A map is the difference between confidently exploring and getting hopelessly lost. It fills itself in as you walk, tracks your position, and you can even pin named markers on it. It takes a few ingredients to put together, but every one of them is easy to get.
This guide covers the full recipe chain, how to fill a map in, the Java and Bedrock differences, and a neat trick for adding custom markers. Everything here is accurate for the latest 2026 version of Minecraft.
Quick answer: craft an empty map from 8 paper and 1 compass. Put the compass in the center of the crafting grid and 8 paper in the surrounding slots. Then hold the map and use it to activate it, and walk around to fill it in.
Map at a Glance
| Ingredient | Amount | Made from |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | 8 | 3 sugar cane each |
| Compass | 1 | 4 iron ingots + 1 redstone |
The Full Recipe Chain
A map needs paper and a compass, so you actually craft three things:
- Paper: place 3 sugar cane in a row to get 3 paper. You need 8 paper for a map, so craft it a few times.
- Compass: place 1 redstone dust in the center of the crafting grid and 4 iron ingots in the slots above, below, left, and right of it.
- Map: put the compass in the center of the grid and surround it with the 8 paper.
That gives you one empty map. All in, a single map costs about 24 sugar cane, 4 iron ingots, and 1 redstone, so it is a little resource-heavy but well worth it.
How to Fill In a Map
An empty map is blank until you activate it:
- Use the map while holding it, and it starts drawing the terrain around you, centered on where you first opened it.
- Walk around to fill in the edges. The map only records ground you have actually visited, so explore to the corners to complete it.
The map does not move its borders once created. To chart new areas, you either make a new map or zoom the existing one out (below).
Java vs Bedrock: Locator Maps
There is one difference worth knowing between editions:
- Java Edition: every map shows a white marker for your position automatically, so the recipe above always gives you a locator map.
- Bedrock Edition: the version with a compass (8 paper + 1 compass) is a locator map that shows your position. You can also craft a plain map from 9 paper and no compass, which draws terrain but does not show where you are.
If you want to see yourself on the map in Bedrock, always use the compass recipe.
Pro Tip: Add Custom Markers With Banners
Here is a trick most players miss. You can pin a named marker anywhere on your map using a banner.
- Craft a banner (6 wool + 1 stick) and name it on an anvil.
- Place the banner in the world where you want the marker.
- Hold your map and use it on the placed banner. A marker with the banner’s name and color appears on the map.
Use it again on the banner to remove the marker. A clever move is to hide the banner underground so the marker shows on your map without a banner cluttering your build. It is perfect for labeling your base, a village, or a mineshaft entrance.
You can also take a map to a cartography table to zoom it out, clone copies for friends, or lock it so it stops updating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Craft an empty map from 8 paper and 1 compass. Put the compass in the center of the crafting grid with 8 paper around it, then hold the map and use it to activate it.
Eight paper and one compass. Paper comes from sugar cane, and a compass is made from 4 iron ingots and 1 redstone dust.
Hold the map and use it to activate it, then walk around. It only draws terrain you actually visit, so explore to the edges to complete it.
In Bedrock Edition, a map made from 9 paper without a compass does not track your position. Use the 8 paper plus compass recipe to get a locator map. Java maps always show your position.
Name a banner on an anvil, place it in the world, and use your map on the banner. A named marker appears. You can hide the banner underground so only the marker shows.
Use a cartography table to zoom the map out, which expands the area it covers. You can zoom out several times for a large overview map.
A map turns a confusing world into a place you actually know, and with banner markers you can label everything that matters. Farm some paper, craft a compass, and start charting.
