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To make a Minecraft map cover more land, use an activated map with paper in a cartography table, then take the expanded map. Each use zooms out one level, up to four times. The map’s explored content resets when you scale it, so you’ll need to explore again while holding the new map.
Expand a map with a cartography table
- Activate the map. If it is empty, hold it and use it to start recording the area. An empty map cannot be scaled.
- Open a cartography table. Place the activated map and one paper in its slots.
- Collect the output. The result is zoomed out by one level. Repeat with the expanded map and another paper for each additional level.
- Explore the new map. Hold it while traveling through the area; scaling resets its displayed contents.
A map can be scaled up to four times. The cartography-table method uses one paper per step, or up to four pieces across all four steps.
Use a crafting table instead
If you do not have a cartography table, place the map in the center of a crafting grid and surround it with eight paper. Take the result to expand the map by one level. Repeat the recipe for further zoom-out steps; this route uses eight paper per step.
How much area each map scale covers
| Scale | Coverage | Paper for that step in a cartography table |
|---|---|---|
| Initial map | 128 × 128 blocks | Not applicable |
| After one zoom-out | 256 × 256 blocks | 1 |
| After two zoom-outs | 512 × 512 blocks | 2 total |
| After three zoom-outs | 1024 × 1024 blocks | 3 total |
| After four zoom-outs | 2048 × 2048 blocks | 4 total |
Coverage values and recipes are reported by the Minecraft Wiki content mirror. The paper amounts in the cartography-table column are cumulative from the initial map.
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Choose the method that suits your supplies
- Cartography table: uses one paper for each scale step.
- Crafting table: uses eight paper for each scale step and does not require a cartography table.
Both methods scale an existing map; neither preserves its explored contents or changes how map boundaries align.
Plan map coverage around the grid
Minecraft maps align to a grid rather than centering freely on your position. If you want a map of a different region, make a new base-level map in that region first, then scale it. Maps at the same scale align, which makes it possible to place neighboring maps together on a map wall.
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Why can’t I expand my map?
- The map is empty: hold and use it to activate it before scaling.
- The map is already at maximum scale: four zoom-out steps take it to 2048 × 2048 blocks.
- The map is locked: locked maps cannot be zoomed out.
- You want to show a new region: scaling an existing map does not preserve its content or freely reposition its boundaries. Create a fresh base map in the target region and scale that one.
The cited mechanics source is a community-maintained Minecraft Wiki mirror, not official Mojang documentation. Menu controls and recipe presentation may vary by edition or version; check the edition shown on your title screen if the interface differs.
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