Renewable |
Yes |
---|---|
Stackable |
Yes (64) |
Tool |
Any tool |
Blast resistance |
0 |
Hardness |
0 |
Luminant |
No |
Transparent |
Yes |
Flammable |
No |
Catches fire from lava |
No |
Redstone dust is a mineral that can transmit redstone power when placed as a block.
Contents
Obtaining
Mining
Redstone ore mined using an iron pickaxe or higher drops 4 or 5 redstone dust (or more with Fortune, averaging at 6 redstone dust with Fortune level 3). If mined with Silk Touch, the block drops itself instead of redstone dust.
Natural generation
15 lengths of redstone dust are naturally generated as part of the trap in each jungle pyramid. 5 lengths of redstone dust can be found in one type of jail cell room in a woodland mansion.
Breaking
Redstone dust can be broken instantly using any tool, or without a tool, and drops itself as an item.
Redstone dust is removed and drops as an item if:
- its attachment block is moved, removed, or destroyed
- water or lava flows into its space
- a piston tries to push it or moves a block into its space
Mob loot
Witches have a chance of dropping 0–2 redstone dust upon death. This is increased by 1 per level of Looting, for a maximum of 0–5 redstone dust.
Chest loot
Item | Structure | Container | Quantity | Chance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Java Edition | ||||
Redstone Dust | Dungeon | Chest | 1–4 | 26.6% |
Mineshaft | Chest | 4–9 | 16.9% | |
Stronghold | Storeroom chest | 4–9 | 18.6% | |
Altar chest | 4–9 | 12.1% | ||
Village | Temple chest | 1–4 | 44.8% | |
Woodland mansion | Chest | 1–4 | 26.6% | |
Java Edition 1.17[upcoming] | ||||
Redstone Dust | Mineshaft | Chest | 4–9 | 14.5% |
Bedrock Edition | ||||
Redstone Dust | Dungeon | Chest | 1–4 | 26.6% |
Mineshaft | Chest | 4–9 | 16.9% | |
Stronghold | Storeroom chest | 4–9 | 15.2% | |
Altar chest | 4–9 | 11.8% | ||
Village | Temple chest | 1–4 | 44.8% | |
Woodland mansion | Chest | 1–4 | 26.6% | |
Bedrock Edition 1.17.0[upcoming] | ||||
Redstone Dust | Mineshaft | Chest | 4–9 | 14.5% |
Crafting
Redstone dust can be crafted from blocks of redstone.
Ingredients | Crafting recipe |
---|---|
Block of Redstone |
Smelting
Name | Ingredients | Smelting recipe |
---|---|---|
Redstone Dust | Redstone Ore + Any fuel |
Trading
In Java Edition, novice-level cleric villagers sell two redstone dust for one emerald.
Clerics may give redstone dust to players with the Hero of the Village effect.
In Bedrock Edition, novice-level cleric villagers sell four redstone dust for one emerald.
Usage
Redstone dust is used for brewing, crafting, and in redstone circuits by placing it on the ground to create redstone wire. It can also be used to power redstone components.
Brewing ingredient
Name | Ingredients | Brewing recipe |
---|---|---|
Mundane Potion | Redstone Dust + Water Bottle |
|
Increased Duration | Redstone Dust + Potion of Fire Resistance or Potion of Invisibility or Potion of Night Vision or Potion of Poison or Potion of Regeneration or Potion of Slowness or Potion of Strength or Potion of Swiftness or Potion of Water Breathing or Potion of Weakness or Potion of Leaping or Potion of Slow Falling |
Crafting ingredient
Name | Ingredients | Crafting recipe | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Block of Redstone | Redstone Dust | ||
Clock | Gold Ingot + Redstone Dust |
||
Compass | Iron Ingot + Redstone Dust |
||
Detector Rail | Iron Ingot + Stone Pressure Plate + Redstone Dust |
||
Dispenser | Cobblestone + Bow + Redstone Dust |
Enchantments on the bow do not affect the resulting dispenser. | |
Dropper | Cobblestone + Redstone Dust |
||
Note Block | Any Planks + Redstone Dust |
||
Observer | Cobblestone + Redstone Dust + Nether Quartz |
||
Piston | Any Planks + Cobblestone + Iron Ingot + Redstone Dust |
||
Powered Rail | Gold Ingot + Stick + Redstone Dust |
||
Redstone Lamp | Redstone Dust + Glowstone |
||
Redstone Repeater | Redstone Torch + Redstone Dust + Stone |
||
Redstone Torch | Redstone Dust + Stick |
||
Target | Redstone Dust + Hay Bale |
Redstone component
When placed in the world, redstone dust becomes a block of "redstone wire", which can transmit redstone power.
Placement

Redstone wire configures itself to point toward adjacent redstone power components and transmission component connection points. Redstone wire also configures itself to point toward adjacent redstone wire one block higher or lower – unless there is a solid opaque block above the lower redstone wire.
