Minecraft Color Code Generator (Java & Bedrock)
Minecraft has 16 colour codes (§0 to §f) and 5 formats on Java; Bedrock adds 12 material colours. Type with & or §, see a live preview, and copy the right format for chat, plugins, server.properties, /tellraw or Bedrock.
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This tool is code that runs inside your browser. Your files, text and pictures are read here and never sent to a server, so it even works offline once loaded. Signed in? Only what you save to your account (My Kit, wardrobe) or publish is uploaded.
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&6&lPickaxe&eKit &7- &aFree tools
§6§lPickaxe§eKit §7- §aFree tools
motd=\u00A76\u00A7lPickaxe\u00A7eKit \u00A77- \u00A7aFree tools
/tellraw @a ["",{"text":"Pickaxe","color":"gold","bold":true},{"text":"Kit ","color":"yellow"},{"text":"- ","color":"gray"},{"text":"Free tools","color":"green"}]&#FFAA00&lPickaxe&#FFFF55Kit &#AAAAAA- 7FF55Free tools
§x§f§f§a§a§0§0§lPickaxe§x§f§f§f§f§5§5Kit §x§a§a§a§a§a§a- §x§5§5§f§f§5§5Free tools
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All Java codes and readability
| Code | Name | Hex | Contrast on chat | On a sign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| &0 / §0 | Black | #000000 | 1.26:1 hard to read | 8.86:1 |
| &1 / §1 | Dark Blue | #0000AA | 1.25:1 hard to read | 5.61:1 |
| &2 / §2 | Dark Green | #00AA00 | 5.36:1 | 1.31:1 |
| &3 / §3 | Dark Aqua | #00AAAA | 5.82:1 | 1.21:1 |
| &4 / §4 | Dark Red | #AA0000 | 2.15:1 hard to read | 3.27:1 |
| &5 / §5 | Dark Purple | #AA00AA | 2.61:1 hard to read | 2.69:1 |
| &6 / §6 | Gold | #FFAA00 | 8.73:1 | 1.24:1 |
| &7 / §7 | Gray | #AAAAAA | 7.18:1 | 1.02:1 |
| &8 / §8 | Dark Gray | #555555 | 2.24:1 hard to read | 3.15:1 |
| &9 / §9 | Blue | #5555FF | 3.28:1 | 2.15:1 |
| &a / §a | Green | #55FF55 | 12.56:1 | 1.78:1 |
| &b / §b | Aqua | #55FFFF | 13.6:1 | 1.93:1 |
| &c / §c | Red | #FF5555 | 5.31:1 | 1.33:1 |
| &d / §d | Light Purple | #FF55FF | 6.35:1 | 1.11:1 |
| &e / §e | Yellow | #FFFF55 | 15.63:1 | 2.22:1 |
| &f / §f | White | #FFFFFF | 16.67:1 | 2.37:1 |
Bedrock-only colour codes
| Code | Name | Hex |
|---|---|---|
| §g | Minecoin Gold | #DDD605 |
| §h | Material Quartz | #E3D4D1 |
| §i | Material Iron | #CECACA |
| §j | Material Netherite | #443A3B |
| §m | Material Redstone | #971607 |
| §n | Material Copper | #B4684D |
| §p | Material Gold | #DEB12D |
| §q | Material Emerald | #47A036 |
| §s | Material Diamond | #2CBAA8 |
| §t | Material Lapis | #21497B |
| §u | Material Amethyst | #9A5CC6 |
| §v | Material Resin | #EB7114 |
On Bedrock, §m and §n are colours, so there is no strikethrough or underline.
How to use it
- Choose Java or Bedrock.
- Type your text and click a colour or format to insert its code where the cursor is.
- For a gradient, switch to Hex gradient (Java 1.16+) and pick two colours.
- Check the preview on a chat, sign, book or server-list background.
- Copy the format for where you'll paste it.
How it works
Each code is a § sign (or & on most servers) followed by one character. A colour starts a new run of text, and on Java it also clears bold, italic and the rest, so put formats after the colour. Hex colours can't be written as a single § code: vanilla commands use text components with a #RRGGBB colour, while plugins read &#RRGGBB or the longer §x§R§R§G§G§B§B form. Where hex isn't supported, the tool uses the nearest of the 16 standard colours.
Questions
How do I type the § symbol?
On Windows hold Alt and type 0167 on the number pad; on a Mac press Option+6. Many servers accept & instead, which is easier: the server turns it into §.
Why do my colour codes not work in normal chat?
Vanilla Minecraft doesn't let players type § in chat. Codes work in signs and books only through commands or plugins, in server.properties, resource packs and command blocks. Servers with chat plugins accept & codes.
Why does bold disappear after I change colour?
On Java, a colour code resets every format. Write the colour first, then the format: &c&l gives bold red, but &l&c gives plain red.
Can I use hex colours in a server MOTD?
Not in vanilla server.properties: it only understands the 16 codes. Hex MOTDs need a plugin (most use &#RRGGBB). For server-list MOTDs, use the hex for plugins output, or the nearest-colour codes for vanilla.
Are Bedrock colour codes different?
Bedrock has the same 16 colours plus material colours like §g Minecoin Gold and §s Material Diamond, but no underline or strikethrough, and no hex colours.
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By PickaxeKit Editorial Team. Updated 2026-11-09.