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Resistor Color Code

Decode and encode 4, 5 and 6 band resistors and SMD codes.

How to use the Resistor Color Code

  1. 1Pick the number of bands and click the color of each band to read the value.
  2. 2Or type a value like 4k7 to see the bands you need.
  3. 3Switch to SMD to decode codes like 472, 4702, 01C or 4R7.

About Resistor Color Code

The Resistor Color Code tool reads the value of 4, 5 and 6 band resistors. Click the color of each band and it shows the resistance, the tolerance, the minimum and maximum value within that tolerance, and for 6-band parts the temperature coefficient in ppm per kelvin. The colors follow IEC 60062, including gold, silver and pink multipliers for small values.

It works the other way round too: type a value such as 470, 4k7, 2M2 or R47 and see the band colors you need for the chosen band count and tolerance. A separate SMD mode decodes the codes printed on surface-mount resistors, including 3-digit and 4-digit codes, EIA-96 codes such as 01C and R notation such as 4R7, and for any value the matching SMD codes are listed. A table of the E6 to E192 series shows the nearest standard value and how far off your reading is, which helps catch a resistor read in the wrong direction.

This resistor color code calculator is useful for electronics hobbyists, students and repair technicians sorting a parts drawer, checking a board or picking the right resistor for a circuit.

Frequently asked questions

Which end of a resistor do I read from?

Start from the band closest to a lead. The tolerance band, usually gold or silver on 4-band resistors, sits a little apart and is read last.

What is the difference between 4, 5 and 6 bands?

4-band resistors have two significant digits, 5-band resistors three, which suits precise values. A 6th band gives the temperature coefficient in ppm per kelvin.

How do I read an SMD resistor code?

In a 3-digit code the first two digits are the value and the third is the number of zeros: 472 is 4,700 Ω. 4-digit codes use three digits plus the zeros. R marks the decimal point, and EIA-96 codes such as 01C combine a value index with a letter multiplier.

What is the color code of a 10k resistor?

A 4-band 10 kΩ resistor is brown, black, orange, followed by the tolerance band, usually gold for ±5%. On a 5-band resistor it is brown, black, black, red, usually followed by brown for ±1%.

What are E12 and E24 resistor values?

They are series of preferred values per decade. E12 has 12 values (10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 27, 33, 39, 47, 56, 68, 82) and goes with ±10% parts; E24 has 24 values for ±5% parts. Finer series such as E96 are used for 1% resistors.

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