How to Craft a Shulker Box in Minecraft: Ultimate Guide

To craft a shulker box in Minecraft, place 1 chest in the center of your 3x3 crafting grid with 1 shulker shell directly above and below it. This creates a shulker box that retains all stored items when broken—a game-changing storage solution for survival mode.

Master Minecraft's most valuable storage item with this definitive crafting guide. Whether you're exploring End Cities or organizing your base, shulker boxes solve inventory chaos by preserving contents when moved. I'll show you exactly how to obtain shulker shells, craft colored variants, and avoid common pitfalls that destroy your precious loot.

Why Shulker Boxes Transform Your Gameplay

Unlike regular chests, shulker boxes maintain their inventory when broken—making them essential for:

• Relocating entire storage systems without item loss
• Creating portable item sorters and farms
• Surviving Enderman attacks (they won't steal shulker boxes!)
• Organizing large builds with color-coded storage

Essential Materials Breakdown

You'll need two components—but one requires serious preparation:

Item	Quantity	How to Obtain
Chest	1	Craft with 8 wood planks
Shulker Shell	2	Defeat shulkers in End Cities (see section below)

Step-by-Step Crafting Process

Follow these precise steps in your crafting menu:

1. Open your 3x3 crafting grid (inventory or crafting table)
2. Place the chest in the exact center square
3. Put one shulker shell directly above the chest
4. Place the second shulker shell directly below the chest
5. Collect your shulker box from the output slot

Pro Tip: Avoiding Common Mistakes

Many players accidentally create shulker shells instead of boxes by placing shells horizontally. Remember: shells must be vertical (above/below chest). If you get shells back, check your grid alignment!

Obtaining Shulker Shells: End City Strategy

Shulkers spawn exclusively in End Cities. Use this efficient approach:

• Bring at least 3-4 iron pickaxes (shulkers drop 0-1 shell per kill)
• Use the /locate structure end_city command to find cities
• Wear armor with Projectile Protection (shulkers shoot damaging projectiles)
• Trap shulkers in small rooms to prevent teleportation
• Always carry a spare shulker box to store drops mid-hunt

Customizing Your Storage System

Maximize utility with these advanced techniques:

Color Coding System

Combine any dye with a shulker box in the crafting grid to create color-coded storage. Example system:

• Red: Building materials
• Blue: Food and farming
• Green: Tools and weapons

Critical Usage Tips Most Players Miss

Learn these game-changing nuances:

• Explosion-proof storage: Unlike chests, shulker boxes won't drop contents when exploded
• Auto-sorting: Place hoppers above shulker boxes for instant item organization
• Compact storage: Store shulker boxes inside other shulker boxes (up to 27 layers!)
• Safe moving: Right-click to open, then break with any tool—no Silk Touch required

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do shulkers spawn in Minecraft?

Shulkers exclusively spawn in End Cities within the End dimension. They appear on outer walls and inside treasure rooms of these structures.

Can shulker boxes be destroyed by explosions?

Yes, but unlike chests, they drop as items with all contents preserved. This makes them ideal for explosive mining operations.

How many items fit in a shulker box?

Each shulker box holds 27 stacks (1,728 items total)—identical to a double chest but in a single portable item.

Do shulkers respawn in End Cities?

No, shulkers don't naturally respawn. You must find new End Cities or use commands/spawners for additional shells.