Piston

Piston

Java Edition

Bedrock Edition

Renewable	Yes
Stackable	Yes (64)
Tool
Blast resistance	0.5
Hardness	1.5
Luminous	No
Transparent	JE: No BE: Yes
Flammable	No
Catches fire from lava	No

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    "title": "Piston",
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            "label": "(link to Renewable resource article, displayed as Renewable)"
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            "label": "Stackable"
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            "field": "<span class=\"sprite-file\" style=\"height:32px;width:32px;--vertical-align:middle\">(link to File:SlotSprite Pickaxe Required.png article, displayed as 32x32px|link=Pickaxe|alt=SlotSprite Pickaxe Required.png: Sprite image for Pickaxe Required in Minecraft linking to Pickaxe|class=pixel-image|This block can be broken with any tool, but a pickaxe is the quickest)</span>",
            "label": "Tool"
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            "label": "(link to Explosion#Blast resistance article, displayed as Blast resistance)"
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            "field": "No",
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            "label": "(link to Opacity article, displayed as Transparent)"
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            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Flammable article, displayed as Flammable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
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        "Piston"
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    "images": [
        "Piston.gif",
        "Piston BE.gif"
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A piston is a block capable of pushing most entities and blocks when given a redstone signal.

Some blocks cannot be moved, break when pushed or have other interactions with pistons. A piston can move up to twelve blocks at once.

Obtaining

Breaking

A piston can be broken using any tool with equal efficiency, and always drops itself. In Java Edition, it is faster to break them with a pickaxe. The pickaxe is also the preferred tool for breaking the head when extended.

Block	Piston
Hardness	1.5
Tool
Breaking time (sec)
Default	2.25
Wooden	1.15
Stone	0.6
Iron	0.4
Diamond	0.3
Netherite	0.25
Golden	0.2

Crafting

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Any Planks + Cobblestone + Iron Ingot + Redstone Dust

Usage

Crafting ingredient

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Slimeball + Piston

Redstone component

Pistons are always placed facing toward the player. When powered, the piston's wooden surface (the "head") tries to start extending after start delay. When it extends, it pushes at most 12 blocks. The piston makes a sound that can be heard within a 31×31×31 cube centered on the activating piston. Any entities in the path of the extending head are pushed with the blocks. If there is no place for the entities to go, the block pushes inside them, suffocating mobs if the block is not transparent when pushed into the eye height of the mob.

When a piston loses power, its head retracts. Like extending, this retraction starts after start delay. It finishes retracting 2 game ticks (1 redstone tick; 0.1 seconds) after it starts.

A piston that pushes a slime block bounces any entity that it displaces in the direction the piston is facing. In addition, when a slime block is moved by a piston, any movable blocks adjacent (not diagonally) to the slime block also moves. See the #Slime blocks and honey blocks section below for more details.

In Bedrock Edition, blocks that stick to walls (such as levers) can be placed on pistons without being destroyed when activated.

Start delay

A piston won't extend or retract immediately when it is activated: this is called start delay.

In Bedrock Edition, the start delay is fixed at 2 game ticks (1 redstone tick; 0.1 seconds), meaning that the piston starts to extend or retract 2gt after it's activated.

In Java Edition, the start delay can be 0 game ticks (0 redstone ticks; 0 seconds) (start at the same tick) or 1 game tick (0.5 redstone ticks; 0.05 seconds) (start at the next tick) depending on the game process when the piston is activated:

• If the piston is updated and activated in the scheduled tick stage, random tick stage or block event stage, the piston stage is executed in this game tick's block event stage. At this time, the start delay is 0gt, which means the piston starts at the same tick.
• If the piston is activated during the execution of entity or tile entity, or activated by player actions, the piston stage is executed in the next game tick's block event stage. At this time, the start delay is 1gt, which means the piston starts at the next tick.

Limitations

Pistons can push most blocks except those listed in the table below.

Pistons cannot push blocks into the void or beyond the top of the map. They also cannot push more than 12 blocks. If the requirements for a block to be pushed are not met, the piston simply does not extend.

