Iron Shovel
Iron Shovel is the mid-tier digging tool in Minecraft, crafted from one iron ingot and two sticks to mine dirt, sand, gravel, and snow fast.
Description
Beyond digging, Iron Shovel turns grass, dirt, podzol, mycelium, and coarse dirt into a Dirt Path block when you right-click the ground, and it instantly extinguishes a lit campfire or soul campfire on right-click. Iron Shovel deals 4.5 melee damage in Java Edition, slightly more than a stone shovel, though Iron Shovel remains a digging tool rather than a weapon. Players craft Iron Shovel as the standard upgrade once iron is plentiful, saving a Diamond Shovel for large terraforming projects.
Java & Bedrock Guide
How to craft and use an Iron Shovel in Minecraft
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1
Smelt iron ingots
Mine raw iron underground and smelt it in a furnace to get the iron ingot the shovel needs.
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2
Craft the Iron Shovel
Open a crafting table and place one iron ingot in the top cell of the middle column with two sticks directly below it to make one Iron Shovel.
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3
Dig soft blocks fast
Hold Iron Shovel and break dirt, sand, gravel, clay, or snow; the shovel mines these far faster than your hand or a pickaxe.
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4
Make dirt paths
Right-click grass, dirt, or podzol with Iron Shovel to flatten it into a Dirt Path block for tidy walkways and farm edges.
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5
Enchant for longevity
Apply Unbreaking and Mending at an enchanting table or anvil so Iron Shovel repairs itself with experience and lasts far beyond 250 uses.
Iron Shovel has 250 uses. Mending repairs it from XP orbs, while Efficiency V plus Haste II clears sand and gravel almost instantly.
How to craft this block
Used in crafts
Related blocks
Frequently asked questions
How do you craft an Iron Shovel?
Place one iron ingot in the top cell of the middle column and two sticks beneath it on a crafting table to craft one Iron Shovel.
How much durability does an Iron Shovel have?
Iron Shovel has 250 durability in both Java and Bedrock Edition, more than wooden (59) and stone (131) shovels but less than diamond (1561).
What does an Iron Shovel dig fastest?
Iron Shovel mines dirt, sand, gravel, clay, soul sand, mud, and snow fastest; for stone or ore you still need a pickaxe.
Can an Iron Shovel make a path?
Yes. Right-clicking grass, dirt, podzol, or coarse dirt with Iron Shovel converts the top of the block into a Dirt Path.
Does an Iron Shovel put out fire?
Right-clicking a lit campfire or soul campfire with Iron Shovel extinguishes it without breaking the block.
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