Lanterns are one of the most satisfying light sources in Minecraft. They look great, produce strong light, and fit naturally into almost any build style.

Crafting a Regular Lantern

To craft a lantern, you need:

  • 1 Torch
  • 8 Iron Nuggets

Place the torch in the center of the crafting grid. Surround it with iron nuggets in all eight surrounding slots. That's it. One lantern per craft.

Iron nuggets come from smelting iron tools, armor, or weapons in a furnace, or from crafting: one iron ingot converts into nine iron nuggets.

Crafting a Soul Lantern

The soul lantern follows the exact same recipe, but uses a Soul Torch instead of a regular torch.

To make a soul torch, you need:

  • 1 Coal or Charcoal
  • 1 Stick
  • 1 Soul Sand or Soul Soil (found in the Nether)

Soul lanterns emit a blue light instead of the warm orange of regular lanterns. They produce slightly less light (level 10 vs 15) but are one of the most beautiful light sources in the game for builds with a cold, eerie, or magical atmosphere.

Light Levels

Both lanterns produce enough light to prevent mob spawning in a wide area:

  • Regular Lantern — Light level 15. The maximum possible. Equal to glowstone and shroomlights.
  • Soul Lantern — Light level 10. Still enough to prevent spawning in a decent radius.

How to Place Lanterns

Lanterns can be placed in two ways:

Hanging — Place the lantern on the bottom of a block (hold Shift + right-click or aim at the underside). Hanging lanterns swing slightly and look fantastic from ceilings, lamp posts, or overhangs.

Standing — Place them directly on a surface like any other block. They sit low and compact.

Both placements work for lighting and decoration. Mixing hanging and standing lanterns in the same build adds visual variety.

Decorative Uses

Lanterns are one of the most versatile decorative blocks in the game. Some popular uses:

  • Lamp posts — Stack a fence or iron bar vertically, then hang a lantern at the top.
  • Hanging ceilings — Chain blocks with lanterns create beautiful chandelier effects.
  • Window lighting — Place lanterns just outside windows to light up the exterior at night.
  • Path lighting — Line walkways with standing lanterns on stone or stone brick pedestals.
  • Dock and pier lighting — Lanterns on fence posts over water look incredibly atmospheric.
  • Tavern or inn interiors — Hang lanterns from ceiling beams for a cozy medieval look.

Soul Lantern Builds

Soul lanterns shine in builds with a mysterious, ethereal, or dark theme. They pair beautifully with:

  • Dark oak, blackstone, or deepslate
  • Nether-themed builds
  • Haunted houses or witch huts
  • Underwater bases or builds near rivers

Mix soul lanterns and regular lanterns in the same build for contrast and depth.

Other Lantern Types

In the Java Edition, you can also find Fire Lanterns in bastions and Hanging Lanterns in ancient cities. These are not craftable, but can be collected with Silk Touch.

Final Thoughts

Lanterns are one of the most worth-it crafts in early and mid-game survival. The iron cost is minimal, and the payoff in build quality is massive. If you're still using torches stuck to walls, switch to lanterns. Your builds will immediately look ten times better.