How to Make a Map in Minecraft (Recipe + Cartography Table Guide)
Short answer: to make a basic Empty Map in Minecraft, combine 9 paper in a 3×3 crafting table grid. To make a Locator Map (with a player position dot), use 8 paper + 1 compass in any crafting layout. Both start as "Empty" — right-click while holding one to activate it and start filling it in as you explore. To make the map bigger (zoom out), use a Cartography Table with paper. Maps zoom out in 5 levels: 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, and 1:16 — the largest covers 2048×2048 blocks.
Maps were added in update Alpha 1.0 and have been improved many times since. The Cartography Table (added 1.14) made maps much more useful — letting you zoom out, clone, lock, and rename them. This guide covers every map recipe, the cartography mechanics, and tips for navigating large maps.
Quick Answer Table
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Empty Map (no locator) | 9 paper in a 3×3 crafting grid |
| Empty Map with Locator | 8 paper + 1 compass (Java); shapeless |
| How to activate | Right-click while holding (becomes a usable Map) |
| Default scale | 1:1 (covers 128×128 blocks) |
| How to zoom out | Cartography Table: place Map + 1 Paper → zooms to next level |
| Max zoom level | 4 (1:16 scale = 2048×2048 blocks) |
| How to clone | Cartography Table: 2 maps (one filled, one empty) → 2 copies |
| How to lock | Cartography Table: Map + 1 Glass Pane → locked map (doesn't update) |
The Map Recipes
Empty Map (no locator dot)
Recipe: 9 Paper arranged in any 3×3 pattern (shaped recipe — must fill the grid).
Result: 1 Empty Map. When you right-click while holding it, it converts to a usable Map showing your surroundings — but without the white player-position dot.
Locator Map (with player position dot)
Recipe: 8 Paper + 1 Compass, shapeless. The compass at the crafting table center, paper around it (or any other layout).
Result: 1 Empty Map with locator. When activated, it shows the player as a white dot/arrow on the map. The dot rotates to show which direction you're facing.
Getting the ingredients
- Paper — Craft 3 paper from 3 sugar cane in a row on a crafting table. See our how to make paper guide for sugar cane farming tips.
- Compass — Craft from 4 Iron Ingots + 1 Redstone Dust. Place iron in north/south/east/west pattern with redstone in center.
Activating and Filling Maps
Maps start as "Empty" items (with a grey area). To activate:
- Hold the Empty Map in your hotbar
- Right-click (use). The map activates with a circular pulse animation
- Your surrounding area starts filling in based on your current location
- Walk around to expand the map's coverage
Maps don't fill in instantly — you must physically walk through the area for the map to update. The area is split into "cartography squares" — once you're in a square, the map fills in that square within a few seconds.
Zooming Out Maps (The Cartography Table)
The default Map is 1:1 scale — covers 128×128 blocks (one chunk per pixel). That's tiny for serious exploration. To expand:
Crafting the Cartography Table
Recipe: 2 Paper + 4 Planks (any wood) on a crafting table.
Place the Cartography Table in your base. It has 2 input slots.
Zooming out a map
- Open the Cartography Table
- Place your filled Map in the top slot
- Place 1 Paper in the bottom slot
- The output is a new map at the next zoom level out — covering 4x more area
The 5 zoom levels:
| Level | Scale | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 0 (default) | 1:1 | 128×128 blocks |
| 1 | 1:2 | 256×256 blocks |
| 2 | 1:4 | 512×512 blocks |
| 3 | 1:8 | 1024×1024 blocks |
| 4 (max) | 1:16 | 2048×2048 blocks |
Each zoom-out re-blanks any previously unexplored areas — you'll need to walk through them to fill the larger map. Use level 3 or 4 zoom for large-scale exploration; use level 0 or 1 for detailed local navigation.
Cloning, Locking, and Renaming Maps
Clone a map
- Open Cartography Table
- Place your filled Map in slot 1
- Place an Empty Map (or another filled map) in slot 2
- Output: 2 identical maps
Useful for sharing maps with friends or making backups before zooming out.
