Resistor color code
The resistor color code is a system used to indicate a resistor's resistance value, tolerance, and, in some cases, temperature coefficient. It provides a practical way to identify these specifications on components that are too small for printed numerical markings.
How to read resistor color codes
4-Band Resistor
- 1st band: First digit.
- 2nd band: Second digit.
- 3rd band: Multiplier.
- 4th band: Tolerance (%).
Example: Brown - Black - Red - Gold
\( 1, 0, \times 100, \pm5\% \)
Result: \(1\,\mathrm{k}\Omega \pm 5\%\)
5-Band Resistor
- 1st band: First digit.
- 2nd band: Second digit.
- 3rd band: Third digit.
- 4th band: Multiplier.
- 5th band: Tolerance (%).
Example: Brown - Green - Black - Red - Brown
\( 1, 5, 0, \times 100, \pm 1\% \)
Result: \(15\,\mathrm{k}\Omega \pm 1\%\)
6-Band Resistor
- 1st to 3rd bands: First three digits.
- 4th band: Multiplier.
- 5th band: Tolerance (%).
- 6th band: Temperature coefficient (ppm/°C).
Example: Orange - Orange - Black - Brown - Brown - Red
\( 3, 3, 0, \times 10, \pm 1%, 50 ppm/°C \)
Result: \(3.3\,\mathrm{k}\Omega \pm 1\%\), with a temperature coefficient of \(50\,\mathrm{ppm}/^{\circ}\mathrm{C}\)
Resistor color code table
| Color | Band 1 | Band 2 |
Band 3 (optional, 5 or 6 bands) |
Multiplier | Tolerance |
TCR \( \mathrm{ppm/K} \) (optional, 6 bands) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | 250 |
| Brown | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ±1 % | 100 |
| Red | 2 | 2 | 2 | 100 | ±2 % | 50 |
| Orange | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 k | ±3 % | - |
| Yellow | 4 | 4 | 4 | 10 k | ±4 % | - |
| Green | 5 | 5 | 5 | 100 k | ±0.5 % | 20 |
| Blue | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 M | ±0.25 % | 10 |
| Violet | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 M | ±0.1 % | 5 |
| Gray | 8 | 8 | 8 | 100 M | ±0.05 % | 1 |
| White | 9 | 9 | 9 | 1 G | - | - |
| Gold | - | - | - | 0.1 | ±5 % | - |
| Silver | - | - | - | 0.01 | ±10 % | - |
| Pink | - | - | - | 0.001 | - | - |
Resistor color code calculator (bands)
Select the resistor bands to calculate the resistance value:
Resistor value:
0 Ω
Resistor color code calculator (value)
Enter the resistance value in the field and select the appropriate unit. A two-significant-digit value corresponds to the value bands used on a 4-band resistor, while a three-significant-digit value corresponds to those used on a 5- or 6-band resistor.