Satisfactory Item Recipes: A Complete Beginner Guide

This guide walks you through the essential item recipes in Satisfactory, from basic iron plates to versatile rotors, showing you exactly what you need and how to build them. It’s designed for new players who want a clear, no-nonsense reference for the early and mid-game, so you can spend less time guessing and more time building.

Ingredients

• Iron Ore – 30 per minute (for Iron Ingots)
• Iron Ingot – 30 per minute (for Iron Plates)
• Iron Plate – 20 per minute (for Reinforced Iron Plate)
• Screw – 50 per minute (for Rotor)
• Iron Rod – 10 per minute (for Screws)
• Copper Ore – 15 per minute (for Copper Ingot)
• Copper Ingot – 15 per minute (for Wire)
• Wire – 30 per minute (for Cable)
• Limestone – 45 per minute (for Concrete)
• Raw Quartz – 20 per minute (for Quartz Crystal)

Instructions

1. Unlock the required tiers: Most of these recipes become available as you progress through the Space Elevator and the HUB upgrades. For the items listed, you’ll need Tier 1 (Iron Plates, Iron Rods, Screws) and Tier 2 (Reinforced Iron Plates, Rotors, Concrete). Check your HUB terminal to see what’s next.
2. Set up a basic iron ingot line: Place a Miner Mk.1 on a pure iron node (or two normal nodes) and connect it to a Smelter. The Smelter converts 30 iron ore into 30 iron ingots per minute. Use Conveyor Belts Mk.1 (60 items/min) to connect them.
3. Make iron plates: Feed iron ingots into a Constructor set to “Iron Plate�. It will consume 30 ingots/min and produce 20 plates/min. Split the ingot line if you need plates and rods simultaneously.
4. Make iron rods and screws: Use a separate Constructor for rods (15 ingots/min → 15 rods/min). Then feed those rods into another Constructor set to “Screw�. It will turn 10 rods/min into 40 screws/min. You’ll need screws for rotors and reinforced plates.
5. Build reinforced iron plates: In an Assembler, combine 20 iron plates/min and 40 screws/min to produce 5 reinforced iron plates/min. This is a key item for many milestones.
6. Create concrete: Place a Miner on a limestone node, connect it to a Constructor set to “Concrete�. It uses 45 limestone/min to make 15 concrete/min. Concrete is used for foundations and later for heavy frames.
7. Produce copper wire and cable: Smelt copper ore into copper ingots, then use a Constructor to turn 15 ingots/min into 30 wire/min. Another Constructor can turn 30 wire/min into 15 cable/min. Cable is needed for power poles and later for electronics.
8. Assemble rotors: In an Assembler, combine 20 iron rods/min and 100 screws/min to make 4 rotors/min. Rotors are used in vehicles and later in motors.
9. Refine quartz (optional early): If you find raw quartz, smelt it in a Constructor to get quartz crystals (20 ore/min → 10 crystals/min). These are used for AI limiters and oscillators later.
10. Scale up with manifolds: Instead of one machine per item, use a manifold system: split the input belt into multiple machines, and chain them together. This balances production without complex load balancing.

Tips

• Always check the recipe in the build menu: The game shows the exact inputs and outputs per minute. Use that to calculate how many machines you need. For example, if you need 10 reinforced plates/min, you’ll need two Assemblers.
• Use the production planner: The in-game “Productionâ€� tab (or an external planner) helps you calculate ratios. For beginners, just remember: 1 Smelter → 1 Constructor for plates/rods, but you often need 2-3 Constructors for screws to keep up.
• Don’t overbuild early: Start with one machine per item. Overbuilding leads to clogged belts and wasted power. Expand only when you see a bottleneck.
• Power management: Each building consumes power. A simple setup with 2 Smelters, 3 Constructors, and 1 Assembler will need about 30 MW. Build a few biomass burners and keep an eye on the power graph.
• Common mistake – mixing belt speeds: Mk.1 belts move 60 items/min, but a Constructor may output 30 or 40. If you use a Mk.1 belt for a line that needs 60, it will clog. Upgrade to Mk.2 (120/min) when needed.

Serving Suggestions

Use these items to build your first factory floors: iron plates for foundations, rods for frames, and concrete for the ground. Reinforced plates unlock the Mk.2 Miner and the Coal Generator, which is your first reliable power source. Rotors let you build the Tractor, which makes exploring and hauling much easier.

Variations

Once you unlock the Alternate Recipes (found in Hard Drives), you can swap recipes. For example, the “Iron Wire� alternate lets you make wire from iron ingots instead of copper, which can simplify logistics. The “Steel Screw� recipe uses steel beams, which is more efficient in the late game. Experiment with alternates to suit your resource nodes.

Storage and Reheating

In Satisfactory, there’s no spoilage – items stay on belts and in storage indefinitely. But to keep your factory running smoothly, build a Storage Container at the end of each production line. Set a smart splitter (if you have it) to overflow into a sink or an AWESOME Sink to avoid clogging. For a typical early game, a single container (48 slots) holds about 12 minutes of production for most items, so you can check back periodically to collect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many Smelters do I need for 60 iron ingots per minute?
A: Each Smelter produces 30 ingots/min, so you need exactly 2 Smelters for 60 ingots/min. Make sure your miner and belts can supply 60 ore/min.

Q: Why is my Constructor not working?
A: Check that the input belt is connected, the recipe is set, and the output is not full. Also ensure the building has power. If the input is backed up, the machine will idle.

Q: Can I mix different items on the same belt?
A: Yes, but it’s not recommended for production lines. Use a smart splitter or separate belts to avoid confusion. For early game, keep one item per belt.

Q: What is the best way to transport items?
A: For short distances, use conveyor belts. For long distances, build a tractor route or use the truck station once unlocked. Trains are even better but come later.

Q: How do I get more power?
A: The next step after biomass is coal power. You’ll need coal and water. Build a Water Extractor and Coal Generator, and make sure to supply them with a steady stream of coal.

Q: Do I need to manually craft anything?
A: You can craft items in your inventory, but it’s slow. Automate as soon as possible. The Craft Bench is fine for early quests, but for anything more than a few items, build a factory.

Related

• How a Crude Oil Refinery Turns Crude Into Fuel
• Do Museum Visitors Leave Chemicals on Artwork? Study Findings
• Dim a 3-Way Switch From Both Locations?