Electronic Color Code Calculator

Easily decode electronic component values with our interactive calculator. Quickly determine resistance, capacitance, and inductance from color bands for your electronics projects.

Brown-Black-Red-Gold → 1kΩ ±5%

Orange-Orange-Brown-Silver → 330Ω ±10%

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Interactive Electronic Color Code Calculator

Use our calculator below to decode the values of your electronic components. Select the component type, choose the color bands, and get instant results.

Our full Electronic Color Code Calculator is available on our Resistor Color Code page. Click here to use it now!

Understanding Electronic Color Codes

Electronic color codes are standardized color-coding systems used to indicate the values of electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors. They provide a visual representation of component specifications without requiring text or markings.

These color codes are essential knowledge for electronics enthusiasts, engineers, and technicians who need to quickly identify component values during circuit design, troubleshooting, and repair.

Why Use Color Codes?

Small components have limited space for text markings
Color codes remain legible even after wear and environmental exposure
Universal standard recognized across the electronics industry
Allow for quick visual identification without measurement tools
Facilitate efficient inventory management and sorting

Types of Electronic Components Using Color Codes

Resistors

The most common application of color codes, using 4, 5, or 6 colored bands to indicate resistance value, tolerance, and temperature coefficient.

Capacitors

Some types of capacitors use color coding similar to resistors, particularly older disc ceramic and tubular film capacitors.

Inductors

Fixed inductors sometimes use color bands to indicate inductance value and tolerance, similar to the resistor color code system.

Resistor Color Code System

The resistor color code system is the most widely used electronic color coding standard. It uses colored bands to represent numerical values and characteristics:

First Band

First significant digit

Second Band

Second significant digit

Third Band

Multiplier

Fourth Band

Tolerance

Some resistors have additional bands for temperature coefficient or reliability indicators.

Color Code Reference Chart

Color	Value	Multiplier	Tolerance	Temp. Coefficient (ppm/K)
Black	0	10⁰ (1)	-	250
Brown	1	10¹ (10)	±1%	100
Red	2	10² (100)	±2%	50
Orange	3	10³ (1k)	-	15
Yellow	4	10⁴ (10k)	-	25
Green	5	10⁵ (100k)	±0.5%	20
Blue	6	10⁶ (1M)	±0.25%	10
Violet	7	10⁷ (10M)	±0.1%	5
Grey	8	10⁸ (100M)	±0.05%	1
White	9	10⁹ (1G)	-	-
Gold	-	10^-1 (0.1)	±5%	-
Silver	-	10^-2 (0.01)	±10%	-

Reading Resistor Color Codes: A Step-by-Step Approach

Orient the resistor correctly - Hold it so that the gold or silver band (if present) is on the right
Identify the first band - This is the first digit of the resistance value
Identify the second band - This is the second digit of the resistance value
For 5 or 6 band resistors, identify the third band - This is the third digit of the resistance value
Identify the multiplier band - This multiplies the digits by the corresponding power of 10
Check the tolerance band - This indicates the precision of the resistor
For 6 band resistors, check the temperature coefficient band - This indicates how the resistance changes with temperature

Practical Examples

Let's look at some practical examples of electronic color codes and how to interpret them:

4-Band Resistor Example

Colors: Red-Green-Brown-Gold

Values: 2-5-×10-±5%

Calculation: 25 × 10 = 250Ω ±5%

Result: 250Ω ±5%

5-Band Resistor Example

Colors: Blue-Red-Orange-Black-Brown

Values: 6-2-3-×1-±1%

Calculation: 623 × 1 = 623Ω ±1%

Result: 623Ω ±1%

6-Band Resistor Example

Colors: Yellow-Violet-Black-Red-Brown-Orange

Values: 4-7-0-×100-±1%-15ppm/K

Calculation: 470 × 100 = 47,000Ω ±1% 15ppm/K

Result: 47kΩ ±1% 15ppm/K

Capacitor Color Code Example

Colors: Black-Brown-Red

Values: 0-1-×100

Calculation: 01 × 100 = 100pF

Result: 100pF

Capacitor and Inductor Color Codes

Capacitor Color Coding

While many modern capacitors use printed values, some older or specialized capacitors still use color coding. The system typically follows these conventions:

First band: First significant digit
Second band: Second significant digit
Third band: Multiplier (in picofarads)
Fourth band (if present): Tolerance
Fifth band (if present): Voltage rating

Ceramic disc capacitors often use a modified version of the resistor color code, with the multiplier referring to picofarads (pF) rather than ohms.

