How to use it
- Choose a base color. It is the color of the wool for the banner you craft first.
- Choose a pattern color, then click a pattern to add it as a layer. A survival banner holds 6 layers.
- Check the preview. Remove a layer with the × button, or remove the last one.
- Follow the loom steps in survival, or copy the give command in Java creative.
How banner layers work
A banner is a stack of flat shapes. The base is a solid color. Each layer adds one pattern in one dye color on top of everything below. The loom takes the banner, one dye and a pattern, and the result is a banner with one more layer. In survival you can add 6 layers. Each layer uses one dye, so a full design needs at most six dyes of up to six colors.
Because the newest layer is on top, order is part of the design. A black border laid last covers the edge of everything. A black border laid first is covered by anything painted over it. The generator shows the result straight away, so you can try both orders.
A worked example: a red banner with a white cross and black border
Start with a red base. Add a straight cross in white, then a border in black. The loom steps are: craft a red banner from 6 red wool and 1 stick; layer 1, straight cross with white dye; layer 2, border with black dye. That costs two dyes. The command for Java 1.20.5 or newer is /give @s red_banner[banner_patterns=[{pattern:"minecraft:straight_cross",color:"white"},{pattern:"minecraft:border",color:"black"}]].
Design tips
- Two or three colors read best. Banners are seen from a distance, so strong contrast works better than many small details.
- Large shapes first. Halves, stripes and crosses go early. Circles, rhombuses and borders go last.
- Use the base color as a color. A dark base with light patterns saves one layer.
- Gradients fade out. A gradient layer fades from its color to the layer below, which suits skies and flames.
- Mirror a design. Left and right versions of stripes, halves and squares let you build a matching pair of banners.
Dye colors
There are 16 colors. Wool and dye share the same names: white, light gray, gray, black, brown, red, orange, yellow, lime, green, cyan, light blue, blue, purple, magenta and pink. Many can be made by mixing two dyes, for example red and yellow make orange. Check the Minecraft Wiki page on dyes for the recipes.
Java and Bedrock differences
- Loom. Works the same way in both editions and takes one dye per layer.
- Crafting grid. Bedrock lets you make most patterns by crafting, which costs more dye. Java uses the loom only.
- Commands. The banner_patterns component is Java only. Older Java versions used a different tag format, so the command in this tool is for 1.20.5 and newer.
- Layer limit. Six in survival in both. Java commands allow more.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the base. The base color is the wool color of the banner you craft first.
- Wrong layer order. A pattern added late covers earlier ones. Reorder by removing and adding.
- Pasting the command in an older game. The command only works in Java 1.20.5 and newer.
- Using more than six layers in survival. The loom stops at six.
Related tools
For text on signs and in books try the color codes tool. To turn a picture into blocks use the pixel art generator, and the stack calculator turns wool counts into stacks.
Sources and notes
Pattern names and Java ids follow the Minecraft Wiki list of banner patterns, and the layer limits follow the Banner page, checked on 27 October 2026. All shapes in the preview are drawn by BlockShapes. They do not use any textures from the game. BlockShapes is not affiliated with Mojang or Microsoft.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make a banner in Minecraft?
Craft a banner from 6 wool of one color and 1 stick. Then use a loom: put in the banner, a dye and pick a pattern. Each layer costs one dye. You can add up to 6 layers in survival.
What is the maximum number of layers?
Six in survival, in both Java and Bedrock. In Java, commands can add more, and the banner can show up to 16 layers. In Bedrock a banner with more than six layers cannot be obtained with commands and only six are shown.
Does the order of the layers matter?
Yes. Layers are painted from the first to the last, and each new layer covers the ones below it. Put big shapes first and small details last.
What is the give command for a banner?
In Java 1.20.5 and newer it looks like /give @s white_banner[banner_patterns=[{pattern:"minecraft:stripe_bottom",color:"red"}]]. The generator writes it for your design. Copy it and paste it in chat with cheats enabled.
Does the command work in Bedrock?
No. Bedrock has no command for banners with custom patterns, so use the loom steps. Most patterns can also be made in a crafting grid in Bedrock, which costs more dye.
Why are some patterns missing?
Some patterns need a banner pattern item such as the creeper, flower or globe, and they use logos or art that belongs to the game. The four diagonal half patterns are not in the generator yet either. The generator covers 30 patterns that need only dye.
Is the preview the same as in the game?
It is a close drawing made for this site. The shapes and layer order follow the game, but colors and edges can differ a little. Check the loom preview before you spend dye.
How do I remove a layer?
In the generator use the × button. In the game, use the banner on a cauldron filled with water to remove the top layer.