Reference
Ore Y-Level Finder
The best Y level for every ore, and how much of it you find at each height, counted in real worlds generated by the game. Pick an ore, where you are mining and your version. Java Edition 1.16.2 to 26.3.
Diamonds by height
Hover or tap the chart, or type a Y level, to read one height.
The game's rules for diamonds (4 placements)
| Placement | Tries per chunk | Height | Vein size | Air |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ore_diamond | 7 | peaks at Y -64, anywhere from Y -64 to 16 | 4 | skips half the blocks that would touch air |
ore_diamond_buried | 4 | peaks at Y -64, anywhere from Y -64 to 16 | 8 | never placed touching air (buried only) |
ore_diamond_large | 1 in 9 chunks | peaks at Y -64, anywhere from Y -64 to 16 | 12 | skips 70% of the blocks that would touch air |
ore_diamond_medium | 2 | evenly from Y -64 to -4 | 8 | skips half the blocks that would touch air |
The rules decide where the game tries; the chart counts what is really there. At its best height a real world holds about 0.52 blocks per chunk.
Best Y level for every ore, Java 26.3
The best height is where a real world holds the most of that ore per chunk. Places other than the usual biomes are listed only where they have their own rules for that ore. Change the version at the top of the page to see another.
Overworld
| Ore | Where | Best Y | Good from | Can generate | Per chunk at best Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | Most biomes | 43 | 39 to 46 | 0 to 319 | 1.2 blocks |
| Copper | Most biomes | 29 | 19 to 45 | -16 to 112 | 1.2 blocks |
| Dripstone Caves | 24 | 23 to 27 | -16 to 112 | 6.3 blocks | |
| Iron | Most biomes | 14 | 4 to 22 | -64 to 319 | 1.2 blocks |
| Gold | Most biomes | -19 | -29 to -8, -56 to -51 | -64 to 32 | 0.33 blocks |
| Badlands | 39 | 31 to 44 | -64 to 256 | 1.1 blocks | |
| Redstone | Most biomes | -57 | -59 to -53 | -64 to 15 | 1.1 blocks |
| Lapis Lazuli | Most biomes | 3 | -7 to 9 | -64 to 64 | 0.31 blocks |
| Diamonds | Most biomes | -57 | -59 to -50 | -64 to 16 | 0.52 blocks |
| Emeralds | Mountains | 93 | 60 to 96 | -16 to 319 | 0.072 blocks |
Nether
| Ore | Where | Best Y | Good from | Can generate | Per chunk at best Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nether Quartz | Most of the Nether | 113 | 109 to 114, 10 to 22 | 10 to 117 | 2 blocks |
| Basalt Deltas | 113 | 111 to 114 | 10 to 117 | 1.2 blocks | |
| Nether Gold | Most of the Nether | 11 | 10 to 22, 108 to 114 | 10 to 117 | 0.67 blocks |
| Basalt Deltas | 113 | 112 to 115 | 10 to 117 | 0.34 blocks | |
| Ancient Debris | Most of the Nether | 16 | 13 to 18 | 8 to 119 | 0.11 blocks |
One page for each ore
How to use the Ore Y-Level Finder
Every ore has its own heights where the game tries to place it. This finder shows, for your exact version, how much of each ore a real world holds at every Y level, where it peaks, and how that changes in mountains, badlands and other places with their own ore rules.
Quick steps
- 1Pick your version at the top of the page
- 2Choose an ore, then where you're mining
- 3Read the best Y level on the left, and hover or tap the chart to read any height
- 4Switch to Compare all to find one height that is good for several ores at once
Example use cases
- Choosing the height for a strip mine or a branch mine
- Finding emeralds (mountains only) or extra gold (badlands)
- Checking what an update changed before you dig in a new world
Tips
Coordinates show your Y on the F3 screen; your feet are at the Y shown
A bar near zero still means some ore: the range shows everywhere it can appear
High up, ore exposed in caves and cliffs is easy to spot, deep down a tunnel finds more per block dug
From 1.18, large ore veins of iron and copper (with raw ore blocks) are part of the terrain and are counted here too
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Y level for diamonds in Minecraft?
In Minecraft Java 26.3: The best Y level for diamonds is Y -57 (about as good from Y -59 to -50). Diamond Ore can generate anywhere from Y -64 to 16. At the best height you find about 0.52 diamond ore blocks per chunk.
What is the best Y level for iron in Minecraft?
In Minecraft Java 26.3: The best Y level for iron is Y 14 (about as good from Y 4 to 22). Iron Ore can generate anywhere from Y -64 to 319. At the best height you find about 1.2 iron ore blocks per chunk. Mountains has more of it.
What is the best Y level for gold in Minecraft?
In Minecraft Java 26.3: The best Y level for gold is Y -19 (about as good from Y -29 to -8 and from Y -56 to -51). Gold Ore can generate anywhere from Y -64 to 32. At the best height you find about 0.33 gold ore blocks per chunk. Badlands has more of it.
What is the best Y level for ancient debris in Minecraft?
In Minecraft Java 26.3: The best Y level for ancient debris is Y 16 (about as good from Y 13 to 18). Ancient Debris can generate anywhere from Y 8 to 119. At the best height you find about 0.11 ancient debris blocks per chunk.
Why did the best Y level change in 1.18?
Java 1.18 rebuilt ore generation with the taller world. Most ores stopped being spread evenly over a band and now peak at one height, deepslate versions of every ore appeared below Y 8, and some ores were split into several placements (an upper and a lower one). Pick 1.17.1 and 1.18 above to compare.
Where do these numbers come from?
Two layers. Mojang's own ore rules, read from the game's data for every version, say where the game tries to place each ore. For 1.18 and later, the ore blocks in real worlds made by the game's server were also counted at every height, because caves, water and the rule that skips ore touching air change what is really there.