A world border limits how far players can travel in your world. Without a border, players endlessly generate new chunks, consuming disk space and slowing the server. A well-configured border keeps your world manageable and your server fast.
Why use a world border?
- Performance: generating new chunks is one of the heaviest tasks for the server. A border prevents endless chunk generation.
- Storage: an unbounded world can grow to dozens of gigabytes. A border keeps it manageable.
- Gameplay: a border forces players to play closer together, encouraging interaction. Perfect for SMP and survival servers.
- Backups: smaller worlds = faster backups = less downtime.
Setting the border (vanilla)
Minecraft has a built-in world border system. All commands work in the console or in-game with op permissions:
/worldborder center 0 0 Set the center (X=0, Z=0) /worldborder set 10000 Set the diameter to 10,000 blocks /worldborder set 10000 300 Shrink/grow to 10,000 over 300 seconds /worldborder warning distance 50 Warning at 50 blocks from the edge /worldborder warning time 15 Warning 15 seconds before contact /worldborder damage amount 1 Damage per block outside the border
Recommended border sizes
| Server type | Diameter | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Small SMP (5-10 players) | 5,000 to 8,000 | ~25 to 64 km2 |
| Medium SMP (10-30 players) | 10,000 to 15,000 | ~100 to 225 km2 |
| Large SMP (30+ players) | 15,000 to 25,000 | ~225 to 625 km2 |
| Survival with claims | 20,000 to 30,000 | ~400 to 900 km2 |
Start smaller than you think you need. You can always expand the border later. Shrinking is harder because players may lose their builds.
Pre-generating chunks
After setting the border, it is wise to pre-generate all chunks within the boundary. This prevents lag when players explore new areas. Use the Chunky plugin:
- Install Chunky from Modrinth.
- Start pre-generation:
/chunky radius 5000then/chunky start. - Wait for it to complete (can take hours for large areas). The server remains playable during this process.
Shrinking border (UHC style)
For events, you can make the border shrink over time:
/worldborder set 2000 Start with diameter 2000 /worldborder set 100 3600 Shrink to 100 over 3600 seconds (1 hour)
This creates a battle-royale experience where players are forced closer together over time.
Per-world borders
The border applies per dimension. Set separate borders for the Overworld, Nether, and End:
- Overworld: your main border.
- Nether: set this to 1/8 of the Overworld border (Nether distances are 1:8).
- End: a smaller border around the end island is sufficient.
Can I move the border after setting it?
Yes, with /worldborder center X Z. Be careful: if you move the center, players may end up outside the new boundary.
What happens if a player is outside the border?
The player cannot walk further and takes damage if they are too far outside the border. With a shrinking border, the player is pushed inward.
Does a border use many server resources?
No. The border itself costs virtually nothing. It actually saves resources by limiting chunk generation. The savings are greatest on servers where players explore extensively.
Set up your world border on a Minecraft server at HostValues with direct console access.
