Resistor color code calculator
Click the colors on your resistor to get its value, or type a value such as 220, 4k7 or 1M to see its color bands. Works for 3, 4, 5 and 6-band resistors and shows the tolerance, SMD code and nearest standard value.
10 kΩ ±5%
9.5 kΩ – 10.5 kΩ
- Bands
- Brown-Black-Orange-Gold
- Tolerance
- ±5% (J)
- E-series
- Standard value in E3, E6, E12, E24, E48, E96, E192
- SMD code
- 103 (3-digit) · 1002 (4-digit) · 01C (EIA-96)
- More
- 10 kΩ resistor: uses, codes and power →
3-band resistor? Use 4 bands and pick “none” for tolerance (±20%).
How to read resistor color codes
Resistor color codes are defined by the international standard IEC 60062. Each color stands for a number, so a value can be printed on a part too small for text. On a 4-band resistor the first two bands are digits, the third is the multiplier (how many zeros to add) and the fourth is the tolerance. A 5-band resistor adds a third digit for precision values, and a 6-band resistor adds a final band for the temperature coefficient.
- Find the first band. Turn the resistor so the gold or silver band — or the band set apart from the others — is on the right. Gold and silver are never the first band.
- Read the digits. The first two bands (three on 5- and 6-band resistors) are the significant digits: brown = 1, black = 0 gives 10.
- Apply the multiplier. The next band is the power of ten to multiply by: orange = ×1,000, so 10 × 1,000 = 10,000 Ω = 10 kΩ.
- Read the tolerance. The last band (fifth-from-left on 6-band parts) is the tolerance: gold = ±5%, so the real value is between 9.5 kΩ and 10.5 kΩ.
Resistor color code chart
Memorise the digit order with “Better Be Right Or Your Great Big Venture Goes Wrong” — black 0, brown 1, red 2, orange 3, yellow 4, green 5, blue 6, violet 7, grey 8, white 9. A printable chart and more memory tricks with practice questions are also available.
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance | Temp. coeff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 | — | 250 ppm/K |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% (F) | 100 ppm/K |
| Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% (G) | 50 ppm/K |
| Orange | 3 | ×1k | ±0.05% (W) | 15 ppm/K |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10k | ±0.02% (P) | 25 ppm/K |
| Green | 5 | ×100k | ±0.5% (D) | 20 ppm/K |
| Blue | 6 | ×1M | ±0.25% (C) | 10 ppm/K |
| Violet | 7 | ×10M | ±0.1% (B) | 5 ppm/K |
| Grey | 8 | ×100M | ±0.01% (L) | 1 ppm/K |
| White | 9 | ×1G | — | — |
| Gold | — | ×0.1 | ±5% (J) | — |
| Silver | — | ×0.01 | ±10% (K) | — |
| None | — | — | ±20% (M) | — |
4-band vs 5-band vs 6-band resistors
4-band resistors (usually beige carbon-film bodies) have two significant digits and come in ±5% (gold) or ±10% (silver) tolerance — enough for LEDs, pull-ups and most hobby circuits. 5-band resistors (usually blue metal-film bodies) have three significant digits so they can show precision values like 4.99 kΩ or 49.9 Ω, normally at ±1% (brown) or better. 6-band resistors add the temperature coefficient, which matters in measurement and reference circuits. A 3-band resistor has no tolerance band and is ±20%.
Not every value exists: resistors are made in standard E-series values such as E12 and E24. The calculator tells you whether a value is standard and which one is nearest. Surface-mount parts use printed numbers instead of colors — decode them with the SMD resistor code calculator.
Common resistor values
- 220 ΩRed-Red-Brown-Gold
- 330 ΩOrange-Orange-Brown-Gold
- 470 ΩYellow-Violet-Brown-Gold
- 1 kΩBrown-Black-Red-Gold
- 4.7 kΩYellow-Violet-Red-Gold
- 10 kΩBrown-Black-Orange-Gold
- 100 kΩBrown-Black-Yellow-Gold
- 1 MΩBrown-Black-Green-Gold
See all 37 common resistor values →
More electronics calculators
- SMD resistor code calculator3-digit, 4-digit and EIA-96 markings
- Standard resistor valuesE3–E192 tables and the nearest value
- Ohm's law calculatorVolts, amps, ohms and watts from any two
- LED resistor calculatorThe series resistor for one or more LEDs
- Voltage divider calculatorOutput voltage and standard resistor pairs
- Series & parallel resistorsTotals and two-resistor combinations
- Capacitor code calculator104 → 100 nF, tolerance and voltage codes
Guides
- Reading Resistor Color Bands Without GuessworkEvery through-hole resistor carries its value as a set of colored rings. Once you know which end to start from and what each band position means, most resistors take a few seconds to read.
- How to Decode the Numbers on SMD ResistorsSurface-mount resistors are too small for color bands, so they carry a short printed code instead, or no marking at all. Here is how to turn each marking system into a resistance.
- Choosing the Right Series Resistor for an LEDAn LED has almost no built-in current limiting, so a resistor in series decides how much current flows. The formula is one line; choosing sensible numbers to put into it is what this guide is about.
- Why Resistors Come in 4.7 kΩ and Not 5 kΩResistor values look random until you see the pattern behind them: each decade is split into equal ratios rather than equal steps, and the number of steps is matched to the tolerance.
- How Many Watts Does Your Resistor Need?Every resistor turns the current through it into heat. Its power rating says how much heat it can shed without damage, and getting that wrong is one of the most common causes of smoke on a breadboard.
- Pull-Up vs Pull-Down Resistors for MicrocontrollersA digital input that is not connected to anything does not read as zero; it reads whatever noise it picks up. One resistor fixes that, and its value matters more than most tutorials let on.
- How to Remember the Resistor Color CodeTen colors, ten digits. A mnemonic gets you started, but a few patterns and ten minutes of practice are what make the code stick so you can read a resistor without looking anything up.
Frequently asked questions
How do I read a resistor color code?
Hold the resistor so the tolerance band (often gold or silver, set slightly apart) is on the right. Read the bands from left to right: the first two (or three on 5- and 6-band resistors) are digits, the next is the multiplier, then the tolerance. Red-red-brown-gold is 2, 2, ×10, ±5% = 220 Ω.
Which end of a resistor do I start reading from?
Start from the end with the band closest to the lead. Gold and silver are never first, and the tolerance band is usually separated by a wider gap. If both ends look the same, try both readings: only one will normally give a standard E-series value.
What is the difference between 4-band and 5-band resistors?
A 4-band resistor has two significant digits and is usually ±5% (gold) or ±10% (silver). A 5-band resistor has three significant digits for precision values like 4.99 kΩ and is usually ±1% (brown) or better.
What does the 6th band on a resistor mean?
The sixth band is the temperature coefficient: how much the resistance changes with temperature, in parts per million per kelvin. Brown is 100 ppm/K, red 50 ppm/K and so on.
What if my resistor only has 3 bands?
A 3-band resistor has two digits and a multiplier with no tolerance band, which means ±20%.
What does 4k7 mean?
It is the RKM (letter-as-decimal-point) notation used on schematics: 4k7 = 4.7 kΩ, 2R2 = 2.2 Ω, 1M5 = 1.5 MΩ. Writing the letter instead of a decimal point avoids misreading values when a dot is lost in printing. You can type values this way into the calculator.
Why can I not buy a 5 kΩ resistor?
Resistors are made in standard E-series values spaced so that their tolerance ranges overlap. 5 kΩ is not in the common E12 or E24 series; the nearest values are 4.7 kΩ and 5.1 kΩ.