Resistor Decoder
Band 1
Band 2
Multiplier
Tolerance
1 kΩ
± 5%
Understanding Resistor Color Codes
How to Read a Resistor
- Find the tolerance band: This is usually Gold or Silver, and it goes on the right side.
- Read from left to right: Start from the opposite end of the tolerance band.
- Identify the digits: The first 2 (or 3) bands represent the significant digits.
- Apply the multiplier: The next band tells you how many zeros to add (or decimal to shift).
- Note the tolerance: The last band (or second to last for 6-band) shows the accuracy range.
Color Code Reference
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 | - |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% |
| Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% |
| Orange | 3 | ×1k | - |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10k | - |
| Green | 5 | ×100k | ±0.5% |
| Blue | 6 | ×1M | ±0.25% |
| Violet | 7 | ×10M | ±0.1% |
| Grey | 8 | ×100M | ±0.05% |
| White | 9 | ×1G | - |
| Gold | - | ×0.1 | ±5% |
| Silver | - | ×0.01 | ±10% |
4 vs 5 vs 6 Bands
- 4-Band: Most common. 2 digits, 1 multiplier, 1 tolerance. (e.g., 1kΩ ±5%)
- 5-Band: Higher precision. 3 digits, 1 multiplier, 1 tolerance. (e.g., 1.05kΩ ±1%)
- 6-Band: Highest precision. 3 digits, 1 multiplier, 1 tolerance, 1 temperature coefficient (ppm/°C).
Tip: The spacing between the multiplier and tolerance bands is often slightly wider to help you identify the reading direction.
Pro Tips for Electronics
- Always measure with a multimeter to confirm, as color codes can fade or be misread (especially Brown vs Red vs Orange).
- Gold and Silver are never used as the first digit band.
- For 6-band resistors, the temperature coefficient tells you how much the resistance changes per degree Celsius.
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