Resistor Color Code Calculator

This tool is used to decode the information on axial lead resistors with color bands. Select the number of color bands, then select the colors to determine the resistor's resistance value and tolerance.

Number of Bands
Resistor Parameters
1st Band
Select a Color
▼
  • Black 0
  • Brown 1
  • Red 2
  • Orange 3
  • Yellow 4
  • Green 5
  • Blue 6
  • Violet 7
  • Grey 8
  • White 9
2nd Band
Select a Color
▼
  • Black 0
  • Brown 1
  • Red 2
  • Orange 3
  • Yellow 4
  • Green 5
  • Blue 6
  • Violet 7
  • Grey 8
  • White 9
3rd Band
Select a Color
▼
  • Black 0
  • Brown 1
  • Red 2
  • Orange 3
  • Yellow 4
  • Green 5
  • Blue 6
  • Violet 7
  • Grey 8
  • White 9
Multiplier
Select a Color
▼
  • Silver ×0.01 Ω
  • Gold ×0.1 Ω
  • Black ×1 Ω
  • Brown ×10 Ω
  • Red ×100 Ω
  • Orange ×1 kΩ
  • Yellow ×10 kΩ
  • Green ×100 kΩ
  • Blue ×1 MΩ
  • Violet ×10 MΩ
  • Grey ×100 MΩ
  • White ×1 GΩ
Tolerance
Select a Color
▼
  • Brown ± 1%
  • Red ± 2%
  • Green ± 0.5%
  • Blue ± 0.25%
  • Violet ± 0.1%
  • Grey ± 0.05%
  • Gold ± 5%
  • Silver ± 10%
PPM
Select a Color
▼
  • Brown 100 ppm
  • Red 50 ppm
  • Orange 15 ppm
  • Yellow 25 ppm
  • Blue 10 ppm
  • Violet 5 ppm
Resistance value
Output
Resistor diagram
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Resistor value

1. What is the Resistor Color Code?

Because resistors are often tiny components, printing clear numerical values on their surfaces is physically difficult. To solve this, the industry follows a standardized color-coding system (IEC 60062). By applying rings of different colors, manufacturers can represent specific resistance values, multipliers, and tolerance ranges in a very small space.

2. Why Use Color Bands?

  • Space Efficiency: Color bands allow information to be packed onto components that are only a few millimeters long.

  • 360° Readability: Unlike flat text, bands wrap around the entire body, making them readable from any angle once soldered onto a circuit board.

  • Durability: Color pigments are often more resistant to heat and wear over time compared to microscopic inkjet printing.

3. How to Read Them

Reading usually starts from the end where the bands are clustered closer together (left to right):

  • 4-Band Resistors: The first two bands represent the significant digits, the third is the multiplier, and the fourth indicates the tolerance (precision).

  • 5-Band Resistors: These are used for higher precision; the first three bands are digits, the fourth is the multiplier, and the fifth is the tolerance.

4. Why Use This Calculator?

While memorizing the color sequence—Black (0), Brown (1), Red (2), Orange (3)…—is a rite of passage for many, manual calculation can be time-consuming and prone to error due to visual fatigue or subtle color differences.

This Resistor Color Code Calculator is designed to provide:

  • Instant Conversion: Get the exact resistance value in a single click.

  • Error-Free Results: Automatically handles complex unit conversions (from $Omega$ to $text{k}Omega$ or $text{M}Omega$).

  • Visual Confirmation: Provides a real-time preview that mimics the physical resistor, ensuring your selection matches the component in your hand.