Snow








| Renewable |
Yes |
|---|---|
| Stackable |
Yes (64) |
| Tool | |
| Blast resistance |
0.1 |
| Hardness |
0.1 |
| Luminous |
No |
| Transparent |
Yes |
| Flammable |
No |
| Catches fire from lava |
No |
| Map color (JE) |
|
{
"title": "Snow",
"rows": [
{
"field": "Yes",
"label": "(link to Renewable resource article, displayed as Renewable)"
},
{
"field": "Yes (64)",
"label": "Stackable"
},
{
"field": "<span class=\"sprite-file\" style=\"height:32px;width:32px;--vertical-align:middle\">(link to File:Invicon Wooden Shovel.png article, displayed as 32x32px|link=Wooden Shovel|alt=|class=pixel-image|A wooden shovel or better is required to mine this block)</span>",
"label": "Tool"
},
{
"field": "0.1",
"label": "(link to Explosion#Blast resistance article, displayed as Blast resistance)"
},
{
"field": "0.1",
"label": "(link to Breaking#Blocks by hardness article, displayed as Hardness)"
},
{
"field": "No",
"label": "(link to Light article, displayed as Luminous)"
},
{
"field": "Yes",
"label": "(link to Opacity article, displayed as Transparent)"
},
{
"field": "No",
"label": "(link to Flammable article, displayed as Flammable)"
},
{
"field": "No",
"label": "Catches fire<br>from (link to lava article, displayed as lava)"
},
{
"field": "<span style=\"display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap;\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> 8 SNOW</span>",
"label": "(link to Map color article, displayed as Map color) <small>((link to Java Edition article, displayed as ''JE''))</small>"
}
],
"invimages": [
"Snow"
],
"images": [
"Snow (layers 1).png",
"Snow (layers 2).png",
"Snow (layers 3).png",
"Snow (layers 4).png",
"Snow (layers 5).png",
"Snow (layers 6).png",
"Snow (layers 7).png",
"Snow (layers 8).png"
]
}
Snow is a ground cover and gravity-affected block found on the surface in snowy biomes, and can be replenished during snowfall.
Obtaining
Breaking
Breaking snow with a shovel yields 1 snowball per layer in Java Edition, or between 1 and 4 depending on its height in Bedrock Edition (detailed below). Explosions, such as by TNT or creepers, also cause snow to drop snowballs in the same amount as if mined with a shovel. In Bedrock Edition, snow can be instantly removed by using a shovel on it if there is no block directly above the snow layer, yielding the same amount of snowballs as when breaking it.
Snowball drops in Bedrock Edition
- 1 snowball for 1–3 layers
- 2 snowballs for 4–5 layers
- 3 snowballs for 6–7 layers
- 4 snowballs for 8 layers
Unlike any other blocks that require a pickaxe or shears to be mined, snow layers and blocks require a shovel enchanted with Silk Touch, in which case snow drops itself at one item per layer, except for 8 layers, which drop a snow block instead.[1] Breaking snow with any other tool, even if enchanted with Silk Touch, drops nothing.
| Block | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 0.1 | |
| Tool | ||
| Breaking time (sec)[A] | ||
| Default | 0.5 | |
| 0.1 | ||
| 0.05 | ||
|
0.05 | |
| 0.05 | ||
| 0.05 | ||
| 0.05 | ||
| 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
- ↑ These durations ignore other influential factors (e.g. Mining Fatigue), and are measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.
Snow breaks and drops nothing if:
- water or lava flows into its space.
- in Java Edition, a piston extends or moves a block into its space.
- in Java Edition, its support block is removed.
In Bedrock Edition, snow breaks and drops 1-4 snowballs, depending on its height, if a ravager walks on it, or if a piston extends or moves a block into its space. 1 snowball is dropped — regardless of the number of layers — if snow falls into an invalid block space after its support block is removed.
Natural generation
Snow naturally generates in snowy biomes, cold biomes, and other biomes depending on the elevation and temperature. Only blocks with direct access to the sky can generate snow layers naturally (with the exception of some buildings in snowy villages, which generate extra snow in areas inaccessible to the sky).[2] In Bedrock Edition, snow can also generate snowlogged in certain types of vegetation.
Snow generates where there is sky access atop buildings in snowy taiga villages.