Block	Effect (Java Edition)	Effect (Bedrock Edition)
Barrier Beacon Bedrock Calibrated Sculk Sensor Command Block Crying Obsidian Enchanting Table End Gateway End Portal End Portal Frame Ender Chest Grindstone Jigsaw Block Jukebox Light Block Lodestone Monster Spawner Moving Piston Nether Portal Obsidian Piston (extended) Piston Head Reinforced Deepslate Respawn Anchor Sculk Catalyst Sculk Sensor Sculk Shrieker Structure Block Structure Void‌ Trial Spawner​ Vault​	Cannot be pushed or pulled.
Allow Deny Border Structure Air	N/A	Cannot be pushed or pulled.
Compound Creator Element Element Constructor Hardened Glass Hardened Glass Pane Heat Block Lab Table Material Reducer Underwater TNT		Can be pushed or pulled.
Underwater Torch Colored Torches		Breaks when pushed, turning to drops when applicable. Cannot be pulled.
Barrel Beehive Bee Nest Blast Furnace Brewing Stand Chest Chiseled Bookshelf Conduit Crafter​ Daylight Detector Dispenser Dropper Furnace Hopper Lectern Smoker Trapped Chest	Cannot be pushed or pulled, because these blocks hold block entities.	Can be pushed or pulled.
Large chest		Can be pushed or pulled, but separates into two chests.
Banner Hanging Sign Sign		Breaks when pushed or unsupported, turning into drops.
Campfire Soul Campfire		Breaks when pushed, turning to drops when applicable. Cannot be pulled.
Glazed Terracotta	Can be pushed, but not pulled.
Carpets (not moss)	Can be pushed and pulled. Breaks when pulled downward, turning into drops.
Bell Candle Lantern Soul Lantern	Breaks when pushed, turning to drops when applicable. Cannot be pulled.	Can be pushed or pulled.
Amethyst Cluster Bamboo Bed Budding Amethyst Button Cactus Cake Carved Pumpkin Cave Vines Chorus Flower Chorus Plant Cobweb Cocoa Dead Bush Decorated Pot Door Dragon Egg Fire Flower Pot Flower Frogspawn Grass Head Item Frame Jack o'Lantern Ladder Lava Leaves Lever Lily Pad Melon Melon Stem Moss Block Moss Carpet Mushroom Nether Wart Painting Pink Petals Pointed Dripstone Pressure Plate Pumpkin Pumpkin Stem Redstone Comparator Redstone Dust Redstone Repeater Redstone Torch Saplings Scaffolding Sculk Vein Sea Pickle Shulker Box Snow Soul Fire Structure Void‌ Sugar Cane Suspicious Sand Torch Torchflower Torchflower Crop Tripwire Tripwire Hook Turtle Egg Twisting Vines Vines Water Weeping Vines Weighted Pressure Plate Wheat	Breaks when pushed, turning to drops when applicable. Cannot be pulled.
Anvil	Cannot be pulled. Pushable only when in a falling state.	Can be pushed or pulled, but falls if unsupported. Cannot be pulled when in a falling state.
Concrete Powder Gravel Red Sand Sand	Can be pushed or pulled, but falls if unsupported. Cannot be pulled when in a falling state.

Pistons do not move blocks that are "attached to a block", as they detach and drop as an item.

Exceptions

• Rails: as long as they remain on top of a solid face of a block in their new position, and that block isn't moving at the same time.
  • An exception is when the rail and block supporting it are on two parallel extended pistons at which the rail remains attached. In Java Edition, in order for the rail to successfully move without breaking, the piston moving the block must be powered 1 block event after the piston moving the rail. Trying to move both on the same piston using slime blocks does not work, nor does moving them on perpendicular pistons (although the latter temporarily appears to work because of the bug MC-75716).
  • Rails re-orient themselves after being pushed, similar to when placed manually.

Powering pistons

Pistons powered by one line of redstone.

Pistons can be powered in various ways:

• If a redstone wire is in a line shape toward the piston. In Java Edition, the wire does not automatically curve to the piston.
• Pistons can be powered by a powered block directly adjacent to them, whether it is strongly powered or weakly powered.
• Pistons can be powered by a redstone torch directly adjacent to them.
• In Java Edition, pistons can be powered by any powered block one block above and to the side, including the "activated space" above it (if a piston, both sticky and normal were to be facing up and a block of redstone placed on its head, it extends when powered, but doesn't retract when the power it receives from the side or back turns off). However, the piston doesn't extend or retract until it receives a block update. This property is called quasi-connectivity and can be used to make a BUD switch.
• A repeater cannot transfer power through a piston, as pistons are a transparent block.
• An upward-facing piston can't be powered by a block above it, unless it is extended In Java Edition.
• In Bedrock Edition a redstone torch attached to a piston turns off whenever the piston is powered. This mechanic is called soft inversion.
• Pistons can also be powered by observers. This can create a clock if the setup is correct.

Slime blocks and honey blocks

A				B

Piston A may extend because the slime block ignores the adjacent obsidian. Piston B may not extend because the diamond block is prevented from moving by the obsidian and so the slime block also refuses to move.

When a slime block is pushed or pulled by a piston, while moving, adjacent blocks also move with the slime block, unless a non-piston movable block stops the blocks that are "grabbed" by the slime blocks. These blocks may in turn push other blocks, not just the blocks in the line in front of the piston. For example, a slime block sitting on the ground attempts to move the ground block underneath itself, which in turn has to pushsticky additional ground blocks in the direction of motion just as if it were being pushed directly by a piston.

