Pixel Circle Generator
Generate a block-by-block circle or ellipse of any diameter for towers, domes, ponds and round bases.
Grid lines every block; heavier lines every 5. Rows are numbered from the top; “3 + 5” means a run of 3 blocks, a gap, then a run of 5 in that row.
How to use the template
Set the width and height, choose an outline or a filled shape, and read the grid. Each square is one block. Start from the middle row, count the run lengths left to right, and mirror. For a large circle, the row-by-row text is easier than the picture: expand it, and it lists every row as runs and gaps so you can lay a whole row at a time. On a server with WorldEdit, //cyl or //hcyl does the same job; this tool is for survival and for checking what you have built.
Thin vs thick outlines
A thin outline is the classic pixel circle: blocks may touch only at corners on the diagonals, which looks right from above and uses the fewest blocks. A thick outline adds the blocks needed so every step shares a face — no diagonal-only contact — and it is what you want for a wall that must hold water or keep mobs out, for a tower where the interior should be sealed, or when a circle will be viewed from the side and thin diagonals look broken. Filled shapes are for floors, ponds and the base layer of domes.
Building spheres and domes
A sphere is a stack of circles. For a sphere of diameter D, the layer k blocks above or below the centre has a diameter of 2 × √((D/2)² − k²), rounded. Generate a circle for each layer with this tool — a 21-block sphere needs eleven distinct circles — and stack them. A dome is the top half. For a smooth result, use thin outlines on every layer and let the stacking fill the diagonals; for a watertight tank, use thick outlines. Because circles with an odd diameter have a single centre block and even ones have a 2×2 centre, keep every layer the same parity so the centres line up.
Odd and even diameters
An odd-width circle (21) has a centre block, so a beacon, fountain or door can sit exactly in the middle. An even-width circle (20) has a 2×2 centre, which suits a two-block-wide path through it. Decide on the centre first: it changes which diameter you want by one block, and it is the mistake that makes towers look off by half a block from the inside.
Frequently asked questions
How do you build a circle in Minecraft?
Pick a diameter, generate the block template here, and lay the outline ring by ring from the centre. Odd diameters have a single centre block; even diameters have a 2×2 centre. Build the first quarter carefully and mirror it for the other three.
What is the difference between thin and thick outlines?
A thin outline allows diagonal steps, so it uses fewer blocks but has corners that only touch. A thick outline has no diagonal gaps — every block shares a face with the next — which you need if the ring must hold water, stop mobs, or look solid from the side.
How do I make a dome or sphere?
A sphere is a stack of circles whose diameters follow a circle profile. Generate the circle for each layer: for a sphere of diameter D, layer k (from the centre) has diameter 2 × sqrt((D/2)² − k²). Build the largest circle at the equator and shrink each layer up and down.
Does this work for ellipses and ovals?
Yes. Set different width and height and it draws an ellipse using the same cell-centre test, which gives the smooth ovals used for ponds, arenas and stadium builds.
More free tools
Nether Portal Calculator
Type your Overworld X/Z and get the exact Nether position to build the matching portal.
Stack Calculator
How many stacks is 1,500 cobblestone? How much does a double chest hold? Instant answers.
XP & Level Calculator
Level 30 is not twice the XP of level 15 — see the real numbers before you plan an XP farm.
Minecraft Time & Tick Converter
Repeater delays, day length, fuse timers and /time set values all in one converter.
Coordinate Distance Calculator
Enter two positions and get blocks, direction and travel time by every method.
Read next
How Much Does Minecraft Cost in South Africa? Every Edition in Rand
Java & Bedrock for PC, consoles, phones, Realms and the Marketplace — what each costs in South Africa, where to buy legitimately, and how to avoid the fake “free download” sites.
Java vs Bedrock: How Minecraft Crossplay Actually Works
Why there are two Minecrafts, the differences that actually matter, how one server can accept both, and which edition a South African player should buy.
Minecraft Survival Starter Guide: Your First Day, Night and Week
A priority-ordered first day, how to survive the first night without a proper base, and the five mistakes that cost new players everything they own.