Snow generates as piles and in multiple layers as part of many snowy plains village structures.
By default, snow generates exclusively in single layers in Java Edition, it can be modified with /gamerule snowAccumulationHeight. Snow can generate in multiple layers in Bedrock Edition.
Snow also generates in ancient cities.
Crafting
| Ingredients | Crafting recipe |
|---|---|
| Snow Block |
Post-generation
Weather
In snowy biomes or in cold biomes at higher altitudes, the weather can produce snow instead of rain. In snowy weather, snow generates on random blocks with a complete solid top surface at integer y-values, with a block light level of 9 or less, with the exception of ice and packed ice. The rate at which snow forms is affected by the game rule randomTickSpeed. In Bedrock Edition, snow can also generate snowlogged in certain types of vegetation.
Below are the altitudes at which rain ends and snow begins, depending on the biome. The exact height of the snow line is randomized. In taigas, for example, the lowest possible snow layer forms at y level 153, and the lowest height where snow forms at all locations is y=168, with snow lines ranging between y levels 153 and 168 across different locations.
| Biome | Layer |
|---|---|
| y=-64 (All altitudes) | |
| 120±8 | |
| 160±8 | |
| 200±8 | |
| 356±8 (out of world) | |
| Between -64 and 120±8, depending on location |
In Bedrock Edition, anywhere from 1-12 layers of snow can build up during snowfall, depending on the biome. In Java Edition, snowfall creates one layer of snow by default, and the number of layers that can accumulate can be altered by the game rule snowAccumulationHeight: the default value being 1, while setting it to 0 makes no snow form at all, and setting it to 8 or above lets snow form up to the level of a full block.
Snow layers do not generate if the game rule doWeatherCycle has been set to false.
Snow golems
Snow golems generate a trail of snow in snowy, cold, and some medium biomes, or any non-dry biome in Bedrock Edition.
Usage

Snow can be placed only on a solid block that is not ice. In Java Edition, snow can be placed on a block in the snow_layer_can_survive_on tag, or a block with a full top face and not in the snow_layer_cannot_survive_on tag. In Java Edition, snow breaks if its support block is removed. In Bedrock Edition, snow is affected by gravity and falls if it becomes unsupported, and breaks if it falls onto an unsuitable block. A player can jump up 1 block and 3 snow layers.
Cover

If the snow is on a grass block (or mycelium or podzol in Java Edition[5]) the ground cover turns white on the top and around the sides. Snow does not damage tilled and hydrated field areas – it cannot be placed on farmland. A gravity-affected block like sand or gravel does not fall if snow covers the block below it, but the gravity-affected block does replace a snow layer when falling onto it. The texture of the grass block changes to snowy when a single layer of snow is placed on top.[6][7] Thicker layers of snow causes the grass block to revert to plain dirt when the block receives a random tick, similar to regular grass when covered by an opaque block. A plain dirt block with a single layer of snow on top gains a snowy texture if grass spreads to it.
Snow layers placed on top of nylium revert it to netherrack.[8]
In Bedrock Edition, if leaves are topped with a layer of snow, particles of snow appear to fall through the leaves from the snow layer.
In Bedrock Edition, snow layers can occupy the same space as one-block flowers, mushrooms, and one-block ferns and short grass and can be layered and mined normally. Snow cannot occupy the same block as two-block-tall plants.[9] Placing snow on plant blocks causes snow to appear around them, but placing plants into an area where there is snow removes the snow.[10]
Melting

Snow melts if there is a heat block or block light level of 12 or more. In Bedrock Edition, it also melts in biomes without snowfall, regardless of block light or daylight level. If there are multiple layers, layers melt gradually in Bedrock Edition, but they melt all at once in Java Edition.
