🧰 ToolPicoAll Tools →

Resistor Color Code Calculator

Pick the color bands and get the ohm value instantly — or enter an ohm value and find the correct color code. Supports 3, 4, 5, and 6 bands, a real-color visual resistor diagram, an SMD code decoder, and E12/E24/E96 standard value checking.

3 · 4 · 5 · 6 bands SMD code 3/4-digit · E96 E12 / E24 / E96 check Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Ω
E.g.: 4700, 4k7, 4.7k, 2M2, R47 (engineering notation supported)
Enter a 3-digit (472), 4-digit (4702), EIA-96 (01A), R-notation (4R7), or "000" (jumper) code.
+ Add resistor
Enter one resistor value per line. Engineering notation like 4700, 4k7, 2M2, R47 is supported; series sums the values, parallel finds the equivalent.
Quick answer Resistor color code is read left to right: the first bands give the significant digits, the second-to-last band gives the multiplier (power of ten), and the last band gives the tolerance percentage. For example, yellow-violet-red-gold (4-band) = 47 × 100 = 4700 Ω (4.7 kΩ), ±5% tolerance. Pick the bands below or enter an ohm value to calculate instantly.
4.7 kΩYellow-Violet-Red-Gold
±5%Gold tolerance band
E2424 values per decade
IEC 60062color code standard
⚙️ Accuracy note: Calculations are based on the IEC 60062 color code standard and the EIA-96 SMD code system; all results are computed instantly and deterministically in your browser. Temperature coefficient and tolerance colors may vary slightly by manufacturer datasheet — for critical applications, refer to the resistor's official datasheet. All operations run locally in your browser; nothing you enter is sent to a server.
🎛️ Resistor Color Code Calculator — ToolPico ↗

What is a resistor color code, and how do you read one?

A complete guide — with formulas and examples — to 4-band, 5-band, and 6-band resistor calculation, tolerance colors, temperature coefficient, and the E12/E24/E96 standard series.

A resistor color code is an international marking system (IEC 60062) that shows a resistor's ohm value, tolerance, and sometimes temperature coefficient through colored bands painted on its body. Because printing numbers on tiny resistor bodies is impractical, each color is standardized to represent a specific digit, multiplier, or percentage. This tool instantly calculates both directions — from color to ohms, and from ohms to color — plus SMD code decoding and series/parallel combination.

How do you calculate a 4-band resistor?

Quick answerThe first two bands are significant digits (0-9), the third band is the multiplier (a power of ten, including gold=×0.1 and silver=×0.01), and the fourth band is the tolerance percentage. Value = (1st digit × 10 + 2nd digit) × multiplier. This is the most common resistor type; just select "4 bands" above and choose the three or four colors.

What are 5-band resistor colors?

Quick answerA 5-band resistor has three digit bands (hundreds-tens-units), which allows for a more precise value on resistors with 1% or tighter tolerance. The fourth band is the multiplier, and the fifth band is the tolerance. Value = (1st digit×100 + 2nd digit×10 + 3rd digit) × multiplier.

What does the resistor tolerance color mean?

Quick answerThe tolerance band shows, as a percentage, how far the actual manufactured value can deviate from the nominal value: brown ±1%, red ±2%, green ±0.5%, blue ±0.25%, violet ±0.1%, gray ±0.05%, gold ±5%, silver ±10%. If there is no tolerance band (3-band resistor), a standard tolerance of ±20% is assumed.

How do you convert an ohm value to a color code?

Quick answerThe value is rounded to 2 or 3 significant digits based on the band count you choose; the remainder becomes the multiplier. For example, 10,000 Ω is coded brown-black-orange-gold in 4-band form (10 × 1000, ±5%). Just type the value into the "Ohm → Color" tab — engineering notation like "4k7" or "2M2" is also accepted.

What is the E12, E24, E96 series?

Quick answerThe E-series in the IEC 60063 standard let manufacturers produce a fixed set of standard values instead of an infinite number of possible values: E12 (±10% tolerance, 12 values per decade), E24 (±5%, 24 values), E96 (±1%, 96 values). The calculator automatically shows whether your entered value matches one of these series exactly, or what the nearest standard value is.

How do you read an SMD resistor code?

