How to make a bookshelf in Minecraft - Upcomer
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Bookshelves around a crafting table after learning how to make bookshelves in Minecraft.
Screenshot by Upcomer

How to make a bookshelf in Minecraft

Bookshelves are neat, huh?

Bookshelves are super helpful to getting max enchantments, which is probably why you’re here to learn how to make a bookshelf in Minecraft. Maybe you just want to get your house looking awesome? Either way, here’s how to do it.

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How to make a bookshelf in Minecraft

The bookshelf recipe showing how to make a bookshelf in Minecraft.
Screenshot by Upcomer

To make a bookshelf, you’ll need a crafting table. Place three books in a horizontal line in the middle of the crafting table, then place three planks in a horizontal line in both the top and bottom rows. And that’s all there is to it, you have a bookshelf.

Where to get the materials for a Bookshelf

To get the planks is simple enough. Chop down any tree and make planks out of it by placing the logs in the crafting area in your inventory, or on a crafting bench. To make books is a little more complicated.

Your first step is to find sugar cane, which looks like this:

Sugar cane on a shore in Minecraft.
Screenshot by Upcomer

Cut it down, but not all of it. Always leave one sugar cane left, so it can regrow. You can also start a sugar cane farm by placing canes all across the edge of the water.

A sugar cane farm in Minecraft.
Screenshot by Upcomer

You’ll need three sugar cane to make one paper, and you’ll need three papers to make one book. So once you have enough sugar cane, place it in a horizontal line on the crafting table, like this:

Recipe for paper on a crafting table in Minecraft.
Screenshot by Upcomer

Your next step is to get leather for the books. You can get leather in Minecraft by harvesting cows or horses. Once you have enough paper and leather, place one piece of leather and three pieces of paper on your crafting table to make a square, like this:

Recipe for a book on a crafting table in Minecraft.
Screenshot by Upcomer

The order in which you put the items doesn’t matter. And there you have it, all you need to know about making bookshelves in Minecraft. Oh, there is one last thing.

The easiest way to get books in Minecraft

Bookshelves in a village in Minecraft, with books on the ground.
Screenshot by Upcomer

For this step, you’ll need to find a village or mansion. Once you’ve found one, you can destroy bookshelves you find there and they will drop three books each. You could also harvest the bookshelf whole if you have something with the Silk Touch enchantment.

How to get max level Enchantments in Minecraft

Bookshelves around a crafting table after learning how to make bookshelves in Minecraft.
Screenshot by Upcomer

If you are looking for bookshelves to level up your enchanting table, you’ll need to place 15 of them around the enchantment table. Place them in a U-shape, one block away. Once you have 15 of them placed down, you’ll be able to access max enchantments.

The rest is up to luck on weather you get the enchantments you want.

Good luck enchanting! Oh, hey, do you know what would look great with those bookshelves? An armor stand! Here’s how to make an armor stand in Minecraft.

Author
Image of Kyle Ferreira
Kyle Ferreira
As the content manager at Upcomer, Kyle brings a lifetime of gaming and over seven years of professional writing experience to the platform. He holds a tender spot for indie games, but can sometimes be found in an FPS getting destroyed in a fruitless attempt to relive his old CS 1.6 glory days. After which he can usually be found licking his wounds in a chill game of Kenshi.