An example method of coding video data includes determining, for a current block of video data, a palette that includes a plurality of entries that each corresponds to a respective color value; determining a particular entry in the palette that is predicted to correspond to a color value of a current pixel of the current block; selecting a binarization from a plurality of binarizations; and coding, using the selected binarization, an index that indicates which entry in the palette corresponds to a color value for a current pixel of the current block, wherein coding the index using a first binarization of the plurality of binarizations comprises coding a syntax element that indicates whether the index is equal to the particular entry, and wherein coding the index using a second binarization of the plurality of binarizations comprises coding the index using a variable length code without coding the syntax element.