How to Dye Leather Armor in Minecraft (Coloring & Dye Guide)

 Leather armor may be the weakest type of armor in Minecraft in terms of protection, but it provides something no other armor can: customization. Because leather armor can be dyed, you can match your team, customize your appearance, or just have fun trying out different hues.

This guide will cover every step of painting (dying) leather armor using both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition. It will cover everything you need to know about creating dyes, mixing colors, and even removing dye if you decide you do not want to use it.

Why Dye Leather Armor?

A full set of leather armor dyed in multiple colors is displayed on armor stands in Minecraft.

In Minecraft, the only armor type that can be colored is leather armor. It may not provide the strongest defense, but it excels in creativity, aesthetics, and roleplay. Custom-colored armor is a fun and useful way to stand out from the crowd, whether you are playing in a team-based PvP map, creating a medieval world, or simply wanting to stand out.

Things You will Need

A player of Minecraft is using clean water in a cauldron to remove color from leather armor that has been dyed.

A few basic supplies are needed to dye leather armor:

• Leather Armor: Boots, Leggings, Chestplate, and Helmet
• Any of the 16 base dye colors available in Minecraft can be used.
• A Crafting Table (Java Edition)
• A Cauldron and Water (Bedrock Edition only)

How to Dye Leather Armor in Java Edition

Side-by-side comparison of plain leather armor and the same armor dyed with vibrant colors in Minecraft.

1. Open the crafting table.
2. Place your leather armor piece in any slot.
3. Place a dye of your choice in any other slot.
4. Take the dyed armor from the result box.

You can repeat this process to recolor the armor as many times as you'd like. Each new dye simply overwrites the previous color.

How to Dye Leather Armor in Bedrock Edition (Including Mobile & Console)

Survival mode A Minecraft character exploring a forest biome while wearing blue-dyed leather armor.

Dyeing armor in Bedrock Edition works a bit differently, using a cauldron:

1. Place a cauldron and fill it with water using a water bucket.
2. Add dye to the water by right-clicking or tapping with the dye in your hand. The water will change color.
3. Hold the leather armor piece and tap or right-click the cauldron. Your armor will take on the color of the dyed water.
4. Want to mix colors? Add multiple dyes to the cauldron until you get the shade you like.

You can dye each armor piece a different color — perfect for creating unique or multicolored sets.

How to Make Dye in Minecraft

Color Dye Chart Guides by Minecraft

You can find or craft dye from natural resources:

• Red Dye – Poppies, Beetroots
• Blue Dye – Lapis Lazuli, Cornflowers
• Yellow Dye—Dandelions, Sunflowers
• Green Dye—Smelt Cactus
• Black Dye—Ink Sacs or Wither Roses
• ...and many more!

Mix primary colors to get custom shades:

• Red + Blue = Purple
• Blue + Yellow = Green
• Red + Yellow = Orange

How to Remove Dye from Leather Armor

If you change your mind, you can remove the color:

• Java Edition: Place the dyed armor in a crafting table with a water bucket (Note: this may require a mod or plugin — Java doesn't support dye removal by default).
• Bedrock Edition: Use a cauldron filled with clean water. Tap it with the dyed armor to wash off the color.

Tips for Customizing Your Look

• Match your armor with your banner, shield, or team color.
• Use armor stands to decorate your base with colored armor.
• Try gradient coloring by dyeing each piece of the set in similar shades.
• Perfect for minigames, RPG maps, or custom skins.

Although it will not make you unbeatable, painting leather armor in Minecraft gives your gameplay a creative and enjoyable touch. Dyeing leather armor is a simple way to stand out in the world of blocks, whether you are experimenting with colors, creating a team aesthetic, or personalizing your survival character.

So, grab some leather, make some dye, and get coloring!