Resistor Color Code Calculator
Decode 4-band and 5-band resistor color codes into resistance and tolerance. Pick each band's color to read the resistor's value in ohms instantly.
Resistance
1 kΩ ±5%
Range
950 Ω – 1.05 kΩ
Digits: black 0, brown 1, red 2, orange 3, yellow 4, green 5, blue 6, violet 7, grey 8, white 9. The multiplier band is a power of ten (gold ×0.1, silver ×0.01). Tolerance: brown ±1%, red ±2%, gold ±5%, silver ±10%.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you read a 4-band resistor?
The first two bands are significant digits, the third band is the multiplier (a power of ten), and the fourth band is the tolerance. For example brown-black-red-gold is 1, 0, ×100, ±5% = 1,000 Ω (1 kΩ) ±5%.
How do you read a 5-band resistor?
The first three bands are significant digits, the fourth band is the multiplier, and the fifth band is the tolerance. 5-band resistors offer an extra digit of precision over 4-band parts.
What do the resistor color values mean?
Each color maps to a digit: black 0, brown 1, red 2, orange 3, yellow 4, green 5, blue 6, violet 7, grey 8, white 9. The multiplier band uses the same colors as powers of ten, plus gold (×0.1) and silver (×0.01).
What is the tolerance band?
The tolerance band shows how far the actual resistance may vary from the nominal value: brown ±1%, red ±2%, gold ±5%, silver ±10%. Gold and silver are the most common tolerance colors.
Which end do I start reading from?
Start from the band closest to the edge of the resistor. The tolerance band (often gold or silver) is usually slightly separated and sits at the opposite end, so keep it on the right.