelting?

Yes. Breaking a campfire without Silk Touch drops 2 charcoal.