PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade
QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes
EDIT Edit this Article
EXPLORE Tech Help ProAbout UsRandom ArticleQuizzes Request a New ArticleCommunity DashboardTrendingForums Arts and EntertainmentArtworkBooksMoviesComputers and ElectronicsComputersPhone SkillsTechnology HacksHealthMen's HealthMental HealthWomen's HealthRelationshipsDatingLoveRelationship Issues Hobbies and CraftsCraftsDrawingGamesEducation & CommunicationCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentStudyingPersonal Care and StyleFashionHair CarePersonal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games ForumsArts and EntertainmentFinance and BusinessHome and Garden Relationship QuizzesCars & Other VehiclesFood and EntertainingPersonal Care and Style Sports and FitnessComputers and ElectronicsHealthPets and Animals TravelEducation & CommunicationHobbies and CraftsPhilosophy and Religion Work WorldFamily LifeHolidays and TraditionsRelationships Youth
LOG IN
Log in
Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. FacebookGooglewikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account
RANDOM
Home
Random
Browse Articles
TrendingNew
Quizzes & Games
All QuizzesHot
Love Quizzes
Personality Quizzes
Fun Games
Dating Simulator
Learn Something New
Forums
Courses
Happiness Hub
Explore More
Support wikiHow
About wikiHow
Log in / Sign up
Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow
Categories
Hobbies and Crafts
Games
Video Games
PC Games
Online Games
Minecraft
Minecraft Building
Minecraft Crafting
How to Craft a Hopper in Minecraft Download Article Co-authored by Zac Churchill
Last Updated: October 20, 2025 References
Download Article
Making the Hopper
|
Using a Hopper
|
Adding Hoppers to Minecarts
|
Q&A
|
Tips
|
Warnings
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Zac Churchill. Zac Churchill is a Minecraft Specialist based in Davidson, North Carolina. Zac has played Minecraft for over 10 years and has extensive knowledge of how to play Minecraft and how the game has changed over the different versions. Specifically, Zac has expert experience in survival worlds, large builds on creative mode, and server design/upkeep. He graduated in 2023 with a BA in Sociology and English from Tufts University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 138,215 times.
A hopper collects items from above it, and deposits them somewhere else. To craft this useful block, you will need a chest and five iron ingots. Once you have your hopper, you can make automatic furnaces, breweries, and even a minecart delivery system.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 3:
Making the Hopper
Download Article
1 Learn the crafting recipe. First, make a crafting table out of four wooden planks. Place the table and use it by right-clicking. Insert these items into the crafting grid, in exactly this order:[1]XResearch source
First row: iron ingot, (blank), iron ingot
Second row: iron ingot, chest, iron ingot
Third row: (blank), iron ingot, (blank)
2 Make the chest. If you don't have a chest, make one using eight wooden planks. Place them in the crafting table area, leaving the center square blank.
Use planks, not logs. To turn a log into four planks, just place one in the crafting area.
Advertisement
3 Find the iron. Search in caves and underground to find iron ore, which looks like stone with beige flecks. Mine it using a stone pickaxe. Smelt the ore in a furnace to make iron ingots. Once you have your chest and iron, make the hopper using the recipe above.
Advertisement Part 2 Part 2 of 3:
Using a Hopper
Download Article
1 Crouch. Hoppers are placed onto containers. If you click on the container, though, it will open instead of placing the hopper. To prevent this, crouch. While crouching, you can place hoppers onto containers.
To crouch on a computer, hold down ⇧ Shift. (On Mac, press ⇬ Caps Lock once for a permanent crouch.)
On most consoles, crouch by pressing the right analog stick once. Press again to stand up.
2 Place the hopper on a container. Think of the hopper as a large funnel (the input) ending in a small spout (the output). Hold the hopper and click on the surface where you want the spout. In other words, click where you want items to end up. This is usually a chest or other container.
The hopper will not ever change direction after it's been placed. If you make a mistake, break it with a pickaxe, pick it up, and place it again.
You can place the spout above an object or on its side. You cannot place the spout underneath an object.
3 Drop items in the hopper. Test your hopper by dropping items into it. If a container is attached, the item should move to the container. If there is no container attached, the item will stay in the hopper.
