How to Make Paper in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Craft paper with 3 sugar cane in a row on a crafting table: it yields 3 paper. Paper is needed for books, maps, cartography tables, firework rockets, name tags and banner patterns.

What you need

3 sugar cane (yields 3 paper)
A crafting table
Water-adjacent dirt, sand or grass to replant the cane

Step by step

Collect sugar cane.
Place 3 sugar cane in a horizontal row on a crafting table to get 3 paper.
Make a book: paper + leather.
Make a map: paper + compass gives an empty map (Java) or an empty locator map (Bedrock).
Make a firework rocket: paper + gunpowder (up to three gunpowder for longer flight), optionally with firework stars.
Zoom a map out: map + paper in a cartography table, which is 8 times more efficient than the crafting table.
Find it in chests: shipwreck supply chests (1-12 paper, ~46%) and map chests (1-10, ~89%), stronghold library chests (2-7, ~88-89%) and village cartographer chests (1-5, ~61%).

Java vs Bedrock

In Bedrock Edition a cartography table can also turn paper into an empty map or an empty locator map (with a compass). In Java Edition, cartographer villagers may give paper to players with Hero of the Village.

Versions: Novice librarian villagers buy 24 paper for 1 emerald.

Frequently asked questions

How much paper does one craft give?

3 sugar cane in a row make 3 paper.

What is paper used for?

Books, maps, cartography tables, firework rockets, name tags and banner patterns.

Can I sell paper to villagers?

Yes. Novice librarians buy 24 paper for 1 emerald.

What is the cheapest way to zoom out a map?

A cartography table with paper, which is 8 times more efficient than crafting.