How do you use a cartography table in Minecraft?

Who this is for: Minecraft players wanting to master map creation and management for exploration and building projects.


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What is a Cartography Table?

A cartography table is a specialized workstation block in Minecraft that lets you work with maps. Think of it as your map-making headquarters where you can expand, clone, and lock your maps to preserve important locations.

How to Craft a Cartography Table

You’ll need these materials:

  • 4 wooden planks (any type)
  • 2 paper

Arrange them in your crafting table with paper on top and planks below in a 2×3 pattern. The recipe is pretty straightforward once you have the materials.

Main Uses of the Cartography Table

Expanding Maps

Place your existing map in the left slot and add paper in the right slot. This increases your map’s coverage area, letting you see more of your world. You can expand a map up to four times, each expansion doubling the area it covers.

Cloning Maps

Put your original map in the left slot and an empty map in the right slot. This creates an exact duplicate, perfect for sharing with friends or keeping backup copies of important areas.

Locking Maps

Combine your map with a glass pane to lock it permanently. Once locked, the map won’t update even if you change the terrain it shows. This is incredibly useful for preserving the original state of builds or landscapes.

Step-by-Step Usage

  1. Right-click the cartography table to open its interface
  2. Place your map in the top-left slot
  3. Add your modifier item (paper, empty map, or glass pane) in the top-right slot
  4. Grab your result from the bottom slot

Pro Tips for Map Management

Always keep your original maps safe before experimenting. Locked maps are permanent, so make sure you’re happy with what’s shown before adding that glass pane. Item frames work great for displaying your finished maps on walls.

The cartography table also serves as a workstation for cartographer villagers, making it useful for trading if you’re building a village. Ready to explore more creative building and survival strategies in your blocky adventures?

TL;DR

Use a cartography table to expand maps with paper, clone them with empty maps, or lock them permanently with glass panes. It’s your essential map-making workstation.

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Joyst1ck

Gaming Writer & HTML5 Developer

Answering gaming questions—from Roblox and Minecraft to the latest indie hits. I write developer‑focused HTML5 articles and share practical tips on game design, monetisation, and scripting.

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