How to Repair Elytra in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Repair elytra in an anvil with phantom membranes - each membrane restores 25% of durability (108 points). You can also combine two damaged elytra, but the real long-term fix is a Mending book.

What you need

Damaged elytra
Phantom membranes (up to 4 per repair)
Anvil
Mending + Unbreaking books (recommended)

Step by step

Get phantom membranes: kill phantoms, the undead mobs that dive at players who have not slept in 3 or more in-game days.
Place the damaged elytra in the first anvil slot and up to 4 membranes in the second - each membrane restores 25% of durability (108 points).
Alternative: combine two damaged elytra in an anvil to add their remaining durability together. Both methods keep the enchantments.
Better plan: apply Mending with an anvil and an enchanted book, then any XP you collect repairs the elytra while you wear it.
Add Unbreaking III too - it stretches each durability point to about 4 seconds of flight, quadrupling the elytra's lifespan.

Java vs Bedrock

In both editions, phantom membranes restore 25% durability each in an anvil. Unbreaking III extends gliding time by about four times on average. Mending requires collecting XP while the damaged elytra are equipped or held.

Versions: Describes the current Java and Bedrock releases. See the edition note above for differences.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mending or phantom membrane better?

Mending, by far: XP repairs the elytra passively forever. Membranes are the backup plan for the early End game, before you have a Mending villager.

Do repairs remove enchantments?

Anvil repairs preserve enchantments, and compatible enchantments can be combined. A grindstone removes non-curse enchantments; curses remain.

How many membranes does a full repair take?

Four: each membrane restores 25% of durability, so a nearly broken elytra needs 4 membranes plus the anvil levels.