Ever wanted to add a splash of green to your Minecraft world?
Whether you’re customizing banners, coloring wool, or dyeing armor, green dye in Minecraft is an essential crafting material. But unlike other dyes, you won’t find it just lying around in flowers or plants—you’ll have to work a little to get it!
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best ways to obtain green dye in Minecraft, including smelting cacti, trading with villagers, and looting chests.
Let’s get started!
Primary Method: Smelting Cactus
The easiest and most reliable way to get green dye in Minecraft is by smelting cactus in a furnace.
Where to Find Cactus

- Desert Biomes – Cactus naturally spawns in deserts and badlands.
- Villages – Some desert village chests may contain cactus.
- Wandering Traders – Occasionally sells cactus for emeralds.
Smelting Process
Here’s how you can turn cactus into green dye:

- Gather Cactus – Break cactus blocks in the desert using any tool (or bare hands).
- Set Up a Furnace – Place a furnace on the ground.
- Add Fuel – Use coal, wood, lava, or other fuel in the bottom slot.
- Smelt the Cactus – Place the cactus in the top slot.
- Collect Green Dye – After a few seconds, you’ll have green dye in Minecraft!
Alternative Ways to Get Green Dye
While smelting cactus is the best way, there are a couple of other methods to get green dye in Minecraft.
Trading with Villagers

- Wandering Traders sometimes sell green dye for 1 emerald.
- Shepherd Villagers (Expert Level) might offer green dye in exchange for emeralds.
Looting Chests in Desert Villages
- Desert Village Chests have a small chance of containing green dye.
- If you’re exploring a desert biome, check the chests inside villager houses for a lucky find.
What Can You Do with Green Dye?
Now that you have green dye in Minecraft, here’s how you can use it:
Dyeing Items
- Wool – Combine green dye with white wool to create green wool.
- Leather Armor – Dye leather armor for custom outfits.
- Beds & Terracotta – Customize beds and terracotta blocks.
Crafting Other Dyes
- Lime Dye – Combine green dye with white dye for a lighter shade.
- Cyan Dye – Mix green dye with blue dye for a cool teal color.
Decoration & Banners
- Use green dye to create patterns on banners.
- Stain glass and concrete for awesome builds.
Community Tips for Getting Green Dye Faster
- Set Up a Cactus Farm – Automatic cactus farms make collecting cactus super easy.
- Use Fortune on Cactus – Nope! Fortune doesn’t work on cactus—you’ll have to farm it manually.
- Avoid Desert Mobs – If you’re collecting cactus at night, watch out for husks (desert zombies)!
Conclusion
Getting green dye in Minecraft is easy once you know the tricks!
The best way is by smelting cactus, but you can also trade with villagers or find it in desert village chests.
With green dye, you can customize your world, create unique designs, and even craft other dye colors.
Now that you know how to get green dye in Minecraft, what will you dye first? Let us know in the comments!
FAQs
Can I get green dye without finding a desert?
Can I combine dyes to make green dye?
What’s the easiest way to farm green dye?
Does Fortune work on cactus?
Can I use sea pickles to make green dye?
More Minecraft?
- Check out how to build an automatic farm and grow wheat!🌾
- Wanna start a livestock? Check out what cows eat and what you can get from them.
- Do you want to make your Mace weapon more powerful? Try Density Enchantment.