Resistor Color Code Calculator

Decode resistor color bands instantly

Number of Bands

Select Band Colors

Resistance Value

0Ω

Select colors to calculate

Tolerance

±5%

Temp. Coeff.

Resistance Range

Due to Tolerance

Minimum

0 Ω

—

Nominal

0 Ω

—

Maximum

0 Ω

Resistor Visualization

Enter Resistance Value

Resistance Value

Enter resistance in Ohms (Ω)

Number of Bands

Tolerance

Color Code

Enter resistance to find colors

Resistor Visualization

Entered Value

0 Ω

Nearest Standard

Resistor Color Code Reference

The resistor color code system uses colored bands to indicate resistance value, tolerance, and sometimes temperature coefficient.

Digit Colors (Bands 1, 2, 3)

Black

Digit: 0
Multiplier: ×1

Brown

Digit: 1
Multiplier: ×10
Tolerance: ±1%

Red

Digit: 2
Multiplier: ×100
Tolerance: ±2%

Orange

Digit: 3
Multiplier: ×1K
Temp. Coeff: 15 ppm/°C

Yellow

Digit: 4
Multiplier: ×10K
Temp. Coeff: 25 ppm/°C

Green

Digit: 5
Multiplier: ×100K
Tolerance: ±0.5%

Blue

Digit: 6
Multiplier: ×1M
Tolerance: ±0.25%

Violet

Digit: 7
Multiplier: ×10M
Tolerance: ±0.1%

Gray

Digit: 8
Multiplier: ×100M
Tolerance: ±0.05%

White

Digit: 9
Multiplier: ×1B

Special Colors

Gold

Multiplier: ×0.1
Tolerance: ±5%

Silver

Multiplier: ×0.01
Tolerance: ±10%

Reading Tips

Read Left to Right

Always read resistor bands from left to right. The tolerance band is usually spaced apart and on the right side.

Find Tolerance Band

Gold and silver are only used for tolerance. If you see gold or silver, that's the last band.

Remember the Mnemonic

"Bad Beer Rots Our Young Guts But Vodka Goes Well" - Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Gray, White

Use This Calculator

When in doubt, use this calculator to verify your reading. It's fast and accurate!

Understanding Resistor Color Codes

Resistor color codes are a standardized system used to indicate the resistance value, tolerance, and sometimes temperature coefficient of resistors. This system was developed in the 1920s and is still widely used today because it's easy to read and works on small components.

How to Read Resistor Bands

Different resistor types have different numbers of bands:

4-Band Resistor: Band 1 & 2 = significant digits, Band 3 = multiplier, Band 4 = tolerance
5-Band Resistor: Band 1, 2 & 3 = significant digits, Band 4 = multiplier, Band 5 = tolerance
6-Band Resistor: Band 1, 2 & 3 = significant digits, Band 4 = multiplier, Band 5 = tolerance, Band 6 = temperature coefficient

Calculation Formula

The resistance value is calculated as:

4-Band: (Digit1 × 10 + Digit2) × Multiplier ± Tolerance
5-Band: (Digit1 × 100 + Digit2 × 10 + Digit3) × Multiplier ± Tolerance
Example: Yellow-Violet-Red-Gold = (4 × 10 + 7) × 100 = 4,700Ω ±5%

Common Resistor Values

Resistors come in standard values based on the E series:

E12 Series (±10%): 10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 27, 33, 39, 47, 56, 68, 82
E24 Series (±5%): 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 43, 47, 51, 56, 62, 68, 75, 82, 91
E96 Series (±1%): 96 values per decade for precision applications

Using This Calculator

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Select the number of bands (4, 5, or 6)
Step 2: Select the color for each band from left to right
Step 3: The calculator instantly shows the resistance value
Step 4: View the tolerance and temperature coefficient (if 6-band)
Step 5: See the resistance range due to tolerance
Step 6: Check the visual representation of the resistor
Step 7: Use the "Value to Color" tab to find colors for a specific resistance

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