What enchantments can I put on a Shovel in Minecraft?

A Shovel accepts 6 enchantments: Efficiency, Fortune, Silk Touch, Unbreaking, Mending, Curse of Vanishing.

Can every listed enchantment share one Shovel?

The table lists candidates. Whether they can coexist depends on this item’s available conflicts; check each row and the examples below. Fortune affects particular block loot such as gravel, not a universal multiplier for dirt or sand.

Why does my shovel say 'Too Expensive!' on the anvil?

Each modeled book combine sets the result’s work count to the larger input count plus one. The corresponding penalty is 2^n - 1 levels. Combined with the per-level enchantment cost, hitting 40 total levels triggers the Too Expensive cap on survival mode. Use the calculator above to plan an order that stays under 40.

How do I repair a shovel?

Mending can use collected XP while this item is equipped or held. This planner calculates book transfers, not repair-material costs; check repair choices in your in-game anvil.

ITEMS · TOOL

Shovel Enchantment Compatibility and Costs

Plan the optimal anvil order for your shovel - avoid “Too Expensive!” and choose a compatible Java Edition loadout without wasting rare books or XP.

Anvil Calculator

Up to 8 books · Level cost · Survival cap

Item to enchantPrior-work count

0 = fresh. After combining, use the larger input count + 1. Renaming alone does not raise it.

Pick the gear you want to enchant. Books you add below will be merged onto it in the cheapest order we can find.

Enchanted books (3/8)

LevelWork count
LevelWork count
LevelWork count

Optimize for

Least XP levelsCheapest total costLeast prior-workBest for future repairs / further enchanting

All Shovel Enchantments

Enchantment	Max Level	Book Cost	Conflicts	Added
Efficiency	5	1/lvl	-	vanilla
Fortune	3	2/lvl	Silk Touch	vanilla
Silk Touch	1	4/lvl	Fortune	vanilla
Unbreaking	3	1/lvl	-	vanilla
Mending [treasure]	1	2/lvl	Infinity	vanilla
Curse of Vanishing [curse] [treasure]	1	4/lvl	-	vanilla

Recommended Shovel loadouts

The right combo depends on what you do with your shovel. These are example Java Edition loadouts based on the calculator's compatibility data. Enter the books you actually have above to see a lower-cost order before you use an anvil.

Choose fast digging, or block collection when a block supports Silk Touch.

Digging

Efficiency 5
Unbreaking 3
Mending 1

A simple digging setup without committing to a drop-changing enchantment.

Block-collection tool

Efficiency 5
Silk Touch 1
Unbreaking 3
Mending 1

Keep blocks that support Silk Touch intact. Fortune belongs on a separate tool.

Before you spend books: Fortune affects particular block loot such as gravel, not a universal multiplier for dirt or sand.

Data and method

Compatibility, maximum levels and anvil multipliers are checked against Java Edition 26.3 (released 2026-09-15). The enchantment definitions (anvil cost, maximum level, supported items, exclusive sets) and the table, trade and loot tags are the same as in 1.21.11. The book fee is half the definition’s anvil_cost, rounded down with a minimum of one, multiplied by the resulting enchantment level. Prior-work penalties are added separately.

These are worked planning examples and editorial loadout choices, not claims of in-game testing or guaranteed match results. The calculator handles an unenchanted target and up to eight single-enchantment book rows; it does not model repair materials, renaming, mods or newer version changes.

Step-by-step anvil order

Enter the actual books and prior-work counts. The search evaluates both book-pair orientations and displays each level cost; there is no universal “cheapest book first” rule.

This calculator uses a Java Edition anvil-cost model with a 40-level survival cap and a 2^n - 1 prior-work penalty. It does not model Bedrock-specific math, mods, datapacks, or snapshot behavior, so verify a valuable final combine in game.

Where to get books for shovel

Choose an enchantment this item can actually accept before collecting books. The lists below use the Java 26.3 pools; eligibility is not a guaranteed offer, level, or drop rate.

Ordinary librarian book pool: Efficiency, Fortune, Silk Touch, Unbreaking, Mending, Curse of Vanishing The optional Villager Trade Rebalance experiment changes trades; check the rules enabled in your world.
Enchanting a book at the table: Efficiency, Fortune, Silk Touch, Unbreaking Fifteen correctly placed bookshelves unlock level-30 offers, but do not guarantee a particular enchantment or maximum level. This is book-pool eligibility, not a claim that this item itself can enter the table.
Before applying a book: Check its level, any additional enchantments, and its actual prior-work count. The calculator accepts one enchantment per book row; a multi-enchantment loot book is outside that input format.

World compatibility

MinecraftCalc is scoped to Java Edition planning. Bedrock, modded, datapack, and snapshot worlds can differ in available enchantments or mechanics. Treat the result as a planning path and confirm the final combine in the world where you play.

FAQ

What enchantments can I put on a Shovel in Minecraft?: A Shovel accepts 6 enchantments: Efficiency, Fortune, Silk Touch, Unbreaking, Mending, Curse of Vanishing.
Can every listed enchantment share one Shovel?: The table lists candidates. Whether they can coexist depends on this item’s available conflicts; check each row and the examples below. Fortune affects particular block loot such as gravel, not a universal multiplier for dirt or sand.
Why does my shovel say 'Too Expensive!' on the anvil?: Each modeled book combine sets the result’s work count to the larger input count plus one. The corresponding penalty is 2^n - 1 levels. Combined with the per-level enchantment cost, hitting 40 total levels triggers the Too Expensive cap on survival mode. Use the calculator above to plan an order that stays under 40.
How do I repair a shovel?: Mending can use collected XP while this item is equipped or held. This planner calculates book transfers, not repair-material costs; check repair choices in your in-game anvil.