Lock a map
- Open Cartography Table
- Place filled Map in slot 1
- Place a Glass Pane in slot 2
- Output: a locked map (won't update even if you re-explore)
Locked maps are useful for snapshots — "this is how the world looked when we built our village".
Rename a map
Open Cartography Table with map + paper → rename the result. Or use an Anvil and rename normally.
Buried Treasure Maps and Explorer Maps
Special "treasure map" variants are obtained as loot:
- Buried Treasure Map — found in Ocean Ruins / Shipwreck chests. Marks an "X" where treasure (and a Heart of the Sea — see our conduit guide) is buried.
- Ocean Explorer Map — from Cartographer villager trades. Points to nearest Ocean Monument.
- Woodland Explorer Map — from Cartographer villager trades. Points to nearest Woodland Mansion.
- Trial Chambers Explorer Map (1.21+) — from Cartographers, points to a Trial Chamber.
These are all "decoded" maps with explicit destination markers. Follow the marker to reach the structure.
Maps in Item Frames (Decoration)
Maps mounted in Item Frames are popular base decorations:
- Place an Item Frame on a wall
- Right-click the frame with a map in your hand
- The map displays at its current state, locked in size
Tiled multiple item frames in a 3×3 or 5×5 grid creates a wall-sized map mural. Adjacent maps must be from the same map series (same zoom level + adjacent coordinates) for proper alignment.
Common Questions
Why is my map all gray?
It's not activated yet. Right-click (use) the Empty Map while holding it to activate. Then walk around to fill it in.
Does an Empty Map work without activation?
No — Empty Maps are inactive. Right-click to convert them to a usable Map.
How do I see my position on the map?
Only the Locator Map (with compass) shows your position. The basic 9-paper map doesn't show a player dot. To upgrade, combine your filled map with a compass at a Cartography Table.
Can I make a Nether map?
Yes — maps work in the Nether and End, but with different visual styles. Nether maps mostly show red and orange. End maps are mostly purple. They auto-detect the dimension.
Why don't I see other players on the map?
Multiplayer maps require both players to be holding map items connected to the same map data. Cloned shared maps update simultaneously, showing each player's dot on the others' maps.
Can I get a map from a chest?
Empty maps (basic) — no, must be crafted. Treasure/Explorer maps — yes, from specific chest types and villager trades.
Does the map work underground?
Maps only show the topmost solid block at each x/z coordinate. Underground exploration doesn't update the map. Cave explorers need a separate tool (like JourneyMap mod) for underground mapping.
Can I delete map data?
You can craft another empty map and re-activate it, getting a "fresh" map. But the original map's data persists if there are still copies in the world.
Putting It All Together
The workflow for a complete map system:
- Craft Paper from sugar cane (see how to make paper).
- Craft Iron Compass (4 iron + 1 redstone).
- Make 1 Empty Map (8 paper + 1 compass = locator version).
- Right-click to activate. Walk through nearby chunks to fill in your local map.
- Craft a Cartography Table (2 paper + 4 planks).
- Zoom out your map to 1:4 or 1:16 for serious exploration.
- Place finished maps in Item Frames for wall-mounted decoration.
- Use Cartographer villagers for treasure/explorer maps to find Ocean Monuments, Woodland Mansions, and Trial Chambers.
For more "How to Make X" guides, see our companion recipes: How to Make Smooth Stone, How to Make Concrete, How to Make a Beacon, How to Make a Cake, How to Make a Conduit, How to Make Paper, and How to Make Glass.
If you're building a circular map wall display (a "map clock" mural in the round), our Minecraft circle generator blueprints the wall layout. And if you want your survival map progress preserved on a 24/7 server with friends, see our best Minecraft server hosting comparison.
That's everything you need to know about making maps in Minecraft. Paper, compass, walk, zoom out. Happy exploring!