Scaffolding
| Renewable |
Yes |
|---|---|
| Stackable |
Yes (64) |
| Tool |
Any tool |
| Blast resistance |
0 |
| Hardness |
0 |
| Luminous |
No |
| Transparent |
Partial |
| Waterloggable |
Yes |
| Flammable |
Yes (60) |
| Catches fire from lava |
Yes |
| Map color (JE) |
|
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"Standing Scaffolding BE.png",
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Scaffolding is a climbable semi-solid block that can be placed and broken easily and stood on without falling. It is mainly used to make construction easier.
Obtaining
Breaking
Scaffolding is broken instantly, and no tools are required. Scaffolding requires support and drops as an item if it loses this support.
| Block | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 0 | |
| Breaking time (secs) | ||
| Default | 0.05 | |
- incorrect tool, drops nothing
- correct tool, drops nothing or something other than the block itself
- correct tool, drops the block itself
- italicized can be instant mined
Breaking scaffolding with almost any tool doesn't reduce its durability, except for shears.[1]
Generated loot
| Item | Structure | Container | Quantity | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Java Edition and Bedrock Edition | ||||
| Corridor chest | 2–10 | 19.6%{ "item": "Scaffolding", "stacksize": "2–10", "chance": 0.19614132283617636, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Corridor chest" }
| ||
Crafting
| Ingredients | Crafting recipe |
|---|---|
| Bamboo + String |
Usage

When the bottom block of scaffolding is destroyed, all scaffolding blocks above it break, similar to chorus plants and bamboo; this makes it easier for players to make temporary structures.
The placement of scaffolding is different from any other blocks in the game.
In Java Edition, when holding scaffolding, the hitbox of scaffolding in the world is a full block.
- Pressing use on the top face of the scaffolding adds the scaffolding to the horizontal side, depending on the horizontal direction the player is facing. When pressing use on the other faces of a scaffolding, the scaffolding is added on top of the highest scaffolding in that location, allowing the player to build the scaffolding structure higher on the ground.
- When the player's eyes are inside the scaffolding, the placement depends on the vertical rotation of the player's head. If facing more than 45 degrees down, pressing use adds the scaffolding to the horizontal side, depending on the horizontal rotation of the player. Otherwise, the scaffolding is added on top of the highest scaffolding in that location.
- While sneaking, pressing use on a face of the scaffolding places the new scaffolding on that face, just like placing a block on full blocks (dirt, stone, etc.).
- While sneaking and the player's eyes are inside the scaffolding, pressing use adds the scaffolding to the direction the player is facing.
In Bedrock Edition, the hitbox of scaffolding in the world is not a full block even when holding a scaffolding, so the player can hit/interact with other blocks through the scaffolding. But when being hit, the scaffolding's interaction box is a full block.
- When trying to place a scaffolding inside of another scaffolding, the scaffolding is added on top of the highest scaffolding in that location, allowing the player to build the scaffolding structure higher on the ground.
- When pressing use while hitting the scaffolding, a new scaffolding is placed on the interaction face, just like placing a block on full blocks (dirt, stone, etc.). There's an exception that trying to place a scaffolding on the bottom face of a scaffolding adds the new scaffolding on top of the highest scaffolding.
- When the player's eyes are inside the scaffolding, pressing use places a scaffolding to the direction the player is facing. There's an exception that trying to place a scaffolding on the bottom of the scaffolding adds the new scaffolding on top of the highest scaffolding.
The placing scaffolding may fall as a falling block if not adequately supported.

Scaffolding can be placed up to 6 blocks out from the base of support (i.e. scaffolding block on a solid block) that is targeted; any further scaffolding placed falls to the ground unless able to be supported by a different scaffolding block. Only one additional block can be placed after 6 blocks, even if more would be able to be placed.
Scaffolding has different collision detection. The player can climb up or down by jumping or sneaking respectively. in Java Edition, floating scaffolding has a solid bottom.
A scaffolding block can be moved by pistons, allowing them to be broken easily.
Scaffolding can be waterlogged.
In Bedrock Edition, scaffolding cannot be placed inside lava; if scaffolding is placed next to lava or fire, the scaffolding is destroyed. If it falls into lava or fire, it is destroyed immediately.
In Java Edition, scaffolding is not ignited by lava and can be placed inside. It will be destroyed by fire.
Mobs do not spawn on scaffolding. In Bedrock Edition, mobs can spawn inside of scaffolding if the block below the scaffolding is spawnable. In Java Edition, very small mobs such as chickens can spawn in the empty space inside of a scaffolding block if the block below is spawnable.
Scaffolding resets the fall distance of players that fall onto it while sneaking, and can be used to prevent fall damage. While in scaffolding, the speed of all mobs and players is decreased.
