Resistor Color Code

• Resistor Color Code Chart
• Resistor Color Code Mnemonic
• Resistor Color Code 2
• Resistor Color Code Mnemonic
• Resistor Color Code 5 Band

Resistor color codes

The Resistor Color Code In most cases, the value of the resistor is indicated by a series of color bands on the component. For example, the resistor shown in Figure 7 has four color bands. Our Resistor Color Code Calculator is a handy tool for reading carbon-composition resistors whether it's a 4-band, 5-band or 6-band type. To use this tool, simply click on a particular color and number and watch how the actual bands on the resistor illustration change. The resistance value is displayed on the field below together with the. Resistor color codes are something that every electronics hobbyist should remember. The old mnemonic was rather, well, disturbing, and a conscientious person would never recite it. Anyway, on with the better one! Write this down in a. The 4-band resistor color code is the most commonly used resistor. Similar to the 3 band resistor, the first two bands always give the first 2 digits of the resistance value. The third band represents the multiplier while the fourth band represents tolerance.

How to read Resistor Color Codes

The 4-band code is used for marking low precision resistors with 5%, 10% and 20% tolerances. Identifying the value will become easy with a little practice, as there are only a few simple rules to remember:

• The first two bands represent the most significant digits of the resistance value. Colors are assigned to all the numbers between 0 and 9, and the color bands basically translate the numbers into a visible code. Black is 0, brown is 1, red is 2 and so on (see the color code table below). So, for example, if a resistor has brown and red as the first two bands, the most significant digits will be 1 and 2 (12).
• The third band indicates the multiplier telling you the power of ten to which the two significant digits must be multiplied (or how many zeros to add), using the same assigned value for each color as in the previous step. For example, if this band is red (2), you will multiply it by 10² = 100 (or add 2 zeros). So, for the resistor we used in the previous example, the value would be: 12 x 100 = 1200Ω (1.2kΩ).
  Note: If the multiplier band is gold or silver, the decimal point is moved to the left by one or two places (divided by 10 or 100).
• The tolerance band (the deviation from the specified value) is next, usually spaced away from the others, or it's a little bit wider. A color is assigned to each tolerance: gold is 5%, silver is 10%. 20% resistors have only 3 color bands - the tolerance band is missing.

The standard resistor color code table:

* 3rd digit - only for 5-band resistors

So, for a 560 ohm, 5% resistor the color stripes will be green, blue, brown and gold. Green and blue are the first significant digits (56); brown is the multiplier (10¹ = 10) and gold is the tolerance (5%). 56 x 10 = 560Ω.

If the 3rd band would be red instead of brown, the multiplier would be (10² = 100) instead of 10 and the resistor value would be 56 x 100 = 5600 ohms = 5.6 k ohms.

If the multiplier band is gold or silver, then the decimal point is moved to the left one or two places (divided by 10 or 100). For example, a resistor with green, blue, silver and gold rings has a value of 56 x 0.01 = 0.56Ω.

The 5-band code

The 5 band code is used for marking high quality, precision resistors with 2%, 1% or lower tolerances. The rules are similar to the previous system; the only difference is the number of digit bands. The first 3 bands will represent the value, the 4th band will be the multiplier and the 5th stripe will give us the tolerance.

Optional band

A few resistors have an additional band - often giving beginners a bit of trouble - indicating either the reliability or the temperature coefficient.

The reliability band specifies the failure rate per 1000 hours (assuming that a full wattage being applied to the resistor). This stripe is found primarily on 4-band resistors made for military applications and seldom used in commercial electronics.

The temperature coefficient is more commonly marked, especially on quality 5-band resistors, as it starts to become an important factor for precision components. For a resistor with temperature coefficient of 200 ppm, for example, a change in temperature of 50°C causes a value change of 1%. The most common values for this band are presented in the color chart above.

Examples:

Four band code:

Green, blue, red, with silver tolerance band: 56 x 100 = 5.6 kohms, with a tolerance of 10%

Brown, black, orange, gold tolerance band: 10 x 1000 = 10000 ohms (or 10K ohms), with a tolerance of 5%

Red, red, brown, silver tolerance band: 22 x 10 = 220 ohms (220 ohms), with a tolerance of 10%

More 4 band resistor color code examples: E12 and E24 series.

Five band code:

Blue, brown, white, brown, red tolerance band: 619 x 10 = 6190 ohms (6.19K ohms), with a tolerance of 2%

Red, red, brown, black, with a brown tolerance band: 221 x 1 = 221 ohms, with a tolerance of 1%

Brown, black, black, red, with a brown tolerance band: 100 x 100 = 10000 ohms (10.0K), with a tolerance of 1%

Standard EIA Decade Resistor Values

Resistors are available in standard values such as 1K, 2.2K, 4.7K, and so on. The two most common standards are the E12 and E24. You will notice that in the E12 series each succeeding value falls within +/- 10% of the previous value. The E24 range includes all of the E12 values, plus a further 12 to enable the selection of more precise resistances.

