The dust-free coated dye-containing pellet is a granulated carrier material that is encapsulated with a dye-containing coating material. The dye-containing coating material contains a mixture of a water-soluble or water-dispersible film-former with at least one direct dye and/or at least one oxidation dye precursor. Preferred carrier materials include dextrose, oligosaccharides and cellulose compounds. The dust-free coated dye-containing pellet is preferably made by granulating the carrier material together with optional antioxidants and auxiliary agents, heating the resulting granulate at no more than 34.degree. C., subsequently coating the granulate by spraying it with a solution or dispersion of the coating material and optionally drying as needed.