Fences are one of the first things most players build. They keep cows, sheep and horses in their pens, stop mobs from walking into your base, and add detail to almost every kind of build. A fence is only one block wide but counts as one and a half blocks tall for collisions, so neither you nor most mobs can jump over it. This guide explains how to make a fence in Minecraft, which wood types and materials you can use, how to make a fence gate, how fences connect, and the best tricks for using them.
Quick answer: how to make a fence in Minecraft
- Collect wooden planks. One log makes four planks.
- Craft sticks from two planks stacked vertically.
- Open a crafting table.
- In the top row place plank, stick, plank.
- In the middle row place plank, stick, plank again.
- Take the 3 fences from the output slot.
Every crafting uses 4 planks and 2 sticks and gives 3 fences. The recipe is identical on Java Edition, Bedrock Edition and all consoles.
Fence recipe layout
| Plank | Stick | Plank |
| Plank | Stick | Plank |
| Empty | Empty | Empty |
The two rows can sit in the top and middle of the grid or the middle and bottom. What matters is the shape: planks on the outside, sticks in the middle column.
Every type of fence
The wood you use decides the color of the fence. All planks must be the same type, though the sticks can come from any wood.
- Oak, spruce, birch, jungle, acacia and dark oak: the classic Overworld woods.
- Mangrove and cherry: red mangrove and pink cherry fences for swamp and blossom builds.
- Bamboo: made from bamboo planks, with a light yellow, striped look.
- Pale oak: a pale gray fence from the pale garden biome.
- Poplar: the autumn wood added in the Wilderness Bound drop in 2026.
- Crimson and warped: Nether woods that cannot burn, ideal near lava or fire.
- Nether brick fence: made from 4 nether brick blocks and 2 nether brick items, giving 6 fences. Nether fortresses are full of them.
Wooden fences of different wood types connect to each other, so you can mix colors in one line. Nether brick fences do not connect to wooden fences.
How to make a fence gate
A fence gate is the door of a fence. It opens and closes like a door, players can walk through it when it is open, and most mobs treat it as a wall when it is closed.
| Stick | Plank | Stick |
| Stick | Plank | Stick |
| Empty | Empty | Empty |
That is 4 sticks and 2 planks, giving 1 fence gate. It is the opposite of the fence recipe: sticks on the outside, planks in the middle. Fence gates can be opened by hand, by villagers walking through, and by redstone signals from buttons, levers and pressure plates.
How fences connect
- Fences connect to other fences next to them, to fence gates, and to the solid side of most full blocks.
- They do not connect to glass panes, iron bars or walls, though those connect to each other.
- Placing a fence next to a solid block such as stone or planks automatically links it, which is handy for attaching a pen to a house.
- A single fence post with nothing around it shows as a plain post, good for lamp posts and table legs.
How to use fences
Animal pens
Build a ring of fences with one fence gate. Animals cannot jump a fence, so they stay inside. Lure them in with their favorite food, close the gate, and they are safe for breeding. For bigger farms, see what cows eat, what sheep eat and how to breed horses.
Tying leads
Use a lead on a fence post while an animal is attached to tie it in place. This is the easiest way to keep a horse, llama or camel waiting outside a building. See how to make a lead.
Mob defense
A fence around your base stops zombies, skeletons and creepers walking in. Combine it with lighting so nothing spawns inside. Spiders can still climb over fences, so add an overhang at the top if spiders are a problem.
Decoration
- Table: a fence post with a pressure plate or carpet on top.
- Lamp post: a column of fences with a lantern on top. See how to make a lantern.
- Window detail: fences below windows look like railings or flower boxes.
- Bridges and docks: fences make railings along the sides.
Fence facts
| Property | Wooden fence | Nether brick fence |
|---|---|---|
| Collision height | 1.5 blocks | 1.5 blocks |
| Best tool | Axe | Pickaxe |
| Flammable | Yes, except crimson and warped | No |
| Can be waterlogged | Yes | Yes |
| Recipe output | 3 fences | 6 fences |
Fences in Java vs Bedrock
The recipes and behavior are almost identical in both editions. Fences connect the same way, can be waterlogged, and are one and a half blocks tall for collision. Wooden fences also work as furnace fuel in both editions, burning long enough to smelt one and a half items each, which is a good way to use up spare fences. Villagers path through open fence gates on both editions, so close gates around farms if you do not want villagers wandering in.
Tips
- Always add a gate before closing the last gap, or you will have to break a fence to get in.
- Use crimson or warped fences around lava, fireplaces and campfires so they cannot burn.
- Place torches or lanterns on top of fence posts to light large pens without placing blocks on the grass.
- Crafting fences in bulk saves planks: 4 planks and 2 sticks make 3 fences, so 12 planks and 6 sticks make 9.
FAQ
How many fences does one recipe make?
A wooden fence recipe makes 3 fences from 4 planks and 2 sticks. The nether brick fence recipe makes 6.
Can animals jump over fences in Minecraft?
No. Fences are 1.5 blocks tall for collisions, so players and most mobs cannot jump over them. Spiders can climb them.
How do you make a fence gate?
Place 4 sticks and 2 planks in two rows of stick, plank, stick on a crafting table.
Do different wood fences connect?
Yes, all wooden fences connect to each other. Nether brick fences do not connect to wooden fences.
Can fences burn?
Wooden fences burn, except crimson and warped fences. Nether brick fences are fireproof.
Checked by the Game Respawned editorial team against the current Java and Bedrock versions. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.