Reference

Minecraft Color Codes

Q: How do you type the § symbol?

On most setups you can't type § directly in vanilla chat. Use the ampersand & if a plugin supports it, paste § from an external source, or use the \u00A7 form in config files. In-game books and signs on newer versions accept it via commands.

Q: What is the code for each color?

§0 black, §1 dark blue, §2 dark green, §3 dark aqua, §4 dark red, §5 dark purple, §6 gold, §7 gray, §8 dark gray, §9 blue, §a green, §b aqua, §c red, §d light purple, §e yellow, §f white. The table on this page has the hex and RGB for each.

Q: Can I use custom hex colors, not just the 16?

Yes, on Java Edition 1.16 and later, in /tellraw and /title JSON and in some plugins — use "color":"#RRGGBB". Signs, the vanilla MOTD and pre-1.16 servers are limited to the 16 named codes.

Q: Why does my formatting stop halfway through the text?

A color code resets active formatting. Put the format code after the color — §c§lRed bold, not §l§cRed bold — and re-apply it after any later color change.

The full list of Minecraft color codes and format codes — chat codes (§0–§f), MOTD / unicode codes (\u00A70–\u00A7f), hex and RGB — plus a live code generator with in-game preview.

Use this list of Minecraft color codes and format codes to style chat, signs, books, team names, /tellraw commands and the server MOTD. The chat code (§0–§f) is the section-sign form you use in game; the MOTD code (\u00A70–\u00A7f) is the unicode-escape form for server.properties and other .properties files.

Minecraft color codes

	Color name	Chat code	MOTD code	Hex	RGB
	Black				0, 0, 0
	Dark Blue				0, 0, 170
	Dark Green				0, 170, 0
	Dark Aqua				0, 170, 170
	Dark Red				170, 0, 0
	Dark Purple				170, 0, 170
	Gold				255, 170, 0
	Gray				170, 170, 170
	Dark Gray				85, 85, 85
	Blue				85, 85, 255
	Green				85, 255, 85
	Aqua				85, 255, 255
	Red				255, 85, 85
	Light Purple				255, 85, 255
	Yellow				255, 255, 85
	White				255, 255, 255

Formatting codes

Format	Chat code	MOTD code	Effect
Obfuscated			Randomly cycling characters
Bold			Bold text
Strikethrough			Line through text (Bedrock: not supported)
Underline			Underlined text (Bedrock: not supported)
Italic			Italic text
Reset			Clears all colour and formatting

Color code generator

Type your message, put the caret where you want a code, then click a color or format below. The preview shows how it renders in game; copy the code string into a sign, book, MOTD, plugin config or chat.

Toggle to § section sign for in-game chat, signs and /tellraw; use \u00A7 unicode for server.properties and Java .properties files that can't hold the § character.

How Minecraft color codes work

Java Edition uses the section sign § followed by a hex digit 0–f for color, k–o for formatting, and r to reset. In files that can't store the § byte — chiefly server.properties — write it as the unicode escape \u00A7 instead; that's the MOTD code column. Many plugins (Essentials, Bukkit/Spigot) also accept an ampersand & and translate it to § at runtime. Since 1.16 you can use full #RRGGBB hex colors in /tellraw JSON.

A code stays in effect until another color code, a formatting change or §r (reset) appears, so §6Gold text §r§7then gray switches partway through a line. Color codes and formatting codes stack — §b§lAqua bold — but a new color code clears any active formatting, which is the single most common source of "why did my bold stop" confusion. Each of the 16 colors also has a darker "shadow" that Minecraft draws automatically behind the text, so the codes look slightly different on a sign, in chat and on a dark GUI.

Where you can use color codes

Chat and /tellraw — § codes directly, or full hex in the JSON "color" field on 1.16+.
Signs and books — type § codes as you write; on newer versions you may need a command block or an NBT editor to insert the § character.
Team names and scoreboards — /team modify name prefix accepts color codes for name tags and the tab list.
Server MOTD — motd= in server.properties needs the \u00A7 unicode form; the generator above outputs it when you toggle to unicode.
Item names and lore — via /give with NBT, an anvil rename, or a plugin.

Once you have the hex value for a color — say #FF5555 for light red — you can open it in the color picker to find matching shades for a build, convert it to RGB with the color converter, or check a text-on-background pair in the contrast checker. For Bukkit and Spigot servers, see the Bukkit color codes page; for Roblox, the Roblox color codes reference.

Minecraft color code FAQ

How do you type the § symbol?

On most setups you can't type § directly in vanilla chat. Use the ampersand & if a plugin supports it, paste § from an external source, or use the \u00A7 form in config files. In-game books and signs on newer versions accept it via commands.

What is the code for each color?

§0 black, §1 dark blue, §2 dark green, §3 dark aqua, §4 dark red, §5 dark purple, §6 gold, §7 gray, §8 dark gray, §9 blue, §a green, §b aqua, §c red, §d light purple, §e yellow, §f white. The table above has the hex and RGB for each.

Can I use custom hex colors, not just the 16?

Yes, on Java Edition 1.16 and later, in /tellraw and /title JSON and in some plugins — use "color":"#RRGGBB". Signs, the vanilla MOTD and pre-1.16 servers are limited to the 16 named codes.

Why does my formatting stop halfway through the text?

A color code resets active formatting. Put the format code after the color — §c§lRed bold, not §l§cRed bold — and re-apply it after any later color change.