A jack o’lantern is the glowing pumpkin block, and it is one of the best light sources in Minecraft. It shines at the maximum brightness, works underwater where torches cannot, and gives builds a warm Halloween look. Making one is quick, but there is a step people miss: you need a carved pumpkin, not a plain one.
This guide covers the recipe, how to carve a pumpkin, where to get pumpkins, and what makes jack o’lanterns worth using over a plain torch. Everything here is confirmed in the current 2026 version of Minecraft (26.2).
Quick answer: craft a jack o’lantern from 1 carved pumpkin and 1 torch. Place the carved pumpkin on top and the torch directly below it in the crafting grid.
Jack o’Lantern at a Glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Recipe | 1 carved pumpkin + 1 torch |
| Light level | 15 (the brightest in the game) |
| Works underwater | Yes, unlike torches |
| Bonus use | Can be the head for iron and snow golems |
The Recipe
At a crafting table (or your inventory grid), place:
- Carved pumpkin on top
- Torch directly underneath it
That gives you 1 jack o’lantern. The key word is carved: a plain, uncarved pumpkin will not work in this recipe. If you need a torch, it is 1 coal or charcoal plus 1 stick, which makes four.
How to Carve a Pumpkin
This is the step that trips people up. To turn a normal pumpkin into a carved pumpkin:
- Place the pumpkin on the ground.
- Use shears on it. A face appears on the front, and it drops 4 pumpkin seeds.
- Mine the carved pumpkin to pick it up.
You will know it worked because the block now has the classic carved face instead of a blank surface.
Where to Get Pumpkins
Pumpkins are easy to gather once you find them:
- They grow wild as blocks in many biomes, often out in grassy fields, so keep an eye out while exploring.
- You can farm them from pumpkin seeds, which come from carving pumpkins or from chests in mineshafts, dungeons, woodland mansions, villages, and bonus chests.
A small pumpkin farm gives you an endless supply for jack o’lanterns and carved pumpkins.
Why Use a Jack o’Lantern
It is more than decoration. A jack o’lantern has a few real advantages over a plain torch:
- Maximum light. It emits light level 15, the brightest in the game, so it lights a wide area and stops mobs spawning nearby.
- Waterproof. Unlike torches, a jack o’lantern can be placed underwater and keeps glowing, which makes it great for lighting ponds, moats, and underwater builds.
- A golem head. Both carved pumpkins and jack o’lanterns can be used as the head when building an iron golem or snow golem, so a spare jack o’lantern doubles as golem-building material.
For pure atmosphere, it pairs well with other warm light blocks like a campfire around a base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Combine 1 carved pumpkin and 1 torch. Put the carved pumpkin on top and the torch directly below it in the crafting grid, and you get one jack o’lantern.
Because it is not carved yet. You need a carved pumpkin, not a plain one. Place the pumpkin and use shears on it to carve a face, then use that carved pumpkin in the recipe.
Place the pumpkin on the ground and use shears on it. A face appears and it drops 4 pumpkin seeds, then you mine the carved pumpkin to collect it.
Yes. Unlike torches, jack o’lanterns work underwater and keep emitting full light, which makes them ideal for lighting underwater or waterlogged builds.
Light level 15, the maximum in the game. That is the same brightness as glowstone and a fully lit torch area, so it is one of the best light sources you can craft.
Yes. A jack o’lantern works as the head block for both iron golems and snow golems, exactly like a carved pumpkin does.
A jack o’lantern is a cheap upgrade over the humble torch: brighter coverage, works underwater, and it looks great. Carve a pumpkin, add a torch, and you have a light source that fits almost any build, indoors, underwater, or glowing over the door for Halloween.
