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 25 rows are listed, the rest is a mirror image.
- Download the PNG if you want to keep it open next to the game.
The 50 block circle in numbers
Fifty blocks is the size of a small round island or a colosseum. The row list is long, so build one quarter, then copy it by mirroring across both axes.
The outline of a circle 50 blocks wide is made of 140 blocks. That is 7 per cent of the 1,976 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 1,963 square blocks, and the filled version differs from that by 0.6 per cent. The circumference of the ideal circle is about 157.1, for comparison.
| Style | Blocks | Stacks of 64 |
|---|---|---|
| Thin outline | 140 | 2 stacks + 12 |
| Thick outline | 196 | 3 stacks + 4 |
| Filled disc | 1,976 | 30 stacks + 56 |
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 20, place 10
- skip 16, place 4, skip 10, place 4
- skip 14, place 2, skip 18, place 2
- skip 12, place 2, skip 22, place 2
- skip 11, place 1, skip 26, place 1
- skip 9, place 2, skip 28, place 2
- skip 8, place 1, skip 32, place 1
- skip 7, place 1, skip 34, place 1
- skip 6, place 1, skip 36, place 1
- skip 5, place 1, skip 38, place 1
- skip 5, place 1, skip 38, place 1
- skip 4, place 1, skip 40, place 1
- skip 3, place 1, skip 42, place 1
- skip 3, place 1, skip 42, place 1
- skip 2, place 1, skip 44, place 1
- skip 2, place 1, skip 44, place 1
- skip 1, place 1, skip 46, place 1
- skip 1, place 1, skip 46, place 1
- skip 1, place 1, skip 46, place 1
- skip 1, place 1, skip 46, place 1
- place 1, skip 48, place 1
- place 1, skip 48, place 1
- place 1, skip 48, place 1
- place 1, skip 48, place 1
- place 1, skip 48, place 1
The filled disc has rows of these widths from the top: 10, 18, 22, 26, 28, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 40, 42, 44, 44, 46, 46, 48, 48, 48, 48, 50, 50, 50, 50, 50. Mirror them for the lower half.
Symmetry and straight edges
The diameter is even, so there is no centre block. The middle is a two by two square, and the circle has two middle rows and two middle columns. Mark the two centre lines before you start. The longest straight run is 10 blocks. Long flat runs make a circle look squarer, and short ones make it look rounder, which is why sizes like 40 and 64 look a little different from 50 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 50 block wide wall.
| Height | Thin wall | Stacks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 layer | 140 | 2 stacks + 12 |
| 3 layers | 420 | 6 stacks + 36 |
| 5 layers | 700 | 10 stacks + 60 |
| 10 layers | 1,400 | 21 stacks + 56 |
| 20 layers | 2,800 | 43 stacks + 48 |
Building it without mistakes
Place four marker blocks, one at each side, then fill in the runs between them. The two middle blocks on each side are the ones that line up with the centre lines. 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 56 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 50 block circle?
A thin outline needs 140 blocks. A thick outline without diagonal gaps needs 196. A filled disc needs 1,976. For a thin outline that is 2 stacks + 12.
Is the 50 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 50 block circle?
The longest straight run of blocks is 10. It appears at the top, bottom, left and right of the circle.
How many blocks for a wall 50 blocks wide and 10 high?
A thin wall of ten layers needs 1,400 blocks, which is 21 stacks + 56. A thick wall would be 1,960 blocks.
Should I pick 50 or a different size?
Going down to 40 saves 28 blocks per thin layer. Going up to 64 adds 40 blocks per thin layer. Pick the size that fits the space you have, then check the count.