Resistor Color Code Calculator
Pick the colors on your resistor to get its value and tolerance instantly. Works for 4-band and 5-band resistors — the ones in almost every soldering kit.
Written by Kerem Başbuğ · How we rank
Resistance
1 kΩ
±5% · 950 Ω – 1.05 kΩ
How to read a resistor color code
- Find the tolerance band. It is usually gold or silver and often sits a little apart from the others. Put it on the right.
- Read the digit bands from the left. Two digits on a 4-band resistor, three on a 5-band.
- Apply the multiplier. The next band says how many zeros to add — or, for gold and silver, to divide by 10 or 100.
- Note the tolerance. The last band tells you how far the real value may be from the marked one.
Example: yellow–violet–red–gold reads 4, 7, then ×100, giving 4,700 Ω — written 4.7 kΩ or "4k7" on a schematic — with a tolerance of ±5%.
Resistor color chart
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 | — |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% |
| Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% |
| Orange | 3 | ×1kΩ | — |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10kΩ | — |
| Green | 5 | ×100kΩ | ±0.5% |
| Blue | 6 | ×1MΩ | ±0.25% |
| Violet | 7 | ×10MΩ | ±0.1% |
| Grey | 8 | ×100MΩ | ±0.05% |
| White | 9 | ×1GΩ | — |
| Gold | — | ×0.1 | ±5% |
| Silver | — | ×0.01 | ±10% |
| None | — | — | ±20% |
Common resistor values and their colors
The values you will meet most often in soldering kits, as 4-band codes (add the tolerance band, usually gold):
| Value | Bands 1–3 |
|---|---|
| 10 Ω | Brown – Black – Black |
| 47 Ω | Yellow – Violet – Black |
| 100 Ω | Brown – Black – Brown |
| 220 Ω | Red – Red – Brown |
| 330 Ω | Orange – Orange – Brown |
| 470 Ω | Yellow – Violet – Brown |
| 680 Ω | Blue – Grey – Brown |
| 1 kΩ | Brown – Black – Red |
| 2.2 kΩ | Red – Red – Red |
| 4.7 kΩ | Yellow – Violet – Red |
| 10 kΩ | Brown – Black – Orange |
| 22 kΩ | Red – Red – Orange |
| 47 kΩ | Yellow – Violet – Orange |
| 100 kΩ | Brown – Black – Yellow |
| 1 MΩ | Brown – Black – Green |
4-band vs 5-band resistors
A 4-band resistor gives two significant digits, which is enough for common ±5% carbon-film parts. A 5-band resistor gives three, so it can mark values like 4.99 kΩ — you will find these on precision ±1% metal-film resistors. A few resistors carry a sixth band for temperature coefficient; ignore it for the value.
When in doubt, measure it
Brown, red and orange look alike under warm light, and so do blue and violet. Before soldering, a multimeter on its resistance setting confirms the value in seconds — and it is far easier than desoldering the wrong part later. Working out what resistor an LED needs? Use the LED resistor calculator.