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.
Netherrack in Minecraft: The Nether's Stone
Netherrack is the reddish stone that makes up most of the Nether. It breaks very fast with a pickaxe, smelts into nether brick items, and fire lit on top of it burns forever and is not put out by rain. That makes it the classic block for fireplaces and eternal flames in the Overworld.
How do you mine netherrack?
Use any pickaxe; by hand it takes longer and drops nothing. It is one of the softest stone blocks, so an Efficiency pickaxe mines it almost instantly, which helps when tunneling for ancient debris; see ancient debris.
Why does fire burn forever on netherrack?
Fire on top of netherrack never burns out on its own and rain does not put it out, though it can still spread to flammable blocks next to it. Light it with flint and steel for a fireplace or beacon fire, and keep wood and wool away from it so the flames cannot spread. Fire basics: fire and lava.
What is netherrack used for?
- Smelting into nether bricks, for Nether brick blocks; see Nether bricks.
- Cheap building and scaffolding in the Nether, though ghast fireballs and TNT blow it apart easily, so use cobblestone or Nether bricks for real shelters.
- Eternal fires and fireplaces.
- Nylium turns back into netherrack when covered or mined without Silk Touch.
Where else is netherrack?
In ruined portals in both dimensions and in bastion bridges and treasure rooms. On Bedrock, portals that spawn floating can create netherrack, which makes it renewable there. Nether guide: the Nether.
Frequently asked questions
Does fire on netherrack go out?
No. It burns forever and rain does not put it out.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.