Shelf












| Renewable |
Yes |
|---|---|
| Stackable |
Yes (64) |
| Tool | |
| Blast resistance |
3 |
| Hardness |
2 |
| Luminous |
No |
| Transparent |
Yes |
| Waterloggable |
Yes |
| Flammable |
|
| Catches fire from lava |
|
{
"extratext": "[[#Gallery|View all renders]]",
"title": "Shelf",
"images": [
"Oak Shelf.png",
"Spruce Shelf.png",
"Birch Shelf.png",
"Jungle Shelf.png",
"Acacia Shelf.png",
"Dark Oak Shelf.png",
"Mangrove Shelf.png",
"Cherry Shelf.png",
"Pale Oak Shelf.png",
"Bamboo Shelf.png",
"Crimson Shelf.png",
"Warped Shelf.png"
],
"rows": [
{
"field": "Yes",
"label": "(link to Renewable resource article, displayed as Renewable)"
},
{
"field": "Yes (64)",
"label": "Stackable"
},
{
"field": "<span class=\"sprite-file\" style=\"height:32px;width:32px;--vertical-align:middle\">(link to File:SlotSprite Axe Required.png article, displayed as 32x32px|link=Axe|alt=|class=pixel-image|This block can be broken with any tool, but an axe is the quickest)</span>",
"label": "Tool"
},
{
"field": "3",
"label": "(link to Explosion#Blast resistance article, displayed as Blast resistance)"
},
{
"field": "2",
"label": "(link to Breaking#Blocks by hardness article, displayed as Hardness)"
},
{
"field": "No",
"label": "(link to Light article, displayed as Luminous)"
},
{
"field": "Yes",
"label": "(link to Opacity article, displayed as Transparent)"
},
{
"field": "Yes",
"label": "(link to Waterlogging article, displayed as Waterloggable)"
},
{
"field": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)",
"label": "(link to Flammable article, displayed as Flammable)"
},
{
"field": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)",
"label": "Catches fire<br>from (link to lava article, displayed as lava)"
}
],
"invimages": [
"Oak Shelf",
"Spruce Shelf",
"Birch Shelf",
"Jungle Shelf",
"Acacia Shelf",
"Dark Oak Shelf",
"Mangrove Shelf",
"Cherry Shelf",
"Pale Oak Shelf",
"Bamboo Shelf",
"Crimson Shelf",
"Warped Shelf",
"Oak Shelf BE",
"Spruce Shelf BE",
"Birch Shelf BE",
"Jungle Shelf BE",
"Acacia Shelf BE",
"Dark Oak Shelf BE",
"Mangrove Shelf BE",
"Cherry Shelf BE",
"Pale Oak Shelf BE",
"Bamboo Shelf BE",
"Crimson Shelf BE",
"Warped Shelf BE"
]
}
A shelf is a block that can store and display up to three stacks of items.
A powered shelf instantly swaps its three inventory slots with the player's hotbar whenever it is used. Up to three powered shelves can connect together to swap up to nine items at once.
Obtaining
Breaking
Shelves can be broken by hand, but using an axe is the fastest.
| Block | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 2 | |
| Tool | ||
| Breaking time (sec)[A] | ||
| Default | 3 | |
| 1.5 | ||
| 0.75 | ||
| 0.6 | ||
| 0.5 | ||
| 0.4 | ||
| 0.35 | ||
| 0.25 | ||
- incorrect tool, drops nothing
- correct tool, drops nothing or something other than the block itself
- correct tool, drops the block itself
- italicized can be instant mined
- ↑ These durations ignore other influential factors (e.g., Mining Fatigue) and are measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.
Crafting
| Ingredients | Crafting recipe |
|---|---|
| Matching Stripped Log or Block of Stripped Bamboo or Matching Stripped Stem |
Usage

In Java Edition, shelves cannot be moved by pistons.
Holding items
A shelf can store up to 3 item stacks. Each slot of the shelf can store a full stack of any stackable item, or just one of a non-stackable item. The number of items in the stack is not displayed. The shelf displays all items it contains in front of it, similar to an item frame. Interacting with any of the 3 slots swaps the player's main hand item with the content of that slot if it is not powered by redstone.