The E6 (20%) range is a subset of the E12 (10%) range and the E12 range is a subset of the E24 (5%) range. Similarly, the E48 (2%) range is a subset of the E96 (1%) range and the E96 range is a subset of the E192 (0.5% or less) range. Note, that the E24 range is technically also a subset of the E48 range, however, because of the different number of digits used for representation and rounding errors, the corresponding values in the two series do not match.

E6 series: (20% tolerance)
10, 15, 22, 33, 47, 68

E12 series: (10% tolerance) - examples...
10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 27, 33, 39, 47, 56, 68, 82

E24 series: (5% tolerance) - examples...
10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 43, 47, 51, 56, 62, 68, 75, 82, 91

E48 series: (2% tolerance) - examples...
100, 105, 110, 115, 121, 127, 133, 140, 147, 154, 162, 169, 178, 187, 196, 205, 215, 226, 237, 249, 261, 274, 287, 301, 316, 332, 348, 365, 383, 402, 422, 442, 464, 487, 511, 536, 562, 590, 619, 649, 681, 715, 750, 787, 825, 866, 909, 953

E96 series: (1% tolerance)
100, 102, 105, 107, 110, 113, 115, 118, 121, 124, 127, 130, 133, 137, 140, 143, 147, 150, 154, 158, 162, 165, 169, 174, 178, 182, 187, 191, 196, 200, 205, 210, 215, 221, 226, 232, 237, 243, 249, 255, 261, 267, 274, 280, 287, 294, 301, 309, 316, 324, 332, 340, 348, 357, 365, 374, 383, 392, 402, 412, 422, 432, 442, 453, 464, 475, 487, 491, 511, 523, 536, 549, 562, 576, 590, 604, 619, 634, 649, 665, 681, 698, 715, 732, 750, 768, 787, 806, 825, 845, 866, 887, 909, 931, 959, 976

Final thoughts

So, why all this trouble with color coding? The resistance value could be stamped or painted on the body of the through-hole resistor, no?

Yes, but the numbers would be quite small and difficult to read. If such a resistor is mounted with the marked side down, you cannot read its value unless you take it out of the circuit. Also, the markings would easily rub off or become smeared with time.

The resistor color code might seem a bit confusing and rather inconvenient at first, but most electronics hobbyists and technicians are surprised when they realize how quickly they've memorized the color chart without the use of mnemonics or other silly shortcuts.

The color code is quite intuitive, and after a brief familiarization period, instantly recognizing resistor values will come as second nature.

Resistor color code calculator

The calculator above will display the value, the tolerance and performs a simple check to verify if the calculated resistance matches one of the EIA standard values. Select the first 3 or 4 bands for 20%, 10% or 5% resistors and all 5 bands for precision (2% or less), 5-band resistors. Hover above the tolerance for min. and max. range values.

If you want to find out the color bands for a value, use the tool on the left. Enter the value, select the multiplier (Ω, K or M), the desired precision and hit 'Display resistor' or ENTER. You can also type in resistor values in shorthand notation like 1k5, 4M7 or 100R.

Standard EIA Decade Resistor Values:

E6 series: (20% tolerance)
10, 15, 22, 33, 47, 68

E12 series: (10% tolerance)
10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 27, 33, 39, 47, 56, 68, 82

E24 series: (5% tolerance)
10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 43, 47, 51, 56, 62, 68, 75, 82, 91

E48 series: (2% tolerance)
100, 105, 110, 115, 121, 127, 133, 140, 147, 154, 162, 169, 178, 187, 196, 205, 215, 226, 237, 249, 261, 274, 287, 301, 316, 332, 348, 365, 383, 402, 422, 442, 464, 487, 511, 536, 562, 590, 619, 649, 681, 715, 750, 787, 825, 866, 909, 953

E96 series: (1% tolerance)
100, 102, 105, 107, 110, 113, 115, 118, 121, 124, 127, 130, 133, 137, 140, 143, 147, 150, 154, 158, 162, 165, 169, 174, 178, 182, 187, 191, 196, 200, 205, 210, 215, 221, 226, 232, 237, 243, 249, 255, 261, 267, 274, 280, 287, 294, 301, 309, 316, 324, 332, 340, 348, 357, 365, 374, 383, 392, 402, 412, 422, 432, 442, 453, 464, 475, 487, 491, 511, 523, 536, 549, 562, 576, 590, 604, 619, 634, 649, 665, 681, 698, 715, 732, 750, 768, 787, 806, 825, 845, 866, 887, 909, 931, 959, 976

