Yes, you can change your starship's color in No Man's Sky, but the method depends on which part you want to repaint

No Man's Sky lets you customize your starship's appearance, including its exterior color. You cannot change the entire hull to any color you want through a single menu option. Instead, you repaint individual ship parts — the main body, wings, engines, and other components — each with its own color palette. The colors available depend on the ship's base design and rarity tier.

To repaint your ship, you need to visit a starship customization terminal, which appears in space stations, planetary outposts, and some freighter interiors. You interact with the terminal, select your ship, and then choose which part to repaint and what color from the available options. The process costs Nanites, the in-game currency used for upgrades and customization.

Key Takeaways

  • Starship customization terminals are found in space stations, on planets at trading posts, and inside freighters, not in your inventory or ship menu.
  • You repaint individual ship components — hull, wings, engines, accents — rather than the whole ship at once, and each part has its own color options.
  • Repainting costs Nanites, which you earn by scanning flora and fauna, breaking down technology modules, or completing missions.
  • The color palette available to you is determined by your ship's base model and rarity; a common ship has fewer color options than an S-class exotic.
  • You can experiment freely because changing your mind costs the same amount of Nanites as the first repaint.

Where to find a starship customization terminal

The easiest location is a space station. Dock your ship, exit to the station interior, and look for a terminal with a ship icon on its display. It is usually near the landing bay or in the main concourse area. If you do not see one when ready, check the room to the left of the galactic trade terminal.

On planets, visit a trading post — these are small outposts with landing pads and a few NPCs. A customization terminal is typically inside the main building. You can also find them at larger settlements and some manufacturing facilities, though not every location has one.

If you own a freighter, you can build a customization terminal inside it using the freighter base-building system. This saves travel time if you customize your ships regularly. The blueprint costs Salvaged Data and other materials, but once built, it functions the same as any station terminal.

How the color selection works

When you open the customization terminal and select your ship, you see a list of ship parts: primary hull, secondary hull, wings, engines, accents, and others depending on the ship model. Each part has its own color wheel or palette. Click or select a part, and the available colors appear.

The colors you can choose from are fixed to that ship's design and rarity class. A common-tier ship might have 8 to 12 color options per part. An S-class or exotic ship typically has 15 to 20 options, including rare metallics and neon finishes. You cannot create a custom color outside this palette, but you can mix and match across parts — for example, a red hull with blue engines and gold accents.

The preview updates in real time as you select colors, so you see exactly how your ship will look before you spend Nanites. This means you can experiment with combinations without cost until you confirm the purchase.

The Nanite cost and how to earn them

Each repaint costs between 250 and 500 Nanites per part, depending on the ship's rarity. Repainting the entire ship — all visible components — typically costs 1,500 to 3,000 Nanites total. Changing your mind and repainting again costs the same amount; there is no penalty for switching colors multiple times.

Nanites are earned through several methods. Scanning flora and fauna with your scanner (press the scan button while looking at a plant or animal) gives 50 to 250 Nanites per scan. Breaking down technology modules at a refiner yields Nanites based on the module's rarity. Completing missions for NPCs, especially those offered at space stations, often reward 100 to 500 Nanites. Selling data to the Cartographer or other NPCs also generates Nanites.

If you want to repaint quickly without grinding, focus on scanning every new species you encounter and breaking down any duplicate or unwanted technology modules. A single planet with diverse wildlife can net you 2,000 to 5,000 Nanites in 30 minutes of scanning.

What happens if you own multiple ships

Each ship in your fleet has its own customization options and color history. You can repaint one ship without affecting the others. If you own five ships and want them all to match, you need to visit the customization terminal five times and spend Nanites for each one.

Some players create a fleet with a coordinated color scheme — for example, all ships with the same primary hull color but different accent colors. Others use color to identify ship purpose: a red fighter, a blue explorer, a gold freighter. The choice is entirely visual and does not affect performance.

Limitations and what you cannot change

You cannot change a ship's base shape or structure. If you own a fighter with short wings, repainting it will not give it long wings. The ship's silhouette, cockpit style, and overall design remain fixed to its original model.

You also cannot change the ship's class rating (common, uncommon, rare, S-class) through customization. A common-tier ship stays common even after a full repaint. If you want an S-class version of a particular ship design, you need to find and purchase a different ship.

Some exotic and rare ships have unique visual effects — glowing trails, particle effects, or animated patterns — that cannot be disabled or modified. These are part of the ship's design and persist regardless of color changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my ship color without visiting a space station?

Not without building a customization terminal in your freighter first. If you do not own a freighter or have not built the terminal, you must travel to a space station or trading post. The nearest space station is usually only a few warps away.

Do I lose my old color if I repaint my ship?

No. There is no "undo" button, but you can repaint to any color in the palette at any time for the same Nanite cost. If you remember the exact color combination, you can recreate it. Some players take screenshots of their favorite paint jobs for reference.

What is the rarest ship color in No Man's Sky?

Exotic ships have the widest color palettes and access to metallic and neon finishes that common ships do not. Certain color combinations on exotic ships are visually striking, but no single color is locked behind a paywall or impossible to obtain. All colors in a ship's palette are equally available once you reach the customization terminal.

Can I change my freighter's color the same way?

Yes. Freighters use the same customization terminal system. You can repaint your freighter's hull, engines, and accents just like a starship. The Nanite cost is similar, and the color palette depends on your freighter's class and design.

Do I need to own the ship to repaint it?

Yes. You can only customize ships that are in your active fleet. You cannot repaint a ship you are considering buying or one that belongs to another player.