If there is only one such adjacent redstone component, redstone wire configures itself into a line pointing both at the neighbor and away from it. If there are two or more such adjacent redstone components, redstone wire connects them in the form of a line, an "elbow", a "T", or a cross as needed. If there are no such adjacent redstone components, redstone wire configures itself into a plus sign, which can provide power in all four directions.
In Bedrock Edition, redstone wire automatically configures itself to point toward adjacent blocks or mechanism components. In Java Edition, it does not. If such a configuration is desired, the other neighbors of the redstone wire must be arranged to create it, i.e the redstone dust must be placed in a way that it would be pointed at the block’s location even if it were not there.
When redstone wire is reconfigured after placement, it does not update other redstone components around it of the change unless that reconfiguration also includes a change in power level or another component provides an update. This can create situations where a mechanism component remains activated when it shouldn't, or vice versa, until it receives an update from something else – a "feature" of redstone wire that can be used to make a block update detector.
Behavior
Redstone wire can transmit power, which can be used to operate mechanism components (doors, pistons, redstone lamps, etc.). Redstone wire can be "powered" by a number of methods:
- from an adjacent power component or a strongly-powered block
- from the output of a redstone repeater or redstone comparator
- from adjacent redstone wire. The powering dust can be a level higher or lower, but with restrictions:
- Redstone dust can be powered by redstone dust that is one level lower, or on an opaque block one level higher. A transparent block cannot[Java Edition only] pass power downward.
- The block "between" the two dust blocks must be air or transparent. A solid block there "cuts" the connection between the higher and lower dust.
The "power level" of redstone dust can vary from 0 to 15. Most power components power-up adjacent redstone dust to power level 15, but a few (daylight sensors, trapped chests, and weighted pressure plates) may create a lower power level. Redstone repeaters output power level 15 (when turned on), but redstone comparators may output a lower power level.
Power level drops by 1 for every block of redstone wire it crosses. Thus, redstone wire can transmit power for no more than 15 blocks. To go further, the power level must be re-strengthened – typically with a redstone repeater.
Powered redstone wire on top of, or pointing at, an opaque block provides weak power to the block. A weakly-powered block cannot power other adjacent redstone wire, but can still power redstone repeaters and comparators, and activate adjacent mechanism components. Transparent blocks cannot be powered.
When redstone wire is unpowered, it appears dark red. When powered, it becomes bright red at power level 15, fading to darker shades with decreasing power. Powered redstone wire also produces "dust" particles of the same color.
Since Java Edition 1.16, while redstone wire always provides power to the directions it points into, it can still point into directions in which it cannot give power. If redstone wire comes in the from of a cross, the player can right-click to toggle it between a cross and dot. A redstone dot does not power anything adjacent to it, but powers the block under it.
Sounds
Sound | Subtitle | Source | Description | Namespaced ID | Translation key | Volume | Pitch | Attenuation distance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Block broken | Blocks | Once the block has broken | block.stone.break | subtitles.block.generic.break | 1.0 | 0.8 | 16 | |
None[sound 1] | Blocks | Falling on the block with fall damage | block.stone.fall | None[sound 1] | 0.5 | 0.75 | 16 | |
Block breaking | Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | block.stone.hit | subtitles.block.generic.hit | 0.25 | 0.5 | 16 | |
Block placed | Blocks | When the block is placed | block.stone.place | subtitles.block.generic.place | 1.0 | 0.8 | 16 | |
Footsteps | Blocks | Walking on the block | block.stone.step | subtitles.block.generic.footsteps | 0.15 | 1.0 | 16 |
Sound | Source | Description | Namespaced ID | Volume | Pitch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blocks | Once the block has broken | dig.stone | 1.0 | 0.8 | |
Blocks | Falling on the block with fall damage | fall.stone | 0.4 | 1.0 | |
Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | hit.stone | 0.37 | 0.5 | |
? | Blocks | Jumping from the block | jump.stone | 0.12 | 1.0 |
? | Blocks | Falling on the block without fall damage | land.stone | 0.22 | 1.0 |
Blocks | Walking on the block | step.stone | 0.3 | 1.0 | |
Blocks | When the block is placed | use.stone | 1.0 | 0.8 |
Data values
ID
Redstone Dust | Namespaced ID | Form | Translation key |
---|---|---|---|
Block | redstone_wire | Block | block.minecraft.redstone_wire |
Item | redstone | Item | item.minecraft.redstone |
Redstone Dust | Namespaced ID | Numeric ID | Form | Translation key |
---|---|---|---|---|