Some light sources can melt snow but many cannot. The melt radius is taxicab distance.
| Item | Melt radius | Light Level |
|---|---|---|
| Beacon | 3 | 15 |
| Blast Furnace | 1 | 13 |
| Brewing Stand | - | 1 |
| Brown Mushroom | - | 1 |
| Campfire | 3 | 15 |
| Candle ×1 | - | 3 |
| Candles ×2 | - | 6 |
| Candles ×3 | - | 9 |
| Candles ×4 | - | 12 |
| Conduit | 3 | 15 |
| Copper Bulb | 3 | 15 |
| Copper Bulb, Exposed | - | 12 |
| Copper Bulb, Oxidised | - | 4 |
| Copper Bulb, Weathered | - | 8 |
| Crying Obsidian | - | 10 |
| Dragon Egg | - | 1 |
| End Portal | 3 | 15 |
| End Portal Frame | - | 1 |
| End Rod | 2 | 14 |
| Ender Chest | - | 7 |
| Fire | 3 | 15 |
| Froglight | 3 | 15 |
| Furnace | 1 | 13 |
| Glow Lichen | - | 7 |
| Glowstone | 3 | 15 |
| Jack o'Lantern | 3 | 15 |
| Lantern | 3 | 15 |
| Lava | 3 | 15 |
| Magma Block | - | 3 |
| Nether Portal | - | 11 |
| Redstone Lamp | 3 | 15 |
| Redstone Ore | - | 9 |
| Redstone Torch | - | 7 |
| Respawn Anchor 1/4 Charge | - | 3 |
| Respawn Anchor 2/4 Charge | - | 7 |
| Respawn Anchor 3/4 Charge | - | 11 |
| Respawn Anchor 4/4 Charge | 3 | 15 |
| Sea Lantern | 3 | 15 |
| Sea Pickle ×1 | - | 6 |
| Sea Pickles ×2 | - | 9 |
| Sea Pickles ×3 | - | 12 |
| Sea Pickles ×4 | 3 | 15 |
| Shroomlight | 3 | 15 |
| Smoker | 1 | 13 |
| Soul Campfire | - | 10 |
| Soul Fire | - | 10 |
| Soul Lantern | - | 10 |
| Soul Torch | - | 10 |
| Torch | 2 | 14 |
Foxes
When a fox gets stuck in the snow after missing an attack on prey, it emits particles as it emerges from the snow.
Sounds
snow sound type | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Subtitles | Source | Description | Resource location | Translation key | Volume | Pitch | Attenuation distance |
| Block broken | Blocks | Once the block has broken | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8 | 16 | |
| Block placed | Blocks | When the block is placed | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 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 | |
snow sound type | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Source | Description | Resource location | Volume | Pitch |
| Blocks | Once the block has broken | dig | 1.0 | 0.8-1.0 | |
| Blocks | When the block is placed | dig | 1.0 | 0.8-1.0 | |
| Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | hit | 0.35 | 0.5 | |
| Players | Falling on the block with fall damage | fall | 0.4 | 1.0 | |
| Players | Walking on the block | step | 0.3 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | Jumping from the block | jump | 0.12 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | Falling on the block without fall damage | land | 0.22 | 1.0 | |
Data values
ID
| Name | Identifier | Form | Block tags | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
snow | Block & Item | inside_step_sound_blockssnowmineable/shovel | block |
| Name | Identifier | Numeric ID | Form | Item ID[i 1] | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
snow_layer | 78 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] | tile |
Block states
| Name | Default value | Allowed values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| layers | 1 | 12345678 | The number of layers thick. Each layer adds two pixels to the block height, and each layer after the first adds two pixels to the collision box. |
| Name | Metadata Bits | Default value | Allowed values | Values for Metadata Bits |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| height | 0x10x20x4 | 0 | 01234567 | 01234567 | The number of layers in addition to the bottom layer. |
| covered_bit | 0x8 | false | truefalse | 01 | True if the snow is covering a plant. |
Falling block entity













| Hitbox size |
Height: 0.98 blocks |
|---|
{
"title": "Falling Block",
"rows": [
{
"field": "Height: 0.98 blocks<br>Width: 0.98 blocks",
"label": "(link to Hitbox article, displayed as Hitbox size)"
}
],
"invimages": [],
"images": []
}
- [NBT Compound / JSON Object]: The entity's root tag.
- [NBT Compound / JSON Object] FallingBlock
- Tags common to block
- [Byte] Time: The number of ticks the entity has existed. If set to 0, the moment it ticks to 1, it vanishes if the block at its location has a different ID than the entity's
FallingBlock.Name. If the block at its location has the same ID as itsFallingBlock.NamewhenTimeticks from 0 to 1, the block is deleted, and the entity continues to fall, having overwritten it. When Time goes above 600, or above 100 while the block is below Y=1 or is outside building height, the entity is deleted.