Glazed terracotta is an exception; it does not move when adjacent slime blocks are moved. The same occurs when a slime block is moved by an adjacent slime block. For example, a 2×2×2 cube of slime blocks may be pushed or pulled as a unit by a single piston acting on any of the blocks in the cube. A slime block adjacent to a block that cannot be moved by pistons ignores the immobile block. But if an adjacent block could be moved but is prevented by the presence of an immobile block, the slime block is prevented from moving.

Slime blocks are not pulled by a non-sticky piston, nor are they moved if an adjacent (non-slime) block is moved by a piston. The maximum of 12 blocks moved by a piston still applies. For example, a 2×2×3 collection of slime blocks may be pushed by a piston as long as no other movable blocks are adjacent to it. A piston cannot move itself via a "hook" constructed of slime blocks, but self-propelled contraptions can be created with multiple pistons. For that, see the article Tutorials/Flying machines. The same happens for the honey block, but it does not stick to slime blocks.

Technical components

Pistons have 2 technical blocks that cannot be obtained. These include the piston head and moving piston blocks.

Sounds

Generic

Java Edition:

v t e stone sound type
Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	block.stone.break	subtitles.block.generic.break​	1.0	0.8	16 { "pitch": "0.8", "subtitle": "​Block broken", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.stone.break", "distance": "16", "desc": "Once the block has broken", "sounds": [ "Stone dig1.ogg", "Stone dig2.ogg", "Stone dig3.ogg", "Stone dig4.ogg" ], "volume": "1.0", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.generic.break" }
	​Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	block.stone.place	subtitles.block.generic.place​	1.0	0.8	16 { "pitch": "0.8", "subtitle": "​Block placed", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.stone.place", "distance": "16", "desc": "When the block is placed", "sounds": [ "Stone dig1.ogg", "Stone dig2.ogg", "Stone dig3.ogg", "Stone dig4.ogg" ], "volume": "1.0", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.generic.place" }
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	block.stone.hit	subtitles.block.generic.hit​	0.25	0.5	16 { "pitch": "0.5", "subtitle": "​Block breaking", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.stone.hit", "distance": "16", "desc": "While the block is in the process of being broken", "sounds": [ "Stone mining1.ogg", "Stone mining2.ogg", "Stone mining3.ogg", "Stone mining4.ogg", "Stone mining5.ogg", "Stone mining6.ogg" ], "volume": "0.25", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.generic.hit" }
	None​​	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	block.stone.fall	None​​	0.5	0.75	16 { "pitch": "0.75", "subtitle": "''None''​'\"`UNIQ--ref-0000002C-QINU`\"'​", "source": "''[[Sound#Entity-dependent categories|Entity-Dependent]]''", "id": "block.stone.fall", "distance": "16", "desc": "Falling on the block with fall damage", "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "volume": "0.5", "java": "1" }
	​Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	block.stone.step	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.15	1.0	16 { "pitch": "1.0", "subtitle": "​Footsteps", "source": "''[[Sound#Entity-dependent categories|Entity-Dependent]]''", "id": "block.stone.step", "distance": "16", "desc": "Walking on the block", "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "volume": "0.15", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.generic.footsteps" }

Bedrock Edition (piston):

v t e stone sound type
Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	Once the block has broken	dig.stone	1.0	0.8-1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone dig1.ogg", "Stone dig2.ogg", "Stone dig3.ogg", "Stone dig4.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "1.0", "id": "dig.stone", "pitch": "0.8-1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Once the block has broken" }
	Blocks	When the block is placed	dig.stone	1.0	0.8-1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone dig1.ogg", "Stone dig2.ogg", "Stone dig3.ogg", "Stone dig4.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "1.0", "id": "dig.stone", "pitch": "0.8-1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "When the block is placed" }
	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.stone	0.37	0.5 { "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "0.37", "id": "hit.stone", "pitch": "0.5", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "While the block is in the process of being broken" }
	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	fall.stone	0.4	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "source": "Players", "volume": "0.4", "id": "fall.stone", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Falling on the block with fall damage" }
	Players	Walking on the block	step.stone	0.3	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "source": "Players", "volume": "0.3", "id": "step.stone", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Walking on the block" }
	Players	Jumping from the block	jump.stone	0.12	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone jump1.wav", "Stone jump2.wav", "Stone jump3.wav", "Stone jump4.wav" ], "source": "Players", "volume": "0.12", "id": "jump.stone", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Jumping from the block" }
	Players	Falling on the block without fall damage	land.stone	0.22	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone jump1.wav", "Stone jump2.wav", "Stone jump3.wav", "Stone jump4.wav" ], "source": "Players", "volume": "0.22", "id": "land.stone", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Falling on the block without fall damage" }