Fuel
Scaffolding can be used as a fuel in furnaces, smelting 0.25 items per block.
Sounds
Generic
scaffolding sound type | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Subtitles | Source | Description | Resource location | Translation key | Volume | Pitch | Attenuation distance |
| Block broken | Blocks | Once the block has broken | block | subtitles | 0.8 | 1.12 | 16 | |
| Block placed | Blocks | When the block is placed | block | subtitles | 0.9 | 0.8 | 16 | |
| Block breaking | Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | block | subtitles | 0.25 | 0.5 | 16 | |
| Something falls on a block | Entity-Dependent | Falling on the block with fall damage | block | subtitles | 0.5 | 0.75 | 16 | |
| Footsteps | Entity-Dependent | Walking on the block | block | subtitles | 0.15 | 1.0 | 16 | |
scaffolding sound type | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Source | Description | Resource location | Volume | Pitch |
| Blocks | Once the block has broken | block | 0.8 | 1.12-1.4 | |
| Blocks | When the block is placed | block | 0.9 | 0.8-0.9 | |
| Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | block | 0.25 | 0.5 | |
| Blocks | Falling on the block with fall damage | block | 0.4 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | Walking on the block | block | 0.3 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | Jumping from the block | jump | 0.15 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | Falling on the block without fall damage | block | 0.2 | 1.0 | |
Unique
Java Edition: None
| Sounds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Source | Description | Resource location | Volume | Pitch |
| Blocks | While a player is climbing scaffolding | block | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
Data values
ID
| Name | Identifier | Form | Block tags | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
scaffolding | Block & Item | climbable | block |
| Name | Identifier | Numeric ID | Form | Item ID[i 1] | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
scaffolding | 420 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] | tile |
Block states
| Name | Default value | Allowed values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| bottom | false | falsetrue | If this scaffolding is floating. |
| distance | 7 | 01234567 | The distance from a center scaffolding horizontally. If it is 7, it becomes a falling block entity. |
| waterlogged | false | falsetrue | Whether or not there's water in the same place as this scaffolding. |
| Name | Metadata Bits | Default value | Allowed values | Values for Metadata Bits |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| stability | 0x20x40x8 | 7 | 01234567 | 01234567 | The distance from a center scaffolding horizontally. If it is 7, it becomes a falling block entity. |
| stability_check | 0x1 | false | falsetrue | 01 | If a scaffolding block has been checked for stability. |
Falling block entity













| Hitbox size |
Height: 0.98 blocks |
|---|
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- [NBT Compound / JSON Object] Dynamic block entity data
- Tags common to all entities see Template:Nbt inherit/entity/template
- [NBT Compound / JSON Object] BlockState: The falling block represented by this entity.
- [String] Name: The resource location of the block.
- [NBT Compound / JSON Object] Properties: Optional. The block states of the block.
- [String] Name: The block state name and its value.
- [Byte] CancelDrop: 1 or 0 (true/false) - true if the block should be destroyed instead of placed after landing on a solid block. When true, the block is not dropped as an item, even if the
DropItemtag is set to true. However, if the entity is deleted due to itsTimevalue being too high, this tag is ignored and an item is dropped depending on theDropItemtag.CancelDropdefaults to 1 for falling suspicious sand and suspicious gravel, and 0 for the other vanilla falling blocks and any summoned falling block. - [Byte] DropItem: 1 or 0 (true/false) – true if the block should drop as an item when it breaks. Any block that does not have an item form with the same ID as the block does not drop even if this is set.
- [Float] FallHurtAmount: Multiplied by the
FallDistanceto calculate the amount of damage to inflict. By default this value is 2HP for anvils, and 6HP for pointed dripstone. - [Int] FallHurtMax: The maximum hit points of damage to inflict on entities that intersect this falling block. For vanilla falling blocks, always 40HP × 20.
- [Byte] HurtEntities: 1 or 0 (true/false) – true if the block should hurt entities it falls on. Defaults to 1 for anvils and pointed dripstone and to 0 for the other vanilla falling blocks and any summoned falling block.
- [NBT Compound / JSON Object] TileEntityData: Optional. The tags of the block entity for this block.
- [Int] Time: The number of ticks the entity has existed. When
Timegoes above 600, or above 100 while the block is at Y=-64 or is outside building height, the entity is deleted.