- [NBT Compound / JSON Object] FallingBlock
History
| Java Edition Classic | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2009 | Notch briefly mentioned, "Winter is an awesome idea. I can see snow and tiles slowly getting covered in a layer of snow. Also, ice on lakes. :D" | ||||||
| May 21, 2009 | Notch reveals that snow "on top of topmost tiles" was on his to-do list. | ||||||
| Java Edition Alpha | |||||||
| v1.0.4 | |||||||
| Snow can not fall onto any non solid blocks, and instead falls through them. The exception to this is leaves. | |||||||
| v1.0.5 | Disturbing a snow layer by any means other than replacing it now causes a snowball to drop. This includes melting and mining snow or the block under it. | ||||||
| A player can now easily harvest snow by placing a block of water. By doing so, the player receives a large amount of snowballs with little effort. | |||||||
| Snow can now fall onto many non solid blocks including glass, stairs, slabs, doors, signs, and pressure plates. | |||||||
| v1.0.5_01 | Snowballs can now be harvested from snow only by using with shovels. | ||||||
| v1.0.17 | Snow can no longer fall on non solid blocks, including leaves. Any snow on top of non solid blocks break given a block update. | ||||||
| v1.2.0 | preview | With the removal of Winter Mode, snow can no longer regenerate. | |||||
| Java Edition Beta | |||||||
| 1.5 | |||||||
| Snow regeneration has now returned as part of the new weather features.[11] | |||||||
| Snow can now occur in arctic biomes. | |||||||
| 1.7 | |||||||
| 1.8 | Pre-release | Snow biomes have been temporarily removed as Notch is currently trying to improve them. | |||||
| Dropped snow layer items no longer appear larger than normal blocks. | |||||||
| Java Edition | |||||||
| 1.0.0 | Beta 1.9 Prerelease | Snow biomes have been re-added. | |||||
| Added snow golems, which leave a trail of snow behind them, making snow easier to farm. | |||||||
| 1.3.1 | 12w21a | Snow has been made available in the creative inventory. | |||||
| 1.5 | 13w05a | Snow can now be crafted and is obtainable in Survival mode. | |||||
| Stacked snow layers now have correct collisions, and can be placed. | |||||||
| ? | Single snow layers now have collision. Walking on top of them is equivalent to walking atop a full block below them. | ||||||
| ? | Eight layers of snow no longer have collision. | ||||||
| ? | Eight layers of snow once again have collision. | ||||||
| ? | Single snow layers no longer have collision. | ||||||
| 1.8 | 14w28b | The number of snowballs dropped from snow has been increased from 1-8 to 2-9, depending on thickness. | |||||
| 1.8.1 | pre1 | Placing a snow layer against the side of a snow with multiple layers now places snow next to it, instead of adding another layer to it. Placing snow against the side of a single layer still adds another layer. | |||||
| Placing a snow layer in the same location as other snow layers by aiming at adjacent blocks now adds an additional layer if possible instead of replacing all of the snow with 1 layer. | |||||||
| 1.13 | 17w47a | Layer 1 snow now has empty collision instead of solid collision of height 0, allowing entities to once again pass through it. | |||||
| Placing a snow layer against the side of a single snow layer now places snow next to the block instead of adding a second layer to it. | |||||||
| It is no longer possible to replace snow with multiple layers by aiming at adjacent blocks. | |||||||
| 17w48a | Snow now drops itself when mined with a Silk Touch shovel.[12] | ||||||
| Mining 8 layers of snow with a Silk Touch shovel now drops a snow block.[1] | |||||||
| 1.14 | 18w43a | ||||||
| 18w49a | Snow now generate in the updated snowy tundra villages. | ||||||
| 19w03c | Seven layer high snow now uses correct cullface arguments. | ||||||
| 1.19 | 22w13a | Snow now generate as part of ancient cities. | |||||
| 1.19.3 | 22w44a | Added the game rule snowAccumulationHeight. | |||||
| 1.20.2 | 23w31a | The rate of snow accumulation is now affected by the game rule randomTickSpeed. | |||||
