Minecraft Color Codes

Use our handy list of Minecraft color codes and format codes to style your chat and game commands, and modify in-game text, team, and even armor color!

List of Minecraft Color Codes

ColorNameChat codeMOTD codeHex
Black0u00A70
Dark Blue1u00A71
Dark Green2u00A72
Dark Aqua3u00A73
Dark Red4u00A74
Dark Purple5u00A75
Gold6u00A76
Gray7u00A77
Dark Gray8u00A78
Blue9u00A79
Greenau00A7a
Aquabu00A7b
Redcu00A7c
Light Purpledu00A7d
Yelloweu00A7e
Whitefu00A7f

Minecraft Format Codes

Format codes change typography without altering hue. Prefix each code with the section sign (§) and combine with color codes—for example, §c§l for bold red text. Use §r to reset styles.

FormatCodeEffect
Obfuscated§kRapidly cycles random characters through each letter position.
Bold§lRenders following text in a bold weight.
Strikethrough§mDraws a line through the middle of following text.
Underline§nUnderlines following text.
Italic§oItalicizes following text.
Reset§rClears all active color and format styles.

How Minecraft encodes colors

Minecraft uses the section sign `§` followed by a character to style text in chat, books, signs, server MOTDs, and command output. Color codes use digits `0`–`9` and letters `a`–`f`. Format codes use letters such as `l` for bold or `o` for italic.

In the MOTD column, codes appear as Unicode escapes like `§a` (shown here as `u00A7a` for compatibility with some editors). In Java Edition chat, type `§` directly when the server or client allows it; many multiplayer servers accept `&` as an alternative prefix in plugin configurations.

Applying codes in practice

Combine color and format codes: `§c§lRed bold text§r` applies light red and bold until reset. The `§r` reset code clears all preceding styles.

Team colors, scoreboard entries, and `/tellraw` JSON use the same underlying palette with slightly different syntax—consult the Minecraft wiki for command-specific escaping.

Hex values in the table approximate how colors render in the default client; resource packs can shift appearance.