Resistor Color Code Calculator

Calculator

A resistor color code is a set of colored bands that encode a resistor value in ohms together with its tolerance, where each color represents a digit or a multiplier. This Resistor Color Code Calculator decodes 4, 5 and 6-band resistors instantly — pick the band colors and read off the exact resistance and tolerance, and use our color code charts to check any value.

Example Resistor Color Code Calculations

4 Band: E24, 5% tolerance

brown, black, yellow, gold	brown, brown, green, gold
brown, red, black, gold	brown, orange, grey, gold
brown, green, blue, gold	brown, blue, violet, gold
brown, grey, black, gold	red, black, blue, gold
red, red, yellow, gold	red, yellow, silver, gold
red, violet, orange, gold	orange, black, orange, gold
orange, orange, silver, gold	orange, blue, grey, gold
orange, white, green, gold	yellow, orange, white, gold
yellow, violet, silver, gold	green, brown, yellow, gold
green, blue, yellow, gold	blue, red, brown, gold
blue, grey, yellow, gold	violet, green, violet, gold
grey, red, green, gold	white, brown, red, gold

5 Band: E48, 2% tolerance

brown, black, black, black, red	brown, black, green, yellow, red
brown, brown, black, red, red	brown, brown, green, blue, red
brown, red, brown, black, red	brown, red, violet, blue, red
brown, orange, orange, green, red	brown, yellow, black, violet, red
brown, yellow, violet, green, red	brown, green, yellow, violet, red
brown, blue, red, silver, red	brown, blue, white, black, red
brown, violet, grey, blue, red	brown, grey, violet, grey, red
brown, white, green, grey, red	red, black, green, brown, red
red, brown, green, red, red	red, red, blue, white, red
red, orange, violet, green, red	red, yellow, white, black, red
red, blue, brown, red, red	red, violet, yellow, orange, red
red, grey, violet, brown, red	orange, black, brown, white, red
orange, brown, blue, grey, red	orange, orange, red, silver, red
orange, yellow, grey, yellow, red	orange, blue, green, black, red
orange, grey, orange, gold, red	yellow, black, red, orange, red
yellow, red, red, gold, red	yellow, yellow, red, yellow, red
yellow, blue, yellow, white, red	yellow, grey, violet, white, red
green, brown, brown, blue, red	green, orange, blue, brown, red
green, blue, red, orange, red	green, white, black, red, red
blue, brown, white, gold, red	blue, yellow, white, blue, red
blue, grey, brown, violet, red	violet, brown, green, brown, red
violet, green, black, white, red	violet, grey, violet, green, red
grey, red, green, gold, red	grey, blue, blue, silver, red
white, black, white, white, red	white, green, orange, brown, red

6 Band: E96, 1% tolerance

brown, black, black, white, red, orange	brown, black, red, white, red, red
brown, black, green, white, red, blue	brown, black, violet, brown, red, blue
brown, brown, black, blue, red, red	brown, brown, orange, black, red, orange
brown, brown, green, yellow, red, blue	brown, brown, grey, black, red, blue
brown, red, brown, grey, red, brown	brown, red, yellow, blue, red, yellow
brown, red, violet, black, red, red	brown, orange, black, brown, red, red
brown, orange, orange, yellow, red, red	brown, orange, violet, grey, red, violet
brown, yellow, black, green, red, brown	brown, yellow, orange, gold, red, yellow
brown, yellow, violet, yellow, red, red	brown, green, black, brown, red, blue
brown, green, yellow, white, red, brown	brown, green, grey, yellow, red, blue
brown, blue, red, violet, red, red	brown, blue, green, grey, red, blue
brown, blue, white, white, red, orange	brown, violet, yellow, orange, red, yellow
brown, violet, grey, black, red, violet	brown, grey, red, grey, red, blue
brown, grey, violet, silver, red, red	brown, white, brown, white, red, blue
brown, white, blue, green, red, brown	red, black, black, orange, red, violet
red, black, green, white, red, brown	red, brown, black, white, red, violet
red, brown, green, violet, red, brown	red, red, brown, violet, red, violet
red, red, blue, green, red, brown	red, orange, red, yellow, red, violet
red, orange, violet, grey, red, brown	red, yellow, orange, red, red, orange
red, yellow, white, white, red, orange	red, green, green, blue, red, brown
red, blue, brown, silver, red, red	red, blue, violet, white, red, red
red, violet, yellow, blue, red, yellow	red, grey, black, orange, red, red
red, grey, violet, violet, red, red	red, white, yellow, silver, red, violet
orange, black, brown, brown, red, yellow	orange, black, white, black, red, orange
orange, brown, blue, blue, red, blue	orange, red, yellow, grey, red, red
orange, orange, red, blue, red, brown	orange, yellow, black, green, red, red
orange, yellow, grey, green, red, violet	orange, green, violet, black, red, yellow
orange, blue, green, orange, red, yellow	orange, violet, yellow, violet, red, violet
orange, grey, orange, orange, red, orange	orange, white, red, red, red, yellow
yellow, black, red, blue, red, orange	yellow, brown, red, red, red, orange
yellow, red, red, violet, red, violet	yellow, orange, red, brown, red, blue
yellow, yellow, red, brown, red, red	yellow, green, orange, green, red, blue
yellow, blue, yellow, blue, red, red	yellow, violet, green, white, red, brown
yellow, grey, violet, brown, red, yellow	yellow, white, white, white, red, violet
green, brown, brown, silver, red, red	green, red, orange, blue, red, violet
green, orange, blue, blue, red, violet	green, yellow, white, blue, red, yellow
green, blue, red, grey, red, blue	green, violet, blue, silver, red, yellow
green, white, black, violet, red, red	blue, black, yellow, gold, red, orange
blue, brown, white, green, red, blue	blue, orange, yellow, green, red, violet
blue, yellow, white, violet, red, yellow	blue, blue, green, white, red, orange
blue, grey, brown, gold, red, brown	blue, white, grey, black, red, violet
violet, brown, green, violet, red, yellow	violet, orange, red, blue, red, brown
violet, green, black, gold, red, yellow	violet, blue, grey, red, red, red
violet, grey, violet, brown, red, brown	grey, black, blue, gold, red, red
grey, red, green, red, red, violet	grey, yellow, green, violet, red, orange
grey, blue, blue, orange, red, brown	grey, grey, violet, silver, red, red
white, black, white, green, red, violet	white, orange, brown, blue, red, red
white, green, orange, grey, red, violet	white, violet, blue, silver, red, blue