E192 series: (0.5, 0.25, 0.1 and 0.05% tolerance)
100, 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 120, 121, 123, 124, 126, 127, 129, 130, 132, 133, 135, 137, 138, 140, 142, 143, 145, 147, 149, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 165, 167, 169, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 187, 189, 191, 193, 196, 198, 200, 203, 205, 208, 210, 213, 215, 218, 221, 223, 226, 229, 232, 234, 237, 240, 243, 246, 249, 252, 255, 258, 261, 264, 267, 271, 274, 277, 280, 284, 287, 291, 294, 298, 301, 305, 309, 312, 316, 320, 324, 328, 332, 336, 340, 344, 348, 352, 357, 361, 365, 370, 374, 379, 383, 388, 392, 397, 402, 407, 412, 417, 422, 427, 432, 437, 442, 448, 453, 459, 464, 470, 475, 481, 487, 493, 499, 505, 511, 517, 523, 530, 536, 542, 549, 556, 562, 569, 576, 583, 590, 597, 604, 612, 619, 626, 634, 642, 649, 657, 665, 673, 681, 690, 698, 706, 715, 723, 732, 741, 750, 759, 768, 777, 787, 796, 806, 816, 825, 835, 845, 856, 866, 876, 887, 898, 909, 920, 931, 942, 953, 965, 976, 988

FAQs

I have a 6-band resistor. How can I calculate its value?

Enter the first five colors. Resistors with 6 bands are basically 5-band resistors with an additional ring indicating the reliability or the temperature coefficient.

The resistor has only 3 bands

Resistor Color Code Chart

You don't have to enter the 4th band, as 20% resistors don't have a tolerance ring. They will be calculated using the 4 band rule (digit, digit, multiplier).

Examples:
Red, red, brown is a 220 ohm, 20% resistor
Brown, black, orange is a 10k, 20% resistor

Resistor Color Code Mnemonic

Which band is the first?

The short answer: you'll know that from experience! But there are some rules you can follow:

1.) Some resistors have the color bands grouped together and/or close to one end. Hold the resistor with the closely grouped bands to your left and read the resistor from the left to the right.

2.) With 5% and 10% resistors the procedure is simple: hold the resistor with the silver or gold band to the right and read the resistor from the left to the right.

3.) The first band can't be silver or gold, so if you hold such a resistor you'll know instantly where to start. Also, the 3rd color for 4-band resistors will be blue (10⁶) or less and the 4th color for 5 band resistors will be green (10⁵) or less, as basic resistor values range from 0.1 Ohm to 10 Mohms.

What happens, if I start reading from the wrong end?

You should always attempt to work out the value, then check your result against a resistor value chart to see if it's listed there. If it isn't, then try reading it again starting from the other end and check again. This is a necessary step especially with five and six banded metal film resistors.

Our color code calculator runs this check automatically for you, and if the result is not a standard value, it will display a small tip. The warnings are there for your information only and do not always imply that the resistor is was read the wrong way -- see the notes below.

Notes

1.) The resistor color code and the EIA preferred values are internationally accepted standards, but some manufacturers have their own way of doing things. For example, many resistor manufacturers make every single value on the E24 list in 1% and 2% tolerance even though the practice makes little mathematical sense.

2.) Although the program was tested rigorously, it still may have a few bugs. Therefore, when in doubt (and when it's possible) don't hesitate to use your trusted, old friend -- the multimeter -- to double-check the critical components.

Examples

Yellow, violet, black --> 47 ohm 20%

Orange, orange, brown --> 330 ohm 20%

Brown, black, red --> 1k 20%

Green, blue, red, gold --> 5.6kohm 5%

Red, yellow, orange, gold --> 24kohm 5%

Blue, gray, yellow, silver --> 680k 10%

More 4 band resistor color code examples: E12 and E24 series.

Resistor Color Code 2

Red, yellow, orange, black, brown --> 243 ohms, 1% precision 5-band resistor

Yellow, violet, gold, gold, yellow --> 4.7 ohms, 5% - this resistor is calculated with the 4-band rule (the yellow band is ignored).

Orange, black, black, brown, brown --> 3.00 k ohms, 1% - note: this is a non-standard 1% (E96) resistor, but some manufacturers make every value from the E24 series with 1% tolerance!

More: 5 band E48 (2%) series resistor color code examples.

Red, red, brown, brown, brown, red --> 2.21k, 1% 50ppm/°C

White, black, white, brown, red, red --> 9.09k, 2% 50ppm/°C

Resistor Color Code Mnemonic

- do not enter the last band (red in the two examples above)

Resistor Color Code 5 Band

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