| Pocket Edition Alpha | |||||||
| Pre-release | |||||||
| v0.4.0 | |||||||
| v0.8.0 | build 1 | Added snow to the Creative mode inventory. | |||||
| v0.9.0 | build 1 | Snow is now craftable in Survival mode. | |||||
| v0.12.1 | build 1 | ||||||
| Snow is now affected by gravity, so that unsupported snow layers show falling dust particles. | |||||||
| Snow can now be placed inside flowers, mushrooms and short grass. | |||||||
| Snow is now obtained by using a shovel on it. Previously, snow was mined like any dirt-type block. | |||||||
| Snow now melts in any non-snowy biome. | |||||||
| v0.13.0 | build 1 | "Snow" has been renamed to "Top Snow." | |||||
| Unknown | |||||||
| ? | Snow now only melts in dry/hot biomes. | ||||||
| Bedrock Edition | |||||||
| 1.2.0 | beta 1.2.0.2 | Snow layers can now generate in extreme hills biomes. | |||||
| 1.10.0 | beta 1.10.0.3 | ||||||
| 1.20.30 | Preview 1.20.20.20 | All snow layers now have their own collision heights, which are ⅛ of a block less than each layer's visual height. | |||||
| 1.21.30 | Preview 1.21.30.22 | Changed name from "Top Snow" to "Snow" to match Java Edition. | |||||
| Preview 1.21.30.23 | When mining snow with a Silk Touch enchanted shovel, snow is now dropped in an amount corresponding to the number of layers of the block.[13] | ||||||
| If there are 8 layers of snow, a snow block is dropped if mined with a Silk Touch tool. | |||||||
| Legacy Console Edition | |||||||
| Xbox 360 | Xbox One | PS3 | PS4 | PS Vita | Wii U | Switch | |
| TU1 | CU1 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | Patch 1 | 1.0.1 | |
| TU19 | CU7 | 1.12 | 1.12 | 1.12 | Stacked snow layers can now be placed. | ||
| TU54 | CU44 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 1.52 | Patch 24 | 1.0.4 | Snow can now be placed on top of upside-down stairs. |
| TU69 | 1.76 | 1.76 | 1.76 | Patch 38 | Snow is now affected by gravity. | ||
| 1.90 | |||||||
| New Nintendo 3DS Edition | |||||||
| 0.1.0 | |||||||
Data history
| Java Edition | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.13 | 17w47a | The ID of snow has been changed from snow_layer to snow.
| |||||
| Prior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 78. | |||||||
Issues
Issues relating to "Snow", "Snow layer", or "Top snow" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.
Trivia
- Snow can be stacked to a full block beside a cactus without destroying the cactus.
- Snow layers of 2 to 7 thickness prevent hostile mobs from spawning.
- In Spectator mode, a player positioned at the correct height can see the snowy texture of the top of the grass blocks.
- Snow sounds were created by Daniel Rosenfeld scrunching a bag of corn starch.[14]
Gallery
Screenshots
-
Naturally generated snow in a snowy plains biome. -
Naturally generated snow in an ice spikes biome. -
Naturally generated snow in a snowy taiga biome. -
Naturally generated snow in windswept hills. -
Snow generated floating due to a carver cave. -
Snow as seen having the ability to bury certain plants. -
A fox stuck in a snow layer.
See also
References
- ↑ a b MC-134408 — Breaking 8-level snow layer with Silk Touch drops snow block
- ↑ MC-198006 — resolved as "Works As Intended".
- ↑ MC-240697 — It snows in the stony shore biomes from Y = 118 and above
- ↑ MCPE-142225 — Dripstone Caves biome temperature is too cold
- ↑ MCPE-12277
- ↑ MC-1483
- ↑ MCPE-32637
- ↑ MC-174639 — resolved as "Works As Intended".
- ↑ MCPE-21688 — resolved as "Invalid".
- ↑ MCPE-29695
- ↑ "Minecraft Beta 1.5, and some thoughts on this blog" – Notch, Tumblr
- ↑ MC-1875 — Snow layers don't drop themselves when harvested with a silk touch tool — resolved as "Fixed".
- ↑ MCPE-59729 — Snow layers don't drop themselves when mined with a silk touch enchanted shovel — resolved as "Fixed".
- ↑ It turns out, there’s a much easier way to get a good snow sound, using a bag of corn starch... Daniel: You just scrunch it [sfx], and that sounds much more like snow than actual real snow.
| Items | |
|---|---|
| Blocks | |
| Mobs | |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||