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.
Reach Distance in Minecraft: How Far You Can Hit
In Survival you can hit mobs and players from up to 3 blocks away on both editions. You can break and place blocks from 4.5 blocks on Java and 5 on Bedrock. In Creative both rise to 5 blocks, and spears reach 4.5 blocks for attacks. On Bedrock touch screens, reach is 6 blocks, or 12 in Creative.
What are the reach distances?
| Type | Survival | Creative |
|---|---|---|
| Java attacks (entities) | 3 blocks | 5 blocks |
| Java blocks | 4.5 blocks | 5 blocks |
| Bedrock attacks (entities) | 3 blocks | 5 blocks |
| Bedrock blocks | 5 blocks | 5 blocks |
| Bedrock touch | 6 blocks | 12 blocks |
The spear is the exception: its attacks reach 4.5 blocks; see the spear.
Can reach be changed?
On Java, the entity_interaction_range and block_interaction_range attributes set it, so /attribute or equipment with modifiers can raise or lower it. Map makers use this for giants or tiny players. Survival players cannot change it. Blocks within reach show an outline when you look at them.
What is reach hacking?
Hitting from further than 3 blocks with a modified client is cheating, and anti-cheat plugins on servers flag it. Lag can make a fair hit look longer, which is why anti-cheat plugins usually allow a small margin. Clients and settings: PvP clients.
How do you use reach in PvP?
Stay just outside your opponent's 3 blocks and step in to hit, then back out. Knockback pushes them out of your range and yours, so timing matters; see knockback. Bows and tridents fight from far further away; see bows and crossbows.
Frequently asked questions
What is the reach in Minecraft Survival?
3 blocks for hitting; 4.5 (Java) or 5 (Bedrock) for blocks.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.