What this calculator does
In Minecraft, the Nether is one-eighth the size of the Overworld in every horizontal direction, which means a single block of travel in the Nether covers the same ground as eight blocks in the Overworld. That fixed 8:1 ratio is what lets players build a portal in one dimension and predict almost exactly where a portal built in the other dimension will connect to it.
This nether portal calculator converts Overworld X and Z coordinates to their Nether equivalents, or Nether coordinates back to Overworld, using that 8:1 ratio. It is the standard method for planning a Nether hub that lines up with several far-apart Overworld bases, since travelling through the Nether covers Overworld distance eight times faster.
The formula
Dividing an Overworld X or Z coordinate by 8 gives the matching Nether coordinate. Multiplying a Nether coordinate by 8 gives the matching Overworld coordinate. The game links a newly-built portal to any existing portal within a search radius of the converted coordinate, so landing close to the target block is normally enough.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Overworld | The main Minecraft dimension, players spawn and build here by default. |
| Nether | A separate dimension, one-eighth the size of the Overworld horizontally, reached and left through portals. |
| 8:1 ratio | The fixed scale between the two dimensions: 1 block moved in the Nether corresponds to 8 blocks in the Overworld. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| X coordinate | The X coordinate to convert, in whichever dimension is set as the source below. |
| Z coordinate | The Z coordinate to convert, in whichever dimension is set as the source below. |
| Convert | Choose whether the coordinates entered are Overworld (converting to Nether) or Nether (converting to Overworld). |
When to use it
Building a Nether hub for several bases
Converting each Overworld base to its Nether coordinate shows where to build a linking portal in the Nether so that all the bases sit close together on the Nether side, cutting travel time.
Finding where a new portal will connect
Before lighting a new portal, converting its Overworld coordinates to Nether ones shows roughly where the game will search for, or place, the linked portal on the other side.
Working backwards from a Nether location
A coordinate noted while exploring the Nether converts back to its Overworld equivalent, useful for working out which base or landmark it lines up with.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
Overworld coordinates converted to Nether
A range of Overworld X coordinates, each converted to the matching Nether X coordinate.
| Overworld X | Nether X, Z | Rounded Nether block |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 10.0, 0.0 | 10, 0 |
| 400 | 50.0, 0.0 | 50, 0 |
| 800 | 100.0, 0.0 | 100, 0 |
| 1000 | 125.0, 0.0 | 125, 0 |
| 4000 | 500.0, 0.0 | 500, 0 |
| 8000 | 1,000.0, 0.0 | 1000, 0 |
Questions
What is the Nether portal coordinate ratio?
A fixed 8:1: divide Overworld coordinates by 8 to get the matching Nether coordinates, or multiply Nether coordinates by 8 to get the matching Overworld coordinates.
Why does this ratio matter for portals?
The game links a new portal to an existing one within a search radius of the converted coordinate, so building at the correctly-scaled Nether position is what makes long-distance Overworld portals connect to each other as intended.
Does the Y coordinate (height) change with this ratio?
No. The 8:1 scaling only applies to the horizontal X and Z coordinates. The Nether has its own height range and layout vertically, unrelated to the Overworld height at the same spot.
What happens if two converted coordinates are close together?
Portals built close enough together in the Nether, generally within a small block radius, can end up linking to the wrong Overworld destination, so leaving separation between planned portals avoids cross-linking.
For a simple date-based countdown instead, see the days from today calculator. For converting other fixed-ratio measurements, see the length converter.