Enchanting Table
Enchanting Table empowers tools, weapons and armor with magical effects in exchange for experience points and lapis lazuli.
Description
The trick to maximum-tier enchantments is bookshelves: place fifteen of them two blocks away, with one block of air between, and the table can offer level-30 enchantments such as Sharpness V, Protection IV, or Efficiency V. Without bookshelves the maximum offered level is 8, which is too weak for serious progression. The mysterious floating runes that appear when the player approaches are pure decoration — the glyph particles drift by even when bookshelves are not powering the table, so they are no placement check.
Block properties
| Item ID |
minecraft:enchanting_table
|
|---|---|
| /give command |
/give @p minecraft:enchanting_table
|
| Stackable | Yes (64) |
| Best tool | Pickaxe |
| Renewable | No |
| Hardness | 5 |
| Blast resistance | 1200 |
| Light level | 7 |
| Java Edition | 1.0.0 |
| Bedrock Edition | 0.12.1 |
Java Edition Guide
How to use an Enchanting Table in Minecraft
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1
Craft the Enchanting Table
Place one Book in the top-center slot, two Diamonds in the middle-left and middle-right slots, and four Obsidian in the bottom row plus the center slot. The table costs 2 diamonds and 4 obsidian — gather these before your first enchanting session.
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2
Place up to 15 Bookshelves around it
Arrange bookshelves in a ring exactly 2 blocks away from the table (1 block of air between shelf and table on all sides). Fifteen bookshelves guarantee a level-30 option — the maximum possible; shelves beyond fifteen are ignored.
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3
Keep the gap clear
The single-block gap between a bookshelf and the table must stay empty. Torches and carpets break the connection in both editions, and in Bedrock Edition even a snow layer cancels that shelf's bonus — Java Edition allows only air, snow layers, and short grass in the gap.
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4
Open the table and pick an enchantment
Right-click the table, place your tool or armor in the left slot and at least 1 Lapis Lazuli in the right slot. Three options appear; hover over them to reveal the top enchantment. Selecting an option costs lapis lazuli and XP levels equal to the tier (1, 2, or 3 levels).
-
5
Reroll offers if needed
Enchantment offers refresh whenever you enchant any item (even a throwaway book) or when nearby bookshelves change. Enchanting a book with a cheap tier-1 offer is the fastest way to cycle to better options.
Picking a level-30 option requires holding 30 XP levels at that moment, but the actual cost is only 3 levels and 3 lapis lazuli — stock up on XP before opening the table.
How to craft this block
Related blocks
Frequently asked questions
How many bookshelves do I need for level 30 enchantments?
Exactly 15 bookshelves are needed to unlock level-30 enchantments. Each bookshelf must be placed 2 blocks away from the table with a single block of air in between, and no solid blocks can fill that gap.
What is the maximum enchantment level without bookshelves?
Without any bookshelves the Enchanting Table caps at level 8. To reach higher levels you must add bookshelves in the correct arrangement around the table.
Why are my bookshelves not boosting the table?
The single-block gap between a bookshelf and the table must stay empty. Torches and carpets break the connection in both editions, and in Bedrock Edition even a snow layer cancels that shelf's bonus (Java Edition allows only air, snow layers, and short grass). Check that nothing — chests, wood, or dirt — fills those spaces.
Does the Enchanting Table work the same in Bedrock Edition?
Yes. The bookshelf placement rules, maximum level of 30, lapis lazuli cost, and XP level cost are identical in both Java and Bedrock Editions.
Can I get Mending from an Enchanting Table?
No. Mending is a treasure enchantment and cannot be obtained from the Enchanting Table. It must be found in loot chests, fishing, trading with librarian villagers, or raid drops (Bedrock Edition only).
How do I change the enchantment offers on my Enchanting Table?
Enchant any item — even a cheap book — and the offers will refresh. You can also temporarily remove a bookshelf, which changes the available level pool and triggers a reroll when you replace it.
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