How to use it
- Check the grid and the block count in the tool.
- Open the row by row guide and start at the top row.
- Place each row as written: skip the gap, then place the run. Only the top 3 rows are listed, the rest is a mirror image.
- Download the PNG if you want to keep it open next to the game.
The 5 block circle in numbers
Five blocks is the smallest circle that still reads as round. It suits a well, a pond rim, a flower bed or the base of a lamp post. Anything smaller turns into a plus sign or a square with the corners cut.
The outline of a circle 5 blocks wide is made of 12 blocks. That is 57 per cent of the 21 blocks in the full disc, so a ring is far cheaper than a floor. The ideal area of a circle with this diameter is about 20 square blocks, and the filled version differs from that by 7 per cent. The circumference of the ideal circle is about 15.7, for comparison.
| Style | Blocks | Stacks of 64 |
|---|---|---|
| Thin outline | 12 | 12 |
| Thick outline | 16 | 16 |
| Filled disc | 21 | 21 |
Row by row guide for the top half
Start at the top row. Each line says how many empty blocks to leave from the left edge and how many to place. When a line has two runs, leave the gap between them empty. Rows below the middle repeat the same lines in reverse order.
- skip 1, place 3
- place 1, skip 3, place 1
- place 1, skip 3, place 1
The filled disc has rows of these widths from the top: 3, 5, 5. Mirror them for the lower half.
Symmetry and straight edges
The diameter is odd, so the circle has one centre block and a single middle row and column. That makes it easy to find the middle: count 2 blocks in from any edge. The longest straight run is 3 blocks. Long flat runs make a circle look squarer, and short ones make it look rounder, which is why sizes like 5 and 7 look a little different from 5 even though they are close.
Block counts for walls of different heights
A round tower or wall repeats the thin outline layer after layer. These are the totals for a 5 block wide wall.
| Height | Thin wall | Stacks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 layer | 12 | 12 |
| 3 layers | 36 | 36 |
| 5 layers | 60 | 60 |
| 10 layers | 120 | 1 stack + 56 |
| 20 layers | 240 | 3 stacks + 48 |
Building it without mistakes
Place a marker block in the centre first. Then place the four blocks at the top, bottom, left and right, each 2 blocks from the centre. The rest of the outline connects those four points. Build one quarter, check it against the guide, and copy it to the other three by mirroring. Count your first row before you build the rest, a single wrong skip shifts the whole curve.
For a roof or a floor, switch the tool to Filled. For a wall with no diagonal gaps, which matters for moats, pens and sealed rooms, switch to Thick and expect 4 extra blocks per layer.
Other circle sizes
For ovals or any size not listed, use the circle generator. To turn a circle into a ball, try the sphere generator, or the stack calculator to turn a block total into chests.
Block counts on this page are computed by the generator and are the same in every version of the game. BlockShapes is not affiliated with Mojang or Microsoft.
Frequently asked questions
How many blocks is a 5 block circle?
A thin outline needs 12 blocks. A thick outline without diagonal gaps needs 16. A filled disc needs 21. For a thin outline that is 12.
Is the 5 block circle the same in Java and Bedrock?
Yes. Blocks are square in both editions, so the same pattern gives the same circle. Only the commands and tools you might use to place it differ.
How wide is the flat edge of a 5 block circle?
The longest straight run of blocks is 3. It appears at the top, bottom, left and right of the circle.
How many blocks for a wall 5 blocks wide and 10 high?
A thin wall of ten layers needs 120 blocks, which is 1 stack + 56. A thick wall would be 160 blocks.
Should I pick 5 or a different size?
Going up to 7 adds 4 blocks per thin layer. Pick the size that fits the space you have, then check the count.