Block | redstone_wire | 55 | Block | tile.redstone_wire.name |
Item | redstone | 331 | Item | item.redstone.name |
Metadata
In Bedrock Edition, redstone wire uses the following data values:
Bits | Values |
---|---|
0x1 0x2 0x4 0x8 |
A four-bit field storing a value from 0 to 15 specifying the redstone dust's current redstone power level. |
Block states
Name | Default value | Allowed values | Description |
---|---|---|---|
east | none | none side up | The way redstone dust connects to the east, side can also mean down. |
north | none | none side up | The way redstone dust connects to the north, side can also mean down. |
power | 0 | 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 | The redstone dust's current power level. |
south | none | none side up | The way redstone dust connects to the south, side can also mean down. |
west | none | none side up | The way redstone dust connects to the west, side can also mean down. |
Name | Default value | Allowed values | Description |
---|---|---|---|
redstone_signal | 0 | 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 | The redstone dust's current power level. |
List of block state combinations
Achievements
Icon | Achievement | In-game description | Actual requirements (if different) | Gamerscore earned | Trophy type (PS) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dispense With This | Construct a Dispenser. | — | 20G | Bronze |
Video
History
May 21, 2009 | Notch shows interest in adding wire-type blocks. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Java Edition Alpha | |||||
v1.0.1 | ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
Redstone dust as a placed block has two power appearances; either completely on, or completely off. | |||||
Redstone dust is used to craft redstone torches. | |||||
At this time, redstone has not been given an official name. | |||||
v1.0.2_01 | Redstone dust now doesn't connect through solid blocks diagonally down.[needs testing] | ||||
The texture of redstone dust has been changed. Whether this is referring to the block or item is unknown.[needs testing] | |||||
Walking on redstone dust no longer breaks it.[needs testing] | |||||
Redstone dust now gives off particles.[needs testing] | |||||
v1.1.0 | Redstone is now used to craft compasses. | ||||
v1.2.0 | ? | Redstone is now used to craft clocks. | |||
Java Edition Beta | |||||
1.0 | With the addition of inventory tooltips, the item form of redstone dust has been named "Redstone", and the usually unobtainable block form has been named "Redstone Dust".[is this the correct version?] | ||||
1.2 | Redstone is now used to craft dispensers and note blocks. | ||||
1.3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||
Its particles now appear gray due to not being tinted. | |||||
Redstone is now used to craft redstone repeaters. | |||||
1.5 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||
Redstone dust can now be placed on snow. | |||||
Redstone is now used to craft powered rails and detector rails. | |||||
1.6.6 | Redstone dust now checks if the block below has a solid top face or glowstone, allowing it to be placed on it. | ||||
1.7 | Redstone dust now connects to a repeater without the dust being explicitly pointed at it. | ||||
Redstone can now be used to craft pistons. | |||||
1.8 | Pre-release | Redstone can now be found in the new stronghold storeroom chests, and in the new mineshaft chests. | |||
Java Edition | |||||
1.0.0 | Beta 1.9 Prerelease 3 | Redstone can now be brewed in a water bottle to create a mundane potion. | |||
Redstone can now be found in the new stronghold altar chests. | |||||
Redstone now extends the potions of Fire Resistance, Slowness, Swiftness, Poison, Weakness and Strength. | |||||
Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4 | Redstone now extends the new potion of Regeneration. | ||||
RC1 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
? | Redstone wire block particles are now correctly colored. | ||||
1.2.1 | 12w07a | Redstone is now used to craft redstone lamps. | |||
1.3.1 | 12w21a | Redstone can now be bought from priest villagers, at 2–4 redstone for 1 emerald. | |||
12w22a | Redstone dust now generates in jungle temples. | ||||
12w25a | Redstone dust can now be placed on top of upside-down slabs and stairs. | ||||
1.4.2 | 12w34a | Redstone now extends the new potions of Night Vision and Invisibility. | |||
12w38a | Witches are have been added, which sometimes drop redstone when killed. | ||||
1.5 | 13w01a | Redstone can now be used to craft blocks of redstone and droppers. | |||
1.7.2 | 13w36a | Redstone now extends the new potion of Water Breathing. | |||
1.8 | 14w02a | Trading has been changed: cleric villagers now sell 1–4 redstone for 1 emerald. | |||
14w25a | Redstone dust no longer changes to obsidian next to water when lava flows into it. | ||||
14w27a | Redstone now extends the new potion of Leaping. | ||||
1.9 | 15w31a | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||
Redstone can no longer be added to extended potions or tier-II potions. | |||||
15w44a | The average yield of redstone from dungeon chests has been cut by more than half. | ||||