Q&A

How to use the Resistor Color Code Calculator?

The Resistor Color Code Calculator is capable of reading 4-band, 5-band, and 6-band resistors. First, choose the correct number of bands then setup the band colours by clicking on the virtual resistor bands. The Resistor Color Code Calculator immediately shows the resistor values.

If you one to know more about resistor color codes, resistor e-series standards, etc, you can find detailed information below. You also can download our Resistor Color Code Reading Guide.

How to read a 4-band resistor color code?

Start reading the 4-band resistor from left to right, the first two color bands represent significant digits, the third band represents the decimal multiplier, and the fourth band represents the tolerance. The exact meaning of each color code for the 4-band resistors is given in the chart below.

4-band resistor color code chart

Let’s say we have a 4-band resistor with the following color codes: brown, black, brown, black. This can be decoded like this:

• 1. band = brown = 1 digit
• 2. band = black = 0 digit
• 3. band = brown = x10 multiplier
• 4. band = +/- 1% tolerance

So this is a 10×10=100-ohm resistor with a 1% tolerance. Try this out by using our Resistor Color Code Calculator or you can check it with the 4-band resistor color code chart below.

How to read a 5-band resistor color code?

If you want to decode a 5-band resistor, start reading it from left to right. The first three color bands represent significant digits, the fourth band represents the decimal multiplier, and the fifth band represents the tolerance. The exact meaning of each color code for the 5-band resistors is given in the chart below.

5-band resistor color code chart

Let’s say we have a 5-band resistor with the following color codes: brown, green, black, orange, red. This can be decoded like this:

• 1. band = brown = 1 digit
• 2. band = green = 5 digit
• 3. band = black = 0 digit
• 4. band = orange = x1000 (1k) multiplier
• 5. band = red = +/- 2% tolerance

So this is a 150×1000=150 000-ohm (or 150K ohm) resistor with a 2% tolerance. Try this out by using our Resistor Color Code Calculator or you can check it with the 5-band resistor color code chart below.

How to read 6-band resistor color code?

Reading the 6-band resistor is easy. Starting from left to right, the first three color bands represent significant digits, the fourth band represents the decimal multiplier, the fifth band represents the tolerance, and the sixth band represents the temperature coefficient. The exact meaning of each color code for the 6-band resistors is given in the chart below.

6-band resistor color code chart

So if you have the following color code: brown, yellow, black, orange, brown, and blue, that means:

• 1. band = brown = 1 digit
• 2. band = yellow = 4 digit
• 3. band = black = 0 digit
• 4. band = orange = x1000 (1k) multiplier
• 5. band = brown = +/- 1% tolerance
• 6. band = blue = 10 ppm temperature coefficient

So this is a 140×1000=140 000-ohm (or 140K ohm) resistor with a 1% tolerance and a 10 ppm temperature coefficient value. Try this out by using our Resistor Color Code Calculator or you can check it with the 6-band resistor color code chart below.

What are the resistor E-series stands for?

Resistor E-series are standard resistor values designed for inventory simplification. This means that although it is theoretically possible to produce resistors of any value only certain resistor values are available. Resistor E-series consists of the E3, E6, E12, E24, E48, E96, and E192 series, where the number after the ‘E’ designates the quantity of value “steps” in each series. The E-series of preferred numbers were chosen such that when a resistor is manufactured it will end up in a range of roughly equally spaced ohm values on a logarithmic scale.