Common Capacitor Tolerance Colors:

Black: ±20%
White: ±10%
Green: ±5%
Red: ±2%
Brown: ±1%
Violet: ±0.5%
Yellow: ±0.25%
Blue: ±0.1%

Inductor Color Coding

Inductors sometimes use a color code system similar to resistors, but it's less standardized and may vary between manufacturers.

When color bands are present on inductors, they typically follow this pattern:

First band: First significant digit
Second band: Second significant digit
Third band: Multiplier (in microhenries)
Fourth band: Tolerance

For example, a brown-black-red-silver inductor would represent 10 × 100 = 1,000µH (or 1mH) with ±10% tolerance.

Note:

Many modern inductors use printed values instead of color codes. The markings often use a similar format to capacitors, with letters indicating the unit (µH, mH) and sometimes the tolerance.

SMD Component Codes

Surface Mount Devices (SMD) are too small for color banding, so they use printed codes instead:

SMD Resistor Codes

SMD resistors typically use either a 3 or 4-digit code:

3-digit code: First two digits followed by multiplier (10ⁿ)
4-digit code: First three digits followed by multiplier
Example: "103" = 10 × 10³ = 10kΩ
Example: "4752" = 475 × 10² = 47.5kΩ

SMD Capacitor Codes

SMD capacitors may use various coding systems:

EIA code: Similar to resistors, but in picofarads
Example: "104" = 10 × 10⁴ = 100,000pF = 0.1µF
Full value: Some show the value directly with a unit letter
Example: "n22" = 0.22nF

SMD Inductor Codes

SMD inductors typically use abbreviated values:

Letter code: R=µH, K=mH
Example: "100" = 10µH
Example: "4R7" = 4.7µH
Example: "2K2" = 2.2mH

Tips for Reading SMD Component Codes

Challenges

Codes can be very small and difficult to read
Different manufacturers may use different systems
Some components use proprietary codes
Markings can wear off over time

Best Practices

Use a magnifying glass or microscope
Compare with known components
Consult manufacturer datasheets
Use a multimeter for verification
Keep an SMD code reference chart handy

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are electronic components color-coded instead of labeled with numbers?

Color coding offers several advantages over direct numeric labeling. It's more durable and doesn't fade as easily as printed text on small components. Colors can be easily read from any angle, making identification faster during assembly and troubleshooting. The color system also provides a universal standard that works across different languages and regions, eliminating potential confusion from varying number formats.

How do I read a 5-band resistor vs. a 4-band resistor?

The main difference is that 5-band resistors have three significant digits instead of two. In a 4-band resistor, the first two bands are the significant digits, followed by a multiplier and tolerance band. In a 5-band resistor, the first three bands represent significant digits, followed by a multiplier and tolerance band. This allows for more precise resistance values. For example, a brown-black-red-gold 4-band resistor is 1kΩ ±5%, while a brown-black-black-brown-gold 5-band resistor is 100Ω ±5%.

What does the temperature coefficient band mean?

The temperature coefficient band, found on 6-band resistors, indicates how much the resistance value changes with temperature. It's measured in parts per million per degree Celsius (ppm/°C). A lower value means the resistor is more stable across temperature changes. For example, a resistor with a 15 ppm/°C coefficient will change its resistance by 0.0015% for each degree Celsius change in temperature. This is important in precision applications where temperature fluctuations could affect circuit performance.

How accurate are electronic color codes?

The accuracy of color codes depends on the tolerance band of the component. Common tolerances range from ±0.1% to ±20%. A gold tolerance band indicates ±5%, meaning the actual value could be up to 5% higher or lower than the labeled value. Precision components with tighter tolerances (±1% or better) are typically used in applications requiring exact values, while components with looser tolerances are suitable for general-purpose use. Always consider the tolerance when selecting components for sensitive circuits.

What if I can't distinguish between similar colors?

Color distinction can be challenging, especially between similar hues like brown/red or blue/violet, or for people with color vision deficiencies. If you're unsure about color identification, use a multimeter to measure the component directly. Digital cameras and color-identifying apps can also help distinguish between similar colors. When working with color-coded components regularly, consider using a good lighting source and a magnifier. Some electronic suppliers also offer color code charts with actual color samples for comparison.

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