Equipment guide · 2024
Compare D&D 5e armor
Compare the AC you actually get after Dexterity, then check Stealth, Strength and cost. The highest base AC does not automatically make an armor the best fit for your character.
Use your actual Dexterity modifier
Light armor adds your full Dexterity modifier. Medium armor normally caps a positive modifier at +2, while a negative modifier still lowers AC. Heavy armor does not add Dexterity. The item calculator uses the exact formula of that entry.
Check the exploration trade-off
Some armor imposes Disadvantage on Stealth checks. Compare a breastplate with half plate when sneaking matters, and check the Strength threshold before choosing heavy armor.
Count the shield once
A shield adds its listed bonus to your AC; a magical shield’s displayed total already includes the normal shield bonus. Enter the bonus of one shield in the armor calculator, or AC without the shield on a shield’s card.
Open a card to calculate and compare
Start with the nonmagical equipment. Each card also links to relevant magical alternatives.
- Breastplate →
400 GP · 20 lb
- Chain Mail →
75 GP · 55 lb
- Chain Shirt →
50 GP · 20 lb
- Half Plate Armor →
750 GP · 40 lb
- Hide Armor →
10 GP · 12 lb
- Leather Armor →
10 GP · 10 lb
- Padded Armor →
5 GP · 8 lb
- Plate Armor →
1,500 GP · 65 lb
- Ring Mail →
30 GP · 40 lb
- Scale Mail →
50 GP · 45 lb
- Splint Armor →
200 GP · 60 lb
- Studded Leather Armor →
45 GP · 13 lb
Practical comparisons by JustRoll. Item cards retain the rules and SRD attribution for their selected edition. These guides use the ordinary equipment rules; character features can change the result.