Minecraft Archway: How to Build Arches (5, 7 & 9 Wide)

Building a clean Minecraft archway is easier than it looks, once you know the right technique. An archway is simply two pillars connected by a curved top, commonly used for entrances, gates, windows, and bridges to add character to any build.

This guide walks you through the exact process, with block-by-block layouts for 5, 7, and 9 wide arches, along with the main styles, sizes, and materials worth knowing before you start.

One quick note: every width mentioned refers to the opening between the pillars, not the full structure. A "5-wide arch" means 5 blocks of open walking space, with pillars sitting outside that count.

How to Build an Archway in Minecraft?

Start with two decisions: how wide the opening needs to be, and how tall the pillars should stand before the curve begins. Everything else follows from those two numbers.

Choose an odd width for the opening

5, 7, 9, or 11 blocks all give you a single center block to build the peak or keystone around. Even widths work too, but you'll end up with two center blocks instead of one, so the top of the arch looks slightly different. That's worth planning for rather than treating as a mistake once you notice it mid-build.

Set pillar height

As a starting point, make the pillars roughly as tall as the opening is wide. That's not a fixed rule though. Shorten the pillars for a compact doorway, or extend them if you want a taller, grander entrance. What matters more than the exact number is that both pillars match each other.

Step the curve inward

Moving up one block and in one block at a time, on both sides at once, is the base technique behind almost every arch style covered in this guide. The blueprints below show exactly what that looks like at different widths.

Smooth the diagonal steps

At each point where the wall steps inward, a stair block angled to match the curve replaces the harsh corner a full block leaves behind. Slabs can fill in half-height gaps the same way. This won't turn a blocky curve into a perfect circle, but it noticeably softens the stepped look on medium and large arches.

Mark the keystone

The top-center block is a natural spot for a contrasting material, like chiseled stone brick, polished deepslate, or a different wood, even on an otherwise plain arch.

Build symmetrically

Place blocks on both sides of the arch in the same step, rather than finishing one side and copying it later. It's much easier to catch a mismatch while you're still building than after the scaffolding comes down.

Minecraft Arch Blueprints: 5, 7, and 9 Blocks Wide

These front-view examples show how the curve changes as the opening gets wider. In each case, the stated width refers to the open space between the two pillars, while the pillars themselves sit outside that measurement.

5-block-wide opening

The simplest option, with a short stepped curve that works well for small entrances, garden gates, and pathways. Plain blocks are enough at this size, although stairs can soften the top corners.

7-block-wide opening

A more rounded shape with additional steps on each side. This is a good size for larger entrances and gives you enough room to use stairs and slabs to smooth the curve.

9-block-wide opening

The curve becomes more noticeable at this size, making it a strong choice for larger entrances, halls, and decorative structures. Stair transitions help make the stepped outline look smoother from a distance.

For arches wider than 9 or 11 blocks, plan the curve before building rather than relying on manual counting. A Minecraft circle generator can help you map a semicircular arch by using the top half of a circle as your template.

Roman, Gothic, Tudor, and Torii-Style Gates Compared

Each arch style has a different shape and works best for certain Minecraft builds.

Style

Shape

Best For

Roman (Semicircular)

Smooth, rounded curve

Houses, castles, bridges, entrances

Gothic (Pointed)

Two curves meeting at a sharp peak

Cathedrals, fantasy builds, castle gates

Tudor (Flat)

Wide, shallow curve with a slight peak

Medieval houses, manor entrances

Torii-Style Gate

Upright posts with horizontal beams

Japanese gardens, shrine entrances

Choose the style that best matches the shape, scale, and theme of your build.

Roman (Semicircular) Arch

A Roman arch uses a smooth, rounded curve that rises evenly from both sides and reaches its highest point at the center. It is the simplest curved style to build and works well for houses, castles, bridges, and general entrances.

For a Roman arch, start with matching pillars and build the curve upward one block at a time while moving inward toward the center. Use the 5-, 7-, or 9-block blueprints above as a starting point, then add stairs or slabs to soften the stepped edges on larger arches.

Gothic (Pointed) Arch

A Gothic arch is taller and more pointed than a Roman arch. Instead of forming one rounded curve, both sides rise toward the center and meet at a single peak.

Start by building the two pillars and marking the exact center of the opening. From each side, step inward and upward until the two curves meet at the center. The higher the peak sits above the pillars, the taller and more dramatic the arch will look.

Gothic arches work especially well for cathedrals, castles, fantasy builds, and other structures where you want a tall, dramatic entrance.

Tudor Arch

A Tudor arch is wider and flatter than a Roman arch, with a subtle peak rather than a tall point. Its lower corners remain relatively sharp, giving the shape a distinctive medieval appearance.

This style works best on wider openings where the shallow curve has enough room to stand out. Use a wider grid to plan the shape, then keep the curve low and symmetrical instead of allowing it to rise as high as a Gothic arch.

Tudor arches are a good fit for medieval houses, manor entrances, castle interiors, and other builds where a softer, less dramatic arch is appropriate.

