D&D 5e armor

The 12 armors and the shield from the SRD, with their 2014 stats (the 2024 SRD 5.2 keeps the same numbers; each page lists any changes).

Light armor

Armor	Cost	Armor Class	Strength	Stealth	Weight
Padded Armor	5 gp	11 + Dex modifier	—	Disadvantage	8 lb.
Leather Armor	10 gp	11 + Dex modifier	—	—	10 lb.
Studded Leather Armor	45 gp	12 + Dex modifier	—	—	13 lb.

Don 1 minute, doff 1 minute.

Medium armor

Armor	Cost	Armor Class	Strength	Stealth	Weight
Hide Armor	10 gp	12 + Dex modifier (max 2)	—	—	12 lb.
Chain Shirt	50 gp	13 + Dex modifier (max 2)	—	—	20 lb.
Scale Mail	50 gp	14 + Dex modifier (max 2)	—	Disadvantage	45 lb.
Breastplate	400 gp	14 + Dex modifier (max 2)	—	—	20 lb.
Half Plate Armor	750 gp	15 + Dex modifier (max 2)	—	Disadvantage	40 lb.

Don 5 minutes, doff 1 minute.

Heavy armor

Armor	Cost	Armor Class	Strength	Stealth	Weight
Ring Mail	30 gp	14	—	Disadvantage	40 lb.
Chain Mail	75 gp	16	Str 13	Disadvantage	55 lb.
Splint Armor	200 gp	17	Str 15	Disadvantage	60 lb.
Plate Armor	1,500 gp	18	Str 15	Disadvantage	65 lb.

Don 10 minutes, doff 5 minutes.

Shield

Armor	Cost	Armor Class	Strength	Stealth	Weight
Shield	10 gp	+2	—	—	6 lb.

Don 1 action, doff 1 action.

Best armor for your Dexterity

The highest Armor Class each kind of armor gives at each Dexterity modifier, before a shield’s +2:

Dexterity modifier	Light	Medium	Heavy
-1	11 (Studded Leather)	14 (Half Plate)	18 (Plate)
+0	12 (Studded Leather)	15 (Half Plate)	18 (Plate)
+1	13 (Studded Leather)	16 (Half Plate)	18 (Plate)
+2	14 (Studded Leather)	17 (Half Plate)	18 (Plate)
+3	15 (Studded Leather)	17 (Half Plate)	18 (Plate)
+4	16 (Studded Leather)	17 (Half Plate)	18 (Plate)
+5	17 (Studded Leather)	17 (Half Plate)	18 (Plate)

Studded leather matches a breastplate at Dexterity +4 and half plate at +5, which is why nimble characters stay in light armor: it’s cheaper and doesn’t hamper Stealth. Heavy armor doesn’t care about Dexterity at all but asks for Strength (all but ring mail), and all of it gives disadvantage on Stealth.