Bedrock Edition (arm):

v t e normal sound type
Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	Once the block has broken	dig.stone	1.0	0.8-1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone dig1.ogg", "Stone dig2.ogg", "Stone dig3.ogg", "Stone dig4.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "1.0", "id": "dig.stone", "pitch": "0.8-1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Once the block has broken" }
	Blocks	When the block is placed	dig.stone	1.0	0.8-1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone dig1.ogg", "Stone dig2.ogg", "Stone dig3.ogg", "Stone dig4.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "1.0", "id": "dig.stone", "pitch": "0.8-1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "When the block is placed" }
	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.stone	0.27	0.5 { "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "0.27 '\"`UNIQ--ref-00000030-QINU`\"'", "id": "hit.stone", "pitch": "0.5", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "While the block is in the process of being broken" }
	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	fall.stone	0.4	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "source": "Players", "volume": "0.4", "id": "fall.stone", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Falling on the block with fall damage" }
	Players	Walking on the block	step.stone	0.3	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "source": "Players", "volume": "0.3", "id": "step.stone", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Walking on the block" }
	Players	Jumping from the block	jump.stone	0.12	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone jump1.wav", "Stone jump2.wav", "Stone jump3.wav", "Stone jump4.wav" ], "source": "Players", "volume": "0.12", "id": "jump.stone", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Jumping from the block" }
	Players	Falling on the block without fall damage	land.stone	0.22	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone jump1.wav", "Stone jump2.wav", "Stone jump3.wav", "Stone jump4.wav" ], "source": "Players", "volume": "0.22", "id": "land.stone", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Falling on the block without fall damage" }

Unique

Java Edition:

v t e Sounds
Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	​Piston moves	Blocks	When a piston extends‌	block.piston.extend	subtitles.block.piston.move​	0.5	0.6-0.85	16 { "pitch": "0.6-0.85", "subtitle": "&#x200B;Piston moves", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.piston.extend", "distance": "16", "desc": "When a piston extends<wbr>&zwnj;<sup class=\"noprint nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement does not apply to upcoming versions of Minecraft\">until</span> [[Java Edition 1.21|JE 1.21]]</i>]</sup>[[Category:Upcoming]][[Category:Java Edition upcoming tag]]", "sounds": [ "Piston extend JE1 BE1.ogg" ], "volume": "0.5", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.piston.move" }
	​Piston moves	Blocks	When a piston contracts‌	block.piston.contract	subtitles.block.piston.move​	0.5	0.6-0.75	16 { "pitch": "0.6-0.75", "subtitle": "&#x200B;Piston moves", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.piston.contract", "distance": "16", "desc": "When a piston contracts<wbr>&zwnj;<sup class=\"noprint nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement does not apply to upcoming versions of Minecraft\">until</span> [[Java Edition 1.21|JE 1.21]]</i>]</sup>[[Category:Upcoming]][[Category:Java Edition upcoming tag]]", "sounds": [ "Piston contract JE1 BE1.ogg" ], "volume": "0.5", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.piston.move" }
	​Piston moves	Blocks	When a piston extends​	block.piston.extend	subtitles.block.piston.move​	0.5	0.6-0.85	8 { "pitch": "0.6-0.85", "subtitle": "&#x200B;Piston moves", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.piston.extend", "distance": "8", "desc": "When a piston extends<wbr>&#x200B;<sup class=\"noprint nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement applies only to upcoming versions of Minecraft.\">upcoming:</span> [[Java Edition 1.21|JE 1.21]]</i>]</sup>[[Category:Upcoming]][[Category:Java Edition upcoming tag]]", "sounds": [ "Piston extend JE2.ogg" ], "volume": "0.5", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.piston.move" }
	​Piston moves	Blocks	When a piston contracts​	block.piston.contract	subtitles.block.piston.move​	0.5	0.6-0.8	8 { "pitch": "0.6-0.8", "subtitle": "&#x200B;Piston moves", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.piston.contract", "distance": "8", "desc": "When a piston contracts<wbr>&#x200B;<sup class=\"noprint nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement applies only to upcoming versions of Minecraft.\">upcoming:</span> [[Java Edition 1.21|JE 1.21]]</i>]</sup>[[Category:Upcoming]][[Category:Java Edition upcoming tag]]", "sounds": [ "Piston contract JE2.ogg" ], "volume": "0.5", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.piston.move" }