The average yield of redstone in mineshaft chests has been increased. | |||||
15w46a | The hitbox of redstone now covers only part of the surface of the block below, based on the orientation of the redstone. | ||||
1.11 | 16w39a | Redstone can now be found in woodland mansions. | |||
Redstone can now used to craft observers. | |||||
1.13 | 17w47a | The item form of "Redstone" has been renamed to "Redstone Wire". | |||
Prior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 55, and the item's 331. | |||||
17w48a | "Redstone" has been renamed to "Redstone Dust". | ||||
18w07a | Redstone now extends the new potion of the Turtle Master. | ||||
1.14 | 18w43a | ![]() | |||
19w12b | Redstone dust can now be placed on glass, ice and sea lanterns. | ||||
1.16 | 20w06a | Redstone dust now has a bottom texture. | |||
20w09a | Redstone can now be used to craft targets. | ||||
20w18a | Redstone dust placement on one block has been changed from a "•" back to a "+" shape. | ||||
Redstone dust's hitbox is now no longer strictly a cuboid, and more closely matches the shape of the wiring.[2] | |||||
Upwards going redstone dust now has a hitbox on the side of the block too, rather than only on the floor.[3] | |||||
Unconnected redstone dust now has all direction block states set to "side". | |||||
The direction block states of redstone dust are now properly set to "side" at the end of a redstone wire on both ends, rather than only the one with other redstone besides it. | |||||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
20w19a | Redstone dust now visually connects when going up soul sand, 8-layer snow stacks and the back side of upside-down stairs. | ||||
Particles are now generated across the length of the redstone wire rather than the center of the block. | |||||
20w21a | Redstone dust placement on one block is now toggleable between a "+" and a "•" shape, by interacting with it. | ||||
Upcoming Java Edition | |||||
1.17 | 21w08a | Redstone dust can now drop and be smelted from deepslate redstone ore. | |||
Pocket Edition Alpha | |||||
v0.8.0 | build 2 | ![]() | |||
Redstone is now dropped when mined from redstone ore. | |||||
Redstone can be used to craft compasses, clocks and powered rails. | |||||
v0.11.0 | build 1 | Redstone is now used to craft redstone blocks. | |||
v0.12.1 | build 1 | Redstone has been added to the creative inventory, but it still unplaceable either. | |||
v0.13.0 | build 1 | Redstone can now be placed. | |||
Redstone is now used to craft redstone lamps, note blocks, detector rails and redstone torches. | |||||
v0.14.0 | build 1 | Redstone is now used to craft dispensers and droppers. | |||
v0.15.0 | build 1 | Redstone is now used to craft pistons and observers. | |||
Pocket Edition | |||||
1.0.4 | alpha 1.0.4.0 | Cleric villagers now sell 1–4 redstone for an emerald. | |||
1.1.0 | alpha 1.1.0.0 | Redstone can now be found in woodland mansions. | |||
Bedrock Edition | |||||
? | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Placed redstone now assumes its current appearance with a more solid center. Its linear state appearences are unknown. | ||||
1.10.0 | beta 1.10.0.3 | ![]() | |||
1.11.0 | beta 1.11.0.1 | Redstone can now be found in desert village temple chests. | |||
beta 1.11.0.4 | Cleric villagers now sell 4 redstone as part of their first tier trade. | ||||
1.16.210 | beta 1.16.210.57 | "Redstone" has been renamed to "Redstone Dust". | |||
Legacy Console Edition | |||||
TU1 | CU1 | 1.0 | Patch 1 | 1.0.1 | ![]() |
TU3 | Redstone now connects to a repeater without the dust being explicitly pointed at it. | ||||
1.90 | ![]() | ||||
1.95 | Redstone can now be placed on glass. | ||||
New Nintendo 3DS Edition | |||||
0.1.0 | ![]() |
Redstone wire "item"
- Pick Block functionality.
Java Edition Alpha | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
v1.0.1 | ![]() | ||||
Java Edition Beta | |||||
? | The item is now called "Redstone Dust", contrasting with the normally obtainable item which is simply called "Redstone". | ||||
1.3 | ![]() | ||||
1.6 | Test Build 3 | Redstone wire items can be obtained from the newly added debug chests, mainly from the 24th slot of the 2nd chest from the left, and the 8th slot of the 6th chest from the left. | |||
release | Debug chests no longer spawn, preventing redstone wire items from being obtained this way. | ||||
Java Edition | |||||
1.3.1 | 12w16a | Redstone wire items can now be obtained in singleplayer worlds via the /give command using the respective numeric ID. | |||
1.7.2 | 13w37a | The direct item form of redstone wire has been removed from the game. It can no longer exist as an item in any way, only as a placed block. | |||
Pocket Edition Alpha | |||||
0.7.0 | Redstone wire can exist as an item. | ||||
Unknown | |||||
? | The item's name is Redstone Dust. | ||||
? | ![]() |
Issues
Issues relating to "Redstone", "Redstone dust", or "Redstone wire" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.
Trivia
- Five updates for Windows 10 released from 2016 to 2018 were codenamed "Redstone", referencing Minecraft.[4]
- The block has 1,296 possible block state combinations, the highest of all blocks as of 1.15.2, beating fire's 512 and note block's 800.