How to Get Wool in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Use shears on an adult sheep to get 1-3 wool without killing it. A sheep that is not sheared drops 1 wool when it dies. Fortune and Looting do not change these drops. Baby sheep cannot be sheared. Wool can be dyed in 16 colors.

What you need

Shears

Step by step

Find sheep. Most are white in temperate biomes, black in cold biomes and brown in warm biomes, and any of these plus light and dark gray can appear anywhere.
Use shears on an adult sheep to get 1-3 wool of its color.
Or kill the sheep: it drops 1 wool if it was not sheared.
Dye the sheep or the wool to change its color.
Break placed wool with shears for the fastest speed (0.25 seconds).

Java vs Bedrock

A sheep named jeb_ drops its true color wool, not rainbow wool.

Versions: Wool stacks to 64, same color only.

Frequently asked questions

How much wool does shearing give?

1-3.

Do baby sheep give wool?

No. Baby sheep cannot be sheared.

Does Looting help?

No. Looting and Fortune do not affect wool drops.