Minecraft Color Codes

Every Minecraft color code and formatting code in one chart — with a live color code generator that builds the § string for you. Works for Java and Bedrock (British spelling: colour codes).

Color Code Generator

Type your text, then click a color or format button to insert its code at the cursor. Copy the result straight into a book, sign, or world name.

Your text

Preview

Result (with § codes)

All 16 Minecraft Color Codes

Code	Color	HEX	RGB	Sample
`§0`	Black	`#000000`	0, 0, 0	Aa Bb 123
`§1`	Dark Blue	`#0000AA`	0, 0, 170	Aa Bb 123
`§2`	Dark Green	`#00AA00`	0, 170, 0	Aa Bb 123
`§3`	Dark Aqua	`#00AAAA`	0, 170, 170	Aa Bb 123
`§4`	Dark Red	`#AA0000`	170, 0, 0	Aa Bb 123
`§5`	Dark Purple	`#AA00AA`	170, 0, 170	Aa Bb 123
`§6`	Gold	`#FFAA00`	255, 170, 0	Aa Bb 123
`§7`	Gray	`#AAAAAA`	170, 170, 170	Aa Bb 123
`§8`	Dark Gray	`#555555`	85, 85, 85	Aa Bb 123
`§9`	Blue	`#5555FF`	85, 85, 255	Aa Bb 123
`§a`	Green	`#55FF55`	85, 255, 85	Aa Bb 123
`§b`	Aqua	`#55FFFF`	85, 255, 255	Aa Bb 123
`§c`	Red	`#FF5555`	255, 85, 85	Aa Bb 123
`§d`	Light Purple	`#FF55FF`	255, 85, 255	Aa Bb 123
`§e`	Yellow	`#FFFF55`	255, 255, 85	Aa Bb 123
`§f`	White	`#FFFFFF`	255, 255, 255	Aa Bb 123

Formatting Codes

Formatting codes change the style of the text. Add §r (reset) to clear all colors and styles before starting a new section of text.

Code	Effect	Sample
`§l`	Bold	Bold text
`§m`	Strikethrough	~~Struck text~~
`§n`	Underline	Underlined text
`§o`	Italic	Italic text
`§r`	Reset	Back to normal

Bedrock Color Codes

Bedrock Edition uses the same § color codes as Java. On Bedrock you can paste § directly into signs, books and quills, chat, and world names to color them — no add-ons required. On Java Edition vanilla, § codes work in books and quills and in server-controlled text such as the MOTD; coloring chat or signs on Java usually needs a server plugin or mod.

How to type the § sign

Windows: hold Alt and type 0167 on the numeric keypad (Alt + 21 also works on many layouts).
Any device: copy the symbol right here — — and paste it in game.

Where Color Codes Work (and Where They Don't)

The § codes behave differently depending on edition and context. This is the part most charts skip:

Chat: on Bedrock you can paste § codes straight into chat. On Java vanilla, typed § is blocked — colored chat comes from server plugins (which usually accept & codes instead, like &a).
Signs: Bedrock accepts pasted § codes on signs. On Java, right-click a sign with a dye item to change its text color — no codes needed.
Item names (anvil): on Bedrock, paste § codes into the anvil rename field to color an item's name. On Java vanilla the field strips §, so colored item names come from /give with a custom_name component (see below) or server plugins.
Books and quills: § codes work on both editions — paste them while editing.
World names: Bedrock lets you color world names with pasted § codes.
Server MOTD: Java servers accept color codes in server.properties using the escaped form, for example motd=\u00A7aMy Server \u00A77- \u00A6bNow with 1.21!

Colored Item Names and Text with Commands (Java)

In commands you do not use § at all — Java text components take named colors instead. The 16 names match the chart: black, dark_blue, dark_green, dark_aqua, dark_red, dark_purple, gold, gray, dark_gray, blue, green, aqua, red, light_purple, yellow, white.

Give a sword a gold, non-italic name (Java 1.20.5+ component format):

/give @p minecraft:diamond_sword[minecraft:custom_name='{"text":"Excalibur","color":"gold","italic":false}'] 1

Building a colored chat message or title instead? The Tellraw Editor generates the full /tellraw or /title command with colors and styles for you.

Color Code FAQ

What are Minecraft color codes?

Minecraft color codes are built-in formatting codes made of the section sign (§) followed by a digit 0-9 or a letter a-f. Each code switches the text after it to one of the 16 standard Minecraft colors.

How do you type the section sign (§)?

On Windows, hold Alt and type 0167 on the numeric keypad (Alt + 21 also works on many layouts). The easiest way on any device is to copy the § symbol from this page and paste it into the game.

Do color codes work on Bedrock Edition?

Yes. Bedrock Edition uses the same § codes, and they can be pasted into signs, books, chat, and world names to color text. On Java Edition vanilla, § codes work in books and server messages; chat and signs usually require a server plugin or mod.

What is the difference between color codes and formatting codes?

Color codes §0-§9 and §a-§f change the text color. Formatting codes change the style instead: §l is bold, §m is strikethrough, §n is underline, §o is italic, and §r resets all colors and styles back to normal.

Is it "color codes" or "colour codes"?

Same thing. Minecraft colour codes is simply the British spelling of Minecraft color codes — the § codes and this chart are identical either way.

How do I color an item name in Minecraft?

On Bedrock, paste § codes into the anvil rename field. On Java vanilla, use a /give command with a custom_name component, for example color:"gold" — see the command example on this page. Java servers often add colored renames through plugins.

How do you color a server MOTD?

Edit server.properties and use the escaped § form in the motd= line, for example motd=\u00A7aMy Server. Each \u00A7 plus a hex digit or format letter colors the text that follows it.

What color code is gold in Minecraft?

§6 is gold (#FFAA00) — the same shade used for item rarity names. In JSON text components the name is simply "gold".

Color items in game: browse the dye item IDs or the full Minecraft ID list.
Give yourself colored items with the give command guide or the give command generator.