Minecraft beacon range: All you need to know

Modified Feb 12, 2025 10:52 GMT

Beacons have different range depending on its size (Image via Sportskeeda Gaming/Mojang) — Beacons have different ranges depending on their size (Image via Sportskeeda Gaming/Mojang Studios)

The beacon is a very powerful block in Minecraft. It helps grant you various positive status effects in a specific location. Given how difficult it is to collect one of the crafting elements for beacons, they are regarded as an endgame block. For them to function correctly, you must create these blocks and lay them on top of many other blocks made from earth minerals.

The way you configure beacons will determine the range of its effect in any given area. Here is everything to know about its range in Minecraft.

All major details about a beacon's range in Minecraft

What is the range of beacons in Minecraft?

A small beacon offering status effect for only 20 blocks (Image via Sportskeeda Gaming/Mojang Studios)

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Note that Minecraft beacons need to be placed on top of blocks made of earth minerals. This means that they can be placed on top of blocks of iron, emerald, diamond, and even netherite.

The type of block that beacons are placed on does not affect their power or range. However, the number of blocks they are placed on makes a difference.

For example, the image above depicts how a beacon is placed on a single 3x3 layer of iron blocks. The line of iron blocks indicates the range of this small beacon configuration. Beyond 20 blocks, this configuration will stop giving any effects to players.

A beacon affects an area in a square column. This means that its range is only limited to the X and Z axes.

How to increase beacon range in Minecraft

Beacons must have more layers, and simulation distance should be decent enough to increase range (Image via Sportskeeda Gaming/Mojang Studios)

To increase a beacon's range, you must increase its layers. Beacons can either be placed on a:

3x3 single layer
5x5 and 3x3 double layer
7×7, 5×5, and 3×3 triple layer
9×9, 7×7, 5×5 and 3×3 quadruple layer

The more layers you add underneath the beacon, its range will continue to increase. Here is how a beacon's range increases with each layer:

Layer one - 20 block range
Layer two - 30 block range
Layer three - 40 block range
Layer four - 50 block range

This is the only way to increase a beacon's range in Minecraft. If, however, the beacon's effects are not being applied even after increasing its layers, go to the video settings to increase the simulation distance. The beacon's effect is tied to simulation distance; hence, it might still give the effects if the distance is too low.

Along with range, the duration and powers of status effects will also increase.

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About the author

Akshat has been a Minecraft writer at Sportskeeda for almost three years. He has loved gaming since childhood, and the fact that Need For Speed Most Wanted is still installed on his PC is proof that the flame burns strong even today. This love for the racing franchise spilled over to F1 fandom, leading him to cover the sport as well for the company.

Akshat's articles have accrued over 19 million views so far at Sportskeeda. He prefers both solo and multiplayer titles and is a huge admirer of popular gamers Shroud and Philza. Akshat places huge emphasis on accurate, relevant, and ethical content, and does thorough research using social media, videos, and a multitude of websites before writing an article.

Akshat's other hobbies include cars, mechanical keyboards, psychology, and philosophy. He would recommend indie and Slice of Life games to a gaming skeptic because of their ease of play, compelling storyline, and message.

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Edited by Dinesh Renthlei