Best Ways to Find and Use Copper in Minecraft

Copper is one of the many minerals players can mine in Minecraft’s Overworld, but unlike iron, redstone, or gold, it was introduced relatively recently in the Caves & Cliffs update (2021). Copper is quite common and can be found in abundance, much like coal ore.

Also Check: 6 Must-Have Resource Packs to Transform Minecraft’s Graphics

Also Check: Minecraft Bedrock 1.21.70.20 Beta & Preview: Top 5 Exciting New Features

If you’re looking to mine copper efficiently, the best level to find it is Y level 44. Below, we’ll explore where to find copper ore in Minecraft and how you can use it in your builds and crafting recipes.

---

Best Places to Find Copper Ore

Y-Level Range for Copper

After years of mining and testing, the Minecraft community has pinpointed the ideal levels for copper ore generation. According to the Minecraft Wiki, copper ore spawns most frequently between Y levels 10 and 55, with the highest concentration around Y level 44.

In simple terms, this means copper is most abundant just below sea level (Y 64). Players can start mining from the ocean or river level and dig downward for the best results.

Additionally, massive ravines and craters—which have become more common after Minecraft 1.18’s terrain update—can expose copper veins naturally. Exploring these formations can lead to easy copper finds without extensive mining.

Biomes With the Most Copper

If you want to maximize your copper mining efforts, the best biome to search in is the Dripstone Caves. These cave systems have a much higher spawn rate for copper ore, making them a prime location for farming the resource. Once you’re inside a Dripstone Cave, focus on mining around Y level 44 to gather copper efficiently.

---

How to Use Copper in Minecraft

Smelting Copper & Crafting Items

Once mined, copper ore drops raw copper, which needs to be smelted in a furnace to create copper ingots. These ingots are crucial for crafting several items, including:

• Brush (used for archaeology mechanics)
• Lightning Rod (diverts lightning strikes, preventing fires)
• Spyglass (zooms in on distant objects)
• Armor Trims (adds color variations to armor)

New Copper Blocks & Building Materials

Recent Minecraft updates have expanded the variety of copper-based building blocks. Players can now craft:

• Copper Grates
• Copper Doors & Trapdoors
• Chiseled Copper
• Copper Bricks

These decorative blocks oxidize over time, changing colors from bright orange to turquoise green unless waxed with honeycomb.