How to Make Smooth Stone Slab

October 5, 2025 lawyer

In Minecraft, building with a variety of blocks is key to making structures that are not only functional but also visually appealing. Among the many decorative options available, smooth stone slabs are a favorite for players who want clean, modern, or polished designs. These slabs are subtle yet stylish, making them ideal for floors, countertops, stairs, and many architectural details. Crafting smooth stone slabs involves a few steps that are simple to follow, but knowing where to find the right materials and how to process them properly will save you time and resources.

Understanding Smooth Stone and Its Role

What Is Smooth Stone?

Smooth stone is a refined version of regular stone. It has a lighter, sleeker appearance and cannot be obtained naturally in the wild it must be crafted through smelting. You won’t find smooth stone slabs in naturally generated structures either, which makes crafting them an important skill if you want them in your builds.

Why Use Smooth Stone Slabs?

Players choose smooth stone slabs for several reasons:

They offer a polished, professional look in builds.
They pair well with modern and industrial-style designs.
They are durable and don’t catch fire.
They are great for building half-height structures or low steps.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Smooth Stone Slabs

Step 1: Gather Cobblestone

The first material you’ll need is cobblestone, which is one of the most common resources in Minecraft. You can collect cobblestone by mining any stone block with a pickaxe. Even digging a simple cave or basement will yield plenty of it.

Step 2: Create a Furnace

To smelt cobblestone into stone and then into smooth stone, you’ll need a furnace. Here’s how to make one:

Collect 8 pieces of cobblestone.
Open your crafting table.
Place the cobblestone in every slot except the center.

This will give you one furnace. Place it on the ground and interact with it to access the smelting menu.

Step 3: Smelt Cobblestone into Stone

Now, you need to turn your cobblestone into regular stone. To do this:

Open the furnace menu.
Place the cobblestone in the top slot.
Place fuel (like coal, charcoal, or wood) in the bottom slot.

Once the process is complete, you’ll receive regular stone blocks. You’ll need at least three stone blocks for one set of smooth stone slabs.

Step 4: Smelt Stone into Smooth Stone

Next, take the stone blocks you just smelted and repeat the process:

Put the stone in the top slot of the furnace.
Add fuel again if needed.

When finished, you’ll receive smooth stone blocks. These have a light gray tone and a clean surface texture compared to normal stone.

Step 5: Craft the Smooth Stone Slab

To finally make smooth stone slabs:

Go to your crafting table.
Place three smooth stone blocks in a horizontal row on the grid.

This recipe yields 6 smooth stone slabs. You can then place them as you like in your world. They can be used for floors, roofs, and decorative edges, or combined with other slabs for unique designs.

Alternative Crafting Stations and Updates

Can You Use the Stonecutter?

Yes, if you have a stonecutter, you can use it to make smooth stone slabs more efficiently. Simply place a smooth stone block into the stonecutter, and it will allow you to choose the smooth stone slab as an option. This method gives you a 1-to-2 ratio each smooth stone block gives two slabs. While this is slightly less than crafting table output, the process is cleaner and easier to manage when working with mixed blocks.

How to Make a Stonecutter

To build a stonecutter, you’ll need:

1 Iron Ingot
3 Stone (not cobblestone)

In the crafting table, place the iron ingot in the top-middle slot and the three stone blocks in a horizontal row at the bottom. Once crafted, place it on the ground to use it like a crafting station for stone-related items.

Best Uses for Smooth Stone Slabs

Design and Decoration

Smooth stone slabs can be used in a wide variety of designs. They work well in modern builds, labs, secret bases, and industrial settings. Their neutral color makes them easy to blend with other blocks like quartz, polished andesite, or even darker blocks like blackstone or nether bricks.

Building Functional Structures

Slabs also serve functional purposes. For example:

They reduce mob spawning when used correctly.
They can act as steps without needing full stairs.
They can be used in redstone contraptions that require half-block heights.

Creating Decorative Patterns

You can alternate smooth stone slabs with other types of slabs or blocks to create interesting floor patterns, mosaics, or wall trims. Their subtle contrast makes them ideal for clean transitions between different materials.

Tips for Efficient Crafting

Use Multiple Furnaces

Smelting both cobblestone and stone can take time, especially if you’re making a large number of slabs. Using multiple furnaces or even setting up a furnace array can speed up the process. This way, you can smelt cobblestone and stone simultaneously in separate units.

Keep Plenty of Fuel Ready

Always have a good amount of fuel prepared. Coal is the most efficient, but charcoal and wood will work in a pinch. For larger operations, consider using blocks of coal or lava buckets to minimize refueling.

Stockpile Materials

It’s helpful to keep a chest full of cobblestone, stone, and smooth stone if you plan to do a lot of building. This allows you to craft slabs on demand without having to start the smelting process from scratch each time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Trying to Craft Smooth Stone Directly

You cannot craft smooth stone using only the crafting table. It must be smelted in a furnace. Attempting to combine cobblestone or stone directly in the crafting grid will not produce smooth stone.

Using Cobblestone in Place of Stone

Don’t confuse cobblestone with stone or smooth stone. Cobblestone looks rough and is the default drop when mining stone. It needs to be smelted into stone before it can become smooth stone.

Crafting smooth stone slabs in Minecraft is a straightforward process once you understand the necessary steps. From gathering cobblestone to smelting it into stone and then smooth stone, each phase plays a role in producing this polished building material. Whether you’re enhancing your base or designing a modern city, smooth stone slabs provide an excellent visual option that combines form and function. With some preparation and planning, you’ll always have these sleek, durable slabs ready for any project you have in mind.