Bedrock Edition:

v t e Sounds
Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	When a piston extends	tile.piston.out	0.5	0.6-0.75 { "sounds": [ "Piston extend.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "0.5", "id": "tile.piston.out", "pitch": "0.6-0.75", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "When a piston extends" }
	Blocks	When a piston contracts	tile.piston.in	0.5	0.6-0.75 { "sounds": [ "Piston contract.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "0.5", "id": "tile.piston.in", "pitch": "0.6-0.75", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "When a piston contracts" }

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Block tags	Translation key
Piston	piston	Block & Item	None	block.minecraft.piston

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Alias ID	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID	Translation key
Piston	piston	None	33	Block & Giveable Item	Identical	tile.piston.name

Name	Savegame ID
Piston block entity	PistonArm

Block states

The piston block uses following block states:

Java Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
extended	false	false true	If true, the piston is extended.
facing	north	down east north south up west	The direction the piston head is pointing. The opposite from the direction the player faces while placing the piston.

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Metadata Bits	Default value	Allowed values	Values for Metadata Bits	Description
facing_direction	0x1 0x2 0x4	0	0 1 2 3 4 5	0 1 2 3 4 5	The direction the piston is pointing. 0: facing down 1: facing up 2: facing south 3: facing north 4: facing east 5: facing west

Block data

In Bedrock Edition, a piston has a block entity associated with it that holds additional data about the block.

See Bedrock Edition level format/Block entity format.

Achievements

Icon		Achievement	In-game description	Actual requirements (if different)	Gamerscore earned	Trophy type (PS4)
PS4	Other
		Inception { "anchor": "", "title": "Inception", "icon": "", "title": "Inception", "description": "Push a [[piston]] with a piston, then pull the original piston with that piston. ", "requirements": " ", "gamerscore": "20G ", "trophytype": "Silver ", "rewards": "" }	Push a piston with a piston, then pull the original piston with that piston.	—	20G	Silver

