Color code chart
How to use
- Read the digit bandsStart from the left end. A 4-band resistor has 2 digit bands (tens and ones), and a 5-band resistor has 3 (hundreds, tens, and ones). These are the significant digits.
- Read the multiplier bandThe next band is the multiplier (the power of 10 to multiply by). Gold means x0.1 and silver means x0.01.
- Read the tolerance bandThe band at the right end is the tolerance, such as brown ±1%, red ±2%, gold ±5%, and silver ±10%.
- Check with this toolPick the color of each band in this tool to get the resistance and tolerance automatically. To find the bands for a resistance, use the Reverse lookup tab.
FAQ
How do you read a resistor color code?
Read the bands from left to right. The first 2 or 3 bands are the significant digits, the next band is the multiplier (the power of 10 to multiply by), and the band at the right end is the tolerance. For example, brown, black, red, gold means 10 × 100 = 1kΩ with a tolerance of ±5%.
What is the difference between 4-band and 5-band resistors?
A 4-band resistor has 2 significant digits, a multiplier, and a tolerance, and is used for common resistors (E24 series). A 5-band resistor has 3 significant digits, a multiplier, and a tolerance. The extra digit is used for precision resistors (E96 series).
What do the gold and silver bands mean?
It depends on the position of the band. At the right end (tolerance), gold means ±5% and silver means ±10%. In the multiplier position, gold means x0.1 and silver means x0.01.
Which tolerance does each band color stand for?
Brown ±1%, red ±2%, green ±0.5%, blue ±0.25%, violet ±0.1%, gold ±5%, and silver ±10%. The tolerance (how far the actual value may differ from the marked value) is shown by the band at the right end.
How do I find the color bands for a resistance value?
Open the Reverse lookup tab of this tool and enter a resistance and unit (Ω/kΩ/MΩ/GΩ). The tool shows the color bands of the nearest value in the E24/E96 series. Values that are not in the E-series are rounded to the nearest value with a warning.
What are the E24 and E96 series?
They are the standard values for resistors on the market. E24 has 24 values per decade (4-band, ±5% class), and E96 has 96 values per decade (5-band, precision ±1% class). Resistors with exactly the calculated value are not sold, so you choose the nearest E-series value.