Barrel
Barrel is a single-block storage container that opens upward and works in tight spaces where a chest cannot.
Description
The difference matters in compact builds. Storage rooms can stack Barrels into tight grids without the half-block clearance chests demand. Hidden floor stashes work because there is no opening animation interfering with above-block placement. The Barrel also serves as the workstation of the fisherman villager profession; placing one in a village without an active fisherman recruits an unemployed villager into the role, opening trades for cooked fish, fishing rods, and emerald exchanges. Hoppers, droppers, and comparators interact with a Barrel identically to a regular chest.
Guide
How to use a Barrel in Minecraft
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1
Craft a Barrel
Open the crafting table and arrange six wooden planks of any type in the left and right columns, then place two wooden slabs in the top-center and bottom-center slots. The Barrel recipe accepts any mix of wood types.
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2
Place the Barrel anywhere
Right-click to place the Barrel on any surface. Unlike a chest, a Barrel can be placed directly beneath a solid block and still opened with a right-click. Use this to build fully enclosed storage rooms or hidden floor vaults.
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3
Store and retrieve items
Right-click the Barrel to open its 27-slot inventory — the same capacity as a single chest. Connect hoppers or droppers to automate item movement in and out of the Barrel.
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4
Recruit a fisherman villager
Place an unclaimed Barrel in a village near a jobless villager. Within a few in-game minutes the villager claims the Barrel as a workstation and becomes a fisherman, offering cooked fish, fishing rods, and emerald trades.
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5
Read Barrel fill level with a comparator
Place a comparator adjacent to the Barrel. The comparator outputs a signal from 0 (empty) to 15 (full), allowing automatic sorting systems to detect when a Barrel is nearly full.
A Barrel with the opening facing down still functions normally — the lid animation plays on the bottom face, which is useful for ceiling-mounted decorative storage.
How to craft this block
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Barrel and a chest in Minecraft?
A Barrel holds 27 slots like a single chest but opens upward along the top face, so it can be accessed even when a solid block sits directly above it. A chest requires at least one transparent or open block above to swing its lid open.
Can a Barrel be placed underwater?
Yes, a Barrel can be placed and used underwater without any modification. Its inventory remains fully usable when submerged.
How does the Barrel work with hoppers and comparators?
Hoppers pull from or push into a Barrel exactly like a chest. A comparator placed next to a Barrel outputs a signal from 0 (empty) to 15 (full), enabling automatic systems to detect fill level.
Can two Barrels be combined into a double storage?
No. Unlike chests, two Barrels placed side by side do not merge into a double-size container. Each Barrel always operates as an independent 27-slot inventory.
Does a Barrel recruit a specific villager profession?
Yes. An unclaimed Barrel placed near a jobless villager will assign that villager the fisherman profession, unlocking trades for cooked cod, cooked salmon, fishing rods, and campfires at various levels.
Can you lock a Barrel so other players cannot open it?
Yes. Use the /data merge block command to add a Lock tag to the Barrel's NBT data. Once locked, only a player holding an item with the exact matching name can open the Barrel.
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