Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Lever and Button in Minecraft: How It Works and Uses
Levers and buttons are the simplest redstone switches. A lever stays on or off until you flip it again. A button gives a short pulse: about 1 second for stone buttons and 1.5 seconds for wooden ones. Arrows and other projectiles can press wooden buttons. Both give full power, 15.
How do you craft levers and buttons?
Lever: a stick on cobblestone. Button: one stone or plank block. Both power the block they are placed on and anything next to them. Use a lever for things that stay on, like lights, and a button for doors that should close again.
What is it used for?
- Lever for lights and farm switches
- Buttons for doors and elevators
- Wooden buttons as arrow-triggered targets
- Hidden switches behind paintings
More: redstone inputs.
More about levers and buttons
Levers can go on walls, floors and ceilings. Buttons come in stone, polished blackstone and every wood type; wooden ones stay pressed longer and react to arrows, stone ones do not. Both are cheap enough to use anywhere in a base.
Where does it fit in redstone?
Redstone parts fall into power sources (levers, buttons, plates, torches, observers), wiring (dust, repeaters, comparators) and mechanisms (pistons, dispensers, droppers, hoppers, lamps and doors). Most circuits combine one of each: something to detect, something to carry the signal, and something to act. Signals move along dust at once, while each torch, repeater or comparator adds a small delay measured in redstone ticks of 0.1 seconds. Start with redstone basics.
Tips
Put a button on a block next to a door and wire the door on the other side to keep the wiring hidden. Signal strength: signal strength.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a stone button stay on?
About 1 second; wooden buttons about 1.5 seconds.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.