Resistor Color Code Calculator
Resistor color codes use colored bands to indicate resistance value and tolerance. 4-band code: Band 1 (first digit), Band 2 (second digit), Band 3 (multiplier), Band 4 (tolerance). Example: Yellow-Violet-Red-Gold = 4-7-×100-±5% = 4,700Ω (4.7kΩ) ±5%. 5-band adds third digit for precision. Common colors: Black=0, Brown=1, Red=2, Orange=3, Yellow=4, Green=5, Blue=6, Violet=7, Gray=8, White=9. Multipliers: ×1 to ×10,000,000. Gold=±5%, Silver=±10%, None=±20%. Use in electronics, circuit design.
Decode resistor color bands to find resistance value, tolerance, and min/max range. Supports 4-band and 5-band resistors. Reverse mode: enter a resistance value to see the color bands. Includes color code reference table and common resistor values (E12, E24 series).
Settings
Resistor
Select Band Colors
Result
Color Code Reference
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
Black | 0 | ×1 | — |
Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% |
Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% |
Orange | 3 | ×1,000 | ±0.05% |
Yellow | 4 | ×10,000 | — |
Green | 5 | ×100,000 | ±0.5% |
Blue | 6 | ×1,000,000 | ±0.25% |
Violet | 7 | ×10,000,000 | ±0.1% |
Gray | 8 | ×100,000,000 | — |
White | 9 | ×1,000,000,000 | — |
Gold | — | ×0.1 | ±5% |
Silver | — | ×0.01 | ±10% |
Common Resistor Values (E12 / E24 Series)
How to Use
- Enter your value in the input field
- Click the Calculate/Convert button
- Copy the result to your clipboard
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I read a 4-band resistor color code?
- A 4-band resistor has two digit bands, one multiplier band, and one tolerance band. The first two bands represent a two-digit number (e.g., Brown-Black = 10), the third band is the multiplier (e.g., Red = ×100), and the fourth band indicates tolerance (e.g., Gold = ±5%). So Brown-Black-Red-Gold = 10 × 100 = 1,000Ω (1kΩ) ±5%.
- What is the difference between 4-band and 5-band resistors?
- A 4-band resistor uses two significant digit bands for 2-digit precision, while a 5-band resistor uses three significant digit bands for 3-digit precision. 5-band resistors are more precise and commonly used in tight-tolerance applications. For example, a 4-band 4.7kΩ is Yellow-Violet-Red-Gold, while a 5-band version is Yellow-Violet-Black-Brown-Brown.
- What do the resistor color bands mean?
- Each color represents a digit (0-9), a multiplier, or a tolerance value. Black=0, Brown=1, Red=2, Orange=3, Yellow=4, Green=5, Blue=6, Violet=7, Gray=8, White=9. For multipliers, the color indicates powers of 10. Gold and Silver are special: Gold = ×0.1 multiplier or ±5% tolerance, Silver = ×0.01 multiplier or ±10% tolerance.
- What are E12 and E24 resistor series?
- E12 and E24 are standard series of preferred resistor values. E12 has 12 values per decade (10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 27, 33, 39, 47, 56, 68, 82) with ±10% tolerance. E24 has 24 values per decade with ±5% tolerance, adding intermediate values like 11, 13, 16, 20, etc. These values are spaced so their tolerance ranges cover all possible resistance values.
- How do I determine which end to start reading from?
- The tolerance band (usually Gold or Silver) is always on the right end and is often spaced slightly further from the other bands. Start reading from the opposite end. If both ends have similar colors, look for the gap — the wider gap is before the tolerance band. 5-band resistors are more tightly grouped on the left with the tolerance band separated on the right.
- What is the tolerance of a resistor?
- Tolerance indicates how much the actual resistance can deviate from the stated value. A 1kΩ resistor with ±5% tolerance (Gold band) can have an actual resistance between 950Ω and 1,050Ω. Common tolerances: Brown = ±1%, Red = ±2%, Gold = ±5%, Silver = ±10%. Tighter tolerances cost more but are needed for precision circuits.