Colors
Minecraft Color Code Generator
A Minecraft color code generator converts plain text into the § (section sign) formatting codes Minecraft uses for chat messages, signs, book text, and server MOTDs, alongside the equivalent JSON format used by commands like /tellraw and /title. Minecraft supports sixteen named colors, from black and dark_red through gold, aqua, and white, each mapped to a single character following the § symbol — §6 for gold, §c for red, and so on. Pick a color and an optional formatting style — bold, italic, underline, or strikethrough — and the generator builds both the §-code string you can paste directly into a sign or chat command, and the raw JSON object with the matching color name and formatting flags for use in commands or resource packs. A full color chart is included with every result, listing all sixteen color names alongside their § code and hex value, since remembering which letter or number maps to which color is one of the more tedious parts of writing Minecraft commands from scratch. This is useful whether you're building a server MOTD, styling a custom scoreboard, writing colored dialogue for an NPC plugin, or just labeling a sign in survival mode without digging through a wiki page every time you forget whether aqua is §b or §3.
How to use
- Choose your options above
- Click Generate
- Copy your result
Detailed instructions
- Type the text you want colored into the text field, such as a sign message or chat line.
- Select one of the sixteen Minecraft color names from the color dropdown.
- Choose a formatting style — bold, italic, underline, or strikethrough — or leave it set to none.
- Click generate and copy the §-code line for signs, books, and chat-formatting plugins.
- Copy the JSON tellraw line instead if you're writing a /tellraw, /title, or plugin command.
- Check the color chart at the bottom if you need a different color's code or hex value for later.
Use Cases
- •A server admin writing a colorful MOTD needs the exact § codes for a specific shade without checking a wiki page
- •A plugin developer building a /tellraw command needs the raw JSON color object formatted correctly on the first try
- •A map maker styling a custom sign or book page wants bold red text without memorizing which code combination produces it
- •A Discord bot developer working on a Minecraft-themed embed needs the hex value that corresponds to a specific named color
- •A new server owner learning Minecraft's chat formatting for the first time uses the color chart as a quick reference while writing their first command
Tips
- →Keep the color chart handy in a notes file if you write Minecraft commands often — it saves a wiki lookup every time.
- →Use the JSON format for any command-block or plugin work, since raw § codes generally don't work inside JSON text components.
- →Test long colored messages in a single-player world before deploying them on a live server, since a broken § sequence can silently cut off formatting for the rest of the line.
- →Pair gold or yellow with bold for MOTDs and titles — it's the combination most servers use because it reads clearly against Minecraft's default gray chat background.
- →Remember that dark_gray and black read almost identically on some resource packs — test on your actual client before finalizing a color choice for something like a warning message.
- →For signs, check whether your server uses & or § as the formatting trigger character, since plugins vary and using the wrong one will just print the raw code as text.
FAQ
what does the § symbol actually do in minecraft
The § symbol, called the section sign, is Minecraft's formatting character. Any character immediately following it — a color code like 6 or a formatting code like l for bold — changes how the following text renders in chat, on signs, and in books.
Can I paste the §-code output directly into a Minecraft sign or chat?
In vanilla survival mode you generally can't type the § symbol directly since it isn't on a standard keyboard, but it works fine pasted into command blocks and most chat-formatting plugins. Many servers also accept the & symbol as a stand-in for § in signs and books, which you can substitute if your plugin expects it.
why would I need the json tellraw format instead of the § codes
Commands like /tellraw, /title, and many plugin APIs expect a structured JSON object rather than raw § codes, since JSON lets you combine multiple colors, formatting styles, and even click or hover events in a single message. The generator gives you both formats so you can use whichever your specific command or plugin expects.
How many colors does Minecraft actually support?
Minecraft's chat formatting supports sixteen named colors, each with its own § code and hex value, all of which are listed in the color chart included with every result. There's also a separate set of format codes — bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, and obfuscated — that can be combined with any of the sixteen colors.
can I combine more than one formatting style at once
This generator applies one formatting style at a time to keep the output simple, but Minecraft itself lets you stack multiple format codes — bold and underline together, for example — by chaining several § codes in a row before your text. If you need a combined style, copy the § codes from two separate results and merge them manually.
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