Redstone

While a shelf is powered by redstone, its front texture changes to show its powered state; when placed next to each other, up to three powered shelves can connect together. Powered shelves prioritize connecting to other shelves on the left.
Powered shelves can be used to quickly swap the contents of a player's hotbar, similar to the Saved Hotbars[JE only] function in Creative mode.
- Interacting with a single powered shelf swaps all its contents with the 3 rightmost slots in the hotbar.
- Interacting with two connected shelves swaps their contents with the 6 rightmost slots in the hotbar.
- Interacting with three connected shelves swaps their contents with all 9 slots of the hotbar.
It does not matter which of the connected shelves the player interacts with.
Comparators

Shelves can also act as power sources for redstone comparators depending on what slots contain an item.
- An item in the left slot will emit a redstone power of 1.
- An item in the middle slot will emit a redstone power of 2.
- An item in the right slot will emit a redstone power of 4.
If multiple slots contain an item, the comparator will output the total, up to a maximum power of 7 if all slots are filled.
Hoppers and droppers
Shelves can be filled automatically by using either hoppers or droppers. Hoppers can also remove items from a shelf when placed underneath.
Items from a shelf are added and removed from left to right and will stack stackable items into one slot until that slot is full.
Fuel
Overworld shelves can be used as a fuel in furnaces, smelting 1.5 items per shelf.
Nether shelves cannot be used as a fuel in furnaces.
Note blocks
Shelves can be placed under note blocks to produce "bass" sounds.
Sounds
Generic
chiseled_bookshelf sound type | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Subtitles | Source | Description | Resource location | Translation key | Volume | Pitch | Attenuation distance |
| Block broken | Blocks | Once the block has broken | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8 | 16 | |
| Block placed | Blocks | When the block is placed | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8 | 16 | |
| Block breaking | Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | block | subtitles | 0.25 | 0.5 | 16 | |
| Something falls on a block | Entity-Dependent | Falling on the block with fall damage | block | subtitles | 0.5 | 0.75 | 16 | |
| Footsteps | Entity-Dependent | Walking on the block | block | subtitles | 0.15 | 1.0 | 16 | |
chiseled_bookshelf sound type | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Source | Description | Resource location | Volume | Pitch |
| Blocks | Once the block has broken | break | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | When the block is placed | place | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | hit | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Players | Falling on the block with fall damage | step | 0.4 | 1.0 | |
| Players | Walking on the block | step | 0.2 | 1.0 | |
| Players | Jumping from the block | step | 0.12 | 1.0 | |
| Players | Falling on the block without fall damage | step | 0.18 | 1.0 | |
Despite shelves using the chiseled_bookshelf sound type for its generic sounds, in Java Edition, the following resource locations also exist: block.shelf.break, block.shelf.place, block.shelf.hit, block.shelf.fall, and block.shelf.step.
