How to Make Concrete in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Craft concrete powder from sand, gravel and a dye, then let it touch water. It turns into concrete on contact. It comes in the sixteen dye colors. Mine concrete with a pickaxe or it drops nothing.

What you need

4 sand
4 gravel
1 dye of the color you want (makes 8 powder)
Water
Pickaxe

Step by step

Craft concrete powder (shapeless): 4 sand, 4 gravel and 1 dye of the color you want give 8 concrete powder.
Concrete powder is a gravity-affected block: it falls when the block below is not solid.
Make it touch water: place it into, next to, or let it fall into flowing water, a water source, or (Java only) a waterlogged block. It becomes concrete on contact.
Next to a waterlogged block it must touch a side where water can flow out, such as the open sides of stairs, not the back of stairs or any side of waterlogged leaves.
Mine the concrete with a pickaxe. Without one it drops nothing.

Java vs Bedrock

Waterlogged blocks convert concrete powder in Java only. Bedrock needs real water.

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you turn concrete powder into concrete?

Let it touch water: a water source, flowing water, or a waterlogged block (Java only).

Is concrete renewable?

Yes, but without glitches sand is renewable only through the wandering trader, so harvesting natural sand is easier.

How many colors are there?

Sixteen, one per dye color.

Does concrete need a pickaxe?

Yes. Mined without one it drops nothing.