Digging is one of the most fundamental activities in Minecraft, performed by holding the left mouse button while the cursor is over a block. Digging is used to create passages and tunnels, to clear away unwanted blocks, and is also the primary way of acquiring blocks for future placement or crafting.
Basics of Digging
Digging is accomplished simply by holding the left mouse button while the cursor is over a block. If you are within 4 blocks of the target, you will begin swinging you hand, making a repetitive "thump" noise as you hit the block, and cracks will begin to appear. (When you are in range, the block will also by marked with a wireframe cube outline, showing you the current target.) After the cracks completely cover the block, it will break, and depending on the type of block and the tool you are wielding it may also drop items.
You will continue to dig as long as the mouse button is held down, although there is a slight pause of 0.25 seconds between destroying one block and beginning on the one behind it. You can move freely while digging, and you can even dig while jumping or swimming! (Although there is a speed penalty for the latter two, see below.) This makes it easy to dig long tunnels or to clear away a large volume of material.
You lose your digging progress if the target block changes while digging, so it is best to target the middle of a block's face. Progress is also reset whenever the mouse button is released. This can be used to your advantage because of a quirk in the handling of the "cooldown" between blocks: the 0.25 second cooldown is reset when you release the mouse. Thus, with proper timing you can "click mine," increasing your overall digging throughput. (The "thump" noise is helpful for gauging this: it plays exactly 5 times per second, starting as soon as you click. For example, mining Stone with an Iron Pickaxe takes 0.4 seconds, so there are two thumps plus a little extra time before the block breaks.) It used to be possible to "switch mine" by switching targets right as the block broke to accomplish the same thing, but that no longer resets the cooldown.
Digging speed
The speed at which you dig is controlled by two factors: The block you are breaking, and the item you are currently wielding. Every block has a hardness, which determines the base amount of time to break that block if you hit it with your bare hands. Most items
Blocks by hardness
The following table shows the time it takes to break each type of block. Values marked with an asterisk and a red background indicate that no resource will be dropped when it is destroyed by that quality of tool. (Note that some blocks, like Ice, don't drop anything even when the "proper" tool is used.) If there is no tool that helps speed up mining the block, the row will have a grey background.
| Block | Hardness | Tool | Bare hands | Wood | Stone | Iron | Diamond | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedrock | Infinite | Infinite | Infinite | Infinite | Infinite | Infinite | Infinite | |
| Portal | Infinite | Infinite | Infinite | Infinite | Infinite | Infinite | Infinite | |
| Water | 150.0 secs | 150.0 secs | 150.0 secs | 150.0 secs | 150.0 secs | 150.0 secs | 150.0 secs | |
| Lava (Still) | 150.0 secs | 150.0 secs | 150.0 secs | 150.0 secs | 150.0 secs | 150.0 secs | 150.0 secs | |
| Obsidian | 15.0 secs | Pickaxe | 50.0 secs* | 50.0 secs* | 50.0 secs* | 50.0 secs* | 15.0 secs | 50.0 secs* |
| Iron Door | 7.5 secs | Pickaxe | 25.0 secs* | 7.5 secs | 7.5 secs | 7.5 secs | 7.5 secs | 7.5 secs |
| Diamond Block | 7.5 secs | Pickaxe | 25.0 secs* | 25.0 secs* | 25.0 secs* | 1.25 secs | 0.95 secs | 25.0 secs* |
| Iron Block | 7.5 secs | Pickaxe | 25.0 secs* | 25.0 secs* | 25.0 secs* | 1.25 secs | 0.95 secs | 25.0 secs* |
| Monster Spawner |
7.5 secs | Pickaxe | 25.0 secs* | 7.5 secs | 7.5 secs | 7.5 secs | 7.5 secs | 7.5 secs |
| Dispenser | 5.25 secs | Pickaxe | 17.5 secs* | 5.25 secs | 5.25 secs | 5.25 secs | 5.25 secs | 5.25 secs |
| Furnace | 5.25 secs | Pickaxe | 17.5 secs* | 5.25 secs | 5.25 secs | 5.25 secs | 5.25 secs | 5.25 secs |
| Wood Door | 4.5 secs | 4.5 secs | 4.5 secs | 4.5 secs | 4.5 secs | 4.5 secs | 4.5 secs | |
| Coal Ore | 4.5 secs | Pickaxe | 15.0 secs* | 2.25 secs | 1.15 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.6 secs | 0.4 secs |
| Diamond Ore | 4.5 secs | Pickaxe | 15.0 secs* | 15.0 secs* | 15.0 secs* | 0.75 secs | 0.6 secs | 15.0 secs* |
| Gold Ore | 4.5 secs | Pickaxe | 15.0 secs* | 15.0 secs* | 1.15 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.6 secs | 15.0 secs* |
| Iron Ore | 4.5 secs | Pickaxe | 15.0 secs* | 15.0 secs* | 1.15 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.6 secs | 15.0 secs* |
| Lapis Lazuli Ore |
4.5 secs | Pickaxe | 15.0 secs* | 15.0 secs* | 1.15 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.6 secs | 15.0 secs* |
| Redstone Ore | 4.5 secs | Pickaxe | 15.0 secs* | 15.0 secs* | 15.0 secs* | 4.5 secs | 4.5 secs | 15.0 secs* |
| Gold Block | 4.5 secs | Pickaxe | 15.0 secs* | 15.0 secs* | 15.0 secs* | 0.75 secs | 0.6 secs | 15.0 secs* |
| Lapis Lazuli Block |
4.5 secs | Pickaxe | 15.0 secs* | 15.0 secs* | 1.15 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.6 secs | 15.0 secs* |
