Efficiency Enchantment: Mining Speed and Instant Mining
Efficiency adds 1 + level² to mining speed, so Efficiency V adds 26. The speed table by tool material, instant-mining setups, and how to get Efficiency V.
Efficiency makes tools break blocks faster. It adds 1 + level² to the tool’s mining speed when you use the right tool for the block, so the jump from IV to V is bigger than from I to II. Max level is V.
| Level | Added mining speed |
|---|---|
| I | +2 |
| II | +5 |
| III | +10 |
| IV | +17 |
| V | +26 |
What that means per tool
Base mining speed by material, then with each level of Efficiency:
| Tier | None | I | II | III | IV | V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 28 |
| Stone | 4 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 21 | 30 |
| Copper | 5 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 22 | 31 |
| Iron | 6 | 8 | 11 | 16 | 23 | 32 |
| Diamond | 8 | 10 | 13 | 18 | 25 | 34 |
| Netherite | 9 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 26 | 35 |
| Gold | 12 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 29 | 38 |
Gold is fastest on paper but breaks almost instantly, so nobody uses it for real mining.
Instant mining
A netherite pickaxe with Efficiency V plus Haste II from a beacon breaks stone, deepslate excluded, instantly. That’s the setup behind fast tunneling and perimeter digging. Efficiency V on a shovel or axe instant-mines dirt, sand and gravel even without Haste.
What it goes on
Pickaxes, shovels, axes and hoes get Efficiency from the enchanting table. Shears only take it from a book. Efficiency doesn’t conflict with anything, so it sits next to Fortune or Silk Touch, Unbreaking and Mending.
How to get Efficiency V
Most tool materials can roll Efficiency V on the enchanting table at level 30. Stone and diamond stop at IV. For those, merge two Efficiency IV items or books on an anvil, or buy a V book from a librarian. Diamond pickaxes with Efficiency V also show up in end city, ancient city and bastion chests.
Under the experimental Villager Trade Rebalance, desert librarians sell Efficiency V as their master-level book, and mineshaft chests get more Efficiency books.
Our mining guide has the full pickaxe loadout: Efficiency V, Unbreaking III, Mending, plus Fortune III or Silk Touch.
Common questions
What is the max level of Efficiency?
Efficiency V in survival. Higher levels like Efficiency X only come from commands.
Why can't I get Efficiency V on my diamond pickaxe from the enchanting table?
Stone and diamond tools only reach Efficiency IV from the table. Combine two Efficiency IV tools or books on an anvil, or buy a level V book.
Does Efficiency work on shears?
Yes, but only through an enchanted book on an anvil. It speeds up cutting wool, leaves and cobwebs.
Sources & verification
Facts on this page are checked against these references and in-game behavior for the stated edition(s). how we verify.
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