An example method for decoding video data includes constructing a block vector (BV) candidate list for a current block of the video data, the BV candidate list including a plurality of BV predictor candidates, each respective BV predictor candidate of the plurality of BV predictor candidates is one of: a BV of a neighboring block, a BV of a previously coded block, and a default BV; determining, based on a syntax element obtained from an encoded video bitstream, a particular BV predictor candidate from the plurality of BV predictor candidates; determining, based on the particular BV predictor candidate, a value of a BV that represents a displacement between the current block and a predictor block of video data in a picture in which the current block resides; determining, based on the value the BV, the predictor block; and reconstructing the current block based on the predictor block.