Resistor Color Code Calculator

Calculate resistance color code and standard resistor values instantly

Free online tool to calculate resistance by color code for 4-band and 5-band resistors. Get standard resistor values, resistance colour code, and SMT resistor codes instantly.

Ω

4-Band Resistor Color Code

1st Digit
2nd Digit
Multiplier
Tolerance

5-Band Resistor Color Code

1st Digit
2nd Digit
3rd Digit
Multiplier
Tolerance

Surface Mount Resistor Code

About Resistor Color Codes and Standard Values

Understanding Resistance Color Code

The resistance color code system uses colored bands to indicate the resistance value of a resistor. Each color represents a specific digit or multiplier:

  • Black (0), Brown (1), Red (2), Orange (3), Yellow (4)
  • Green (5), Blue (6), Violet (7), Grey (8), White (9)
  • Gold (0.1x), Silver (0.01x) for decimal multipliers

Standard Resistor Values

Standard resistor values follow the E-series (E12, E24, E96) to provide uniform distribution across decades. Common standard values include:

  • E12 series: 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.7, 3.3, 3.9, 4.7, 5.6, 6.8, 8.2
  • Available in decades: 1Ω, 10Ω, 100Ω, 1kΩ, 10kΩ, 100kΩ, 1MΩ

4-Band vs 5-Band Resistors

The main difference between 4-band and 5-band resistors is precision:

  • 4-band: Two significant digits + multiplier + tolerance
  • 5-band: Three significant digits + multiplier + tolerance
  • 5-band resistors offer higher precision (1% vs 5% tolerance)

SMT Resistor Codes

Surface Mount Technology (SMT) resistors use numerical codes instead of color bands:

  • 3-digit code: First two digits are significant, third is multiplier
  • 4-digit code: First three digits are significant, fourth is multiplier
  • Example: 102 = 10 × 10² = 1kΩ