Resistor Color Code Calculator
Choose the color of each band to read a resistor's value, tolerance and range, or type a value like 4.7k to see which colors it has. Works for 4, 5 and 6 band resistors.
Reverse lookup: value to colors
How to use the Resistor Color Code Calculator
- Choose the number of bands on your resistor: 4, 5 or 6.
- Hold the resistor with the tolerance band (often gold or silver, and set slightly apart) on the right, and read the colors from left to right.
- Pick each band's color. The drawing and the value update instantly, showing the resistance, tolerance and allowed range.
- Going the other way? Type a value such as 220, 4.7k or 1M in the reverse lookup to see the color bands.
Resistor color code chart
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance | Temp. coefficient | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 | – | 250 ppm/K | |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% | 100 ppm/K | |
| Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% | 50 ppm/K | |
| Orange | 3 | ×1k | – | 15 ppm/K | |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10k | – | 25 ppm/K | |
| Green | 5 | ×100k | ±0.5% | 20 ppm/K | |
| Blue | 6 | ×1M | ±0.25% | 10 ppm/K | |
| Violet | 7 | ×10M | ±0.1% | 5 ppm/K | |
| Grey | 8 | ×100M | ±0.05% | 1 ppm/K | |
| White | 9 | ×1G | – | – | |
| Gold | – | ×0.1 | ±5% | – | |
| Silver | – | ×0.01 | ±10% | – | |
| None | – | – | ±20% | – |
How to read a resistor
4-band example: yellow (4), violet (7), red (×100), gold (±5%) reads 47 × 100 = 4,700 Ω = 4.7 kΩ ±5%.
5-band example: brown (1), black (0), black (0), brown (×10), brown (±1%) reads 100 × 10 = 1,000 Ω = 1 kΩ ±1%.
6-band example: the same as 5-band, with a sixth band for the temperature coefficient. Brown means the resistance changes by up to 100 parts per million for every degree Celsius.
If you are not sure which end to start from, look for the gold or silver band (always a tolerance or multiplier, never a first digit) or the band that sits a little apart from the others, and put it on the right. Values that don't match any standard E-series value usually mean you are reading it backwards.
Common resistor values and colors (4-band, ±5%)
| Value | Bands |
|---|---|
| 10 Ω | Brown, black, black, gold |
| 100 Ω | Brown, black, brown, gold |
| 220 Ω | Red, red, brown, gold |
| 330 Ω | Orange, orange, brown, gold |
| 1 kΩ | Brown, black, red, gold |
| 4.7 kΩ | Yellow, violet, red, gold |
| 10 kΩ | Brown, black, orange, gold |
| 100 kΩ | Brown, black, yellow, gold |
| 1 MΩ | Brown, black, green, gold |
Frequently asked questions
How do you read resistor color codes?
Read the bands from left to right, starting from the end farthest from the gold or silver tolerance band. On a 4-band resistor, the first two bands are digits, the third is the multiplier and the fourth is the tolerance.
What is the difference between 4, 5 and 6 band resistors?
4-band resistors have two digit bands. 5-band resistors have three digit bands for more precise values. 6-band resistors add a sixth band for the temperature coefficient, which shows how much the resistance changes with temperature.
What color is a 10k resistor?
A 10 kΩ 4-band resistor is brown, black, orange, then the tolerance band (usually gold for 5%). On a 5-band resistor it is brown, black, black, red, plus the tolerance band (usually brown for 1%).
What colors is a 220 ohm resistor?
A 220 Ω 4-band resistor is red, red, brown, gold. On a 5-band resistor it is red, red, black, black, brown.
What does tolerance mean?
Tolerance is how far the real resistance may differ from the marked value. A 1 kΩ resistor with 5% tolerance can measure anywhere from 950 Ω to 1050 Ω.
Is there a mnemonic for the color code?
A popular one is "Big Brown Rabbits Often Yield Great Big Vocal Groans When Gingerly Slapped": black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, grey, white, gold, silver.