Quick answerSurface-mount (SMD) resistors use a numeric/letter code instead of color bands. In a 3-digit code, the first 2 digits are the significant digits and the last digit is the multiplier (472 = 47×100 = 4700 Ω). In a 4-digit code, the first 3 digits are significant digits and the last digit is the multiplier. Precision (±1%) resistors use an EIA-96 code: the first 2 digits point to a value in a reference table, and the final letter gives the multiplier (01A = 100 Ω). The "SMD Code" tab decodes these automatically.

What is the difference between a 6-band resistor and a 4/5-band one?

Quick answer6-band resistors carry all the information of a 5-band resistor plus a temperature coefficient (ppm/°C) band — this shows how many parts per million the resistance changes per 1°C of temperature change, and it matters in precision measurement circuits. 4- and 5-band resistors do not carry this information.

How do you calculate series and parallel resistors?

Quick answerFor resistors in series, the equivalent (total) resistance is the sum of the values: R = R1 + R2 + R3 + … For resistors in parallel, it's the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals: 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + … Two 10 kΩ resistors give 20 kΩ in series and 5 kΩ in parallel. Enter the values (e.g. 1k, 4k7, 220) in the "Series / Parallel" tab above.

Common resistor values and 4-band color codes

The most commonly used resistor values in electronics projects, with their standard 4-band (±5%, gold) color code equivalents.

Common resistor values — 4-band, ±5% tolerance (gold)
ValueColor codeCommon use
10 ΩBrown-Black-Black-GoldCurrent limiting, shunt
100 ΩBrown-Black-Brown-GoldLED series resistor (5V)
220 ΩRed-Red-Brown-GoldLED series resistor (classic)
1 kΩBrown-Black-Red-GoldPull-up / pull-down
4.7 kΩYellow-Violet-Red-GoldI2C pull-up, general purpose
10 kΩBrown-Black-Orange-GoldPotentiometer, pull-up
100 kΩBrown-Black-Yellow-GoldHigh-impedance circuit
1 MΩBrown-Black-Green-GoldTimer (RC) circuit
💡LED Series Resistor CalculatorPick the right current-limiting resistor for any LED + supply voltage 🔲SMD Size → Power Rating0201 to 2512 package power reference, in the table above

Explore all ToolPico tools →

Resistor color code reference tables

Citable reference: color-digit-multiplier-tolerance table, E12/E24 standard values, E96/SMD letter multipliers, and temperature coefficient.

Resistor color code table (IEC 60062)
ColorDigitMultiplierTolerance

Source: IEC 60062 resistor and capacitor marking standard.

E12 series (±10% tolerance, 12 values per decade)
1.0 · 1.2 · 1.5 · 1.8 · 2.2 · 2.7 · 3.3 · 3.9 · 4.7 · 5.6 · 6.8 · 8.2
E24 series (±5% tolerance, 24 values per decade)
1.0 · 1.1 · 1.2 · 1.3 · 1.5 · 1.6 · 1.8 · 2.0 · 2.2 · 2.4 · 2.7 · 3.0 · 3.3 · 3.6 · 3.9 · 4.3 · 4.7 · 5.1 · 5.6 · 6.2 · 6.8 · 7.5 · 8.2 · 9.1

Values repeat in every decade (×1, ×10, ×100...). Source: IEC 60063.

The E96 series (±1% tolerance, 96 values per decade). On SMD resistors, the numeric part of the EIA-96 code corresponds to the row number in this table. Source: IEC 60063.

EIA-96 SMD code letter multipliers
LetterMultiplier
Z×0.001
Y or R×0.01
X or S×0.1
A×1
B or H×10
C×100
D×1,000
E×10,000
F×100,000

Example: "01A" → row 01 in the E96 table = 100 (base value) × A (×1) = 100 Ω. "01Y" → 100 × 0.01 = 1 Ω.

6th band — temperature coefficient (ppm/°C)
Colorppm/°C

Shows how many parts per million the resistance changes for every 1°C of temperature change. This matters in precision measurement and calibration circuits.

SMD chip resistor package size → typical power rating
Package (imperial)Metric (mm)Size (L×W)Typical power

Power ratings are typical values for standard thick-film chip resistors and vary by manufacturer and series — always confirm against the specific part's datasheet before a design decision. Package codes follow the common EIA/imperial naming (e.g. "0402" = 0.04in × 0.02in).

Add this calculator to your site (embed code)

Embed the resistor color code calculator on your own website for free. Copy the code below into your HTML — the tool runs in a simplified view and links back to this page as its source.