Look at the hopper inventory by interacting with it, just as you would with a chest.
The hopper only moves one item at a time, but the items move quickly. Even a large stack shouldn't take too long.
4 Place a container above the hopper. Any container above the hopper will drop items into the hopper funnel. Try putting a furnace on top of the hopper, and smelt some iron. As each iron ingot appears, it will fall into the hopper, then into the container the hopper leads to.
5 Set up an automatic furnace station. Hoppers work great with furnaces, which use many items and normally need frequent tending. Here's the setup you need to keep your furnace running on its own:[2]XResearch source
A hopper on the side of the furnace will fill its fuel slot. Keep a chest above this hopper filled with coal or other fuel.
A hopper above the furnace will fill the top slot of the furnace. Keep a chest above this hopper filled with raw meat, ore, or other ingredients.
A hopper below the furnace will pick up the finished items. The small end of the hopper should connect to a chest, where these items will end up.
Your furnace will burn until it runs out of fuel or ingredients, or until the final chest runs out of space.
6 Deactivate the hopper with redstone. An active redstone signal will lock the hopper, preventing items from entering.[3]XResearch source Attach the hopper to a lever or button using a line of redstone dust. Use the lever or button to turn your hopper on or off.
Advertisement Part 3 Part 3 of 3:
Adding Hoppers to Minecarts
Download Article
1 Combine a minecart and hopper. Place the hopper directly above the minecart in a crafting area. The result is called a "minecart with hopper." This travels like a minecart, and picks up items like a hopper.
This travels much farther than a regular minecart when it passes over powered rails.[4]XResearch source
2 Pick up items with the hopper. The minecart and attached hopper will pick up any items on the tracks or right next to them. The hopper also grabs items from any container directly above it. Place the cart below any container and wait for it to fill up. Send it on its powered track to deliver items without having to travel with them.
3 Unload items with another hopper. At the destination, build a hopper leading to a chest. Place the rails directly on top of this hopper, just like laying a track on the ground. When the moving hopper arrives at its destination, have it stop on this track. The items will automatically drop out into the hopper beneath it, then into the chest.
If you're a redstone whizkid, you can make a system that automatically sends the cart on its way once it's reached a certain capacity. The key to this is a redstone comparator. Because hoppers are disabled next to detector rails, this is tough to set up. Minecraft players have posted many creative solutions online.
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search Add New Question
Question Which tools can you mine it with? CamelHey73 Top Answerer Hoppers can be mined with any pickaxe. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 20
Question Can hoppers be mined with bare hands? Seasalt25 Top Answerer Hoppers cannot be mined with bare hands if you want to obtain them, they must be mined with a wooden pickaxe or better. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 3
Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Things You'll Need
1 chest (or 8 wooden planks to make a chest)
5 iron ingots
Crafting table
Tips
If the recipe doesn't make hoppers, update Minecraft. You'll need at least version 1.5 on the computer, version TU19 for Xbox360, CU7 for Xbox One, or Patch 1.12 on PlayStation.[5]XResearch source [6]XResearch source [7]XResearch source [8]XResearch source [9]XResearch source Updating to the latest version is best. In some early versions, the hopper recipe may require stone blocks instead of iron ingots, and the item may not work as described above. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If items enter the hopper and don't leave, check the attached container. It might be full. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 0
Think of the recipe as an iron "V" with a chest sitting in the center. Thanks Helpful 12 Not Helpful 1
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
If a hopper is powered somehow by a redstone current, then the hopper will not take in any items, instead they will bounce out of it and not go in. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