Each resistor E-series subdivides each decade magnitude into steps of 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 192 values. Subdivisions of E3 to E96 ensure the maximum error will be divided in the order of 40%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 2%, 1%. Finally the E192 series contains 0.5%, 0.25% and 0.1% tolerance resistors.

As a result of this in real life, many combinations of the Resistor Color Code Calculator are not possible because of this resistor value standardization.

So here are the standard E-series resistor values:

E3 resistor values (40% tolerance)

• 1.0, 2.2, 4.7

E6 values (20% tolerance)

• 1.0, 1.5, 2.2, 3.3, 4.7, 6.8

E12 values (10% tolerance)

• 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.7, 3.3, 3.9, 4.7, 5.6, 6.8, 8.2

E24 values (5% tolerance)

• 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.7, 3.0, 3.3, 3.6, 3.9, 4.3, 4.7, 5.1, 5.6, 6.2, 6.8, 7.5, 8.2, 9.1

E48 values (2% tolerance)

• 1.00, 1.05, 1.10, 1.15, 1.21, 1.27, 1.33, 1.40, 1.47, 1.54, 1.62, 1.69, 1.78, 1.87, 1.96, 2.05, 2.15, 2.26, 2.37, 2.49, 2.61, 2.74, 2.87, 3.01, 3.16, 3.32, 3.48, 3.65, 3.83, 4.02, 4.22, 4.42, 4.64, 4.87, 5.11, 5.36, 5.62, 5.90, 6.19, 6.49, 6.81, 7.15, 7.50, 7.87, 8.25, 8.66, 9.09, 9.53

E96 values (1% tolerance)

• 1.00, 1.02, 1.05, 1.07, 1.10, 1.13, 1.15, 1.18, 1.21, 1.24, 1.27, 1.30, 1.33, 1.37, 1.40, 1.43, 1.47, 1.50, 1.54, 1.58, 1.62, 1.65, 1.69, 1.74, 1.78, 1.82, 1.87, 1.91, 1.96, 2.00, 2.05, 2.10, 2.15, 2.21, 2.26, 2.32, 2.37, 2.43, 2.49, 2.55, 2.61, 2.67, 2.74, 2.80, 2.87, 2.94, 3.01, 3.09, 3.16, 3.24, 3.32, 3.40, 3.48, 3.57, 3.65, 3.74, 3.83, 3.92, 4.02, 4.12, 4.22, 4.32, 4.42, 4.53, 4.64, 4.75, 4.87, 4.99, 5.11, 5.23, 5.36, 5.49, 5.62, 5.76, 5.90, 6.04, 6.19, 6.34, 6.49, 6.65, 6.81, 6.98, 7.15, 7.32, 7.50, 7.68, 7.87, 8.06, 8.25, 8.45, 8.66, 8.87, 9.09, 9.31, 9.53, 9.76

E192 values (0.5% and lower tolerance)

• 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.17, 1.18, 1.20, 1.21, 1.23, 1.24, 1.26, 1.27, 1.29, 1.30, 1.32, 1.33, 1.35, 1.37, 1.38, 1.40, 1.42, 1.43, 1.45, 1.47, 1.49, 1.50, 1.52, 1.54, 1.56, 1.58, 1.60, 1.62, 1.64, 1.65, 1.67, 1.69, 1.72, 1.74, 1.76, 1.78, 1.80, 1.82, 1.84, 1.87, 1.89, 1.91, 1.93, 1.96, 1.98, 2.00, 2.03, 2.05, 2.08, 2.10, 2.13, 2.15, 2.18, 2.21, 2.23, 2.26, 2.29, 2.32, 2.34, 2.37, 2.40, 2.43, 2.46, 2.49, 2.52, 2.55, 2.58, 2.61, 2.64, 2.67, 2.71, 2.74, 2.77, 2.80, 2.84, 2.87, 2.91, 2.94, 2.98, 3.01, 3.05, 3.09, 3.12, 3.16, 3.20, 3.24, 3.28, 3.32, 3.36, 3.40, 3.44, 3.48, 3.52, 3.57, 3.61, 3.65, 3.70, 3.74, 3.79, 3.83, 3.88, 3.92, 3.97, 4.02, 4.07, 4.12, 4.17, 4.22, 4.27, 4.32, 4.37, 4.42, 4.48, 4.53, 4.59, 4.64, 4.70, 4.75, 4.81, 4.87, 4.93, 4.99, 5.05, 5.11, 5.17, 5.23, 5.30, 5.36, 5.42, 5.49, 5.56, 5.62, 5.69, 5.76, 5.83, 5.90, 5.97, 6.04, 6.12, 6.19, 6.26, 6.34, 6.42, 6.49, 6.57, 6.65, 6.73, 6.81, 6.90, 6.98, 7.06, 7.15, 7.23, 7.32, 7.41, 7.50, 7.59, 7.68, 7.77, 7.87, 7.96, 8.06, 8.16, 8.25, 8.35, 8.45, 8.56, 8.66, 8.76, 8.87, 8.98, 9.09, 9.20, 9.31, 9.42, 9.53, 9.65, 9.76, 9.88