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In a standard Overworld, you can build up to y=320 and dig down to y=-64, a total vertical range of 384 blocks. That applies to Java Edition and Bedrock Edition once the 1.18 update is installed. One legacy Bedrock world type is the main exception, and it is covered below.
The standard Overworld limits
The Overworld height limits were expanded in version 1.18, the Caves & Cliffs Part II update released in 2021. Before that update, the world ran from y=0 at the bottom to y=256 at the top. The 1.18 change added 64 blocks above and 64 blocks below, which is where the current numbers come from.
Mojang’s official feature overview, published December 3, 2021, puts it in plain terms: players can build all the way up to y=320, or dig down to y=-64 to reach the deepest caves and new biomes. The Java Edition 1.18 release notes describe the same expansion and the 384-block range. The Bedrock 1.18.0 update, released November 30, 2021, applied the new height to both new and existing Overworld worlds, and Mojang described it as 50% more vertical space to build and explore.
Limits by edition and world type
| Edition and version | World type | Top build height | Bottom height | Total range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Java Edition 1.18 and later | Standard Overworld | y=320 | y=-64 | 384 blocks |
| Bedrock Edition 1.18.0 and later | Standard Overworld, new and existing worlds | y=320 | y=-64 | 384 blocks |
| Bedrock Edition | Legacy Old world type | Maximum height of 128 blocks | Not stated | Not stated |
For standard Overworld worlds, the Java and Bedrock values are the same. The only difference shown in the official material is the version: Java’s expansion is documented in its 1.18 release notes, while Bedrock’s is documented in the 1.18.0 announcement.
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The legacy Bedrock Old world exception
Bedrock’s Old world type is finite and has a maximum height of 128 blocks. Mojang’s FAQ states that existing Old world type worlds did not receive the 1.18 height increase, so the y=320 figure does not apply to them. If you are playing a legacy world or following an older guide, check the world type before using the standard numbers. The FAQ page does not show a publication date, so its wording should be read as the current official position rather than a dated announcement.
How to check your world’s height
- Open the coordinates display: on Java, press F3; on Bedrock, enable coordinates in the settings for your world.
- Stand at the top of the terrain and note the Y value. The top build limit is y=320 in a standard Overworld.
- Dig down until the Y value stops changing. Standard Overworld worlds bottom out at y=-64.
- If the world was created as an Old world type on Bedrock, the vertical range is much smaller, so use the 128-block maximum instead.
Where the limits do not apply
These numbers describe the standard Overworld. Other dimensions, custom server setups, modded games, and some world types can use different ranges, and the sources reviewed here do not cover them. If you are building on a server, ask the server administrator which limits are enforced.
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- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
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- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
Mojang may change Overworld generation or build boundaries in a future version. This answer reflects official material available as of October 2026, so check the current patch notes if a newer version seems to behave differently.
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