Hoppers cannot transfer items to or from a chest that cannot be opened. The chest must have an empty space above it.[10]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Use a pickaxe to turn a placed hopper back into an inventory item. The hopper will break if mined with any other tool, or with your bare hand.[11]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Items will never move between hoppers and Ender Chests, in either direction.[12]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Advertisement
You Might Also Like
How toUse a Hopper in MinecraftHow toMake an Automatic Furnace in MinecraftHow toMake a Minecart in MinecraftHow toMake a Mob Spawner in MinecraftHow toBuild an Auto Chicken Farm in MinecraftHow to Make Tripwire Hooks in MinecraftHow toMake a Trapped Chest in MinecraftBuild an Iron Farm in Minecraft: Easy Iron Golem TechniqueHow toMake a Minecraft Roller CoasterHow toMake a Furnace in MinecraftHow toBuild a Railway System on MinecraftHow to Make a Chest in Minecraft: A Simple TutorialHow toMake a Bucket in MinecraftHow toMake an Aether Portal in Minecraft Advertisement
Co-authored by: Zac Churchill Minecraft Specialist This article was co-authored by Zac Churchill. Zac Churchill is a Minecraft Specialist based in Davidson, North Carolina. Zac has played Minecraft for over 10 years and has extensive knowledge of how to play Minecraft and how the game has changed over the different versions. Specifically, Zac has expert experience in survival worlds, large builds on creative mode, and server design/upkeep. He graduated in 2023 with a BA in Sociology and English from Tufts University. This article has been viewed 138,215 times. 41 votes - 73% Co-authors: 13Updated: October 20, 2025 Views: 138,215 Categories: Minecraft CraftingArticle SummaryX
1. Open the crafting table. 2. Place iron ingots in squares 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8. 3. Place a chest in square 5. 4. Drag the hopper to the inventory. Did this summary help you?YesNo
In other languages Italian Spanish Chinese Russian French Indonesian
Print
Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 138,215 times.
Reader Success Stories
Caleb Clemmons
Jun 25, 2016
"Learning to make and use the hopper is helpful. I love it so much! "
Share your story
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Zac Churchill Minecraft Specialist 41 votes - 73% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 13Updated: October 20, 2025 Views: 138,215
Caleb Clemmons
Jun 25, 2016
"Learning to make and use the hopper is helpful. I love it so much! " Share yours!
Quizzes & Games
Minecraft Trivia QuizTake QuizWhat Kind of Minecraft Player Am I QuizTake QuizWhat's My Minecraft Style QuizTake QuizWhat Weapon Should I Use In Minecraft QuizTake QuizThe Impossible QuizTake QuizThe Potion Game: Brew The Perfect PotionPlay
You Might Also Like
How toUse a Hopper in MinecraftHow toMake an Automatic Furnace in MinecraftHow toMake a Minecart in MinecraftHow toMake a Mob Spawner in Minecraft
Featured Articles
Hilarious Clean Jokes That’ll Make Adults & Kids LaughAm I Ready For A Relationship QuizWhy Is He Ignoring Me? 12 Possible Reasons (Plus, What to Do)A Complete Style Guide for the Gamine Kibbe Body TypeHow to Tell if You’re in LoveWhich Chaotic Evil Villain Am I Quiz
Trending Articles
Let Us Rate You 1-10: Attractiveness Scale QuizCan We Guess If You're Single or Taken?How toMake OutAm I a Gigachad or Totally Chopped?How Rare Is My Birthday QuizHow Nonchalant Am I Quiz
Featured Articles
What Does It Mean If Someone Tries to Kill You in Your Dream?200+ Best Questions to Ask Someone You Like (Texting & IRL)How Beautiful Am I Quiz13 Types of Hairlines for Men and Women (And How to Maintain Yours)Which of the 8 Face Shapes Do You Have? Helpful Tips & Style GuidanceMental Illness Test
Featured Articles
How toEnjoy the HolidaysHow to Get 250 Grams of Protein Daily: Best Foods, Meal Plans & MoreAm I Girly Quiz200 Fun, Flirty, & Deep Questions to Get to Know a Guy BetterHow to Tighten Skin Under Your Chin: Natural or Surgical OptionsWhat Would My Nickname Be Quiz
Watch Articles
How toWrap a Round GiftHow toSteam in an OvenHow to Make Plant-Based Meat: 4 Incredible RecipesHow toClean a Silver Necklace4 Easy Ways to Open a Can of SodaHow toPart Your Hair
Trending Articles
180 Good Comebacks & Savage Roasts to Win Any ArgumentAm I a Furry QuizHave I Met My Soulmate Yet QuizRandom Fortune GeneratorWhat Should My Name Really Be QuizWhat Are the Gay Male Body Types (And Which Do You Have?)
