How to make a perfect circle in Minecraft
Pick the diameter, mark the centre block, place the four flat edges, then fill each quarter with the circle's run pattern and repeat it in the other three quarters. Blocks are square, so a "perfect" circle is the closest stepped shape; a chart or generator gives you the exact pattern for your size.
Updated 21 Oct 2026 · Checked on Java Edition 1.21.x and 26.x, Bedrock Edition 1.21.x and 26.x (the method does not depend on the version)
Quick steps
- Choose the size. Decide the diameter (the full width, wall included). Odd sizes have one centre block; even sizes have a 2x2 centre.
- Mark the centre and four points. Place a marker block in the centre, then count half the width out in the four directions (north, south, east, west) and mark the outer edge.
- Place the four flat edges. Centre the first number of the pattern on each of the four points. For a 25 wide circle that is 7 blocks, 3 either side.
- Fill the corners with the pattern. Going from one flat edge to the next, place each run, step one block diagonally inward, and place the next run. Repeat in all four quarters.
- Check and remove the markers. Each quarter should be the mirror image of its neighbour. Remove the marker blocks, or keep the centre for a beacon or pillar.
Patterns for popular sizes
| Diameter | Thin | Thick | Filled | Quarter pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 24 | 32 | 69 | 5-1-5 |
| 15 | 40 | 56 | 177 | 5-2-1-2-5 |
| 21 | 56 | 80 | 349 | 7-2-1-1-1-2-7 |
| 25 | 68 | 96 | 489 | 7-2-2-1-1-2-2-7 |
| 31 | 84 | 120 | 749 | 7-3-2-1-1-1-1-2-3-7 |
| 51 | 144 | 200 | 2,053 | 11-3-3-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-3-3-11 |
| 64 | 180 | 252 | 3,228 | 12-4-2-3-1-2-1-2-1-1-1-2-1-2-1-3-2-4-12 |
| 101 | 284 | 400 | 8,021 | 15-5-3-3-2-2-2-2-2-1-1-2-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-1-1-2-2-2-2-2-3-3-5-15 |
All sizes: circle sizes chart.
Why circles in a block game are stepped
Every block sits on a square grid, so a circle is always an approximation: a set of square blocks whose shape is as close to the ideal circle as possible. The common rule, and the one our charts and the studio use, is simple: a block is part of the circle when the centre of that block lies inside the circle. That rule gives the same shape every time, so two builders using the same size get the same blocks.
The pattern repeats in all four quarters, and each quarter is also mirrored along its diagonal. That is why one short list of numbers (the “runs”) is enough to build the whole circle.
Odd or even diameter
- Odd sizes (9, 25, 31, 101) have a single centre block. Count half the width minus one block out from it in each direction to find the edges: for a 25 wide circle that is 12 blocks.
- Even sizes (10, 24, 64, 100) have a 2x2 centre and no single middle block. They suit 2-wide doors and 2x2 pillars.
If you are not sure, pick an odd size: it is easier to line things up with the middle.
The method, step by step
- Find your pattern. Look up the size in the table below or the full circle sizes chart.
The pattern lists the runs for one quarter, for example
7-2-2-1-1-2-2-7. - Mark the centre. Use a block that stands out (wool or a coloured concrete) so you can remove it later.
- Mark the four edge points. Walk straight north, south, east and west and count the blocks. On Java, the F3 screen shows your block position; on Bedrock, turn on Show Coordinates in the world settings.
- Place the four flat edges. The first (and last) number of the pattern is the flat edge, centred on each point.
- Fill the corners. From the end of a flat edge, step one block diagonally inward and place the next run. Keep going until you meet the next flat edge.
- Check the symmetry. Each quarter must mirror its neighbour. If one is off, a run was miscounted.
Reading a pattern
In 7-2-2-1-1-2-2-7, you place 7 blocks in a row (the flat top edge), step diagonally and place 2, step and place 2,
then 1 and 1, then the runs turn and go downwards (2, 2) until the flat side edge of 7. Every corner is the same.
Walls, towers and floors
- A wall or tower is the same ring stacked on every layer.
- A floor uses the filled count: build the ring first, then fill it in.
- A dome or sphere shrinks the ring as it goes up; see how to build a sphere and dome.
Big circles
Above about 60 blocks, counting by eye gets slow. Write the pattern down (or keep the studio open on a phone in build mode), mark the four edge points by coordinates, and work one quarter at a time. You can also load the circle as a schematic and build over the preview: see how to import .litematic, .schem and .mcstructure files.
Sources
Questions
Can you make a circle with commands?
Not with /fill, which only makes boxes. In Java with the WorldEdit mod or plugin, //cyl and //hcyl make filled and hollow circles from a radius (height 1 = a flat circle). Without mods, plan the circle on a grid and place it by hand, or load one of our exports.
Why does my circle look like an octagon?
Small circles (under about 15 blocks) have so few steps that they read as octagons. Bigger circles look rounder because the steps get smaller compared to the width.
Should the diameter be odd or even?
Odd if you want something exactly in the middle (a beacon, pillar or 1-wide door). Even if you want a 2-wide centre, for example a 2x2 pillar or a 2-wide gate.
Thin or thick outline?
A thin outline steps diagonally and uses fewer blocks. A thick outline adds one block at every step so nothing can pass between the diagonal blocks; use it for walls and moats.