Golden Shovel — Minecraft block

Golden Shovel

Golden Shovel digs faster than any shovel in Minecraft yet has only 32 durability (uses before breaking) — a cheap, highly enchantable utility tool.

Block ID minecraft:golden_shovel
Mod Vanilla
Game versions
1.21

Description

Golden Shovel is the fastest-digging shovel in Minecraft, crafted from one gold ingot placed above two sticks on the crafting grid for a single tool. Despite its top-tier mining speed, Golden Shovel has only 32 durability — fewer uses than even the wooden shovel's 59, the lowest value of any shovel material. Golden Shovel clears sand, gravel, dirt, clay, snow, and mycelium faster than a diamond shovel, but the tiny durability makes Golden Shovel impractical for large excavation jobs.

The main advantage of Golden Shovel is gold's enchantability of 22 — the highest of any tool material — so Golden Shovel pulls stronger enchantments per experience level at an enchanting table. Pair Golden Shovel with Unbreaking III and Mending to offset its fragility and keep it repaired through use. Right-click a grass block or dirt with Golden Shovel to create a dirt path, and right-click a lit campfire to extinguish it without water.

Java Edition Guide

How to craft and use a Golden Shovel in Minecraft

  1. 1

    Get one gold ingot

    Smelt gold ore or raw gold in a furnace, or trade with villagers, to obtain one gold ingot for the shovel.

  2. 2

    Craft the shovel

    Place a gold ingot in the top cell of the middle column on a crafting table, then add two sticks below it to craft one Golden Shovel.

  3. 3

    Dig soft blocks

    Hold Golden Shovel and mine sand, gravel, dirt, clay, or snow — it clears them faster than a diamond shovel.

  4. 4

    Make a dirt path

    Right-click a grass block or dirt with Golden Shovel to convert the surface into a dirt path for walkways.

  5. 5

    Enchant for longevity

    Apply Unbreaking III and Mending at an enchanting table or anvil to extend Golden Shovel's short 32-use durability.

Durability warning

Golden Shovel has the lowest durability of any shovel (32 uses), so reserve it for light tasks or keep it enchanted with Mending.

How to craft this block

Ingredients: Gold Ingot Gold Ingot x1 Stick Stick x2
Crafting
Gold Ingot
Stick
Stick
Golden Shovel
1
Golden Shovel

Related blocks

Frequently asked questions

How do you craft a Golden Shovel?

Place one gold ingot above two vertically stacked sticks in a crafting grid to craft one Golden Shovel.

Why does the Golden Shovel break so fast?

Golden Shovel has only 32 durability, the lowest of any shovel, because gold is a soft tool material in Minecraft.

Is a Golden Shovel faster than a diamond shovel?

Yes. Golden Shovel has the fastest mining speed of any shovel, clearing dirt and sand quicker than a diamond shovel.

Can you make a dirt path with a Golden Shovel?

Yes. Right-click a grass block or dirt with Golden Shovel to turn the surface into a dirt path.

Is the Golden Shovel worth using?

Golden Shovel works best as a highly enchantable utility tool with Mending, not for large digging jobs due to its 32-use durability.

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