A lighthouse is the perfect project for practicing circular builds. It combines everything: a cylindrical tower, spiral stairs, windows at calculated positions, and a decorative top. When finished, you'll have a functional coastal landmark that guides ships to port—or just looks amazing on your oceanfront base.

This tutorial walks you through building a complete lighthouse from foundation to beacon, using our circle generator to ensure perfect proportions at every stage.

📦 Materials Needed

🪨

Stone Bricks

~400 blocks

⬜

White Concrete

~300 blocks

🟥

Red Concrete

~200 blocks

🪟

Glass Panes

~64 blocks

🌟

Sea Lanterns

16-24 blocks

🪜

Stairs (oak/stone)

~100 blocks

Step 1: Choose Your Location

Lighthouses belong at the water's edge. Look for:

A rocky outcrop or cliff edge overlooking the ocean
A small island that boats would navigate around
A peninsula marking a harbor entrance

The location should be visible from far out at sea. Flat, open water in front is ideal.

Step 2: Build the Foundation

Generate the Base Circle

Use the circle generator with these settings:

Diameter: 15 blocks (or 13 for a thinner tower)
Filled: Yes (for the foundation platform)

This forms the base footprint of your lighthouse.

Lay the Stone Foundation

Build the foundation 2-3 blocks thick using stone bricks or cobblestone. This weathered base should look like it's been standing for centuries. Extend it slightly into the water for an authentic look.

The foundation can be filled solid or hollow (if you want a basement storage area).

Step 3: Construct the Main Tower

Generate the Tower Walls

Switch the generator to outline mode (Filled: Off) with the same 15-block diameter. This gives you just the circular wall pattern.

Build this pattern upward, layer by layer, for 25-35 blocks of height. Classic lighthouses use alternating color bands.

💡 Classic Lighthouse Stripes

Alternate between white concrete and red concrete every 5-7 blocks of height. This creates the iconic striped appearance that's visible from far away.

Add Windows

Every 8-10 blocks of height, add narrow windows (1 block wide, 2-3 blocks tall) around the circumference. Space them evenly—usually 4-6 windows per level depending on tower size.

Use glass panes rather than glass blocks for a thinner, more realistic window frame appearance.

Generate Your Lighthouse Pattern

Get the perfect circle for your tower diameter.

Open Circle Generator

Step 4: Build the Gallery Deck

Create the Overhang

At the top of the tower, the lighthouse widens slightly to form a walkway (gallery) around the lantern room. Generate a circle 2-4 blocks wider than your tower (17-19 blocks for a 15-block tower).

Build this wider circle 1-2 blocks thick as a platform extending beyond the tower walls. Add iron bars or fences as a railing around the outer edge.

Step 5: Construct the Lantern Room

Build the Glass Enclosure

Generate a smaller circle (9-11 blocks) centered on the gallery deck. Build walls using glass blocks or glass panes with iron block or stone pillars at regular intervals.

The lantern room should be 3-4 blocks tall, fully enclosed with glass to let light shine in all directions.

Install the Light Source

Fill the center of the lantern room with light sources:

Sea lanterns: Brightest option, perfect aquatic theme
Glowstone: Classic choice, slightly yellow light
Beacon: Creates an actual light beam into the sky (requires pyramid base below)
Redstone lamp array: Can be made to pulse on/off with a clock circuit

Step 6: Add the Roof

Create the Dome or Cone Roof

Top the lantern room with a decorative roof. Options include:

Cone: Stack progressively smaller circles using stairs and slabs
Dome: Use our sphere guide for the top hemisphere
Flat with finial: Simple flat roof with a decorative spire on top

Use copper blocks, dark oak, or black concrete for contrast against the white tower.

Step 7: Interior Design

Spiral Staircase

The interior needs a way to ascend all 30+ blocks of height. A spiral staircase wrapped around a central column is the classic lighthouse choice. Use oak or spruce stairs for a warm, wooden feel.

Interior Rooms

If your tower is wide enough (15+ blocks), you can fit small rooms at various levels:

Ground floor: Entry room with door, storage
Mid-level: Lighthouse keeper's quarters (bed, crafting table)
Upper level: Small office or lookout with windows

💡 Keeper's Cottage

For extra authenticity, build a small rectangular cottage next to the lighthouse base. This is where the lighthouse keeper would actually live, keeping the tower itself for the machinery and light.

Step 8: Coastal Landscaping

A lighthouse needs context. Add:

Rocky shoreline: Cobblestone, mossy stone, gravel around the base
Dock or pier: Wooden planks extending into the water for boats
Path: Gravel or stone path from the shore to the lighthouse door
Vegetation: Grass, flowers, maybe a twisted oak tree bent by sea winds
Shipwreck: Broken boat on the rocks shows why the lighthouse was needed!

Optional: Working Beacon

For a truly functional lighthouse, install a beacon below the lantern room. You'll need to build a pyramid of iron, gold, emerald, or diamond blocks beneath the lighthouse (can be hidden in the foundation). The beacon beam shoots into the sky, visible from hundreds of blocks away—a real navigation aid!

💡 Colored Beacon Beam

Place stained glass in the lantern room floor above the beacon to color its beam. Red or yellow glass creates a warm, sunset-colored lighthouse beam.

Lighthouse Variations

Tall and thin: 11-block diameter, 40+ blocks tall for a dramatic spire
Squat and sturdy: 17-block diameter, 20 blocks tall for a fortress-like look
Ruined: Build complete, then remove sections, add vines and mossy blocks
Modern: Use concrete and glass for a contemporary coast guard station

Start Your Lighthouse Build

Generate the perfect circle patterns for every part of your lighthouse.