Unique
| Sounds | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Subtitles | Source | Description | Resource location | Translation key | Volume | Pitch | Attenuation distance |
| Shelf activates | Blocks | When a shelf is activated | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 1.0 | 16 | |
| Shelf deactivates | Blocks | When a shelf is deactivated | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 1.0 | 16 | |
| Item placed | Blocks | When an item is placed in a shelf | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 1.0 | 16 | |
| Item swaps | Blocks | When an item from the player's inventory is switched with an item in a shelf | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 1.0 | 16 | |
| Items swap | Blocks | When multiple items from the player's inventory are switched with multiple items in a shelf | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 1.0 | 16 | |
| Sounds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Source | Description | Resource location | Volume | Pitch |
| Blocks | When a shelf is activated | block | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | When a shelf is deactivated | block | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | When an item is placed in a shelf | block | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | When an item from the player's inventory is switched with an item in a shelf | block | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | When multiple items from the player's inventory are switched with multiple items in a shelf | block | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
Data values
ID
| Name | Identifier | Form | Block tags | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
oak_shelf | Block & Item | mineable/axewooden_shelves | block | |
spruce_shelf | Block & Item | mineable/axewooden_shelves | block | |
birch_shelf | Block & Item | mineable/axewooden_shelves | block | |
jungle_shelf | Block & Item | mineable/axewooden_shelves | block | |
acacia_shelf | Block & Item | mineable/axewooden_shelves | block | |
dark_oak_shelf | Block & Item | mineable/axewooden_shelves | block | |
mangrove_shelf | Block & Item | mineable/axewooden_shelves | block | |
cherry_shelf | Block & Item | mineable/axewooden_shelves | block | |
pale_oak_shelf | Block & Item | mineable/axewooden_shelves | block | |
bamboo_shelf | Block & Item | mineable/axewooden_shelves | block | |
crimson_shelf | Block & Item | mineable/axewooden_shelves | block | |
warped_shelf | Block & Item | mineable/axewooden_shelves | block |
| Name | Identifier |
|---|---|
shelf |
| Name | Identifier | Numeric ID | Form | Item ID[i 1] | Block tags | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
oak_shelf | 1302 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -1047) | minecraft:is_axe_item_destructiblenot_feature_replaceable | tile | |
spruce_shelf | 1303 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -1048) | minecraft:is_axe_item_destructiblenot_feature_replaceable | tile | |
birch_shelf | 1304 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -1049) | minecraft:is_axe_item_destructiblenot_feature_replaceable | tile | |
jungle_shelf | 1305 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -1050) | minecraft:is_axe_item_destructiblenot_feature_replaceable | tile | |
acacia_shelf | 1306 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -1051) | minecraft:is_axe_item_destructiblenot_feature_replaceable | tile | |
dark_oak_shelf | 1307 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -1052) | minecraft:is_axe_item_destructiblenot_feature_replaceable | tile | |
mangrove_shelf | 1308 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -1053) | minecraft:is_axe_item_destructiblenot_feature_replaceable | tile | |
cherry_shelf | 1309 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -1054) | minecraft:is_axe_item_destructiblenot_feature_replaceable | tile | |
pale_oak_shelf | 1310 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -1055) | minecraft:is_axe_item_destructiblenot_feature_replaceable | tile | |
bamboo_shelf | 1311 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -1056) | minecraft:is_axe_item_destructiblenot_feature_replaceable | tile | |
crimson_shelf | 1312 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -1057) | minecraft:is_axe_item_destructiblenot_feature_replaceable | tile | |
warped_shelf | 1313 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] (Numeric: -1058) | minecraft:is_axe_item_destructiblenot_feature_replaceable | tile |
| Name | Identifier |
|---|---|
Shelf |
Block states
| Name | Default value | Allowed values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| facing | north | eastnorthsouthwest | The direction the shelf is facing. Opposite from the direction the player faces when placing it. |
| powered | false | truefalse | True if the shelf is powered. |
| side_chain | unconnected | leftcenterrightunconnected | Which side the shelf is connected to if powered.[more information needed] |
| waterlogged | false | truefalse | Whether there's water in the same place as the shelf. |
| Name | Default value | Allowed values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| minecraft:cardinal_direction | south | southwestnortheast | The direction the shelf is facing. |
| powered_shelf_type | 0 | 0123 | [more information needed] |
| powered_bit | false | truefalse | True if the shelf is powered. |
Block data
Shelves have block entities associated with them that hold additional data about the block.
- [NBT Compound / JSON Object] Block entity data
- Tags common to all block entities see Template:Nbt inherit/blockentity/template
- [Boolean] align_items_to_bottom: 1 or 0 (
true/false) - iftrue, items sit near the bottom of the shelf. - [NBT List / JSON Array] Items: List of items in the shelf.
- [NBT Compound / JSON Object]: An item, including the slot tag. The valid slot numbers are 0-2.
- An item see Template:Nbt inherit/item/template
- [NBT Compound / JSON Object]: An item, including the slot tag. The valid slot numbers are 0-2.
