How To Make A Lantern In Minecraft: The 3 Essential Recipes (Including The NEW Copper Lantern)

As of December 10, 2025, the Minecraft lighting landscape is more diverse than ever, moving far beyond the simple torch. The lantern is a superior, decorative, and highly functional light source that players can hang from ceilings or place on floors. Crafting a lantern is surprisingly simple, requiring just a few common materials, but the introduction of the new Copper Lantern adds a fresh, must-know recipe to your survival guide.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the three main lantern recipes: the classic Iron Lantern, the eerie blue Soul Lantern, and the recently added, highly sought-after Copper Lantern. Knowing all three will give your builds the perfect ambient lighting, whether you are mob-proofing a cave or decorating a medieval castle.

The Essential Lantern Recipes: Standard Iron and Soul Variants

The two most common lanterns—the Standard (Iron) Lantern and the Soul Lantern—are crafted using an almost identical pattern. The only difference is the type of torch used in the center of the crafting grid, which changes the color of the flame and the light level it emits.

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1. The Standard Lantern (Warm Glow)

The Standard Lantern is the brightest and most versatile light source in the game, emitting a warm, yellow-orange light that is perfect for most builds. [cite: 2, 4 in step 1]

• Required Materials: 1 Torch and 8 Iron Nuggets. [cite: 2, 9 in step 1]
• Light Level: 15 (Maximum). [cite: 4 in step 1]
• Crafting Steps:
  1. Open your Crafting Table (3x3 grid).
  2. Place the Torch in the center square.
  3. Place 8 Iron Nuggets in every remaining square surrounding the Torch. [cite: 6, 9 in step 1]

Tip: You can get 9 Iron Nuggets by placing one Iron Ingot in the crafting grid. This means one Iron Ingot is enough to craft one full lantern and still leave you with one spare Iron Nugget.

2. The Soul Lantern (Eerie Blue Glow)

The Soul Lantern is a decorative variant that emits a distinctive blue light. It's ideal for adding an eerie, mystical, or cold aesthetic to builds like crypts, ice castles, or nether-themed areas. [cite: 3, 10 in step 2]

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• Required Materials: 1 Soul Torch and 8 Iron Nuggets. [cite: 2, 11 in step 1]
• Light Level: 10. [cite: 4 in step 1]
• Crafting Steps:
  1. First, craft a Soul Torch (1 Stick, 1 Coal/Charcoal, and 1 Soul Soil/Soul Sand).
  2. Open your Crafting Table (3x3 grid).
  3. Place the Soul Torch in the center square.
  4. Place 8 Iron Nuggets in every remaining square surrounding the Soul Torch.

Important Note on Light: Because the Soul Lantern has a light level of 10 (compared to the Standard Lantern's 15), you will need to place them closer together to achieve the same level of mob-proofing in dark areas. [cite: 12 in step 1]

The NEW Copper Lantern: Recipe and Green Flame Light Source

The latest major update to Minecraft introduced the copper block set, which includes a brand-new lighting option: the Copper Lantern. This is one of the freshest additions to the game, first appearing in the 1.21.9+ updates, and it offers a unique look with a distinct green flame. [cite: 1, 8 in step 1, 1, 2 in step 2]

The Copper Lantern is a perfect decorative light source for builds that use copper blocks, such as steampunk contraptions, industrial areas, or builds that benefit from the oxidized patina of copper.

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• Required Materials: 1 Copper Torch and 8 Copper Nuggets. [cite: 1, 2 in step 2]
• Light Level: 15 (Maximum). [cite: 1 in step 2]
• Flame Color: Green. [cite: 1 in step 2]
• Crafting Steps:
  1. First, craft a Copper Torch (1 Stick, 1 Copper Ingot, and 1 Coal/Charcoal).
  2. Open your Crafting Table (3x3 grid).
  3. Place the Copper Torch in the center square.
  4. Place 8 Copper Nuggets in every remaining square surrounding the Copper Torch. [cite: 2 in step 2]

Note: Like Iron Nuggets, Copper Nuggets are obtained by placing a single Copper Ingot in the crafting grid, yielding 9 nuggets. [cite: 14 in step 2]

Creative Uses, Placement, and Decorative Authority

Lanterns are superior to torches in several ways, mainly due to their placement options and aesthetic appeal. They are an essential tool for any serious Minecraft builder looking to elevate their decorative game.

How to Place and Hang Lanterns

Unlike torches, lanterns cannot be placed on the side of a wall. However, they offer two excellent placement options:

• On Top of a Block: Right-click (or use the corresponding action button) on the top surface of any solid block, floor, or fence.
• Hanging Below a Block: Right-click on the bottom surface of any solid block (or a block with a bottom surface like a fence, slab, or stair). When placed this way, the lantern will appear to hang from a small chain. [cite: 4, 7 in step 1]

For an authentic, dramatic effect, you can extend the hanging chain by placing a Chain block first, then placing the lantern on the bottom of the Chain. This creates the look of a long, suspended light fixture. [cite: 4 in step 2]

Decorative Ideas and Topical Authority

The three lantern types give you immense flexibility in your builds. Use these ideas to enhance your world:

• Street Lighting: Use Standard Lanterns on top of Fence posts or Iron Bars for a classic, mob-proof street lamp.
• Dungeon/Crypt Lighting: Soul Lanterns are perfect for giving underground areas, mob spawners, or nether portals a cold, spooky, and low-key atmospheric glow. [cite: 3 in step 2]
• Industrial Aesthetics: The new Copper Lanterns pair perfectly with Oxidized Copper blocks, creating a weathered, verdigris look for factories, ports, or submarine builds.
• Ceiling Lighting: Hang lanterns from the ceiling of large halls using Chains to eliminate ceiling shadows without cluttering the floor space.
• Underwater Lighting: Unlike torches, lanterns can be placed underwater, making them a great, bright light source for underwater bases or seabed decoration.

By mastering the simple crafting recipes for the Standard, Soul, and Copper Lanterns, you unlock a world of decorative possibilities that will instantly make your Minecraft builds look more professional, polished, and up-to-date with the latest game features.