How many patterns can a banner have?

In survival a loom applies up to six pattern layers. With commands you could add more, but the designer sticks to six so every design stays craftable in-game.

How do I put a banner design on a shield?

In Java Edition you combine a banner and a shield in a crafting grid - or simply copy the shield variant of the /give command from this tool.

Which patterns need a special banner pattern item?

Creeper charge, skull charge, flower charge, thing (Mojang logo), globe, snout, flow and guster each require their banner pattern item at the loom; everything else just needs dye.

Can I write letters on banners?

There are no letter patterns in vanilla Minecraft, but many letters can be approximated by stacking stripes, crosses and borders - the six-layer preview makes experimenting easy.

Do the commands work in Bedrock Edition?

The generated syntax targets Java Edition. In Bedrock, banners use a different command format, but the design and loom recipe transfer one to one.

How do I copy a banner in-game?

Craft a blank banner with the same base color and combine it with your finished banner in the crafting grid - you get two identical banners without repeating the loom steps.

Banner Designer

Design a custom Minecraft banner with up to six pattern layers and copy the matching give command for banner and shield.

Preview

Base color

Presets

Layers

Up to 6 pattern layers, drawn bottom to top

Pattern & color

Layer color

Pattern

Give commands

Banner

/give @p minecraft:white_banner[banner_patterns=[{pattern:"minecraft:gradient_up",color:"light_blue"},{pattern:"minecraft:rhombus",color:"blue"},{pattern:"minecraft:circle",color:"white"},{pattern:"minecraft:border",color:"blue"}]]

Shield

/give @p minecraft:shield[base_color="white",banner_patterns=[{pattern:"minecraft:gradient_up",color:"light_blue"},{pattern:"minecraft:rhombus",color:"blue"},{pattern:"minecraft:circle",color:"white"},{pattern:"minecraft:border",color:"blue"}]]

Java Edition 1.20.5+ component syntax (works in 1.21).

A full banner workshop in your browser

Design custom Minecraft banners the way the game actually layers them: a base color plus up to six pattern layers, each in one of 16 dye colors. The live preview shows the exact in-game rendering, and one click copies the /give command for the banner - or for a shield carrying the same design.

All vanilla patterns

Every banner pattern from stripes and gradients to creeper face, skull charge and the ominous banner motifs.

Six pattern layers

Stack up to six layers exactly like a loom does and reorder or recolor any layer at any time.

Banner and shield output

Copy the /give command for the banner itself or for a shield with the same design applied.

Pixel-accurate preview

The preview uses the real banner textures and layer blending, so what you see is what spawns in-game.

Loom recipe view

See which dyes and pattern items you need at the loom to craft the banner in survival mode.

Modern command syntax

Commands use the banner_patterns item component for Java 1.20.5+, ready for chat or command blocks.

How to design a custom banner

1
Pick the base color
Choose one of the 16 wool colors as the banner background.
2
Layer patterns
Add up to six patterns, each with its own dye color - the order decides what covers what, just like at a loom.
3
Copy the give command
Copy the /give command for banner or shield, or follow the loom recipe to craft it in survival.

Frequently asked questions

How many patterns can a banner have?: In survival a loom applies up to six pattern layers. With commands you could add more, but the designer sticks to six so every design stays craftable in-game.
How do I put a banner design on a shield?: In Java Edition you combine a banner and a shield in a crafting grid - or simply copy the shield variant of the /give command from this tool.
Which patterns need a special banner pattern item?: Creeper charge, skull charge, flower charge, thing (Mojang logo), globe, snout, flow and guster each require their banner pattern item at the loom; everything else just needs dye.
Can I write letters on banners?: There are no letter patterns in vanilla Minecraft, but many letters can be approximated by stacking stripes, crosses and borders - the six-layer preview makes experimenting easy.
Do the commands work in Bedrock Edition?: The generated syntax targets Java Edition. In Bedrock, banners use a different command format, but the design and loom recipe transfer one to one.
How do I copy a banner in-game?: Craft a blank banner with the same base color and combine it with your finished banner in the crafting grid - you get two identical banners without repeating the loom steps.