History
| Java Edition | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.21.9 | 25w31a | ||||||
| Shelved items and blocks use the same model display settings as item frames. | |||||||
| 25w32a | |||||||
| 25w33a | |||||||
| Shelved items and blocks now use separate model display settings. | |||||||
| Shelved blocks and shields are now larger, and items now slightly float in front of the shelves. | |||||||
align_items_to_bottom block state property, by default set to false, to display items at the bottom of the shelf rather than in the middle. | |||||||
| 25w34a | The align_items_to_bottom block state has been replaced by an equivalent boolean field for the block entity itself. | ||||||
| 25w36a | Powered shelves can now only connect to other powered shelves facing the exact same direction. | ||||||
| Bedrock Edition | |||||||
| 1.21.111 | Preview 1.21.110.20 | ||||||
| Only shelves of the same wood type can connect when powered. | |||||||
| Preview 1.21.110.22 | Shelves can now be waterlogged. | ||||||
| A redstone comparator adjacent to a shelf now outputs a signal indicating which slots of the shelf contain items. | |||||||
| Non-solid blocks can no longer be placed on the top, bottom, front or sides of the shelf. | |||||||
| Powered shelves now connect even when they are made of different types of wood. | |||||||
| Preview 1.21.110.23 | |||||||
| Shelved items and blocks now sit nearer to or at the bottom of the shelf, rather than in the middle. | |||||||
| Interacting with an unpowered shelf while in Creative now replaces the shelf item with the player's selected item instead of swapping them. | |||||||
| Preview 1.21.110.24 | |||||||
| Preview 1.21.110.25 | Shelves now produce the same particles as their stripped log counterparts when they break. | ||||||
| Shelved items now slightly float in front of the shelves, and shelved blocks were restored to their original sizes. | |||||||
| 1.21.120 | Preview 1.21.120.20 | Adding or removing redstone power to or from the shelf now emits vibrations. | |||||
| When a player places/removes/swaps an item on an unpowered shelf, a vibration of frequency 3 is emitted. | |||||||
| When a player places/removes an item on a powered shelf, a vibration of frequency 3 is emitted. | |||||||
| When a player swaps item with one on a powered shelf, a vibration of frequency 6 is emitted. | |||||||
Issues
Issues relating to "Shelf" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.
Gallery
Textures
-
Oak shelf -
Birch shelf -
Spruce shelf -
Jungle shelf -
Acacia shelf -
Dark Oak shelf -
Mangrove shelf -
Cherry shelf -
Pale Oak shelf -
Bamboo shelf -
Crimson shelf -
Warped shelf
Renders
-
Single -
Leftmost -
Inbetween -
Rightmost
Spruce
-
Single -
Leftmost -
Inbetween -
Rightmost
Birch
-
Single -
Leftmost -
Inbetween -
Rightmost
Jungle
-
Single -
Leftmost -
Inbetween -
Rightmost
Acacia
-
Single -
Leftmost -
Inbetween -
Rightmost
Dark Oak
-
Single -
Leftmost -
Inbetween -
Rightmost
Mangrove
-
Single -
Leftmost -
Inbetween -
Rightmost
Cherry
-
Single -
Leftmost -
Inbetween -
Rightmost
Pale Oak
-
Single -
Leftmost -
Inbetween -
Rightmost
Bamboo
-
Single -
Leftmost -
Inbetween -
Rightmost
Crimson
-
Single -
Leftmost -
Inbetween -
Rightmost
Warped
-
Single -
Leftmost -
Inbetween -
Rightmost
Mojang screenshots
-
Several shelf variations with copper golem statues. -
Shelves with the copper chest and copper armor. -
Shelves with copper chest -
Shelves in the copper room. -
A shelf being used in a machine. -
A wall covered in shelves. -
Efe using mangrove shelves. -
Birch, mangrove, cherry, and oak shelves.
In other media
-
A shelf above Steve's bed on the first day of school. -
Shelves in A Minecraft Movie.
See also
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| Features | |
|---|---|
| Sources | |
| Building blocks | |
| Functional blocks | |
| Tools | |
| Weapons |
|
| Vehicles | |
| Wood types | |