Torii-Style Gate

A Torii-style gate is different from the curved arches above. It uses two upright posts with one or more horizontal beams extending beyond the sides, creating the appearance of a traditional Japanese gate rather than a rounded opening.

Build the posts first, then add the horizontal beams across the top. Stripped logs, dark wood, and stairs can add shape and detail, while keeping the overall design wide and relatively low helps it read clearly as a gate. Torii-style gates work particularly well for Japanese gardens, shrine entrances, pathways, and decorative areas.

Minecraft Arch Sizes: Small, Medium, and Large

Arch size should match its purpose rather than being picked at random. Small arches, spanning 3 to 5 blocks, work best for garden gates, pathway entries, and small doorways, and plain blocks are enough here since stairs barely make a visible difference at this scale.

Medium arches, between 7 and 9 blocks, are the most commonly used size for building entrances and windows, offering enough room to properly smooth the curve with stairs and slabs while still fitting a clean keystone at the top.

Large arches, from 11 to 15 blocks, benefit from mapping the curve out beforehand, using a pixel circle layout as reference, since small errors become far more noticeable at this size.

Anything 16 blocks or wider counts as custom or large-scale, suited to bridges, aqueducts, or cathedral-style builds, and should start with a grid, a marked center point, and temporary scaffolding to check the shape from a distance before it's finished.

Best Materials for Minecraft Archways

Material choice affects how clean an arch looks, especially on larger builds where matching stairs and slabs help smooth the diagonal steps.

Stone brick and cobblestone are flexible choices, with full blocks, stairs, slabs, and walls that suit medieval and castle style builds. Quartz gives a clean, bright look for modern or futuristic designs, while deepslate and blackstone add a darker, heavier feel that works well for Gothic arches or keystone accents.

Wood, including oak, spruce, warped, and crimson, works well for pillars and curved details the same curved shaping used in a Minecraft spiral staircase while trapdoors can add smaller decorative transitions. Sandstone is a reliable choice for desert-themed builds.

As a general rule, sticking to one material family keeps the arch looking clean and avoids visible seams between different block types.

Where to Use Archways in Minecraft?

Archways aren't limited to just entrances, they fit naturally into several parts of a build once you start looking for the right spots. Entrances and gates remain the highest-visibility placement, making them worth the extra detail and effort, especially on castle or mountain house builds where a grand entrance sets the tone.

Arched windows are another strong option, since swapping a plain square hole for a curved top changes a building's overall character more than almost any other single design choice.

Bridges and aqueducts benefit from a row of evenly spaced, identical arches, which reads as far more intentional than a single standalone one the same domed, curved logic behind a Minecraft sphere generator build. Redstone doors also pair well with a 3x3 arched opening combined with an automatic piston mechanism.

Finally, garden and pathway arches, typically 3 to 5 blocks wide, work well for framing a walk or path rather than serving as a full building entrance, adding a decorative touch without overwhelming the space.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even well-planned arches can have a few common problems. An even-width opening is not a mistake, but it gives you two center blocks instead of one, so decide how you'll handle the center before building.

Keep the arch the same depth on both sides, as uneven depth can make the whole structure look unfinished. Thin pillars can make a wide arch look unsupported, so make them thicker as the arch gets wider.

For large spans, use a grid or template to avoid small miscounts that can throw off the curve. Finally, using the same block for the arch and surrounding wall can make the shape disappear, so a slight contrast helps it stand out.

Conclusion

Once you've built one arch from a plotted-out grid, the same pattern carries over to every width and style. Roman arches curve continuously, Gothic arches meet at a sharp point, and Tudor arches stay flatter with sharper corners at the base.

Start with the 5-wide blueprint above, then get comfortable with stair and slab smoothing on a 7 or 9-wide version.

From there, sizing up is less about learning a new technique and more about planning the curve properly before you build. Master the basics once, and every arch after that becomes far easier.

FAQs

How do you make a curved arch in Minecraft?

Step the blocks inward one row at a time on both sides at once, then replace the sharp corners at each step with an angled stair block. That combination is what turns a blocky staircase shape into something that reads as a curve.

What is the best block for a Minecraft archway?

Stone brick is the safest default, since it has a full block, stairs, slabs, and walls, covering every part of an arch. Quartz and sandstone work the same way for lighter or desert-themed builds.

How many blocks wide should an archway be?

3 to 5 blocks for garden gates and small doorways, 7 to 9 for standard entrances and windows, and 11 or more for grand or castle-scale builds. This refers to the opening width, not counting the pillars.

How do you make a Gothic arch in Minecraft?

Build two curves that rise independently from each pillar and meet at a single point above the exact center of the opening, rather than one continuous curve like a Roman arch. The 7-wide blueprint above shows the basic layout.

How do you make a 5-block arch in Minecraft?

Use a flat cap with the top corners cut off: three blocks across the top row, with the two outer corners removed on the row below. It's the simplest arch shape in the game and doesn't need stairs or slabs to look clean.