7 Days to Die: Get Coal and Iron Fast

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to reliably gather coal and iron in 7 Days to Die, whether you are just starting out or preparing for horde night. You will learn the best tools, the fastest methods, and where to look, so you can keep your forge running and your ammo stocked.

What You’ll Need

A stone axe (upgrade to a pickaxe as soon as possible)
A shovel (for digging surface nodes)
A wrench (for harvesting from cars and machinery)
Food and water (mining is hungry work)
A safe place to store your haul (chest or backpack space)

Step-by-Step

Craft a stone axe immediately. You start with nothing, so punch a tree or a rock to get wood and stone, then craft a stone axe from your inventory menu. This is your first mining tool.
Find surface nodes. As you explore, look for small, dark grey or black rocks sticking out of the ground, often in clusters. These are surface ore nodes. Hit them with your stone axe to collect small amounts of coal and iron (and sometimes other ores). They respawn after a few days, so mark them on your map.
Upgrade to a pickaxe. Once you have a few pieces of iron and coal, craft a pickaxe (or better, a reinforced iron pickaxe) at a workbench if you have one, or just craft the basic pickaxe from your inventory. A pickaxe mines much faster and yields more ore per hit than a stone axe.
Dig down to bedrock. Find a spot that looks promising (hillsides, near surface nodes, or just anywhere you like) and dig straight down with your pickaxe. You’ll break through dirt, then gravel, then stone. Keep going until you hit bedrock (the unbreakable layer at the bottom).
Mine horizontally at bedrock level. At bedrock, start digging tunnels in a grid pattern. Ore veins (coal, iron, lead, nitrate, etc.) are most common at this depth. You’ll see the ore blocks as different colored patches in the stone – coal is black, iron is brownish-orange. Mine every ore block you see.
Look for caves and pre-existing mines. While exploring, you’ll find cave entrances and old mine shafts. These are often rich in exposed ore veins. Clear them out, but be careful of zombies that may be inside.
Harvest cars and machinery. Use a wrench (crafted from iron and other parts) to break down cars, air conditioners, and other metal objects. You’ll get iron, mechanical parts, and sometimes other resources. This is a great way to get iron without mining.
Check buildings and loot containers. Search every cabinet, desk, and toolbox you find. You’ll often find coal (as fuel) and iron (as scrap or ingots) in loot. Also, break down metal furniture like filing cabinets and sinks with your wrench or pickaxe.
Smelt your ore. Build a forge (requires a forge schematic or skill points). Put raw iron ore and coal (as fuel) into the forge. The forge will smelt the iron into iron ingots, which you use for crafting and building. Coal is also used to make gunpowder, so keep a good stock.

Common Mistakes

Using a stone axe for too long. It’s painfully slow. Upgrade to a pickaxe as soon as you have the materials.
Mining near the surface. You’ll get some ore, but the real veins are deep. Don’t waste time on shallow digs.
Not marking your mine. You’ll get lost and lose your ore veins. Place a land claim block or a wooden frame at the entrance, and mark it on your map.
Forgetting to bring food and water. Mining is exhausting and consumes hunger and thirst quickly. You’ll become weak and slow, making you vulnerable.
Ignoring surface nodes. They are free, easy ore. Grab them whenever you see them.

Tips

Use the right tools for the job. A pickaxe for stone and ore, a shovel for dirt, and a wrench for metal objects. Each tool is faster and more efficient on its intended material.
Invest in the Miner 69er perk. This perk increases your mining damage and block damage, making you much faster at breaking blocks.
Eat food that gives buffs. Some cooked meals give you a mining buff (like +20% block damage). Check your recipes and eat them before a mining session.
Use coffee or other caffeinated drinks. They increase your stamina regen, so you can mine for longer without stopping.
Set up a base near your mine. This saves you time hauling ore back and forth. A simple chest and a bedroll are enough.
Smelt in bulk. Fill your forge with a large batch of ore and fuel, then go do something else. It’s more efficient than babysitting it.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find any ore. If you’re digging at bedrock and still not finding veins, try moving to a different area. Ore distribution is random, but some biomes have more than others (e.g., the wasteland has more). Also, make sure you’re digging horizontally in a grid – veins are often in a line.
My pickaxe keeps breaking. Carry a repair kit or extra materials to repair it. Also, consider crafting a higher quality pickaxe (iron, steel) which lasts longer.
I’m getting killed by zombies while mining. Make sure you have a weapon and a clear escape route. You can also place a few wooden frames to block off your tunnel entrance. If you’re deep underground, listen for zombie noises – they can dig down to you.
My forge isn’t smelting. Check that you have fuel (coal or wood) in the fuel slot, and that you have raw ore in the input slot. Also, make sure the forge is lit (it has a fire icon when active).
I’m running out of coal. Coal is used for fuel and gunpowder. If you’re short, focus on mining coal veins specifically, and use wood for fuel in your forge when you don’t need gunpowder.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best depth to mine for iron and coal? Bedrock (the lowest layer) is the most consistent. You’ll find veins at any depth, but the concentration is highest near bedrock.
Can I get iron from surface rocks? Yes, the small dark rocks on the surface give you a few pieces of iron and coal. They’re great for early game, but not enough for large projects.
Do ore veins respawn? No, once you mine a vein, it’s gone. But surface nodes do respawn after a few days.
What’s the fastest way to get iron? Wrenching cars and machinery is very fast, especially if you find a junkyard or a parking lot. You’ll get iron, mechanical parts, and sometimes other valuable resources.
Is coal used for anything besides fuel? Yes, coal is a key ingredient in gunpowder, which you need for bullets and explosives. So it’s always in demand.
Should I use a steel pickaxe or an auger? An auger is much faster, but it uses fuel (gasoline) and is loud, attracting zombies. A steel pickaxe is silent and doesn’t need fuel. Both are good; it depends on your situation.

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