What Villager Trades String in Minecraft?

The villagers who buy string in Minecraft are primarily the Fletcher at journeyman level and the Fisherman at novice level. Fletchers purchase 14 string for 1 emerald, while Fishermen can buy 20 string for 1 emerald as a possible novice trade. These trades turn spider drops or cobweb farms into easy emeralds, making string one of the best early-game farmables.

Quick Facts for “What Villager Trades String”

• Primary villager: Fletcher (Journeyman: 14 string > 1 emerald, 100% chance)
• Secondary villager: Fisherman (Novice: 20 string > 1 emerald, 50% chance)
• Job site blocks: Fletching Table for Fletcher; Barrel for Fisherman
• Editions: Java and Bedrock; Fletcher trade is guaranteed at journeyman, Fisherman trade is random at novice

How String Trades Work

• Fletcher: Unlocks the 14 string > 1 emerald trade at Journeyman level after progressing through sticks, flint, or feathers. The trade is 100% guaranteed in both Java and Bedrock editions.
• Fisherman: Can offer 20 string > 1 emerald at Novice level, with a 50% chance in both Java and Bedrock.

According to the Minecraft Wiki, both trades restock twice daily when the villager accesses their job site and have limited uses per stock before locking until refresh.

String is renewable via spiders, cobwebs (with shears or a sword), or cats, making it perfect for infinite emerald farms.

How to Get Villagers That Trade String

Fletcher (Best Option)

1. Place a Fletching Table near an unemployed villager.
2. Trade novice items (sticks: 32 > 1 emerald; flint) to reach Apprentice.
3. Continue with feathers or more flint to reach Journeyman, unlocking 14 string for 1 emerald.
4. Trade once to lock the offer.

Fisherman (Quick Alternative)

1. Place a Barrel near an unemployed villager.
2. Check novice trades; if 20 string > 1 emerald appears (50% chance), trade to lock.
3. Reroll by breaking and replacing the barrel before any trades if needed.

In the Java Edition, reroll novices until desired trades appear; Bedrock follows the same trade pool mechanics.

Why String Trades Are So Good

String trades allow scalable emerald farms using simple spider grinders or cobweb setups. Fletchers synergize with their stick and flint trades for a full early-game trading progression, while Fishermen provide instant access. Using multiple villagers ensures constant stock, letting players buy enchanted bows, arrows, or fishing rods efficiently.

String Trade Details by Villager

Fletcher is preferred for volume and consistency, but combining both villagers maximizes trading efficiency.

Other Ways to Obtain String

While trading is the easiest way to get large quantities, string can also be collected from the environment, mobs, and other mechanics.

Breaking Tripwire and Cobwebs

• Tripwire: Can be broken instantly with any tool. Drops string unless destroyed by lava. Tripwire is also naturally generated in jungle pyramids and as traps in certain structures.
• Cobwebs: Drops a string when broken with a sword or pushed with a piston. Water can also break cobwebs to drop string, but flowing lava destroys them without drops.

Mob Loot

• Spiders and Cave Spiders: Drop 0-2 string by default; loot can increase with Looting enchantments.
• Cats: In Java Edition, cats can drop 0-2 strings.
• Striders: Drop 2-5 string in Java and Bedrock, unaffected by Looting in Bedrock.

Generated Chests

String can spawn in certain loot chests in both Java and Bedrock Editions:

Fishing

• Using an unenchanted fishing rod, a string has a 0.5% (1/200) chance of being caught.
• Enchanting with Luck of the Sea decreases the chance:
  • Level I: 0.4%
  • Level II: 0.3%
  • Level III: 0.2%

Bartering

• Piglins may give 3-9 string for a gold ingot with ~4.26% chance (20/469).

Cat Gifts

• Tamed cats have a 70% chance to give a gift upon waking, with a 16.13% chance that the gift is a string.

Tip: Combining villager trades with renewable sources like spiders, cobwebs, and cats lets players accumulate large amounts of string without relying solely on one method.