How much XP does each Minecraft level cost?

The cost rises with level. From level 0 to 16 each level needs 2 times level plus 7 points. From 17 to 31 it is 5 times level minus 38. At level 32 and above it is 9 times level minus 158. This calculator uses those exact Java Edition formulas.

How much total XP is stored at a given level?

Total experience is a cumulative cubic-style formula by band. Up to level 16 it is level squared plus 6 times level. From 17 to 31 it is 2.5 level squared minus 40.5 level plus 360. At 32 and above it is 4.5 level squared minus 162.5 level plus 2220. The tool sums these for you.

How much XP do I need for a level 30 enchantment?

Reaching level 30 from level 0 takes 1395 total experience points. The enchanting table needs level 30 for its best options, so the tool's total-XP figure at level 30 tells you exactly how much experience to gather before enchanting.

Why does each level get harder?

Minecraft deliberately makes higher levels cost more so that high-level enchanting and anvil work feel meaningful. The per-level cost jumps from a gentle slope below level 16 to a steep one above level 32, which is why the climb from 30 to 31 is far slower than 1 to 2.

Does the XP bar reset each level?

Yes. The green bar shows progress toward the next level only and empties when you level up. The points needed for that single bar grow each level, so the same bar represents far more experience at level 40 than at level 5.

Minecraft XP & Level Calculator

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Minecraft’s experience system uses three different formulas depending on your level band, so the jump from level 1 to 2 is trivial while 39 to 40 is a slog. This calculator applies Java Edition’s official per-level and total-XP formulas to tell you exactly how many points stand between you and your next level, or any target level.

How it works

The points needed for the single level after L are piecewise by band, and total points stored at level L use a matching cumulative formula:

xp for next level (at L):
  L 0–15  : 2L + 7
  L 16–30 : 5L − 38
  L 31+   : 9L − 158

total xp stored at level L:
  L 0–16  : L² + 6L
  L 17–31 : 2.5L² − 40.5L + 360
  L 32+   : 4.5L² − 162.5L + 2220

To find the experience between two levels, the tool subtracts the total at the start level from the total at the target level.

Tips and example

Reaching level 30 — the threshold for the best enchanting-table options — takes 1395 total experience from scratch. Going from level 30 to 31 alone costs 112 points, more than the entire climb from level 0 to 9. Because high levels are so expensive, many players enchant at exactly 30, then spend down and rebuild rather than hoarding levels.