Updated 23 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Minecraft Ore Y Levels: Where to Find Every Ore
In the Overworld, diamonds and redstone are most common around Y=-59, gold around Y=-18, lapis around Y=-2, iron around Y=14, copper around Y=43 and coal around Y=45; emeralds sit high in mountains around Y=85. In the Nether, ancient debris peaks at Y=16 and quartz around Y=114. The Overworld figures come from minecraft.wiki's ore distribution measured in Java 1.18.2, the Nether ones as of 1.20.4.
At what Y level is each Overworld ore?
| Ore | Found between | Most common around | Lowest pickaxe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | Y 0 to 320 | Y 45 | Wooden |
| Copper | Y -16 to 112 (bigger blobs in dripstone caves) | Y 43 | Stone |
| Iron | Y -64 to 72 and 80 to 320 | Y 14 | Stone |
| Lapis lazuli | Y -64 to 64 | Y -2 | Stone |
| Gold | Y -64 to 32 (up to 256 in badlands) | Y -18 | Iron |
| Redstone | Y -64 to 16 | Y -59 | Iron |
| Diamond | Y -64 to 16 | Y -59 | Iron |
| Emerald | Y -16 to 320, mountain biomes only | Y 85 | Iron |
Deepslate ore versions generate below Y=8. See best Y level for diamonds and tool tiers.
Where are the Nether ores?
| Ore | Most common around | None at or above | Lowest pickaxe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nether quartz | Y 114 | Y 128 | Wooden |
| Nether gold | Common up to Y 95 | Y 117 | Wooden |
| Ancient debris | Y 16 | Y 120 | Diamond |
Ancient debris is very rare and, unlike most ores, peaks sharply at Y=16. See netherite.
Do biomes change where ores spawn?
- Emerald ore only generates in mountain biomes such as meadows, groves, snowy slopes, the peaks and windswept hills.
- Gold is much more common in badlands, up to Y=256.
- Copper forms bigger blobs in dripstone caves.
See biomes.
Which Y level should you mine at?
For diamonds and redstone, around Y=-59, just above the bedrock layer. For a mix of iron, copper and coal, the levels from about Y=14 to Y=45 are where each is most common; see the beginner's guide.
Is there mining on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Y level for iron?
Around Y=14, according to minecraft.wiki's measured distribution.
What Y level is ancient debris most common at?
Y=16.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.