History

Java Edition Classic
May 21, 2009					Notch shows interest in adding blocks that can pull and push other blocks when a pulse from a wire is received; he called them "Pulley1", which would pull a block up, and "Pulley2", which would push a block up. {"type": "java Classic", "version": "May 21, 2009", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "(link to Notch article, displayed as Notch) shows interest in adding (link to block article, displayed as blocks) that can pull and push other blocks when a pulse from a wire is received; he called them \"Pulley1\", which would pull a block up, and \"Pulley2\", which would push a block up."}
Java Edition Beta
?					The original piston was a mod posted on the Minecraft Forums by Hippoplatimus. The code for that version was given to Jeb, who then worked on implementing pistons into vanilla Minecraft; Hippoplatimus is in the game's credits under "Additional Programming", like other modders whose work made it into vanilla Minecraft. {"type": "java Beta", "version": "?", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "(link to File:Piston normal mod.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Piston normal extended mod.png article, displayed as 32px) The original piston was a mod posted on the (link to Minecraft Forums article, displayed as Minecraft Forums) by Hippoplatimus. The code for that version was given to (link to Jeb article, displayed as Jeb), who then worked on implementing pistons into vanilla (link to Minecraft article, displayed as Minecraft); Hippoplatimus is in the game's credits under \"Additional Programming\", like other modders whose work made it into vanilla Minecraft."}
					Another user, DiEvAl, privately submitted code as well, including the idea of block entities to track moving blocks. {"type": "java Beta", "version": "?", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "Another user, DiEvAl, privately submitted code as well, including the idea of (link to block entities article, displayed as block entities) to track moving blocks."}
June 7, 2011					Jeb tweets an image of pistons in development. {"type": "java Beta", "version": "June 7, 2011", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "(link to Jeb article, displayed as Jeb) tweets an image of pistons in development."}
					The piston texture as screen-captured while in development had iron bands running over the head. The bands were removed for the release, leaving only iron brackets around the corners and edges. {"type": "java Beta", "version": "June 7, 2011", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "(link to File:Piston (pre-release).png article, displayed as 32px) The piston texture as screen-captured while in development had iron bands running over the head. The bands were removed for the release, leaving only iron brackets around the corners and edges."}
1.7					Added pistons, alongside associated head and moving blocks. {"type": "java Beta", "version": "1.7", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)"}
Java Edition
?					The wireframe hitbox of the moving piston block is now halfway aligned. {"type": "java", "version": "?", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "The wireframe hitbox of the moving piston block is now halfway aligned."}
1.2.4		release			Spruce planks, birch planks, and jungle planks can now be used to craft pistons. {"type": "java", "version": "1.2.4", "exp": "", "snap": "release", "content": "(link to Spruce planks article, displayed as Spruce planks), (link to birch planks article, displayed as birch planks), and (link to jungle planks article, displayed as jungle planks) can now be used to craft pistons."}
1.3.1		12w27a			Pistons have been updated to make them less error-prone, thus they also appear to update slower. This also alters the way pistons work, so the player might have to adapt their repeater delays and similar. For this change, pistons now take 2 redstone ticks (4 game ticks) to extend, but they still retract instantly. {"type": "java", "version": "1.3.1", "exp": "", "snap": "12w27a", "content": "Pistons have been updated to make them less error-prone, thus they also appear to update slower. This also alters the way pistons work, so the (link to player article, displayed as player) might have to adapt their (link to repeater article, displayed as repeater) delays and similar. For this change, pistons now take 2 redstone ticks (4 (link to game tick article, displayed as game ticks)) to extend, but they still retract instantly."}
1.7.2		1.7.1			Acacia planks and dark oak planks can now be used to craft pistons. {"type": "java", "version": "1.7.2", "exp": "", "snap": "1.7.1", "content": "(link to Acacia planks article, displayed as Acacia planks) and (link to dark oak planks article, displayed as dark oak planks) can now be used to craft pistons."}
1.8		14w17a			The models for piston and related blocks when facing up and down have been changed. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w17a", "content": "(link to File:Piston (U) JE2.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Piston (D) JE2.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Headless Piston (U) JE2.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Headless Piston (D) JE2.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Piston Head (U) JE2.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Piston Head (D) JE2.png article, displayed as 32px) The models for piston and related blocks when facing up and down have been changed."}
		14w18a			Slime blocks now push and pull blocks adjacent when connected to sticky pistons. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w18a", "content": "(link to Slime block article, displayed as Slime blocks) now push and pull blocks adjacent when connected to sticky pistons."}
					Extending a piston with a slime block on top of it launches the entity (mobs, players, items, launched arrows, etc) into the air. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w18a", "content": "Extending a piston with a slime block on top of it launches the (link to entity article, displayed as entity) ((link to mob article, displayed as mobs), (link to player article, displayed as players), (link to item article, displayed as items), launched (link to arrow article, displayed as arrows), etc) into the (link to air article, displayed as air)."}
		14w19a			Slime blocks can now push entities sideways and downward when attached to a piston. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w19a", "content": "Slime blocks can now push entities sideways and downward when attached to a piston."}
		14w29a			There are now "short" piston heads. Their use is unknown. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w29a", "content": "(link to File:Short Piston Head (U) JE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Short Piston Head (N) JE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Short Piston Head (E) JE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Short Piston Head (S) JE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Short Piston Head (W) JE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Short Piston Head (D) JE1.png article, displayed as 32px)<br>There are now \"short\" piston heads. Their use is unknown."}
		14w32a			The moving piston block no longer has a hitbox. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w32a", "content": "The moving piston block no longer has a hitbox."}