| Chest | 3.75 secs | Axe | 3.75 secs | 1.9 secs | 0.95 secs | 0.65 secs | 0.5 secs | 0.35 secs |
| Workbench | 3.75 secs | 3.75 secs | 3.75 secs | 3.75 secs | 3.75 secs | 3.75 secs | 3.75 secs | |
| Brick | 3.0 secs | Pickaxe | 10.0 secs* | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs |
| Cobblestone | 3.0 secs | Pickaxe | 10.0 secs* | 1.5 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.5 secs | 0.4 secs | 0.25 secs |
| Moss Stone | 3.0 secs | Pickaxe | 10.0 secs* | 1.5 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.5 secs | 0.4 secs | 0.25 secs |
| Fence | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | |
| Jukebox | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | |
| Slab | 3.0 secs | Pickaxe | 10.0 secs* | 1.5 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.5 secs | 0.4 secs | 0.25 secs |
| Stone Stairs | 3.0 secs | Pickaxe | 10.0 secs* | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs |
| Wooden Stairs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | 3.0 secs | |
| Wood | 3.0 secs | Axe | 3.0 secs | 1.5 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.5 secs | 0.4 secs | 0.25 secs |
| Wooden Plank | 3.0 secs | Axe | 3.0 secs | 1.5 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.5 secs | 0.4 secs | 0.25 secs |
| Bookshelf | 2.25 secs | Axe | 2.25 secs | 1.15 secs | 0.6 secs | 0.4 secs | 0.3 secs | 0.2 secs |
| Stone | 2.25 secs | Pickaxe | 7.5 secs* | 1.15 secs | 0.6 secs | 0.4 secs | 0.3 secs | 0.2 secs |
| Block | Hardness | Tool | Bare hands | Wood | Stone | Iron | Diamond | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin | 1.5 secs | 1.5 secs | 1.5 secs | 1.5 secs | 1.5 secs | 1.5 secs | 1.5 secs | |
| Sign | 1.5 secs | 1.5 secs | 1.5 secs | 1.5 secs | 1.5 secs | 1.5 secs | 1.5 secs | |
| Note Block | 1.25 secs | 1.25 secs | 1.25 secs | 1.25 secs | 1.25 secs | 1.25 secs | 1.25 secs | |
| Sandstone | 1.25 secs | Pickaxe | 4.0 secs* | 0.65 secs | 0.35 secs | 0.25 secs | 0.2 secs | 0.15 secs |
| Wool | 1.25 secs | 1.25 secs | 1.25 secs | 1.25 secs | 1.25 secs | 1.25 secs | 1.25 secs | |
| Rails | 1.05 secs | 1.05 secs | 1.05 secs | 1.05 secs | 1.05 secs | 1.05 secs | 1.05 secs | |
| Clay | 0.9 secs | Shovel | 0.9 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.25 secs | 0.15 secs | 0.15 secs | 0.1 secs |
| Farmland | 0.9 secs | 0.9 secs | 0.9 secs | 0.9 secs | 0.9 secs | 0.9 secs | 0.9 secs | |
| Sponge | 0.9 secs | 0.9 secs | 0.9 secs | 0.9 secs | 0.9 secs | 0.9 secs | 0.9 secs | |
| Grass | 0.9 secs | Shovel | 0.9 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.25 secs | 0.15 secs | 0.15 secs | 0.1 secs |
| Gravel | 0.9 secs | Shovel | 0.9 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.25 secs | 0.15 secs | 0.15 secs | 0.1 secs |
| Button | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | |
| Cake | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | |
| Dirt | 0.75 secs | Shovel | 0.75 secs | 0.4 secs | 0.2 secs | 0.15 secs | 0.1 secs | 0.1 secs |
| Ice | 0.75 secs | Pickaxe | 2.5 secs* | 0.4 secs | 0.2 secs | 0.15 secs | 0.1 secs | 0.1 secs |
| Lever | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | |
| Pressure Plate | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | |
| Sand | 0.75 secs | Shovel | 0.75 secs | 0.4 secs | 0.2 secs | 0.15 secs | 0.1 secs | 0.1 secs |
| Soul Sand | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | 0.75 secs | |
| Cactus | 0.65 secs | 0.65 secs | 0.65 secs | 0.65 secs | 0.65 secs | 0.65 secs | 0.65 secs | |
| Ladder | 0.65 secs | 0.65 secs | 0.65 secs | 0.65 secs | 0.65 secs | 0.65 secs | 0.65 secs | |
| Netherrack | 0.65 secs | Pickaxe | 2.0 secs* | 0.35 secs | 0.2 secs | 0.15 secs | 0.1 secs | 0.1 secs |
| Glass | 0.45 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.45 secs | |
| Glowstone | 0.45 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.45 secs | 0.45 secs | |
| Bed | 0.35 secs | 0.35 secs | 0.35 secs | 0.35 secs | 0.35 secs | 0.35 secs | 0.35 secs | |
| Leaves | 0.35 secs | 0.35 secs | 0.35 secs | 0.35 secs | 0.35 secs | 0.35 secs | 0.35 secs | |
| Snow Block | 0.35 secs | Shovel | 1.0 secs* | 0.2 secs | 0.1 secs | 0.1 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs |
| Snow | 0.2 secs | Shovel | 0.5 secs* | 0.1 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs |
| Crops | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | |
| Fire | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | |
| Flower | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | |
| Lava (Flowing) | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | |
| Mushroom | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | |
| Redstone Repeater |
0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | |
| Redstone Torch |
0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | |
| Redstone Wire | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | |
| Reeds | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | |
| Sapling | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | |
| Tnt | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | |
| Torch | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs | 0.05 secs |