How to Make a Map in Minecraft (Ultimate Guide 2024)

“Minecraft” worlds are huge, so it’s easy to lose your way if you wander too far from your base. To avoid getting lost, you can build beacons, place torches, or simply make a map.

In “Minecraft,” you can create maps, trade for them, or find them as you explore. Maps are really useful because they show you where you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going. Plus, once you have a map, you can add your own notes to it. This way, you can mark important places on your land, like a cool cave or your favorite mining spot.

Here’s how to make a map in Minecraft and use it to explore your world!

To craft a map in Minecraft, you need two important things: paper and a compass.

Paper (Made from 9 Sugar Canes) 

If you’re new to Minecraft, you’ve probably seen sugar cane while exploring. This plant usually grows near water, like rivers and lakes, because it likes moist areas.

To make paper, you need sugar cane. For each piece of paper, you use one sugar cane. To get more paper, you can use a crafting table. Place three sugar canes in a row on the crafting grid to make three sheets of paper. Repeat this process to make more paper—nine sheets are needed to create a map. You’ll only use eight sheets for the map, so you’ll have one extra sheet left over for other uses.

Compass (Made from 4 Iron Ingots + 1 Redstone Dust) 

To craft a compass, you need four iron ingots and one piece of redstone dust. Iron can be mined from ore, which you can find by digging underground. If you need help finding iron, check out our Minecraft 1.18 ore distribution guide.

Once you have iron ore, you need to smelt it to get iron ingots. You can do this using a furnace. It’s also a good idea to make an iron pickaxe if you haven’t already, as it’s required for mining Redstone. Follow the steps to craft an iron pickaxe if you need help.

With these ingredients, you’re all set to make a map and start exploring your Minecraft world!

Now that you have all the materials, here’s how to make a map:

1. Build a Crafting Table: First, create a crafting table. You’ll need four wood planks to do this. You can use any type of wood, like oak or birch. Just put the planks in a square shape in your crafting area to make the table.
2. Gather Sugar Cane: Look for sugar cane, which grows near water, like rivers or ponds. You’ll need nine pieces of sugar cane. You can break them using any tool or even by hand.
3. Make Paper: Place the crafting table on the ground and right-click it to open the 3×3 crafting grid. Put three sugar canes in a row in the middle row of the grid to make three sheets of paper. Repeat this process to make nine sheets of paper.
4. Craft a Compass: To make a compass, place one piece of Redstone dust in the center of the crafting grid. Surround it with four iron ingots, one on each side. This will create a compass.
5. Mine for Redstone: Use an iron pickaxe or a better tool to mine redstone ore. Smelt iron ore in a furnace to turn it into iron ingots.
6. Combine Paper and Compass: With your nine sheets of paper and your compass, place the compass in the center of the crafting grid. Surround it with the eight sheets of paper. This will create a map.
7. Empty Map in Bedrock Edition: If you’re playing the Bedrock Edition of Minecraft, you can make an empty map using nine sheets of paper and a compass. Put the compass in the center and surround it with paper to make a map.
8. Use Your Map: Now you have a map! Use it to explore and mark interesting places as you go.

Enjoy exploring your Minecraft world with your new map!

There are a few different ways to get a map in Minecraft. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Find Maps in Chests: You can find maps in various places like treasure chests in castles, underwater shipwrecks, and explorer’s chests. You can also buy maps from a librarian villager for 8 emeralds.
2. Use a Cartography Table: To make maps easier, you can use a Cartography Table. First, place the table near a villager who isn’t a cartographer yet. Then, you can use it to craft and expand maps more efficiently.
3. Creating Maps in Bedrock Edition: If you’re playing the Bedrock Edition, you can use the Map Table. To make an empty map, place one sheet of paper in the crafting area. Combine one paper with one compass to get a blank map.
4. Starting Map in New Worlds: When you create a new world in the Bedrock Edition, you can turn on the “Starting Map” option in the World Settings. This will give you a map right at the beginning of the game, so you can start exploring right away.

With these methods, you can easily get and use maps to help you navigate and explore your Minecraft world!

Craft a Cartography Table: To make a Cartography Table, start with a Crafting Table. Place two sheets of paper in the top row and four wood planks (of any type) in the bottom row. You can also find Cartography Tables in villages, often in the homes of villagers who are cartographers.

Upgrade Your Map: If you want to make your map better, follow these steps:

• Create a Cartography Table: Use two sheets of paper and four wood planks to craft a Cartography Table.
• Zoom In on the Map: Place your map in one of the slots in the Cartography Table. Put a piece of paper in the other slot. This will improve your map and make it more detailed. Drag the upgraded map into your inventory.
• Level Up Your Map: You can repeat the process to make your map even better. Each time you upgrade, your map will become more detailed, up to a maximum of level 4. You will need four sheets of paper to fully upgrade your map.

Copy and Improve Maps: You can also use the Cartography Table to copy an existing map. Place your map in one slot and a blank map in the other. The copied map will be the same level as the original. This way, you can create a high-level map by copying a fully upgraded map onto a blank one.

Use Maps Wisely: Upgrading your map to its highest level is great for exploring, but it might not be necessary at the beginning of your game. It’s best to upgrade your map as you progress and need more detailed information about your surroundings.

With these tips, you can make the most out of your maps and explore your Minecraft world more effectively!

If you want to mark special places on your map, here’s how you can do it:

1. Create a Banner:
   • Craft the Banner: To make a banner, you need six pieces of wool and one stick. Place the stick in the center of the bottom row in the crafting grid. Put the six wool blocks above it in a vertical column.
   • Add Color: Choose the color of the wool to match what you want for your marker. You can use different colors to make different markers.
2. Name the Banner:
   • Use a Loom: To give your banner a specific name or design, you can use a loom. This tool lets you add patterns and text to your banner, making it unique.
3. Place the Banner:
   • Set Up the Banner: Put your banner on the ground where you want to mark the spot. The banner will appear as a colored marker on your map.
   • Attach the Map: When you look at your map, the banner’s color and name will show up as a dot, helping you remember what’s important at that location.

By setting markers with banners, you can easily keep track of important places or landmarks on your Minecraft map!

Making a map in Minecraft is a great way to explore and keep track of your adventures. With just a few simple materials and steps, you can create, upgrade, and copy maps to suit your needs. Whether you’re marking important spots or making backups, maps help you navigate and enjoy your Minecraft world even more. Have fun mapping out your journey!

FAQs

Can I use a map in Creative mode?

Yes, you can use maps in Creative mode just like in Survival mode. You can even get maps directly from your inventory without crafting them.

How do I extend a map’s coverage?

To extend a map’s coverage, use the Cartography Table. Place the map you want to extend and a piece of paper on the table to create a new map with a larger area.

Can I use maps in the Nether or End?

Maps do not work in the Nether or the End. If you enter these dimensions, your map will not update or show any new information from these areas.

What happens if I lose my map?

If you lose your map, you can create a new one or use a backup if you made copies. Remember to keep your maps safe or have backups if they are important.

Can I combine maps to show a larger area?

Yes, you can combine maps using the Cartography Table. Create multiple maps of adjacent areas and combine them to get a larger view of your surroundings.

Do maps update automatically?

Maps update automatically as you explore new areas. As you walk around and uncover new land, your map will show these changes.

How do I add markers to my map?

You can add markers to your map by placing banners in the world. The banners will appear as dots on your map, showing important locations or points of interest.

Can I edit the name or color of an existing map?

You can’t directly edit the name or color of a map. However, you can use banners to mark locations and create a new map if you need to change details.