Best Y Level for Emeralds in Minecraft
Emerald ore only spawns in mountains, and the higher you dig the more there is, all the way up to Y 230.
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How to find the best Y levelHow to find the best Y level
Choose Overworld or Nether to see the ores that spawn there.
Each ore shows where it spawns and the Y level where you find the most.
Click an ore for its own page with the best level, the pickaxe it needs and where it spawns.
Frequently Asked Questions
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As high as you can dig in a mountain biome. Emerald ore gets more common the higher you go, up to Y 230. Few mountains are that tall, so dig near the top of the biggest one you can find.
Only mountain biomes: meadow, cherry grove, grove, snowy slopes, jagged peaks, frozen peaks, stony peaks, windswept hills, windswept gravelly hills and windswept forest.
An iron pickaxe or better. A weaker pickaxe breaks emerald ore without dropping anything.
Emerald veins are tiny, so emerald ore usually spawns as a single block. Trading with villagers gets you far more emeralds than mining.