D&D Armor Value Comparison
Official 5e armor class, from Padded at 11 to Plate at 18. Pick any two.
Visual comparison
All values
Click any row to load it as Entry A.
| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Padded Lowest base here. Stealth disadvantage. | 11 armor class | Light armor, PHB p. 144 | D&D 5e PHB: Padded AC 11 + Dex |
| Leather Ties Padded. No stealth penalty. | 11 armor class | Light armor, PHB p. 144 | D&D 5e PHB: Leather AC 11 + Dex |
| Studded Leather One over Leather. Rogue staple. | 12 armor class | Light armor, PHB p. 144 | D&D 5e PHB: Studded Leather AC 12 + Dex |
| Hide Ties Studded Leather. | 12 armor class | Medium armor, PHB p. 144 | D&D 5e PHB: Hide AC 12 + Dex (max 2) |
| Chain Shirt One over Hide. | 13 armor class | Medium armor, PHB p. 144 | D&D 5e PHB: Chain Shirt AC 13 + Dex (max 2) |
| Scale Mail Ties Breastplate and Ring Mail at 14. | 14 armor class | Medium armor, PHB p. 144 | D&D 5e PHB: Scale Mail AC 14 + Dex (max 2) |
| Breastplate Ties Scale Mail. No stealth penalty. | 14 armor class | Medium armor, PHB p. 144 | D&D 5e PHB: Breastplate AC 14 + Dex (max 2) |
| Ring Mail Ties Scale Mail. Heavy with stealth penalty. | 14 armor class | Heavy armor, PHB p. 144 | D&D 5e PHB: Ring Mail AC 14 |
| Half Plate One over the 14s. | 15 armor class | Medium armor, PHB p. 144 | D&D 5e PHB: Half Plate AC 15 + Dex (max 2) |
| Chain Mail One over Half Plate. Needs Str 13. | 16 armor class | Heavy armor, PHB p. 144 | D&D 5e PHB: Chain Mail AC 16 |
| Splint One over Chain Mail. | 17 armor class | Heavy armor, PHB p. 144 | D&D 5e PHB: Splint AC 17 |
| Plate Top base here. Needs Str 15. | 18 armor class | Heavy armor, PHB p. 144 | D&D 5e PHB: Plate AC 18 |
| Shield Adds to any row. Plate plus shield hits 20. | 2 armor class | Bonus that stacks on armor | D&D 5e PHB: Shield +2 AC bonus |
About this converter
The Player's Handbook prints one armor class per armor from 11 to 18. Padded and Leather open tied at 11, Studded Leather and Hide tied at 12, Chain Shirt at 13, Scale Mail, Breastplate and Ring Mail tied at 14, Half Plate at 15, Chain Mail at 16, Splint at 17 and Plate at 18. Shield adds a flat 2 on top of any row. That makes Plate plus Shield a 20, seven over Padded. Every value here is the 5e print with Dexterity left out.
How to use it
Pick two armors and a unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. One box holds a count of the first, one holds the matching count of the second, one holds the total in Armor Class. Try 1 Plate against Padded.
Monster Armor Class for the same edition runs on the companion monsters page, since worn armor and natural armor stack differently. Magic plus one to three rides on top of these prints in play. Stealth disadvantage applies to most rows except Leather, Studded, Chain Shirt and Breastplate. Shields need proficiency to wear.
FAQ
What is Plate AC?
18 base, plus Dex ignored. The highest printed armor.
What does a Shield give?
Plus 2 AC that stacks on any armor. Plate plus shield is 20.
What is Studded Leather AC?
12 plus full Dex. The rogue staple.
Why no Dex included?
Dex caps differ by armor weight, so rows pin the base.
Sources
- D&D 5e Player's Handbook ch. 5, light armor (Padded 11, Leather 11, Studded Leather 12)
- D&D 5e Player's Handbook ch. 5, medium armor (Hide 12, Chain Shirt 13, Scale Mail 14, Breastplate 14, Half Plate 15)
- D&D 5e Player's Handbook ch. 5, heavy armor and shields (Ring Mail 14, Chain Mail 16, Splint 17, Plate 18, Shield +2)
- D&D 5e Systems Reference Document free rules (cross-checks on all values)
Last verified: 2026-09-28 · 13 entries
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