Resistor Color Code Calculator

Decode resistor color code and find resistor value for 4, 5, and 6-band through-hole resistors.

Number of Bands

Digit 1

Digit 2

Multiplier

Tolerance

Resistance Value

1kΩ

Tolerance

±5%

Calculation Steps

Digits10
Multiplier× 100
Tolerance± 5%

Common Resistor Color Code Values (4-Band Quick Reference)

Click any row to load the bands into the resistor value calculator above. All combinations use standard ±5% gold tolerance.

Resistor Color Code Bands	Resistor Value	Tolerance	Common Circuit Application
Brown, Black, Black, Gold	10 Ω	±5%	Current sensing & low-resistance pull-up
Brown, Black, Brown, Gold	100 Ω	±5%	LED series limiter (5V) & gate damping
Red, Red, Brown, Gold	220 Ω	±5%	Standard LED current limiter (3.3V / 5V)
Orange, Orange, Brown, Gold	330 Ω	±5%	High-brightness LED limiter (5V)
Yellow, Violet, Brown, Gold	470 Ω	±5%	Indicator LEDs & BJT base drive
Brown, Black, Red, Gold	1 kΩ	±5%	Transistor base resistor & voltage divider
Red, Red, Red, Gold	2.2 kΩ	±5%	I2C bus pull-up (fast 400kHz mode)
Yellow, Violet, Red, Gold	4.7 kΩ	±5%	Standard I2C pull-up & 1-Wire bus
Brown, Black, Orange, Gold	10 kΩ	±5%	Standard MCU pull-up/pull-down resistor
Yellow, Violet, Orange, Gold	47 kΩ	±5%	Audio stage bias & low-power pull-up
Brown, Black, Yellow, Gold	100 kΩ	±5%	Op-amp input bias & high-Z divider
Brown, Black, Green, Gold	1 MΩ	±5%	Crystal oscillator feedback & high-Z sensor

How it works

Through-hole axial resistors use colored bands to indicate their resistor value, multiplier, and tolerance according to the IEC 60062 standard.

4-Band Resistor: 2 significant digit bands, 1 decimal multiplier band, and 1 tolerance band.
5-Band Resistor: 3 significant digit bands, 1 decimal multiplier band, and 1 tolerance band (typical for 1% precision metal film resistors).
6-Band Resistor: Same as 5-band, plus a 6th band indicating the Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR) in ppm/K.

To read the ohm color code correctly, orient the resistor so the tolerance band (typically spaced further apart, usually gold or silver) is on the right, and read left to right.

Worked example

Example 1: A 4-band resistor with Yellow, Violet, Red, Gold bands.

Yellow (Digit 1) = 4
Violet (Digit 2) = 7
Red (Multiplier) = ×100
Gold (Tolerance) = ±5%

Resistor Value = 47 × 100 = 4,700 Ω = 4.7 kΩ ±5%

Example 2 (Common Values):

Brown, Black, Red, Gold: 10 × 100 = 1 kΩ ±5% (brown-black-red-gold resistor value)
Brown, Black, Orange, Gold: 10 × 1,000 = 10 kΩ ±5% (brown-black-orange-gold resistor value)
Red, Red, Brown, Gold: 22 × 10 = 220 Ω ±5% (standard LED current limiter)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the resistor value for brown-black-red-gold?

A 4-band resistor with brown (1), black (0), red (×100), and gold (±5%) has a resistor value of 1,000 Ω (1 kΩ) with a ±5% tolerance. Similarly, brown-black-orange-gold has a value of 10 kΩ ±5%.

How do I know which way to read the resistor color code bands?

The tolerance band (usually Gold ±5% or Silver ±10%) is typically spaced slightly further apart from the digit group. Hold the resistor so the isolated tolerance band is on the right, and read the digits from the left.

What does the 6th band mean on a precision resistor?

The 6th band specifies the Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR), measured in ppm/K (parts per million per Kelvin). It indicates how much the resistance shifts over operating temperature extremes.

Sources

IEC 60062 Standard for marking codes for resistors and capacitors.
EIA-RS-279 standard color coding for resistors.

Results are for engineering assistance. Verify important calculations and check official datasheets. See the Engineering Disclaimer.