D&D Armor Class (AC) Calculator
Calculate your D&D 5e Armor Class based on armor type, Dexterity modifier, shield, and magic bonuses.
Includes DEX cap rules for all armor types.
How Armor Class Works
Armor Class (AC) determines how hard your character is to hit. When an enemy attacks, they must roll equal to or higher than your AC on a d20 (plus their attack bonus).
DEX Modifier and Armor
Light armor lets you add your full DEX modifier. Medium armor caps your DEX bonus at +2. Heavy armor ignores your DEX modifier entirely.
Armor Types and Base AC
| Armor | Base AC | DEX Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| No Armor | 10 | Full DEX |
| Leather | 11 | Full DEX |
| Studded Leather | 12 | Full DEX |
| Chain Shirt | 13 | Max +2 |
| Scale Mail | 14 | Max +2 |
| Breastplate | 14 | Max +2 |
| Half Plate | 15 | Max +2 |
| Ring Mail | 14 | None |
| Chain Mail | 16 | None |
| Splint | 17 | None |
| Plate | 18 | None |
Shield
A shield grants +2 AC regardless of armor type. You must have one free hand to use a shield.
Magic Armor Bonus
A +1, +2, or +3 armor adds its bonus directly to the final AC value. A +1 Shield adds +1 on top of the normal shield +2 (total +3).
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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