The embedded tool has a fixed layout; you can adjust the height value to fit your site. No ads or personal data, runs entirely client-side.

Resistor terms glossary

Short definitions of the core terms used in resistor color coding.

Resistor (Ω)A passive circuit component that expresses opposition to current flow, measured in ohms (Ω).
Significant digitThe first digits that form a resistor's numeric value (2 digits for 4-band, 3 digits for 5-6 band).
MultiplierThe power of ten the significant digits are multiplied by; includes gold (×0.1) and silver (×0.01).
ToleranceThe maximum percentage the actual value may deviate from the nominal value. Assumed ±20% if no band is present.
Temperature coefficient (ppm/°C)The 6th band; shows the effect of temperature change on resistance in parts per million.
E-series (E12/E24/E96)Standardized preferred resistance value ranges defined by IEC 60063, based on tolerance.
SMD resistorA surface-mount resistor; due to its small body it carries a numeric/letter code instead of color bands.
EIA-96 codeA marking used on ±1%-tolerance SMD resistors, made of a 2-digit table code plus a 1-letter multiplier.
Jumper (0 Ω)A "000"-coded or single-black-band 0-ohm resistor used in place of a wire bridge on a PCB.
Body materialThe resistor's construction, such as carbon film, metal film, or metal oxide; precision and tolerance depend on it.

In-depth guides

Step-by-step walkthroughs of the most commonly confused resistor color code questions.

How is a 4-band resistor value calculated? (step by step)

Step 1: Read the first two bands as significant digits → yellow = 4, violet = 7, giving 47.
Step 2: Read the third band as the multiplier → red = ×100.
Step 3: Multiply → 47 × 100 = 4700 Ω (4.7 kΩ).
Step 4: Read the fourth band as the tolerance → gold = ±5%, so the actual value falls between 4465 Ω and 4935 Ω.

You can see this instantly by selecting yellow, violet, red, and gold in the "Color → Ohm" tab above.

Don't confuse tolerance with the E-series

Tolerance (the last band) tells you how far an individual resistor's actual value may deviate from its label. The E-series (E12/E24/E96) is a separate concept: it's the fixed set of nominal values a manufacturer actually produces for a given tolerance class. A tighter tolerance (like ±1%, E96) needs more values per decade to keep gaps between neighboring parts small, which is why E96 has 96 values while E12 (±10%) only needs 12.

The "Color → Ohm" and "Ohm → Color" tabs both show whether your value is an exact E-series match, or point you to the nearest standard value.

Reading an EIA-96 SMD code like "01A"

Step 1: Split the code into its numeric part ("01") and its letter ("A").
Step 2: Look up row 01 in the E96 table → base value 100.
Step 3: Apply the letter's multiplier → A = ×1.
Step 4: Multiply → 100 × 1 = 100 Ω.

Changing the letter changes only the multiplier: "01Y" would be 100 × 0.01 = 1 Ω. The "SMD Code" tab decodes any 3-digit, 4-digit, EIA-96, R-notation, or jumper code instantly.

