Resistor Color Code Calculator (3, 4, 5 & 6 Band)
Decode resistor color bands into resistance, tolerance and temperature coefficient, or generate color bands from a target resistance value. Supports 3, 4, 5 and 6 band resistors with an interactive visual preview and full color code chart.
Most general-purpose resistors are 4-band; precision resistors are often 5 or 6-band.
Standard Resistor Color Code Chart
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance | Temp. Coefficient (ppm/°C) |
|---|
How the resistor color code works
Through-hole resistors are usually marked with colored bands instead of printed numbers. The electronic color code encodes the nominal resistance, tolerance, and sometimes the temperature coefficient into 3–6 bands.
Band meanings by type
- 3-band: 2 significant digits + multiplier (no tolerance band, assume ±20%).
- 4-band: 2 significant digits + multiplier + tolerance (most common).
- 5-band: 3 significant digits + multiplier + tolerance (precision resistors).
- 6-band: 3 significant digits + multiplier + tolerance + temperature coefficient.
Digit and multiplier colors
Digits (band 1–3):
Black = 0, Brown = 1, Red = 2, Orange = 3, Yellow = 4, Green = 5, Blue = 6, Violet = 7, Gray = 8, White = 9
Multiplier (×10n):
Black = ×100, Brown = ×101, Red = ×102, Orange = ×103, Yellow = ×104, Green = ×105, Blue = ×106, Violet = ×107, Gray = ×108, White = ×109, Gold = ×10-1, Silver = ×10-2
Tolerance and temperature coefficient
The tolerance band tells you how far the actual resistance may deviate from the nominal value. For example, a 10 kΩ ±5% resistor can be anywhere between 9.5 kΩ and 10.5 kΩ.
The temperature coefficient band (6th band) is given in ppm/°C (parts per million per degree Celsius). It describes how much the resistance changes with temperature. For example, 50 ppm/°C means a change of 0.005% per °C.
Example: decoding a 5-band resistor
Suppose you have a 5-band resistor with colors:
- Band 1: Brown
- Band 2: Black
- Band 3: Black
- Band 4: Red
- Band 5: Brown
Interpretation:
- Digits: Brown (1), Black (0), Black (0) → 100
- Multiplier: Red → ×102 = 100
- Tolerance: Brown → ±1%
So the value is 100 × 100 = 10,000 Ω = 10 kΩ ±1%.
Tips for reading resistor color codes
- Start from the side where the bands are closer together; the tolerance band is often metallic and spaced apart.
- If you see a gold or silver band, it is almost always the tolerance or multiplier band near the end.
- Use a multimeter to confirm suspicious or faded color bands.
- For SMD resistors, numeric codes (e.g. 472 = 4.7 kΩ) are more common than color bands.
Resistor color code FAQ
How do I read a 4-band resistor color code?
On a 4-band resistor, the first two bands are significant digits, the third band is the multiplier (power of ten), and the fourth band is the tolerance. Read from the end where the bands are closer together. For example, red (2), violet (7), yellow (×10,000), gold (±5%) gives 27 × 10,000 = 270,000 Ω = 270 kΩ ±5%.
What is the difference between 4, 5 and 6 band resistors?
4-band resistors use 2 digits, a multiplier and a tolerance band. 5-band resistors add a third digit for finer resolution, so they are common in precision applications. 6-band resistors add a sixth band for temperature coefficient (ppm/°C), which describes how the resistance changes with temperature.
Can I convert a resistance value back into color bands?
Yes. Use the “Value to Colors” tab: enter the resistance, choose the unit (Ω, kΩ, MΩ), select the number of bands and tolerance, and click Generate Color Bands. The calculator will choose the closest standard representation and update the visual resistor preview.
How accurate is the resistor color code calculator?
The tool follows the standard IEC 60062 color code and supports all common digit, multiplier, tolerance and temperature coefficient colors. If a value cannot be represented exactly with the selected band count, the calculator uses the nearest representable value and clearly indicates this.
What if the bands are faded or ambiguous?
If colors are hard to distinguish, try rotating the resistor under good lighting and compare against the color chart. When in doubt, always verify with a multimeter—especially in safety-critical circuits.