1.9		15w49a			Unextended pistons, downward-facing pistons, and upward-facing piston heads are now considered to have a solid top surface, like upside-down stairs and top slabs. There also existed a bug where when a piston retracted, it would pull entities through them. {"type": "java", "version": "1.9", "exp": "", "snap": "15w49a", "content": "Unextended pistons, downward-facing pistons, and upward-facing piston heads are now considered to have a solid top surface, like upside-down (link to stairs article, displayed as stairs) and top (link to slab article, displayed as slabs). There also existed a bug where when a piston retracted, it would pull (link to entities article, displayed as entities) through them."}
1.12		17w16a			When pistons move slime blocks, they do not move glazed terracotta attached to the side of the slime block. {"type": "java", "version": "1.12", "exp": "", "snap": "17w16a", "content": "When pistons move (link to slime block article, displayed as slime blocks), they do not move glazed terracotta attached to the side of the slime block."}
		pre3			Slime blocks can no longer pull glazed terracotta attached to any side of a piston, whatsoever. {"type": "java", "version": "1.12", "exp": "", "snap": "pre3", "content": "Slime blocks can no longer pull glazed terracotta attached to any side of a piston, whatsoever."}
1.13		17w47a			Pistons now can push note blocks. {"type": "java", "version": "1.13", "exp": "", "snap": "17w47a", "content": "Pistons now can push (link to note block article, displayed as note blocks)."}
1.14		18w43a			The textures associated with pistons have been changed. {"type": "java", "version": "1.14", "exp": "", "snap": "18w43a", "content": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)"}
					While the texture for oak planks was later updated in subsequent snapshots, the piston texture is yet to be changed to reflect this. {"type": "java", "version": "1.14", "exp": "", "snap": "18w43a", "content": "While the texture for oak planks was later updated in subsequent snapshots, the piston texture is yet to be changed to reflect this."}
		18w44a			Pistons are no longer transparent. {"type": "java", "version": "1.14", "exp": "", "snap": "18w44a", "content": "Pistons are no longer transparent."}
		18w46a			Extended pistons now allow light to pass through certain faces. {"type": "java", "version": "1.14", "exp": "", "snap": "18w46a", "content": "Extended pistons now allow light to pass through certain faces."}
1.15		19w41a			Added honey blocks, which have multiple different types of interactions with pistons. {"type": "java", "version": "1.15", "exp": "", "snap": "19w41a", "content": "Added honey blocks, which have multiple different types of interactions with pistons."}
1.16		20w06a			The hardness of pistons has been increased from 0.5 to 1.5. {"type": "java", "version": "1.16", "exp": "", "snap": "20w06a", "content": "The hardness of pistons has been increased from 0.5 to 1.5."}
					Pickaxes are now the tool for breaking pistons. {"type": "java", "version": "1.16", "exp": "", "snap": "20w06a", "content": "(link to Pickaxe article, displayed as Pickaxes) are now the tool for breaking pistons."}
					Pistons no longer pop off redstone components placed on the back when retracting. {"type": "java", "version": "1.16", "exp": "", "snap": "20w06a", "content": "Pistons no longer pop off redstone components placed on the back when retracting."}
					Crimson planks and warped planks can now be used to craft pistons. {"type": "java", "version": "1.16", "exp": "", "snap": "20w06a", "content": "(link to Crimson planks article, displayed as Crimson planks) and (link to warped planks article, displayed as warped planks) can now be used to craft pistons."}
1.17		20w45a			Particles now appear if a block is broken by a piston. {"type": "java", "version": "1.17", "exp": "", "snap": "20w45a", "content": "Particles now appear if a block is broken by a piston."}
1.19		22w11a			Mangrove planks can now be used to craft pistons. {"type": "java", "version": "1.19", "exp": "", "snap": "22w11a", "content": "(link to Mangrove planks article, displayed as Mangrove planks) can now be used to craft pistons."}
		22w17a			Changed piston textures, to match the color of the oak planks on the piston head. {"type": "java", "version": "1.19", "exp": "", "snap": "22w17a", "content": "(link to File:Piston (U) JE4.png article, displayed as 32px) Changed piston textures, to match the color of the oak planks on the piston head."}
1.19.3 Experiment Update 1.20		22w42a			Bamboo planks can now be used to craft pistons. {"type": "java", "version": "1.19.3", "exp": "Update 1.20", "snap": "22w42a", "content": "(link to Bamboo planks article, displayed as Bamboo planks) can now be used to craft pistons."}
1.19.4 Experiment Update 1.20		23w07a			Cherry planks can now be used to craft pistons. {"type": "java", "version": "1.19.4", "exp": "Update 1.20", "snap": "23w07a", "content": "(link to Cherry planks article, displayed as Cherry planks) can now be used to craft pistons."}
Upcoming Java Edition
1.21		24w20a			Piston sounds have been updated to be quieter and less harsh. {"type": "java upcoming", "version": "1.21", "exp": "", "snap": "24w20a", "content": "Piston sounds have been updated to be quieter and less harsh."}
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.15.0		build 1			Added pistons. {"type": "pocket Alpha", "version": "v0.15.0", "exp": "", "snap": "build 1", "content": "(link to File:Piston (U) JE2 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) Added pistons."}
					Pistons have a version exclusive animation and the ability to push block entities. {"type": "pocket Alpha", "version": "v0.15.0", "exp": "", "snap": "build 1", "content": "Pistons have a version exclusive animation and the ability to push (link to block entities article, displayed as block entities)."}
Bedrock Edition
1.10.0		beta 1.10.0.3			The texture of pistons has been changed. {"type": "bedrock", "version": "1.10.0", "exp": "", "snap": "beta 1.10.0.3", "content": "(link to File:Piston BE2.png article, displayed as 32px) The texture of pistons has been changed."}
1.20.30		Preview 1.20.20.21			Increased the hardness and blast resistance of pistons from 0.5 to 1.5. {"type": "bedrock", "version": "1.20.30", "exp": "", "snap": "Preview 1.20.20.21", "content": "Increased the hardness and blast resistance of pistons from 0.5 to 1.5."}
Legacy Console Edition
TU3	CU1	1.0	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added pistons. {"type": "console", "xbox": "TU3", "xbone": "CU1", "ps": "1.0", "wiiu": "Patch 1", "switch": "1.0.1", "content": "(link to File:Piston (U) JE1.png article, displayed as 32px) Added pistons."}
TU14		1.04			Pistons now take double the amount of time (2 redstone ticks or 4 game ticks) to extend, but they still retract instantly. {"type": "console", "xbox": "TU14", "xbone": "", "ps": "1.04", "wiiu": "", "switch": "", "content": "Pistons now take double the amount of time (2 redstone ticks or 4 (link to game tick article, displayed as game ticks)) to extend, but they still retract instantly."}
		1.90			The texture of pistons has been changed. {"type": "console", "xbox": "none", "xbone": "none", "ps": "1.90", "wiiu": "none", "switch": "none", "content": "(link to File:Piston (U) BE2.png article, displayed as 32px) The texture of pistons has been changed."}
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0					Added pistons. {"type": "new3ds", "version": "0.1.0", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "(link to File:Piston (U) JE2 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) Added pistons."}

