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Resistor Color Code Calculator (4/5/6-Band)

Decode or generate resistor color codes. Supports 4, 5, and 6-band resistors — bidirectional (colours → value or value → colours).

BANDS:
DIGIT 1
DIGIT 2
MULTIPLIER
TOLERANCE
Result
1.000 kΩ
4-band · ±5%
Exact value
1,000 Ω
Tolerance
±5%
Bands
Brown · Black · Red · Gold
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Method & assumptions

4-band: digit · digit · multiplier · tolerance. 5-band: digit · digit · digit · multiplier · tolerance. 6-band: adds a temperature coefficient band.

Standard IEC 60062 colour code. Digit colours: Black=0, Brown=1, Red=2, Orange=3, Yellow=4, Green=5, Blue=6, Violet=7, Grey=8, White=9. Multiplier and tolerance use the same colours plus Gold (×0.1, ±5%) and Silver (×0.01, ±10%).

How to read a 5-band resistor color code

Read from the band closest to a lead. First three bands are significant digits. Fourth band is the multiplier (10n). Fifth band is tolerance. A resistor with Brown-Black-Black-Red-Brown reads: 1-0-0 × 100 = 10,000 Ω = 10 kΩ, ±1%.

How to read a 4-band resistor color code

Two digit bands, one multiplier, one tolerance. Brown-Black-Red-Gold reads: 1-0 × 100 = 1,000 Ω = 1 kΩ, ±5%. If the tolerance band is missing (only three bands), the resistor is ±20%.

Which end to start from

Start from the end where bands are grouped closest together. The tolerance band is usually slightly separated from the rest — read the other end first.

Frequently asked

What does the resistor code yellow indicate?
Yellow represents digit 4 (in digit positions) or multiplier ×10⁴ = ×10,000 (in the multiplier position). Yellow is not a valid tolerance colour.
How to read a 5-band resistor color code?
First three bands are digits, fourth is the multiplier, fifth is tolerance. Read from the end where bands are grouped closer.
How to read resistor color code?
Read from the band nearest the lead. 4-band: two digits, multiplier, tolerance. 5-band: three digits, multiplier, tolerance. 6-band adds a temperature coefficient.
How to read resistor bands?
Identify the tolerance band (usually gold or silver, sometimes separated from the others) and read from the other end.
How accurate is the color-code tolerance band?
Tolerance is manufacturer-guaranteed at 25 °C. Actual value can drift with temperature (temp coefficient) and age. For precision work, measure with a meter.
Next step

If this resistor is going into a new design, describe the circuit and it lands on a routed board with a footprint that matches the part.

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