Resistor Color Code Calculator — 4-Band and 5-Band Values
CalculatorA resistor color code calculator converts 4-band and 5-band color bands into digits, a multiplier, and tolerance per the IEC 60062 marking code to find the resistance value.
What is it
Resistor values are marked with colored bands on the body. A 4-band resistor uses two significant digits + multiplier + tolerance, while a 5-band (precision) resistor uses three significant digits + multiplier + tolerance. Each color maps to a fixed digit, multiplier, and tolerance defined by IEC 60062 — for example brown-black-red-gold is (1×10 + 0) × 100 = 1kΩ ±5%. The first band is never black (0).
How to use
- 1Choose 4-band or 5-band.
- 2Pick the color of each band in order.
- 3Press calculate to see the resistance and tolerance range.
Reference
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 | — |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% |
| Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% |
| Orange | 3 | ×1k | — |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10k | — |
| Green | 5 | ×100k | ±0.5% |
| Blue | 6 | ×1M | ±0.25% |
| Violet | 7 | ×10M | ±0.1% |
| Grey | 8 | ×100M | ±0.05% |
| White | 9 | ×1G | — |
| Gold | — | ×0.1 | ±5% |
| Silver | — | ×0.01 | ±10% |
Sources & standards
FAQ
What is a brown-black-red-gold resistor?
(1×10 + 0) × 100 = 1,000Ω = 1kΩ with ±5% tolerance, so the actual value is between 950Ω and 1,050Ω.
How do I tell 4-band from 5-band resistors?
Count the bands. 5-band resistors carry three significant digits and are used for precision parts (usually ±1% or better), and the tolerance band often sits slightly apart from the others.
Is resistor color code input sent to a server?
No. This tool runs in your browser and does not send your selections to a server.