Resistor Color Code Guide: How to Read Resistor Bands (2026)
Quick Answer
- *Color sequence: Black=0, Brown=1, Red=2, Orange=3, Yellow=4, Green=5, Blue=6, Violet=7, Gray=8, White=9.
- *4-band: digit, digit, multiplier, tolerance.
- *Gold tolerance = ±5%, Silver = ±10%, Brown = ±1%.
- *Read from the end opposite the tolerance band (gold/silver).
The Color Code Chart
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 | — |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% |
| Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% |
| Orange | 3 | ×1,000 | ±0.05% |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10,000 | ±0.02% |
| Green | 5 | ×100,000 | ±0.5% |
| Blue | 6 | ×1,000,000 | ±0.25% |
| Violet | 7 | ×10,000,000 | ±0.1% |
| Gray | 8 | ×100,000,000 | ±0.01% |
| White | 9 | ×1,000,000,000 | — |
| Gold | — | ×0.1 | ±5% |
| Silver | — | ×0.01 | ±10% |
Reading a 4-Band Resistor
Band 1 (1st digit) + Band 2 (2nd digit) + Band 3 (multiplier) + Band 4 (tolerance).
Example: Brown-Black-Orange-Gold
- Brown = 1, Black = 0, Orange = ×1,000, Gold = ±5%
- Value: 10 × 1,000 = 10,000Ω (10kΩ) ±5%
Reading a 5-Band Resistor
Three significant digits instead of two: Band 1 + Band 2 + Band 3 (digits) + Band 4 (multiplier) + Band 5 (tolerance).
Example: Red-Violet-Black-Brown-Brown
- Red=2, Violet=7, Black=0, Brown=×10, Brown=±1%
- Value: 270 × 10 = 2,700Ω (2.7kΩ) ±1%
The E-Series: Preferred Values
Resistors come in standardized value series. E12 (12 values per decade, ±10%): 10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 27, 33, 39, 47, 56, 68, 82. E24 (24 values, ±5%) adds intermediate values. E96 (96 values, ±1%) covers precision applications. Each value is spaced logarithmically so that tolerance ranges just overlap.
SMD Resistor Codes
Surface-mount resistors use printed codes:
- 3-digit: First two digits + multiplier. “472” = 47 × 10² = 4,700Ω
- 4-digit: First three digits + multiplier. “4702” = 470 × 10² = 47,000Ω
- “R” notation: The R indicates a decimal point. “4R7” = 4.7Ω
Tips for Identification
- Start from the end opposite the tolerance band (gold/silver)
- The first band is usually closest to one end of the resistor body
- When in doubt, measure with a multimeter
- 5-band resistors have tighter band spacing since they fit an extra band
Decode any resistor color code
Try the Free Resistor Color Code Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
How do you read a 4-band resistor?
Band 1 = first digit, Band 2 = second digit, Band 3 = multiplier, Band 4 = tolerance. Brown-Black-Red-Gold = 1,000Ω ±5%.
What do the resistor color code colors represent?
Black=0 through White=9. For multipliers, the color represents 10^n. Mnemonic: “Bad Boys Race Our Young Girls But Violet Generally Wins.”
What is the tolerance band on a resistor?
It shows how much actual resistance can deviate. Gold=±5%, Silver=±10%, Brown=±1%. A 100Ω gold-tolerance resistor ranges from 95–105Ω.
How do you tell which end to read from?
The tolerance band (gold/silver) is always on the right. Start reading from the opposite end. When in doubt, use a multimeter.
What are SMD resistor codes?
Printed number codes on surface-mount parts. “472” = 4,700Ω. “4R7” = 4.7Ω. The EIA-96 system uses a number + letter for 1% precision.