How to Craft an Ender Chest in Minecraft: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Craft an Ender Chest in Minecraft: Step-by-Step Guide

Here's the direct answer: To craft an ender chest in Minecraft, arrange 8 obsidian blocks in a ring around the crafting grid with 1 eye of ender in the center. You'll need a diamond pickaxe to mine obsidian and must obtain ender pearls from endermen and blaze powder from blaze rods.

Master Minecraft's Ultimate Storage Solution in 5 Minutes

Struggling to keep your diamond gear safe while exploring distant dimensions? An ender chest solves this by giving you shared inventory access across every Minecraft world. Unlike regular chests, your ender chest contents stay synchronized whether you're mining in the Overworld, battling in the Nether, or fighting the Ender Dragon. This guide delivers the exact crafting steps plus pro tips you won't find in-game—tested across Java and Bedrock editions.

Why Every Survival Player Needs an Ender Chest

Before we craft, understand why this changes your gameplay:

Key Advantages

  • World-spanning storage: Access the same inventory from any dimension
  • Death protection: Safely store valuables so you don't lose them when killed
  • Compact organization: Store shulker boxes inside for massive expandable storage
  • Multiplayer safety: Contents remain private even on public servers
Minecraft ender chest with purple particles floating above

Gathering Essential Materials: No Guesswork

You'll need two components. Here's exactly how to obtain them efficiently:

Material Quantity Reliable Acquisition Method Time-Saving Tip
Obsidian 8 blocks Create with water bucket + lava source block Mine with diamond/netherite pickaxe only
Eye of Ender 1 Combine ender pearl + blaze powder Find endermen at night; blaze rods from Nether fortresses

Step-by-Step Crafting Process

Follow these verified steps for guaranteed success:

  1. Prepare obsidian: Pour water over lava source blocks to create obsidian. Mine with diamond/netherite pickaxe (iron won't work!)
  2. Make blaze powder: Smelt blaze rods in furnace (found in Nether fortress chests)
  3. Collect ender pearls: Hunt endermen at night (wear pumpkin to avoid attacks)
  4. Craft eye of ender: Place blaze powder and ender pearl in any crafting grid
  5. Assemble ender chest: Arrange materials as shown below
Correct Minecraft crafting grid pattern for ender chest with obsidian ring

Crafting Grid Pattern

Top row: Obsidian, Obsidian, Obsidian
Middle row: Obsidian, Eye of Ender, Obsidian
Bottom row: Obsidian, Obsidian, Obsidian

Warning: Placing the eye in any other slot creates a different item!

Pro Usage Techniques Most Players Miss

Maximize your ender chest with these expert strategies:

  • Shulker box stacking: Store shulker boxes inside for 27x more slots per chest
  • Nether-safe storage: Contents remain accessible even when entering the Nether
  • Quick access: Bind to hotbar slot for instant inventory access during combat
  • Multiplayer tip: Each player has their own private ender inventory on servers
Minecraft player accessing ender chest inventory with shulker boxes inside

Common Mistakes That Waste Precious Resources

Avoid these costly errors:

Troubleshooting Guide

  • "Crafting failed" error: You're using iron pickaxe on obsidian (requires diamond+)
  • Eye of Ender not crafting: Check blaze powder isn't accidentally placed as blaze rod
  • Empty inventory: You've opened someone else's ender chest in multiplayer
  • Can't find endermen: Hunt in plains or savanna biomes at night with minimal light

Advanced Applications for Seasoned Players

Take your storage to the next level:

  • Create an ender chest network across bases using chests + shulker boxes
  • Combine with hoppers for automatic item sorting systems
  • Use in adventure maps as quest item storage (contents persist through deaths)
  • For modded Minecraft: Some mods add ender chest upgrades like increased capacity

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you craft an ender chest without going to the Nether?

No—you need blaze powder from blaze rods found only in Nether fortresses. Ender pearls can be obtained in the Overworld, but blaze powder requires Nether travel.

Why won't my eye of ender craft properly?

This usually happens when using blaze rods instead of blaze powder. Smelt blaze rods in a furnace first to get powder. Double-check your crafting grid layout matches the ring pattern.

Do ender chests work in the End dimension?

Yes! Unlike some player misconceptions, ender chests function normally in the End dimension. This makes them essential for storing gear before fighting the Ender Dragon.

Can other players access my ender chest contents?

No—ender chest inventories are unique to each player. On multiplayer servers, your contents remain completely private even if others open the same physical chest.

Marcus Lee

Marcus Lee

A former industrial designer making DIY crafting accessible. He breaks down complex projects into simple, practical creations for beginners.