Minecraft Basics
Crafting Recipe
Item Frame

How to Make an Item Frame in Minecraft 1.20 (2023)

Do you want to impress your friends or make a name on the most popular Minecraft servers? It’s all about the items you own and discover! But, it’s not just about finding rare items - you also need to showcase them. That's where item frames come in. This special decoration allows you to display blocks and items anywhere you want. So, join us and learn how to make an item frame in Minecraft 1.20 and show off your collection like a pro!

How to Make an Item Frame in Minecraft (2023)

Our guide covers all the basics of item frames in Minecraft along with the process of obtaining and using them. You can explore our guide thoroughly to find out everything you need to know about the same.

What is an Item Frame in Minecraft

Item frames are placeable decorative items in Minecraft. They allow you to showcase items and blocks in a visually appealing way. You can place these frames on the face of other blocks and put any item or block on them.

Once an item or block is placed within the frame, it transforms into a miniature version to fit the dimension of the frame. This dynamic mechanic allows you to create a bunch of unique decorations that, otherwise, won't be possible in the game.

Where Do Item Frames Spawn

Naturally, the items frames only spawn inside the End Ships, which are rare structures that spawn in the End dimension of Minecraft. This extremely rare structure sometimes spawns right next to the End Cities. Keep in mind that not every End City spawns with an End Ship next to it. So, you might have to find multiple End Citites in Minecraft before locating a ship.

However, the challenges do not end with finding the ship. Climbing this floating structure requires careful navigation and the need to avoid attacks from hostile Shulker mobs. Upon entering the End Ship, you will discover the item frame, holding a valuable Elytra within itself. Breaking the frame will give you both items at once.

Items Required to Make Item Frame

You need the following items to make an item frame in Minecraft:

  • 1 Crafting Table
  • 8 Sticks
  • 1 Leather

Sticks are one of the easiest items to obtain in Minecraft. You just have to do is place two planks vertically next to each other in the crafting grid to turn them into sticks. This crafting recipe works with all types of wood in the game including the cherry wood from the Cherry Grove biome.

Though, if you are playing on the best Minecraft desert seeds, you can also get sticks by breaking dead bushes. Each bush drops 0-2 sticks unless broken with shears.

How to Get Leather in Minecraft

From fishing to chest loot, there are a variety of ways to obtain leather in Minecraft. However, the easiest method lies in mob loot. You can get leather by killing the following mobs:

  • Cows
  • Mooshrooms
  • Horses
  • Donkeys
  • Mules
  • Llamas
  • Trader Llamas
  • Hoglins

Each of these mobs typically drops 0-2 pieces of leather, except for Hoglins, which drop 0-1 piece. It's worth noting that Hoglins, along with llamas, are hostile toward players. Meanwhile, you can easily take down all the other mobs without facing any resistance.

How to Make an Item Frame in Minecraft

Follow these simple steps to make an item frame in Minecraft:

1. First, place four planks in the crafting grid to make a crafting table in Minecraft.

2. Then, place your crafting table on a solid block and right-click on it to open it.

3. Next, place one piece of leather in the center of the crafting grid.

4. Finally, use sticks to fill up the rest of the crafting grid. With that, your item frame is ready.

Make Glow Item Frame

A regular item frame is sufficient for displaying your favorite items anywhere in your base, but keeping it visible can be challenging. Typically, players place a light source, such as a lantern, nearby to enhance visibility. However, if that doesn't feel right to you, it's time to make a glow item frame. Here's how:

1. First, search for a Glow Squid in the dark underwater areas of Minecraft. It usually spawns in the depths of the ocean and underground caves. Getting a Potion of Night Vision can make the search easier.

2. Then, use a sword or any other weapon to kill the squid. It doesn't attack the players and drops 1 to 3 glow ink sacs upon death.

3. Then, combine the glow ink sac with an item frame to turn it into a glow item frame. The glow item frame adds illumination behind your framed items to make them visible even in dark areas.

How to Get an Invisible Item Frame in Minecraft

There is no doubt that the item frames are a valuable decorative item for your base. But, the frame itself may not always align with the aesthetic appeal of the items it holds. Fortunately, you can turn it invisible using commands in Minecraft. The resulting frame will work like a regular frame but won't be visible during gameplay, giving you the freedom to visually attach items directly to desired blocks.

Use the following command in a cheat-enabled world to get invisible item frames in Minecraft:

/give @p item_frame{EntityTag:{Invisible:1b}} 1

You can replace the numerical "1" in the command with the number of invisible item frames you want. The same will show you in your inventory.

How to Use Item Frames in Minecraft

Now that you know how to make an item frame in Minecraft, let's figure out its functionality:

1. First, equip the item frame in your main hand by scrolling to it in your inventory.

2. Then, right-click while looking at any solid block to place the frame on it. Unlike a hanging sign, you can place it on all surfaces of a block. Though, with some blocks, like doors, you have to hold the sneak key while placing the frame.

3. Next, equip the item you want to frame and right-click on the frame while holding it. The item will turn into a miniature version of itself and show up on the frame.

4. The item frames have a unique interaction with maps in Minecraft. They cover the entire frame and only show the parts that are filled. So, you can use them to create unique art and decorations in your base.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which villager sells item frames?

You can purchase item frames from Expert-level cartographer villagers for 7 emeralds. If you can't find them naturally, you can use a Cartography Table as the job site block to turn any villager into a cartographer.

How to get an invisible item frame on Minecraft Bedrock?

Unfortunately, the command to get an invisible item frame is exclusive to the Java edition. However, you can use some of the best Minecraft texture packs to get rid of the item frame's texture and achieve a reliable effect.

Make and Use Item Frames in Minecraft

Now that you have access to one of the most effective decorative items in the game, it’s time to put it to use! But, what’s an item frame without something to display? So, it's time to step your camel in Minecraft and take it to discover every structure in the game. You can find a unique armor trim in almost every structure you find and since you can't wear all of them at once, the item frame is the perfect home for them. Alternatively, you can also showcase your valuables like diamonds on the item frame. But, if you are playing on the best Minecraft 1.20 servers, we will suggest you against doing so. Having said that, what will you showcase in your first item frame? Drop your ideas on our Discord server and discover how the world is using the potential of this amazing item. 

Udayveer Singh

Udayveer Singh is a contributor to our news feed here at Servers-Minecraft and is passionate about all things Minecraft!