An enchanting table needs one book, two diamonds, and four obsidian blocks, crafted at a regular crafting table. On its own it only offers weak, low-level enchantments. Surrounding it with bookshelves is what unlocks the strongest options, up to the game's maximum enchantment level, 30.
What you need before you craft
- 1 book
- 2 diamonds
- 4 obsidian blocks
- A diamond pickaxe or better, to mine the obsidian
Diamonds are the harder half of this recipe. Diamond ore needs an iron pickaxe or better to mine, and if you don't already own a diamond pickaxe you need three more diamonds just to craft one, on top of the two the enchanting table itself uses. Obsidian forms wherever flowing water touches a lava source block, so pouring a water bucket onto still lava is the standard way to get some without a trip to the Nether. Only a diamond or netherite pickaxe can break obsidian and drop it as an item; anything weaker leaves the block in place. The book is the easy part: 3 paper and 1 leather, crafted at a crafting table.
How to craft an enchanting table
- 1.Open a crafting table and place a book in the top middle slot.
- 2.Place a diamond in the middle-left slot, obsidian in the dead center slot, and a diamond in the middle-right slot.
- 3.Fill the entire bottom row with obsidian, three blocks in total.
- 4.Move the finished enchanting table into your inventory and place it wherever you plan to enchant.
Build the bookshelf ring for level 30 enchantments
A bare enchanting table only offers low-level enchantments. Reaching the maximum, level 30, needs 15 bookshelves placed close enough to connect. The standard layout is a one-block-high, five-by-five square of bookshelves with the table in the center, leaving exactly one block of air between the table and every shelf. Bookshelves work at the same height as the table or exactly one block higher, so a single-layer ring on the floor is the simplest setup. That air gap has to stay clear: solid blocks, and even something as thin as a torch, break the connection, though air, snow, and short grass in the gap are all fine.
This setup takes real space and resources: a five-by-five footprint plus headroom, and 15 bookshelves' worth of planks and books, before you get any enchanting benefit from them. It's worth planning the room before you commit that much floor space and crafting material to it.
How to enchant an item
Place an item in the table's item slot and lapis lazuli in the slot beside it, up to three at a time. Three randomized enchantment options appear. You can only pick an option if your experience level meets or beats the level shown next to it, but the game only actually charges you levels and lapis lazuli equal to that slot's lapis cost, which never goes above three, even for an option that displays level 30. Picking one option applies it, and a bonus enchantment sometimes rides along for free. If the roman-numeral enchantment names in your tooltips don't mean much yet, a mod like Enchantment Descriptions adds a plain-language line explaining what each one actually does.
Results stay random even with a full bookshelf ring. A level 30 slot can still hand you a single low-tier enchantment instead of something like Efficiency IV or Fortune III, and you can't pick the specific enchantment you want at the table. The table also never offers Mending, Frost Walker, or either curse enchantment; those come only from villager trades, fishing, or loot chests.
Frequently asked questions
How many bookshelves do I need for level 30 enchantments?
Fifteen. Place them in a one-block-high, five-by-five square around the table with a one-block air gap on every side. The ring has room for 16 bookshelf spots, so one can stay empty, for a doorway or a gap, without lowering the level 30 cap.
How much lapis lazuli does enchanting cost?
Up to three lapis lazuli per enchantment. The three options at the table show level requirements as high as 30, but the actual charge in experience levels and lapis lazuli always matches that slot's smaller lapis number, which never rises above three.
Can I choose which enchantment I get from the table?
No. You pick one of three randomized slots, and the table decides which enchantment and level land inside it. Higher-level slots tend to give stronger or more numerous enchantments, but nothing is guaranteed, and treasure enchantments like Mending never appear at the table at all.
Do I need a diamond pickaxe to get obsidian for the table?
Yes. In Java Edition survival, only a diamond or netherite pickaxe can break obsidian and drop it as an item; anything weaker leaves the block standing. Since the table also needs two diamonds outright, plan on mining at least five diamonds in total if you don't already own a diamond pickaxe: three for the tool and two for the table.
