Beacon Calculator
Pick a pyramid size and a block, and get the exact material list, the powers you unlock, and the stained glass for the beam colour you want.
How it works
The pyramid
A beacon checks the layers right under it. Level 1 is the 3×3 directly below, level 2 the 5×5 under that, then 7×7 and a 9×9 base. Each layer must be complete and made of mineral blocks: iron, gold, emerald, diamond or netherite, in any mix. Totals are 9, 34, 83 and 164 blocks.
Powers and range
- 1 level: Speed, Haste. Range 20 blocks.
- 2 levels: + Resistance, Jump Boost. Range 30.
- 3 levels: + Strength. Range 40.
- 4 levels: secondary power (Regeneration I, or level II of the primary). Range 50.
Pay with one iron ingot, gold ingot, emerald, diamond or netherite ingot to set or change the power. The beacon only needs a clear line to the sky; glass and other see-through blocks are fine.
Beam colour
Each stained glass block or pane above the beacon changes the beam: the first sets it to that dye's colour, and every further piece mixes in half and half. That is why the top piece matters most. The calculator uses the beam's dye colours and tries every stack of up to four panes to match a colour.
Building one for a base? The guides cover where to put a base, and the ancient debris finder shows where the netherite is if you want the expensive version.
FAQ
How many blocks do you need for a full beacon?
A full 4-level pyramid takes 164 blocks: a 9×9 base (81), then 7×7 (49), 5×5 (25) and a 3×3 top layer (9). That is 1,476 ingots, gems or diamonds. Smaller pyramids need 9 (1 level), 34 (2 levels) or 83 (3 levels) blocks.
Can I mix iron, gold, diamond, emerald and netherite blocks?
Yes. Any of the five mineral blocks counts, in any mix, block by block. The material changes nothing about the powers or the range, so most players build with iron and keep diamonds and netherite for gear.
How much netherite is a netherite beacon?
164 blocks of netherite are 1,476 netherite ingots. Each ingot takes 4 netherite scrap and 4 gold ingots, and each scrap is one smelted ancient debris, so the full pyramid is 5,904 ancient debris and 5,904 gold ingots.
What powers does each beacon level give?
1 level: Speed or Haste. 2 levels: adds Resistance and Jump Boost. 3 levels: adds Strength. 4 levels: unlocks the secondary power, either Regeneration I or level II of your primary. The range grows from 20 to 30, 40 and 50 blocks.
How do you change the beacon beam colour?
Put stained glass (blocks or panes) anywhere in the column above the beacon. The first piece sets the colour, and each piece above it averages its colour with the beam below. The calculator mixes a stack for you, or finds the shortest stack for a colour you pick.
Is the beacon the same on Java and Bedrock?
The pyramid sizes, materials, powers and ranges are the same. On Java the effect area reaches the range below the beacon and up to the build limit; on Bedrock it covers the whole world height. Coloured glass tints the beam on both.