How to Repair Tools in Minecraft

Gunter

4 min read

Updated on

March 12, 2025

Picture of repairing methods in Minecraft

Your Minecraft tools are breaking, and you're tired of crafting new ones, right? Whether it’s your diamond pickaxe or enchanted sword, losing a good tool is frustrating. But here’s the good news—you don’t have to! In Minecraft, there are four easy ways to repair your tools: inventory repairing, anvils, grindstones, and the Mending enchantment. Each method has its pros and cons, and picking the right one can save resources and XP.

Want to keep your best tools forever? I’ll show you the most efficient ways to repair them and even how to make them unbreakable with enchantments. Let’s jump in and learn Minecraft repairing like a pro!

TL;DR: How to Repair Tools in Minecraft

✅ Inventory Repairing – Simple but removes enchantments
✅ Anvil – Best for enchanted tools, costs XP
✅ Grindstone – Repairs & removes enchantments
✅ Mending Enchantment – Uses XP for infinite repairs

Now, let’s break it all down! 🚀

Why Tools Break in Minecraft

Tools in Minecraft wear down over time due to durability loss. Each tool, from a simple wooden pickaxe to a Netherite sword, has a limited lifespan based on its material. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Tool Material	Durability
Wood	59
Stone	131
Iron	250
Diamond	1561
Netherite	2031

When durability reaches zero, the tool breaks and disappears from your inventory. However, instead of constantly crafting new ones, you can repair your tools in several ways. Let’s explore them!

Methods to Repair Tools in Minecraft

1. Using a Inventory Repairing (Basic Repair Method)

One of the simplest ways to repair Minecraft tools is by using Inventory Repairing. This method should only be used when your tools are not enchanted as this method will wipe any enchantments. To do this:

Place two damaged tools of the same type in the Inventory Repairing interface.
The game will combine them, restoring some durability.
The repaired tool will have slightly more durability than either of the originals.

✅ Pros:

No XP cost.
Easy and accessible early in the game.

❌ Cons:

Removes all enchantments from the tools.
Less efficient than other repair methods.

2. Using an Anvil (Best for Enchanted Tools)

Anvils are the best repair method for enchanted tools. Here’s how you repair tools using an Anvil:

Open an Anvil (crafted with 3 blocks of iron and 4 iron ingots).
Place your damaged tool in the first slot.
Place an identical tool or its base material (e.g., Diamonds for a Diamond Pickaxe) in the second slot.
The tool repairs while keeping enchantments.

✅ Pros:

Keeps enchantments, making it ideal for high-level gear.
Can repair using raw materials, meaning you don’t need an identical tool.

❌ Cons:

Uses XP levels for each repair.
Has a repair cost limit, making repeated repairs expensive.

Anvils are perfect if you want to extend the life of your best tools while keeping enchantments intact.

3. Using a Grindstone (Repair and Remove Enchantments)

The grindstone works similarly to the Inventory Repairing, but it has an extra feature—it removes enchantments.

How to use a Grindstone for repair:

Place two damaged tools of the same type in the Grindstone.
The tool will combine and restore durability.
However, it removes all enchantments, except for Curses (like Curse of Vanishing).

✅ Pros:

Removes bad enchantments, useful for re-enchanting tools.
Free to use, with no XP cost.

❌ Cons:

Erases all enchantments, even valuable ones.
Limited repair efficiency compared to Anvils.

Use a Grindstone if you want to start fresh with a tool and re-enchant it later.

4. Using the Mending Enchantment (Infinite Repairs)

Mending is by far the best repair method in Minecraft because it allows infinite repairs using XP.

How Mending Works:

XP gained from mining, fishing, or killing mobs repairs the tool automatically.
Mending works on any tool, weapon, or armor piece.
It requires no anvil, grindstone, or Inventory Repairing—just XP.

How to Find Mending:

Mending is a treasure enchantment, meaning it cannot be obtained through an enchantment table.
You can find Mending books in chests located in mineshafts, jungle pyramids, bastion remnants, strongholds, End cities, and ancient cities.
Fishing also has a chance to yield a Mending-enchanted book.
In Bedrock Edition, Mending can be obtained from raid drops.
The best way to get Mending consistently is by trading with a Librarian Villager of any level. If you have the "Villager Trade Rebalance" experimental datapack enabled, a master-level swamp Librarian can also offer Mending.

✅ Pros:

Infinite repairs as long as you earn XP.
Keeps enchantments and durability.
Best for high-tier enchanted gear.

❌ Cons:

Rare to obtain, usually from Librarians or chest loot.
Only repairs tools while gaining XP—tools stored in chests won’t repair.

If you find a Mending book, apply it using an Anvil ASAP!

Best Repair Method Comparison

Method	Keeps Enchantments?	Requires XP?	Best Use Case
Inventory Repairing	❌ No	❌ No	Early game repairs
Anvil	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Repairing enchanted tools
Grindstone	❌ No	❌ No	Removing enchantments
Mending	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Long-term tool repairing

Smart Ways to Make Tools Last Longer

Before you even need to repair tools, consider these proactive steps:

Enchant with Unbreaking to triple your tool’s lifespan.
Use Mending so your tools repair themselves over time.
Carry backup tools to avoid breaking them in critical moments.
Use Netherite tools, which have the highest durability.

Final Thoughts: Keep Your Tools in Top Shape

Repairing Minecraft tools is essential to save resources and extend their lifespan. While crafting repairs work early on, using anvil and mending is best for enchanted gear. Smart players will combine Unbreaking with Mending for the ultimate long-lasting tools.

Now that you know all repair methods, which one will you use? Let us know!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What’s the cheapest way to repair tools in Minecraft?

A: Using Inventory Repairing or Grindstone—both cost nothing but remove enchantments.

Q: Can you put Mending and Unbreaking on the same tool?

A: Yes! This is the best way to make tools last indefinitely.

Q: What happens if I repair a tool too many times with an anvil?

A: It gets too expensive over time. Use Mending instead!

Now go repair your tools and conquer Minecraft! 🚀