Make a Comparator in Minecraft (2022)

Because of the complexity of the comparator, our guide includes dedicated sections to cover its crafting, usage, and mechanics in detail. Use the table below to check out the Redstone comparator crafting recipe if you already know its uses and have gathered the required materials.

What is a Redstone Comparator in Minecraft?

The Redstone comparator is a component block that is used to analyze, maintain, and measure the Redstone signals of different blocks and components. Naturally, you can find this block inside Ancient cities (where the Warden spawns) right beneath the mysterious portal-like structure. The comparator can be mined instantly with the help of any tool and even by hand.
The front of the comparator has a single pin and its back includes two pins. You can toggle the front pin manually, but the back of the comparator only turns on when it receives a signal. Though, it takes a comparator 2 Minecraft ticks to pass a Redstone signal. So, you can’t detect signals with 1-tick power.

Items Required to Make a Comparator

You need the following items to make a comparator in Minecraft:

3 Redstone torches3 Stone blocks1 Nether quartzCrafting table

You can collect Nether quartz by mining Nether quartz ores with a pickaxe in the Nether dimension (easily accessible via a Nether portal). Alternatively, you can trade with an expert-level stone mason villager to get the Nether quartz in exchange for an emerald.
On the other hand, you can get stone blocks by smelting cobblestone blocks in a furnace. Or, you can directly mine and pick them up with a pickaxe with the silk touch enchantment. Lastly, you can use our dedicated guide on how to make a Redstone torch in Minecraft. You need to combine a piece of Redstone dust and a stick in its recipe.

Minecraft Comparator Crafting Recipe

  1. To craft a comparator, you first need to place stone blocks in the bottommost row of the crafting area, completely filling it.
  2. Then, put the Nether quartz in the middle cell of the second row.
  3. Finally, place the Redstone torches around the Nether quartz — one on the top and two on its sides. Only the corners of the topmost row in the crafting area should be empty.

How to Use Redstone Comparator in Minecraft

A comparator can be powered from its sides as well as its back. With this simple mechanic, you can use a comparator in the following ways:

Constant Signals: If the comparator only receives a signal from the back, it can maintain output with the same strength as its input.Compare Signals: When the front pin of the comparator is off, it acts as a comparison tool. The comparator output turns off if either side’s input is greater than the back. For example: if the side input is 5 and the back input is 2, the comparator output will turn off.Subtract Signals: When the front pin of the comparator is on, it acts as a subtraction tool. In this form, the comparator subtracts the stronger side input strength from the back input’s strength. For example: if the higher side input is 4 and the back input is 10, the final output will be 6).

Use Comparator to Test Fullness of Blocks

Another common use of a Redstone comparator is to test the storage blocks attached to it. You can use it to check how many items are in a particular storage block. The blocks that can be measured using a comparator include:

FurnaceBlast FurnaceSmokerBrewing StandHopperMinecart with hopper (on top of a detector rail)DispenserDropperChest (Regular, trapped & large)Shulker boxBarrel

Interestingly, the comparator can also measure the fullness of some other blocks. These blocks process the items that are stored in them, so technically, they don’t count as storage blocks. Fortunately, the Redstone comparator doesn’t make such a distinction. The exceptions are:

JukeboxBeehive and Bee nestCake (being eaten)CauldronComposterItem FrameEnd Portal FrameLecternRespawn AnchorSculk Sensor (as per the strength of vibration)

How to Test Redstone Signals

In order to test these blocks, you just have to place them next to a comparator and place a row of Redstone lamps next to it. Then, if you connect the Redstone lamps with the comparator using Redstone dust, the attached block will send out a signal to the comparator. The number of Redstone lamps getting lit will display the strength of signals of that block, and in turn, its fullness too.

Make a Storage Detector with Comparator

Since the comparator can detect changes inside a storage block, something that even an observer in Minecraft can’t do, you can use it to make storage detectors. Follow these steps to make a simple storage detector using Redstone comparator in Minecraft:

  1. First, place a comparator on a solid block. Then, put a piece of Redstone dust right in front of it.
  2. Then, place a Redstone lamp on the other end of the Redstone dust.
  3. Finally, put a hopper at the back of the Redstone comparator. The hopper doesn’t have to face towards the comparator, but it should be placed right next to it.
  4. Now, with everything in place, the Redstone lamp will turn on whenever the hopper is not empty. You can use this simple machine to add a visual cue to your hopper-based item collection system.
    How do you place a comparator? You can place the comparator on any solid block by looking and putting it on the surface of that block.
    Can a comparator spawn naturally in Minecraft? The comparator only spawns naturally in the ancient cities of Minecraft.
    Can you make a Redstone clock with a comparator? Comparators are the perfect component blocks to create hopper-hopper Redstone clocks. What’s the difference between a Redstone repeater and a Redstone comparator? A comparator can’t repeat, delay or amplify a signal. But a repeater can.

Craft and Use a Redstone Comparator in Minecraft

Now that you know how to use a Redstone comparator in Minecraft, it’s time to expand your knowledge. And the best way to do that is by learning how to make and use a repeater in Minecraft. Comparators and repeaters are often confused with each other. So, once you know the difference completely, you can use them together in advanced builds like our tree farm in Minecraft. But if you still have queries about the comparator, drop them in the comments section below. Our team will be there to help!