Table of Contents
Who this is for: Minecraft players planning their first trip to the Nether or anyone wondering about portal construction requirements.
Ready to jump in? Play obby games and master challenging obstacle courses that will test your precision and timing skills.
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Standard Nether Portal Requirements
You need 10 obsidian blocks to build a standard nether portal in Minecraft. This creates a rectangular frame that’s 4 blocks wide and 5 blocks tall on the outside, with a 2×3 opening in the middle.
Portal Frame Layout
The obsidian blocks are arranged like this:
- Bottom row: 4 obsidian blocks forming the base
- Side columns: 3 obsidian blocks on each side (6 total)
- Top row: No obsidian needed – the portal works without a top frame
Alternative Portal Sizes
While 10 blocks is the minimum, you can build larger portals if you have extra obsidian:
| Portal Size | Obsidian Needed |
|---|---|
| 4×5 (standard) | 10 blocks |
| 5×6 | 14 blocks |
| 6×7 | 18 blocks |
| Maximum (23×23) | 88 blocks |
Getting Your Obsidian
Obsidian forms when water touches lava source blocks. You’ll need a diamond or netherite pickaxe to mine it – other tools won’t work. Each obsidian block takes about 10 seconds to mine, so gathering 10 blocks requires patience.
Quick Obsidian Tips
- Look for natural obsidian in caves where water and lava meet
- Create your own by pouring water buckets over lava pools
- Mine carefully – obsidian is precious and slow to collect
Once you’ve gathered your 10 obsidian blocks, you’re ready to build your portal and explore the Nether’s dangerous but rewarding dimension. For players who enjoy challenging obstacle courses, there are plenty of exciting obby games that test your parkour skills.
TL;DR
You need exactly 10 obsidian blocks to build a standard nether portal in Minecraft. This creates a 4×5 frame with a 2×3 opening in the middle.
