Nether Portal Calculator
Convert coordinates between the Overworld and the Nether (the 1:8 ratio) and measure the distance between portals — so your portals link to the right place every time.
Coordinate converter
Type in either row — the other updates automatically (X & Z ÷8, Y stays the same).
Portal distance calculator
3D distance between two portals. To know if two portals will cross-link, use the conflict checker below.
Portal link conflict checker
Will two portals steal each other’s link? Enter both portals’ X/Z and see their destination search areas on a map.
How Overworld ↔ Nether coordinates work
Travelling one block in the Nether moves you eight blocks in the Overworld, so the Nether is an 8× fast-travel layer. To find where an Overworld location lands in the Nether, divide its X and Z by 8 and round down. The Y (height) coordinate is identical in both dimensions and is never divided. To go the other way, multiply the Nether X and Z by 8.
Example: an Overworld base at X 1480, Y 64, Z -520 corresponds to X 185, Y 64, Z -65 in the Nether.
How to link two Nether portals
- Build and light your first portal; press
F3to read its X, Y, Z. - Convert those coordinates with the tool above.
- Go to the matching coordinates in the other dimension and build the second portal there.
- Light it and step through — it will connect back to the first portal.
Manually placing the paired portal (instead of letting the game auto-generate one) is the reliable way to get a clean two-way link.
How portal linking really works (the search radius)
When you step through a portal, the game converts your coordinates (÷8 or ×8) and searches an area around that spot for an existing portal, picking the closest one by straight-line distance, including Y, across the full world height. On Java (1.16.2+) the search area is a 32×32-block square (16-block radius) arriving in the Nether and 256×256 (128-block radius) arriving in the Overworld — symmetric once you account for the 1:8 scale. On Bedrock it's a 128-block radius in both dimensions, so a Nether-side search covers the equivalent of 2048 Overworld blocks — which is why Bedrock portals hijack each other so much more often.
Practical spacing for automatically separate portals: Java — keep Overworld portals 256+ blocks apart (Nether portals 32+ apart); Bedrock — 2048+ blocks apart (Nether portals 256+ apart). Anything closer works fine too, as long as you build each portal's partner by hand at the exact converted coordinates — a portal at distance ~0 always wins the closest-portal contest. The conflict checker above visualises exactly this.
FAQ
How do you convert Overworld coordinates to the Nether?
Divide the X and Z coordinates by 8 (round down); the Y coordinate stays the same. So Overworld X=800, Z=-240 becomes Nether X=100, Z=-30. Going the other way, multiply Nether X and Z by 8.
Why is the ratio 1:8?
One block travelled in the Nether equals eight blocks in the Overworld, so the Nether is an 8× faster shortcut for long-distance travel. Only horizontal axes (X and Z) scale — Y (height) is 1:1.
How do I make two Nether portals link correctly?
Build the first portal, note its coordinates, convert them with the calculator above, then build the second portal as close as possible to those converted coordinates in the other dimension. Light it, and the game links them.
How far does the game search for an existing portal?
Java (1.16.2+): entering from the Overworld searches a 32×32-block area (16-block radius) around the converted spot in the Nether; entering from the Nether searches 256×256 (128-block radius) in the Overworld. Bedrock searches a 128-block radius in BOTH dimensions, which is why portals hijack each other far more often on Bedrock. Both editions pick the closest portal in the area by straight-line distance, including Y.
How far apart do Overworld portals need to be to get separate Nether portals?
Java: 256+ blocks apart (their 16-radius Nether search areas can then never overlap). Bedrock: 2048+ blocks apart (its Nether search radius is 128). Closer than that, build each portal’s Nether-side pair by hand at the exact converted coordinates — the closest-portal rule then keeps every link correct. The conflict checker below does this math for you.
Does Y (height) need converting?
No. The Y coordinate is identical in both dimensions, so build your destination portal at the same height — though in the Nether you usually adjust to a safe spot away from lava.
Why did my Nether portal link to the wrong place?
When you enter a portal the game looks for an existing destination portal within range (full world height) and picks the nearest one by straight-line distance including Y. If another portal is closer than yours, it hijacks the link. Fix it by building the paired portal manually at the converted coordinates — a portal at the exact spot is always closest, so it always wins.
How many obsidian blocks do I need for a portal?
A minimum portal is 4×5 and needs 10 obsidian (the corners are optional). A full rectangle with corners is 14. Larger frames up to 23×23 work too.
Is the ratio the same on Bedrock?
Yes — the Overworld↔Nether ratio is 1:8 on both Java and Bedrock (X and Z divided/multiplied by 8, Y unchanged).