• 

  First screenshot of pistons.

Data history

Java Edition Beta
1.7					Six-sided pistons exist as extreme metadata variants of pistons. {"type": "java Beta", "version": "1.7", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "(link to Six-sided piston article, displayed as Six-sided pistons) exist as extreme metadata variants of pistons."}
Java Edition
1.8		14w26a			Pistons now use block states instead of metadata. As such, weird pistons have been removed. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w26a", "content": "Pistons now use block states instead of metadata. As such, weird pistons have been removed."}
		14w29a			Added the "short=true/false" block state to piston_head. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w29a", "content": "Added the \"short=true/false\" block state to piston_head."}
1.11.1		16w50a			Added a new byte tag source for the piston_extension block entity, which is true if the block represents the piston head itself, and false if it represents a block being pushed. Pistons moving entities to the other side has been fixed. {"type": "java", "version": "1.11.1", "exp": "", "snap": "16w50a", "content": "Added a new byte tag <code>source</code> for the <code>piston_extension</code> block entity, which is true if the block represents the piston head itself, and false if it represents a block being pushed. Pistons moving entities to the other side has been fixed."}
1.13		17w47a			The moving block ID of pistons has been changed from piston_extension to moving_piston. {"type": "java", "version": "1.13", "exp": "", "snap": "17w47a", "content": "The moving block ID of pistons has been changed from <code>piston_extension</code> to <code>moving_piston</code>."}
					Prior to The Flattening, these blocks' numeral IDs were 29, 33, 34 and 36. {"type": "java", "version": "1.13", "exp": "", "snap": "17w47a", "content": "Prior to (link to 1.13/Flattening article, displayed as ''The Flattening''), these blocks' numeral IDs were 29, 33, 34 and 36."}
Pocket Edition Alpha
?					Weird pistons also existed, but they didn't look six-sided. {"type": "pocket Alpha", "version": "?", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "Weird pistons also existed, but they didn't look six-sided."}
Bedrock Edition
?					The movingblock block for pistons can no longer be placed using commands. {"type": "bedrock", "version": "?", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "The <code>movingblock</code> block for pistons can no longer be placed using (link to commands article, displayed as commands)."}
1.18.30		beta 1.18.30.26			The ID of pistonarmcollision is changed to piston_arm_collision {"type": "bedrock", "version": "1.18.30", "exp": "", "snap": "beta 1.18.30.26", "content": "The ID of <code>pistonarmcollision</code> is changed to <code>piston_arm_collision</code>"}
					The ID of movingblock is changed to moving_block {"type": "bedrock", "version": "1.18.30", "exp": "", "snap": "beta 1.18.30.26", "content": "The ID of <code>movingblock</code> is changed to <code>moving_block</code>"}
Legacy Console Edition
?					Weird pistons definitely existed at one point. {"type": "console", "version": "?", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "Weird pistons definitely existed at one point."}

Issues

Issues relating to "Piston" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Trivia

• Mojang stated that the 12-block push limit for pistons would not be changed, because "the current limitations are by design".
• When toggled between on and off rapidly with a gravity affected block (such as sand) above it, a piston can eventually break the block, which can be picked up as a resource. However, gravel broken this way never drops flint.
• Carpet can be placed on the piston extension block, and remains even if it is replaced with a solid block using /setblock.

Gallery

Screenshots

• 

  Fundamental logic gates, implemented purely with pistons and redstone repeaters, clockwise from upper left: AND, OR, XOR, and NOT.

• 

  Slow clock generator with pistons and redstone.

• 

  An example of a piston-controlled waterflow.

• 

  Light shining through an extended piston.

• 

  Redstone connecting to pistons in Bedrock Edition.

Concept artwork

• 

  Notch's explanation on how the rod (a full block long when extended) fits into the piston box (whose depth is a block minus the face's thickness).

In other media

• 

  Artwork of a piston connected to a lever.

See also

• Slime block
• Redstone
• Tutorials/Piston uses
• Tutorials/Headless pistons
• Mechanics/Redstone/Piston circuits

External links

• Block of the Week: Piston – Minecraft.net on October 13, 2017