Achievements
| Icon | Achievement | In-game description | Actual requirements (if different) | Gamerscore earned | Trophy type (PS) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS4 | Other | ||||||
| Top of the World | Place to the world limit. | Place a scaffolding at the world height limit. | 20 | Bronze | |||
History
| September 29, 2018 | Scaffolding is announced at MINECON Earth 2018. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Java Edition | |||||||
| 1.14 | 18w45a | ||||||
| 18w46a | Scaffolding can now be placed 6 blocks (was 4 blocks) out from its base of support without falling. | ||||||
| The smelting of scaffolding has been changed to 0.25. | |||||||
| 19w03a | When built up from the bottom, blocks such as water and vines are now properly placed above scaffolding.[2][3] | ||||||
| Scaffolding can now be instantly broken. | |||||||
| Scaffolding now has a full block hitbox when holding scaffolding.[4] | |||||||
| Scaffolding can now also be stacked by placing scaffolding against the side of it when not sneaking in addition to trying to place scaffolding in the same space. | |||||||
| Placing scaffolding against the top of another scaffolding when not sneaking now adds a scaffolding to the horizontal side. | |||||||
| 19w12a | |||||||
| 1.15 | Pre-release 1 | When used as a fuel, scaffolding now smelts 2 items instead of 0.25. | |||||
| ? | Scaffolding is part of the sword_efficient block tag. | ||||||
| 1.19 | 22w11a | Scaffolding now smelts 0.25 items again.[6] | |||||
| 1.19.3 | 22w42a | Mobs no longer spawn on scaffolding.[7] | |||||
| 22w45a | |||||||
| 1.20.3 Experiment | 23w45a | Scaffolding can now be found in trial chambers corridor barrels. | |||||
| 1.21.5 | 25w10a | Removed scaffolding from the block tag sword_efficient due to being already instantly breakable. | |||||
| Bedrock Edition | |||||||
| 1.8.0 | beta 1.8.0.8 | ||||||
| beta 1.8.0.10 | |||||||
| Sounds have been added for scaffolding. | |||||||
| A guide in the "How to Play" menu has been added for scaffolding. | |||||||
| Scaffolding now burns in lava. | |||||||
| beta 1.8.0.11 | The flight controls on touch devices after climbing scaffolding have been fixed. | ||||||
| 1.9.0 | beta 1.9.0.2 | ||||||
| 1.11.0 | beta 1.11.0.4 | Scaffolding can now be placed 6 blocks (was 4 blocks) out from its base of support without falling. | |||||
| 1.19.40 | Preview 1.19.40.22 | Scaffolding now smelts only 0.25 blocks, matching Java Edition.[9] | |||||
| 1.19.60 | Preview 1.19.60.20 | ||||||
| 1.20.30 | Preview 1.20.20.21 | Decreased the hardness of scaffolding from 0.6 to 0. | |||||
| Decreased the blast resistance of scaffolding from 0.9 to 0. | |||||||
| 1.20.60 Experiment | Preview 1.20.60.20 | Scaffolding can now be found in trial chambers corridor barrels. | |||||
| 1.21.20 | Preview 1.21.10.20 | ||||||
| PlayStation 4 Edition | |||||||
| 1.83 | |||||||
| 1.91 | Scaffolding can now be placed 6 blocks (was 4 blocks) out from its base of support without falling. | ||||||
Images referencing historical changes
-
Mobs spawning on the top of scaffolding at night. This is no longer possible after Java Edition 1.19.3.
Issues
Issues relating to "Scaffolding" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.
Trivia
- When at the build height limit, if the maximum horizontal scaffolding build limit (6 + 1 blocks) has been reached, the message for build height limit is still shown, even though scaffolding would not normally have been placed.
Gallery
Mojang screenshots
-
The first image released of scaffolding. -

-
Alex using scaffolding in the end.
In other media
-
Scaffolding in real life. -
Sunny approaching a structure using scaffolding in a cherry grove. -
Noor, Kai, Makena, and Steve building on scaffolding.
References
- ↑ MC-174829 — Shears damaged by every block
- ↑ MC-139018 — Scaffolding doesn't stack from the bottom under water — resolved as "Fixed".
- ↑ MC-141080 — Scaffolding does not replace vines when attempting to stack from the bottom — resolved as "Fixed".
- ↑ MC-150607
- ↑ MC-140409 — Scaffolding Texture — resolved as "Fixed".
- ↑ MC-165990 — Crafting bamboo into scaffolding gives you 8 times the furnace fuel for free — resolved as "Fixed".
- ↑ MC-150488 — Mobs can spawn on scaffolding — resolved as "Fixed".
- ↑ MCPE-38057 — Scaffolding Flickers in hand and as an item drop — resolved as "Fixed".
- ↑ MCPE-42949 — Scaffolding as fuel burns too long — resolved as "Fixed".
- ↑ MCPE-120910 — Scaffolding flickers like blocks and as an item drop (when moving away from them) — resolved as "Fixed".
External links
- Block of the Week: Scaffolding – Minecraft.net on April 16, 2020
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