Resistor Color Code Calculator
Decode 4, 5 and 6-band resistor color codes into resistance, tolerance and temperature coefficient — or find the bands for a value.
How to use
- 1Choose the number of bands.
- 2Pick each band's color from left to right (the tolerance band is usually spaced apart).
How it's calculated
4-band: two digits × multiplier, tolerance. 5-band: three digits × multiplier, tolerance. 6-band adds the temperature coefficient.
Frequently asked questions
Which end do I read from?
Start from the end with bands closer together; gold or silver tolerance bands are always on the right.
What's a memory aid for the colors?
Black, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, Grey, White = 0 to 9.
What does tolerance mean?
How far the real value may be from the marked value — a 1 kΩ ±5% resistor measures between 950 and 1,050 Ω.