Resistor Colour Code
Read a through-hole resistor's value from its coloured bands.
Beginner
| Colour | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 | |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1 % |
| Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2 % |
| Orange | 3 | ×1k | |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10k | |
| Green | 5 | ×100k | ±0.5 % |
| Blue | 6 | ×1M | ±0.25 % |
| Violet | 7 | ×10M | ±0.1 % |
| Grey | 8 | ||
| White | 9 | ||
| Gold | ×0.1 | ±5 % | |
| Silver | ×0.01 | ±10 % |
Four-band example: red-red-brown-gold = 2, 2, ×10 → 220 Ω ±5 %. Five-band resistors have three digit bands. SMD resistors are printed with codes: 103 = 10 × 10³ = 10 kΩ, 4R7 = 4.7 Ω.
Spotted a mistake or want to add detail? Suggest an improvement — Content Contributors' edits are reviewed by editors before they go live.
Discussion (0)
Sign in or join free to ask questions and discuss this topic.