Resistor Color Code Calculator
Read the value of a 4-, 5- or 6-band resistor from its colors – or find the color bands for any value, with the nearest standard E12 and E24 values.
How to read the bands
Hold the resistor so the tolerance band – usually gold or silver, set slightly apart – is on the right. Then read from the left:
- 4 bands: digit, digit, multiplier, tolerance
- 5 bands: digit, digit, digit, multiplier, tolerance
- 6 bands: as 5 bands plus a temperature coefficient
The color code
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | × 1 | |
| Brown | 1 | × 10 | ±1% |
| Red | 2 | × 100 | ±2% |
| Orange | 3 | × 1k | ±0.05% |
| Yellow | 4 | × 10k | ±0.02% |
| Green | 5 | × 100k | ±0.5% |
| Blue | 6 | × 1M | ±0.25% |
| Violet | 7 | × 10M | ±0.1% |
| Gray | 8 | ±0.01% | |
| White | 9 | ||
| Gold | × 0.1 | ±5% | |
| Silver | × 0.01 | ±10% |
Example
Yellow, violet, red, gold: 4, 7, × 100, ±5% = 4.7 kΩ ±5%, so the real value is between 4,465 and 4,935 Ω. The same value with 5 bands is yellow, violet, black, brown, brown (470 × 10, ±1%).
Standard values
Resistors are made in the E-series: E12 (10% steps: 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.7, 3.3, 3.9, 4.7, 5.6, 6.8, 8.2) and E24 for 5% parts. If your value is not standard, the calculator suggests the nearest one.
Frequently asked questions
What color code is 10k?
Brown, black, orange, gold (4 bands) or brown, black, black, red, brown (5 bands, 1%).
Which side do I start reading from?
From the side away from the gold or silver band. If both ends look alike, try both – only one direction usually gives a standard value.