Furnaces are one of the first things every new Minecraft world needs. They provide warmth, light, and the ability to turn the ore into valuable crafting materials. But, to do this they need fuel. What is the best fuel isn't as simple a question to answer as you might expect. Sure, the lava bucket lasts the longest, but it isn't stackable.

Are there even ten different things you can use to fuel a furnace? Yes. There are 51 different fuel sources to choose from. Some of these are definitely more useful than others in the long-term, but each has its own purpose, as you'll see below.

10/10 Lava Bucket

a player holding a bucket over a pool of lava in minecraft

The lava bucket is the best fuel source...on paper. It burns longer than any single unit of fuel, but players can't stack it. This makes it not very efficient. So why is it on a best fuel sources list?

Well, lava can be annoying to get rid of. Players have to dig a hole, put the lava in, then cover up the hole. That's just far too many clicks. Instead, simply chuck it into a furnace and smelt some ore then the lava will disappear -- leaving behind a nice empty bucket.

9/10 Block Of Coal

a large flat house in minecraft made entirely of coal blocks

The block of coal is arguably the best all-around fuel source. It burns for almost as long as the lava bucket, but players can stack 64 of them in a furnace at a time. This makes for less tedium and more time for running away from Creepers.

Turning all the coal collected whilst mining is also good for freeing up storage space. The only downside of these blocks is that players can't farm them whilst AFK (away from keyboard).

8/10 Coal

a cliff face in minecraft with some visible coal ore

Isn't coal just the worse version of coal blocks? Not entirely. After all, coal is the lifeblood at the beginning of every new world. It is used for torches, furnaces, and it is initially rare enough that players sometimes have to pick and choose what ores to smelt first.

Coal is good for instances when players only need a small amount of burn time. Fans will already know that Minecraft furnaces function by using one unit of whatever fuel placed in it until it burns up. Why waste a whole block of coal just to cook two chickens when a single piece of coal will do?

a selection of tools in minecraft

The ability to burn wooden tools is an example of Minecraft making a weird amount of real-world sense. Intuitively, anything made of wood should be able to burn. But newer players might be unsure what to do with their first wooden pickaxe once they've mined some stone.

One could place it in a memorabilia chest, throw it on the ground, and wait for it to despawn. Or one could use it to fuel their next project and give that trusty pickaxe a glorious Viking-esque funeral.

6/10 Logs

A design made by YouTube user Nuec

If players live in a forest, fear going underground, or want to roleplay a rustic world, logs are the fuel source of choice. If specific biome challenges are a better challenge, check out all of the different ones to find out if the taiga or ice spikes sound more intriguing.

As the OG human source of fire, players really can't go wrong with logs. They have the added benefit of being a sustainable fuel source as long as people keep replanting trees that get cut down. Sure, turning them into planks would be more efficient, but where's the fun in that? Players can also build huge log farms to produce this fuel source whilst AFK.

5/10 Bamboo

a bamboo forest in minecraft

While bamboo burns very quickly, it is also very easy to build AFK farms for it. These turn one of the worst fuel sources into one of the best as they allow players to stockpile stacks of the stuff. The main issue is that players will need to learn how to use some Redstone.

For players who are builders rather than Redstone players, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials that give step by step instructions on how to create these farms though. Then there's the very clever player who made DOOM run on some Minecraft sheep somehow.

4/10 Blaze Rod

Minecraft Screenshot Of Blazes In Nether

There are some farms that every player just needs. Blaze rods can be farmed from Blazes to make for a great duo XP and fuel farm. These farms can be as simple as sealing off a Blaze spawner. Players can also use pistons and other contraptions to funnel all the Blazes into a kill chamber. Again, online tutorials are incredibly useful here.

The main satisfaction of using blaze rods as a fuel source, however, comes from knowing that players are warming themselves on the detritus of fallen foes. That's a warm glow and fuzzy feeling quite unlike any other.

3/10 Dried Kelp Block

an underwater temple in minecraft
Via PC GamesN

If players want to pretend their house is filled with the salty aroma of the sea, the dried kelp block is definitely the fuel source to get. Or, maybe there's a pirate ship base in a water world and people want a roleplay friendly fuel source. Of course, players could always build a giant sky turtle if ships are too mainstream for them.

Dried kelp blocks are a little tricky, however, as players must first dry kelp in a furnace. This makes them not as efficient a fuel source option. They do let players feel like a real pirate when as one tosses them into a furnace with wild abandon though.

2/10 Bookshelf

a picture of the uncensored library being made in minecraft

Minecraft is great because it is a game that lets players do anything. So, if they want to make an Orwellian totalitarian state, they can. What better way to roleplay a dictator or brainwashed member of the proletariat than by using bookshelves as a primary fuel source?

Sure, they take a lot of resources to build, but that's the point of a book burning -- to undermine the effort to intellectualize people. Any dictator will sleep soundly knowing that the warmth next to their bed and the fires of their industry are being fuelled by books.  Fun fact: Minecraft has actually been used to build a library of censored books.

1/10 Charcoal

Minecraft dark forest biome with a woodland mansion

The first time players make charcoal, they might audibly wonder, "Huh?" Accidentally creating it by misclicking and putting some wood in the furnace is a Minecraft rite of passage. Players even get an achievement for using charcoal to turn logs into more charcoal.

But to the point: charcoal does everything coal does except for turn into blocks. Players can use it to make torches or campfires and it burns for just as long as coal. It makes an ideal fuel source for anyone who wants to stay in the forest and out of the mines.

Next: Minecraft Complete Guide And Walkthrough