How to Make Banners

Quick answer

• Craft a banner from 6 wool + 1 stick. The wool colour is the background, and you can't change it later.
• Add patterns at a loom with dye. You can stack up to 6 layers.
• Copy any banner by crafting it with a blank banner of the same colour.

Banners are the easiest way to give a base its own flag, mark your shield, or spell out a sign. Here's how to design one in Survival.

Banner MakerDesign Minecraft banners with a live preview→

Making your first banner

1. Craft a banner: 6 wool in the top two rows, a stick in the bottom middle.
2. Craft a loom: 2 string on top of 2 planks.
3. Put the banner and a dye in the loom, pick a pattern, and take the result.
4. Repeat with new patterns and dyes. Each pass adds a layer on top.

Special patterns

Some designs, like the creeper face, skull and flower, need a banner pattern item in the loom. The loom doesn't use it up, so you only need one.

Fixing mistakes

Used the wrong layer? Use the banner on a cauldron with water. It washes off the top layer only.

Other things you can do

• Shield: craft a shield with a banner to put the design on it. The banner gets used up.
• Copy: craft your banner with a blank one of the same colour to get two.
• Map marker (Java): place a banner, then use a map on it to add a named marker.
• Letters: line banners up to spell words on walls and signs.

Banner LettersSpell any word with Minecraft banners→

Cheat sheet

• 6 wool + 1 stick = banner
• Loom + dye = pattern, up to 6 layers
• Cauldron washes off the top layer
• Blank banner + design = copy

Banner MakerDesign Minecraft banners with a live preview→