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.
Redstone Signal Strength in Minecraft
A redstone signal has a strength from 1 to 15. Most power sources, like levers, buttons and redstone torches, give 15, and redstone dust loses 1 strength for each block it travels, so a line of dust carries power 15 blocks. A repeater boosts the signal back to 15, and a comparator can read and compare strengths.
How strong is each power source?
| Source | Signal |
|---|---|
| Lever, button, redstone torch, block of redstone | 15 |
| Pressure plates (stone, wood) | 15 |
| Weighted pressure plates | Depends on how many entities are on it |
| Daylight detector | Depends on the sunlight |
| Target block | 1-15 by how close the hit is to the center |
| Comparator | Depends on what it reads, such as how full a chest is |
Sources: redstone inputs.
How does dust lose strength?
Each block of dust passes on one less than it received, so after 15 blocks the signal is gone. Dust going into a block or a component does not lose strength, so even a strength 1 signal can push a piston. Put a repeater every 15 blocks to keep a long line working; see repeaters and comparators.
What are strong and weak power?
A block powered directly by a source or repeater is strongly powered and can power dust next to it. A block powered only by dust is weakly powered: it powers components next to it but not more dust. This is the key to building compact circuits. Basics: redstone basics.
What can you do with different strengths?
- Item sorters use comparator strength to spot full stacks; see item sorters.
- Combination locks with a lectern or item frame.
- Fill meters showing how full a storage system is.
- Edition differences: Java vs Bedrock redstone.
How does a comparator read strength?
A comparator behind a container gives a signal from 0 when empty up to 15 when completely full. In compare mode it passes the back signal only if it is not weaker than the side signal; in subtract mode it takes the side signal away from the back one. That lets you build circuits that react to exact amounts.
Frequently asked questions
How far can redstone dust carry a signal?
15 blocks, then it needs a repeater.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.