How to Use a Cartography Table in Minecraft (Complete Guide)

If you’re exploring your world and want better maps, learning how to use a cartography table in Minecraft is a game-changer. It lets you expand maps, lock them, copy them, and even add markers.

Here’s exactly what a cartography table does and how to use it properly.

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🧱 What Does a Cartography Table Do in Minecraft?

A cartography table is used to improve and manage maps. With it, you can:

• Expand a map’s size
• Copy maps
• Lock maps so they don’t update
• Add markers (Bedrock Edition)

👉 It’s one of the most useful blocks for exploration and navigation.

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🛠️ How to Make a Cartography Table

To craft a cartography table, you need:

• 2 paper
• 4 wooden planks (any type)

Place the 2 paper in the top row and the 4 planks underneath.

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🗺️ How to Use a Cartography Table in Minecraft

To use it:

1. Place the cartography table
2. Right-click/tap to open it
3. Put your map in the first slot
4. Put the required item in the second slot (depends on what you want to do)

Unsure of how to make a map? Check out our article here to learn how!

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📌 1. How to Expand a Map

If your map feels too zoomed in, you can expand it.

What you need:

• 1 map
• 1 paper

Steps:

• Put the map in the first slot
• Put paper in the second slot
• Take the expanded map from the output

✅ This zooms out and covers a larger area.

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📄 2. How to Copy a Map

Want an extra map for a friend?

What you need:

• 1 map
• 1 blank map

Steps:

• Place your filled map in the first slot
• Place a blank map in the second slot
• Take the copied map

✅ Both maps will show the same explored area.

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🔒 3. How to Lock a Map (Stop It Updating)

Locking a map is great if you want it to stay the same forever.

What you need:

• 1 map
• 1 glass pane

Steps:

• Put the map in the first slot
• Put the glass pane in the second slot
• Take the locked map

✅ The map will no longer update even if you explore new areas.

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📍 4. How to Add Map Markers (Bedrock Edition)

On Bedrock, you can add markers so you don’t get lost.

What you need:

• A map
• A banner (placed in the world)

Steps:

• Place a banner where you want the marker
• Use the map on the banner

✅ The banner will appear as an icon on your map.

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🧠 Why Use a Cartography Table Instead of Crafting?

You can do some map upgrades in a crafting grid, but the cartography table is:

• Faster
• Easier
• More organised

Plus, it looks great in villages or survival bases.

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🎯 Final Thoughts

Now you know how to use a cartography table in Minecraft, you can create bigger maps, copy them for friends, lock your progress, and stay organised while exploring.

If you’re planning a long survival world, a cartography table is absolutely worth building early.

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