Lanterns became a game-changer when they arrived in the Better Together update. Before that, torches were the only reliable way to light up a build, but they look flimsy and industrial. Lanterns feel intentional—like someone actually bothered to craft a proper light fixture instead of jamming a stick on the wall.

They're also practical. Lanterns produce the maximum light level (15), preventing mobs from spawning in a wide radius. They sit flush against blocks when hanging from ceilings or standing on surfaces, which means you can build with them as an architectural element, not just tacked on.

Getting the Materials

Before you craft, you need iron nuggets. This is where most players get stuck—iron nuggets don't come from mining. You make them.

How to get iron nuggets:

The fastest way is to smelt any iron equipment you don't need. Iron pickaxes, shovels, or armor you've upgraded past will smelt into nuggets. One iron item = nine nuggets. If you're just starting and don't have extra gear, smelt an iron ingot in a furnace (1 ingot = 9 nuggets).

You need 8 nuggets per lantern, which means you'll want to collect a few nuggets before committing to lanterns. It's not expensive, but it's not free.

Crafting a Regular Lantern

The recipe is straightforward:

  • 1 Torch (craft from sticks + coal/charcoal)
  • 8 Iron Nuggets (from smelting)

Put the torch in the center of the 3x3 grid. Surround it completely with iron nuggets—all 8 slots around it. The lantern appears instantly.

The payoff feels good because the recipe respects the materials. Iron nuggets are easy to get, but they require some planning. Torches are basic. The lantern is more than the sum of its parts.

Soul Lanterns (The Better Option Sometimes)

Soul lanterns use the same 8 iron nuggets + torch recipe, but swap the torch for a soul torch. This is where it gets interesting, because soul torches have a specific look you can't replicate any other way.

To make a soul torch:

  • 1 Coal or Charcoal
  • 1 Stick
  • 1 Soul Sand or Soul Soil (only found in the Nether)

The soul torch glows blue-green, giving off an ethereal light. Soul lanterns preserve that color. They emit light level 10 (compared to 15 for regular lanterns), which is still bright enough to stop mobs from spawning, but the light spreads less far.

The tradeoff matters. Regular lanterns are the practical choice—maximum light for any build. Soul lanterns are the aesthetic choice. They work best in specific contexts: Nether-themed builds, underwater bases, or structures meant to feel otherworldly. In a regular house, they'd look out of place. In a witch hut or haunted mansion, they're perfect.

Light Levels

Both lanterns produce enough light to prevent mob spawning in a wide area:

  • Regular Lantern — Light level 15. The maximum possible. Equal to glowstone and shroomlights.
  • Soul Lantern — Light level 10. Still enough to prevent spawning in a decent radius.

Placement Mechanics Matter

Lanterns behave differently depending on how you place them, and this is where the design really shines.

Hanging lanterns appear when you place them on the underside of a block. This requires holding Shift and aiming at the bottom face, or clicking the bottom edge. When hanging, lanterns dangle slightly and swing if you're near them. This alone changes the whole visual. A hanging lantern from a ceiling beam looks lived-in. The same lantern sitting on top of a post looks static.

Standing lanterns sit flat on top of surfaces. They're lower profile and work better on tables, posts, or floor-level paths. The difference is subtle but real—hanging lanterns feel like fixtures; standing lanterns feel like objects.

Most good builds mix both. A tavern might have hanging lanterns from the ceiling and standing lanterns on the bar. A watchtower could alternate hanging and standing as you go up. The variation prevents builds from feeling repetitive.

Real-World Building Patterns

You'll see lanterns used the same way across almost every good build because they just work:

Medieval architecture — Lanterns on iron bars along castle walls, hung from gatehouse roofs. They signal "this is a real place where people live," not just a brightly-lit cube.

Taverns and inns — Hanging lanterns from beams, standing lanterns on tables and counters. The mix of heights makes the space feel designed rather than randomly lit.

Streets and paths — Alternating regular and soul lanterns along a road creates rhythm without looking artificial. Spacing them every 8-10 blocks prevents dark patches while avoiding overkill.

Docks and piers — Lanterns on fence posts work because the post-and-lantern silhouette reads immediately as "dock." No one needs to think about it.

Water features — A soul lantern hanging over water at night is hard to beat. The blue light reflecting on the surface feels intentional in a way torches never do.

When to Use Soul Lanterns

Soul lanterns aren't just "cooler-looking regular lanterns." They're a different tool. Use them when:

  • Your build is Nether-themed or has a dark/magical vibe
  • You want light that doesn't look warm and welcoming (haunted houses, catacombs, underwater bases)
  • You're mixing lighting styles for visual contrast
  • You specifically need the reduced light level (light level 10) for atmospheric reasons

In regular survival bases or villages, stick to regular lanterns. Soul lanterns announce themselves and can feel out of place in cozy, everyday builds.

Pro Tip: Silk Touch and Variants

If you're exploring the Nether or ancient cities, you'll find fire lanterns and soul lanterns already placed by the world generator. If you have a Silk Touch pickaxe, grab them—they count as collected items and can be placed in your own builds. This is faster than crafting if you need a lot of them.