Original pixel art Coal icon
Minecraft Java Item ID

Coal ID

Coal is a fuel and crafting material obtained from coal ore. It smelts 8 items per piece and is used for crafting torches and campfires.

✓ Verified for Java Edition 26.2
Namespaced item ID minecraft:coal

Coal Item Facts

CategoryMaterials
Maximum stack64
Available inSurvival and Creative
Historical numerical ID263

Historical numerical ID: Reviewed for Java Edition 1.12.2 and earlier.

Give Command for Coal

Copy the current Java Edition command, or open the generator to change the player and quantity.

/give @p minecraft:coal 1

Customize this command → View crafting recipe →

Historical command for Java 1.12.2 and earlier

Modern namespaced IDs are recommended. This numerical form is only for old Java releases.

/give @p 263 1

Give command syntax by version

Java 1.13+
/give @p minecraft:coal 1
Namespaced ID (current format)
Java 1.8–1.12.2
/give @p 263 1 0
Numerical ID + data value
Bedrock Edition
/give @p minecraft:coal 1
Same namespaced ID (namespace optional)

Rows appear only when the underlying value is verified: the Java 1.8–1.12.2 row requires a reviewed historical numerical ID, and the Bedrock row appears only when this exact namespaced ID exists in the Bedrock registry.

How to Get Coal

Crafting Recipe

Combine 1 block of coal in any arrangement on a crafting table — makes 9 × Coal.

More Ways to Get It

Coal mainly comes from mining coal ore with any pickaxe—each block drops 1 coal, or up to 4 with Fortune III. You can also smelt coal ore directly, uncraft a block of coal back into 9 pieces, collect it from chests in mineshafts and villages, or get it from wither skeletons.

  1. Mine coal ore—common around Y=96 and in mountains—with any pickaxe.
  2. Each block drops 1 coal; a Fortune-enchanted pickaxe raises the drop to as many as 4.
  3. Uncraft a block of coal whenever you need 9 pieces back for fuel or torches.

Prefer commands? Jump back to the give command matrix above to get Coal instantly.

What Can You Craft With Coal?

Coal is a crafting ingredient in 6 reviewed recipes:

Coal Command Examples

  • Give 1 to nearest player: /give @p minecraft:coal 1
  • Give 1 to yourself: /give @s minecraft:coal 1
  • Give to a specific player: /give PlayerName minecraft:coal 1
  • Clear from inventory: /clear @p minecraft:coal

What Is Coal Used For?

Furnace

One piece of coal burns for 80 seconds and smelts 8 items—the standard furnace fuel.

Torch

One coal plus one stick crafts 4 torches for lighting caves and builds.

Furnace Minecart

Coal is one of only two fuels accepted by furnace minecarts, giving three minutes of transit each.

Campfire and storage

Coal crafts campfires for cooking and ambiance, and 9 pieces pack into a block of coal for compact storage.

Coal FAQ

What is the item ID for Coal?

The item ID for Coal is minecraft:coal. Java Edition commands such as /give, /clear, and /setblock use this namespaced ID.

What is the numerical ID for Coal?

Coal has the historical numerical ID 263, used in Java Edition 1.12.2 and earlier. Current versions use minecraft:coal instead.

How do I give myself Coal in Minecraft?

Open the chat window and run /give @p minecraft:coal 1 to give the nearest player one Coal. Replace @p with a player name to target someone else.

How many Coal can stack in one slot?

Coal stacks up to 64 per inventory slot.

How do you craft Coal?

Coal is crafted on a crafting table with 1 block of coal, which yields 9 Coal.

What can you craft with Coal?

Coal is used to craft Block of Coal, Torch, Soul Torch, Copper Torch, and 2 more recipes.

Sources and Data Review

Item facts were reviewed for Java Edition 26.2 on .

Related Materials

Pixel art illustration of a coal ore block with black coal specks in gray stone
Coal Ore
Item ID: minecraft:coal_ore
Original pixel art Torch icon
Torch
Item ID: minecraft:torch
Original pixel art Furnace icon
Furnace
Item ID: minecraft:furnace
Pixel art illustration of a matte black lump of charcoal
Charcoal
Item ID: minecraft:charcoal
Pixel art illustration of a simple light brown wooden stick
Stick
Item ID: minecraft:stick
Original pixel art Diamond icon
Diamond
Item ID: minecraft:diamond
Original pixel art Netherite Ingot icon
Netherite Ingot
Item ID: minecraft:netherite_ingot
Pixel art illustration of a blaze rod glowing golden-orange with ember particles
Blaze Rod
Item ID: minecraft:blaze_rod