Quizzes & Games
Who's Your Stranger Things Soulmate QuizTake QuizWhich Camp Half-Blood Cabin Would I Live In QuizTake QuizAm I Smart QuizTake QuizVideo Game Trivia TestTake QuizCognitive TestTake QuizDo I Have Common Sense QuizTake Quiz
Categories
Hobbies and Crafts
Games
Video Games
PC Games
Online Games
Minecraft
Minecraft Building
Minecraft Crafting
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
Home
About wikiHow
Experts
Jobs
Contact Us
Site Map
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info
Contribute
Follow Us
×
wikiHow Tech Help Pro:
Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve
Download Article Co-authored by Zac Churchill 
Advertisement 
Co-authored by: Zac Churchill Minecraft Specialist This article was co-authored by Zac Churchill. Zac Churchill is a Minecraft Specialist based in Davidson, North Carolina. Zac has played Minecraft for over 10 years and has extensive knowledge of how to play Minecraft and how the game has changed over the different versions. Specifically, Zac has expert experience in survival worlds, large builds on creative mode, and server design/upkeep. He graduated in 2023 with a BA in Sociology and English from Tufts University. This article has been viewed 138,215 times. 41 votes - 73% Co-authors: 13 Updated: October 20, 2025 Views: 138,215 Categories: Minecraft Crafting Article SummaryX
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Play 
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz 
686 
1 Learn the crafting recipe. First, make a crafting table out of four wooden planks. Place the table and use it by right-clicking. Insert these items into the crafting grid, in exactly this order:[1] 
2 Make the chest. If you don't have a chest, make one using eight wooden planks. Place them in the crafting table area, leaving the center square blank. 
3 Find the iron. Search in caves and underground to find iron ore, which looks like stone with beige flecks. Mine it using a stone pickaxe. Smelt the ore in a furnace to make iron ingots. Once you have your chest and iron, make the hopper using the recipe above. Advertisement 
1 Crouch. Hoppers are placed onto containers. If you click on the container, though, it will open instead of placing the hopper. To prevent this, crouch. While crouching, you can place hoppers onto containers. 
2 Place the hopper on a container. Think of the hopper as a large funnel (the input) ending in a small spout (the output). Hold the hopper and click on the surface where you want the spout. In other words, click where you want items to end up. This is usually a chest or other container. 
3 Drop items in the hopper. Test your hopper by dropping items into it. If a container is attached, the item should move to the container. If there is no container attached, the item will stay in the hopper. 
4 Place a container above the hopper. Any container above the hopper will drop items into the hopper funnel. Try putting a furnace on top of the hopper, and smelt some iron. As each iron ingot appears, it will fall into the hopper, then into the container the hopper leads to. 
5 Set up an automatic furnace station. Hoppers work great with furnaces, which use many items and normally need frequent tending. Here's the setup you need to keep your furnace running on its own:[2] 
6 Deactivate the hopper with redstone. An active redstone signal will lock the hopper, preventing items from entering.[3] Attach the hopper to a lever or button using a line of redstone dust. Use the lever or button to turn your hopper on or off. Advertisement 
1 Combine a minecart and hopper. Place the hopper directly above the minecart in a crafting area. The result is called a "minecart with hopper." This travels like a minecart, and picks up items like a hopper. 
2 Pick up items with the hopper. The minecart and attached hopper will pick up any items on the tracks or right next to them. The hopper also grabs items from any container directly above it. Place the cart below any container and wait for it to fill up. Send it on its powered track to deliver items without having to travel with them. 
3 Unload items with another hopper. At the destination, build a hopper leading to a chest. Place the rails directly on top of this hopper, just like laying a track on the ground. When the moving hopper arrives at its destination, have it stop on this track. The items will automatically drop out into the hopper beneath it, then into the chest. 
CamelHey73 Top Answerer Hoppers can be mined with any pickaxe. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 20 
Seasalt25 Top Answerer Hoppers cannot be mined with bare hands if you want to obtain them, they must be mined with a wooden pickaxe or better. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 3 
Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.