Frequently asked questions

How do you read a resistor color code?
The colored bands on a resistor's body are read left to right (the end closest to the tolerance band is treated as the right side). The first bands (2 or 3 of them) give the significant digits, the next band gives the multiplier (which power of ten to multiply by), and the last band gives the tolerance percentage. For example, a 4-band yellow-violet-red-gold resistor: yellow=4, violet=7, red=×100, gold=±5% → 47×100=4700 Ω (4.7 kΩ), ±5%.
How do you calculate a 4-band resistor?
On a 4-band resistor, the first two bands give the significant digits (0-9), the third band gives the multiplier (a power of ten, including gold=×0.1 and silver=×0.01), and the fourth band gives the tolerance (±1%–±10%). Value = (1st digit×10 + 2nd digit) × multiplier. Just select "4 bands" above and choose the colors.
What are 5-band resistor colors?
5-band resistors have three digit bands, allowing a more precise value on resistors with 1% or tighter tolerance. The first three bands give the significant digits (hundreds-tens-units), the fourth band gives the multiplier, and the fifth gives the tolerance. Value = (1st digit×100 + 2nd digit×10 + 3rd digit) × multiplier.
What does the resistor tolerance color mean?
The tolerance band shows, as a percentage, how far the actual value may deviate from the nominal value: brown ±1%, red ±2%, green ±0.5%, blue ±0.25%, violet ±0.1%, gray ±0.05%, gold ±5%, silver ±10%. If there is no tolerance band (3-band resistor), a standard tolerance of ±20% is assumed.
How do you convert an ohm value to a color code?
The value is rounded to 2 or 3 significant digits based on the band count you choose; the remainder becomes the multiplier (power of ten). For example, 10,000 Ω is coded brown-black-orange-gold in 4-band form. Just type the value into the "Ohm → Color" tab above; engineering notation like "4k7" or "2M2" is also accepted.
What is the E24 series?
E24 is a series defined in IEC 60063, used for ±5%-tolerance resistors, consisting of 24 standard values per decade (1.0 – 1.1 – 1.2 ... 9.1). E12 (±10%, 12 values) is more sparse, and E96 (±1%, 96 values) is denser. The calculator automatically checks which of these series your value corresponds to.
How do you decode an SMD resistor code (472, 4702, 01A)?
Surface-mount (SMD) resistors carry a numeric/letter code instead of color bands. In a 3-digit code, the first 2 digits are significant digits and the last digit is the multiplier (472 = 47×100 = 4700 Ω). In a 4-digit code, the first 3 digits are significant digits and the last digit is the multiplier (4702 = 470×100 = 47,000 Ω). In an EIA-96 code, the first 2 digits point to a value in a reference table, and the final letter gives the multiplier (01A = 100×1 = 100 Ω). The "SMD Code" tab decodes these instantly.
What is the difference between a 6-band resistor and a 4/5-band resistor?
6-band resistors carry all the information of a 5-band resistor plus a temperature coefficient (ppm/°C) band. This value shows how many parts per million the resistance changes per 1°C of temperature change, and it matters in precision measurement and calibration circuits. 4- and 5-band resistors do not carry this information.
How do you calculate series and parallel resistors?
For resistors in series, the equivalent (total) resistance is the sum of all values: R = R1 + R2 + R3 + … For resistors in parallel, it is the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals: 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + … Two 10 kΩ resistors give 20 kΩ in series and 5 kΩ in parallel. Enter the values (e.g. 1k, 4k7, 220 — engineering notation included) in the "Series / Parallel" tab above to calculate instantly.
Where does this data come from, and how often is it updated?
Color code, tolerance, temperature coefficient, and E-series values are based on the IEC 60062/60063 standards, which are fixed, evergreen tables that don't change over time — no annual update is required. Last reviewed: July 19, 2026.
What power rating does an SMD resistor package handle?
Power rating scales with the physical size of the SMD chip resistor package: 0201 ≈ 1/20 W, 0402 ≈ 1/16 W, 0603 ≈ 1/10 W, 0805 ≈ 1/8 W, 1206 ≈ 1/4 W, 1210 ≈ 1/3 W, 1218 ≈ 1/2 W, 2010 ≈ 3/4 W, 2512 ≈ 1 W. These are typical values for standard thick-film resistors and vary by manufacturer, so always check the specific part's datasheet. See the "SMD size → power rating" tab in the reference tables above.
How do you calculate the right resistor value for an LED?
An LED series (current-limiting) resistor is calculated with Ohm's law: R = (Supply voltage − LED forward voltage) ÷ LED current. For example, a 9V supply, a 2V red LED, and a 20mA target current gives (9−2)/0.02 = 350 Ω, so you'd pick the nearest standard value (330 Ω or 390 Ω). Use the LED Series Resistor Calculator to compute this instantly and get the matching color code.

Methodology & sources

ToolPico's Resistor Color Code Calculator is a free, independent tool. The calculation engine applies color-digit, color-multiplier, color-tolerance, and color-temperature-coefficient mappings directly from the IEC 60062 standard, standard value series (E12/E24/E96) from IEC 60063, and SMD code decoding from the common 3/4-digit conventions plus the EIA-96 code rules. All calculations are deterministic; no external API or database is queried.

Sources: IEC 60062 (resistor and capacitor marking) · IEC 60063 (E-series preferred values) · EIA-96 SMD code standard. Last updated: July 19, 2026. Results are for informational purposes only; for critical or precision applications, refer to the resistor's official datasheet.

🔗 Add this tool to your site

Copy the code below into your own site. The tool is free, always up to date, and runs entirely on your page. No sign-up required.

Preview →
⚡ Built with ToolPico · toolpico.com