Beacon Calculator

Work out exactly what a beacon pyramid costs, which powers it unlocks, and what colour the beam will be — with a layer-by-layer build guide and a 3D preview.

A beacon sits on top of a pyramid of mineral blocks. The taller the pyramid, the more powers it offers and the further they reach. Each layer is a square that grows by one block on every side as you go down, so a full tier 4 pyramid is 9x9, 7x7, 5x5 and 3x3 stacked up — 164 blocks in total.

You can build it from iron, gold, diamond, emerald or netherite blocks, and you can freely mix them — the game treats all five identically, so the choice is purely about what you can afford and how it looks. The beacon also needs a clear view of the sky, and one ingot, diamond or emerald as a one-off payment to switch it on.

Pyramid size

Enter a block count

Powers

Pick the power you want and the pyramid size updates to match.

Second power slot

A full tier 4 pyramid gives a second slot. It can only do one of two things.

To get a level II power you spend the second slot repeating the first one — so you can have one power at II, or two powers at I, never both.

Blocks

All five work identically. Set the main block, then click any cell in the layers to mix in another.

What you get

Blocks needed
164
Effect reach
50 blocks
Effect lasts
17s
Powers active
2
Active: Haste + Regeneration

The reach is a square area, not a circle — it extends 50 blocks out on every side and all the way up to the build limit. Powers are topped back up every 4 seconds while you stay inside it, so walking out leaves you with up to 17s still running.

Build guide

Layer 19 x 9 · 81 blocksplace this one first
Layer 27 x 7 · 49 blocks
Layer 35 x 5 · 25 blocks
Layer 43 x 3 · 9 blocksbeacon sits on top of this

What you need to gather

Block of Iron164 blocks=1,476 Iron Ingot
  • 1,476 Raw Iron — Smelt 1:1 into ingots

Beacon not working?

The usual culprits, in the order they catch people out.

Tinted glass is blocking it

Tinted glass looks see-through but the beam treats it as solid, so the beacon won't activate at all. Use ordinary or stained glass instead. This is the single most common cause.

Something is between it and the sky

The beacon needs a clear line straight up. Glass, water, leaves and slabs are all fine — most other blocks are not.

The pyramid isn't complete

Every layer has to be a full square. One missing block drops you to the tier below, which is why a pyramid can look finished but only offer the smaller set of powers.

You want Regeneration as the main power

You can't — Regeneration is only ever available in the second slot of a full tier 4 pyramid.

You expected the effect to reach further

Reach is 50 blocks at tier 4and it's a square area, not a circle. It does extend all the way up to the build limit though.

Playing on Bedrock rather than Java

Bedrock reaches one block further north and west, and lava blocks the beam there even though it doesn't on Java.

How to Use the Beacon Calculator

Plan a beacon from both ends — pick a tier to see what it costs, or pick the power you want and find out how big the pyramid has to be. Includes a layer-by-layer build guide, a 3D preview, a beam colour mixer and a multi-beacon planner.

Quick Steps

  1. 1Choose a pyramid tier, or click the power you want and the tier follows
  2. 2Set your block type — click individual cells to mix materials
  3. 3Read off the blocks, ingots and raw ore you need to gather
  4. 4Build bottom layer first, using the layer guide or the 3D view

Example Use Cases

  • Costing a beacon before committing to the mining
  • Working out the cheapest way to reach Strength II or Regeneration
  • Planning a shared pyramid that runs several powers at once
  • Matching a beam colour to a build before placing the glass

Tips

Block type is purely cosmetic — mix iron with anything to save resources
The effect area is a square, not a circle, and reaches up to the build limit
Tinted glass blocks the beam even though it looks transparent — the most common reason a beacon won't switch on
The topmost stained glass sets half the beam colour on its own

Frequently Asked Questions

How many blocks do you need for a full beacon?

A full tier 4 beacon needs 164 blocks in total: a 9x9 bottom layer (81), then 7x7 (49), 5x5 (25) and 3x3 (9) stacked on top. The smaller pyramids need 9 blocks for tier 1, 34 for tier 2 and 83 for tier 3. That is 1,476 ingots if you build it entirely from one metal.

Why is my beacon not working?

The three usual causes are tinted glass, an obstruction, or an incomplete pyramid. Tinted glass catches most people out because it looks see-through but the beam treats it as a solid block. The beacon needs a clear path straight up to the sky, though glass, water, leaves and slabs are all fine. Finally, every layer has to be a complete square — a single missing block quietly drops you to the tier below.

How do I get Strength II or Speed II from a beacon?

Build a full tier 4 pyramid, set the power you want in the first slot, then set the same power again in the second slot. Spending the second slot this way is the only route to a level II power, so you can have one power at level II or two powers at level I, never both.

Why can I not choose Regeneration as my main power?

Regeneration is only ever offered in the second slot of a full tier 4 pyramid — it is never available as a primary power. If you want Regeneration alongside another effect, put your main power in the first slot and Regeneration in the second.

How far does a beacon reach?

The range is 20 blocks at tier 1, 30 at tier 2, 40 at tier 3 and 50 at tier 4 — always 10 times the tier plus 10. The area is a square, not a circle, and it extends all the way up to the build limit. Powers are reapplied every 4 seconds while you are inside it, so stepping out leaves the last dose running for up to 17 seconds.

Can you mix different blocks in a beacon pyramid?

Yes. Iron, gold, diamond, emerald and netherite blocks can be mixed freely, even within a single layer, and it makes no difference to the beacon. The game only counts whether each layer is a complete square, so the choice is purely about cost and appearance.

Can you have more than one beacon effect at a time?

Yes — build several beacons side by side on one shared pyramid. Each layer only has to cover every beacon’s own square, so the layers become rectangles and the whole thing costs far less than separate pyramids. Five beacons in a row on a tier 4 pyramid need 260 blocks rather than 820, and cover every power in the game at once.

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