Resistor Color Code Calculator

Decode resistor values from color bands and calculate resistance

Color Bands

Result

What are Resistor Color Codes?

Resistor color codes are a standardized way to identify the resistance value of resistors. Most resistors have 4 or 5 colored bands that represent digits, multipliers, and tolerance values.

How to Read Resistor Color Codes

4-Band Resistors:

  1. 1st band: First digit
  2. 2nd band: Second digit
  3. 3rd band: Multiplier
  4. 4th band: Tolerance

5-Band Resistors:

  1. 1st band: First digit
  2. 2nd band: Second digit
  3. 3rd band: Third digit
  4. 4th band: Multiplier
  5. 5th band: Tolerance

Color Code Chart

ColorDigitMultiplierTolerance
Black0×1-
Brown1×10±1%
Red2×100±2%
Orange3×1k-
Yellow4×10k-
Green5×100k±0.5%
Blue6×1M±0.25%
Violet7×10M±0.1%
Gray8×100M±0.05%
White9×1G-
Gold-×0.1±5%
Silver-×0.01±10%

Example Calculation

For a 4-band resistor with colors: Brown, Black, Red, Gold

1st band (Brown) = 1

2nd band (Black) = 0

3rd band (Red) = ×100

4th band (Gold) = ±5%

Resistance: 10 × 100 = 1000 Ω ± 5%