Build an automatic iron farm using villagers and zombies. Generate hundreds of iron ingots per hour with this simple design.
Overview
Iron farms are one of the most important automation projects in Minecraft. They generate a steady stream of iron ingots with zero player input, freeing you from manual mining. The core mechanic relies on villagers spawning Iron Golems to protect themselves from threats — by simulating a threat (usually a zombie), you trick the village into spawning Golems repeatedly in a controlled space.
A well-built iron farm produces hundreds of iron per hour, enough for hoppers, anvils, beacons, rails, and all your iron-related projects.
How Iron Golems Spawn
In Java Edition, an Iron Golem spawns when three or more villagers have slept and worked recently, and at least one villager is "scared" — meaning they can see a hostile mob (typically a zombie) within range. The Golem spawns near the center of the village population.
In Bedrock Edition, the mechanics differ slightly: 10+ villagers and 75% having worked triggers a spawn attempt, with a cap of 1 Golem per 10 villagers every 35 seconds.
Basic Design
The standard Java iron farm design uses a 20x20 platform at a height of 10+ blocks. In the center, place three villagers in individual 1x2 cells with beds and workstations. Below the platform, trap a zombie in a minecart or behind glass so the villagers can see it while staying safe.
Water channels on the platform push spawned Golems toward a drop chute. At the bottom, magma blocks or campfires kill the Golems, and hopper minecarts collect the iron ingots and poppies. A clock circuit resets the system periodically.
Rates
A basic three-villager iron farm produces approximately 400 iron ingots per hour in Java Edition. Scaling up with more villagers increases rates proportionally — 10 villagers can yield over 1,000 iron per hour.
The theoretical maximum is limited by the game's Golem cap and spawn cooldown. Bedrock farms tend to be more productive per villager, reaching up to 200 ingots per hour per villager group with proper design.
Pro Tip: Name tag the zombie so it never despawns. Give the zombie a name tag using an anvil before transporting it to the farm. Name-tagged mobs do not despawn, even when far from the player.
Optimization and Troubleshooting
Advanced iron farm designs incorporate multiple villager pods to maximize spawn rates while staying within the game's mob cap limits. Common issues include villagers losing access to workstations, zombie despawning despite name tags, and spawn-proofing interfering with Golem spawning. For a complete reference on iron farm mechanics and advanced designs, check the Minecraft Wikipedia article covering game mechanics. Detailed technical breakdowns of villager mechanics and golem spawning algorithms are available on the Minecraft Wiki on Fandom.
Bedrock vs Java Differences
Iron farm designs differ significantly between Java and Bedrock editions due to different golem spawning mechanics. Bedrock farms require 10+ villagers with 75% having worked recently, with a spawn cap of one golem per 10 villagers every 35 seconds. Java farms use the three-villager scare mechanic which is simpler but requires more precise zombie positioning. Always verify which edition your farm design targets before building.
