# Stonecutter vs crafting table in Minecraft

Canonical: https://crafting.recipes/guides/stonecutter-vs-crafting

Minecraft 26.3.

Published September 20, 2026

A [stonecutter](/items/stonecutter.md) makes supported stone variants one input block at a time. It is useful when you need an exact quantity, and its stair recipes produce more stairs from the same material than the corresponding crafting recipes.

## Compare the same input

These rows compare direct recipes that use only [stone](/items/stone.md). The numbers come from the current recipe data. Each arrow shows input blocks used and output blocks produced per recipe, so you can compare a small stonecutter operation with a full crafting batch.

Stone used → blocks produced, per recipe.

| Output | Stonecutter | Crafting table |
| - | - | - |
| [Stone Bricks](https://crafting.recipes/items/stone-bricks.md) | 1 → 1 | 4 → 4 |
| [Stone Slab](https://crafting.recipes/items/stone-slab.md) | 1 → 2 | 3 → 6 |
| [Stone Stairs](https://crafting.recipes/items/stone-stairs.md) | 1 → 1 | 6 → 4 |

[Stone slabs](/items/stone-slab.md) are not cheaper in a stonecutter. Compare both sides of the table: the crafting recipe may produce a larger batch at the same ratio. [Stone stairs](/items/stone-stairs.md) are where the material saving matters.

## Use the stonecutter

1. Open the stonecutter and put a supported block in the input slot.
2. Select the shape you want from the available recipes.
3. Take the result. Each operation consumes one input block; the output amount depends on the selected recipe.

The available shapes depend on the input. [Stone](/items/stone.md), [cobblestone](/items/cobblestone.md), and [cobbled deepslate](/items/cobbled-deepslate.md) have different recipe lists. Use the [stonecutting recipes](/recipes/stonecutting.md) directory to find an output, then check its ingredient choices.

> ### [Craft Stonecutter](https://crafting.recipes/items/stonecutter.md)
>
> #### Crafting
>
> Use: [Crafting Table](https://crafting.recipes/items/crafting-table.md).
>
> **Output:** 1 × [Stonecutter](https://crafting.recipes/items/stonecutter.md)
>
> **Arrangement:** Shaped
>
> Crafting grid (3 × 2)
>
> ```text
> +---+---+---+
> |   | A |   |
> +---+---+---+
> | B | B | B |
> +---+---+---+
> ```
>
> ##### Ingredients
>
> - **A** — 1 × [Iron Ingot](https://crafting.recipes/items/iron-ingot.md)
> - **B** — 3 × [Stone](https://crafting.recipes/items/stone.md)

## When a crafting table is enough

Keep a [crafting table](/items/crafting-table.md) for recipes outside the stonecutter’s list, including wooden building parts. If you already need a full batch and both methods have the same material ratio, use whichever station is convenient.

Stonecutting does not smelt cobblestone into stone. For that, use a [furnace](/items/furnace.md); the [smelting guide](/guides/smelting.md) also explains the extra smelting step needed for smooth stone.