Resistor Color Code Decoder

Decode a resistor's color bands into a resistance value, tolerance, and min/max range for 3, 4, 5, and 6 band resistors — or work the other direction, entering a target resistance to find the matching color bands. Every band updates a live resistor graphic, and each result includes a text legend of the color names for accessibility. A printable output is included for job-site or bench documentation.

Use Colors → Ohms to decode a physical resistor by selecting each band's color, or Ohms → Colors to enter a resistance value and find the matching band colors.

Resistor has just one black band? That's a zero-ohm resistor — a wire link, not a color-coded value. See the FAQ below.

Formula: Resistance = Significant Digits × Multiplier, with the last band setting tolerance (and, on 6-band resistors, temperature coefficient).

Band 1 — Digit

Band 2 — Digit

Band 3 — Digit

Multiplier Band

Tolerance Band

Temp. Coefficient Band

Resistance

—

Tolerance

—

±%

Minimum

—

Maximum

—

Formula: —

Results are for reference and educational purposes only. Verify all values with a multimeter before use in any circuit design or repair. See full disclaimer below.

How to Use the Resistor Color Code Decoder

Select the Band Count

Choose 3, 4, 5, or 6 bands to match the physical resistor you're reading, or the precision you need for a design.

Choose a Mode

Use Colors → Ohms to decode a physical resistor, or Ohms → Colors to enter a target resistance and find the matching bands.

Enter Your Values

Pick each band's color from the dropdowns — the resistor graphic updates live — or type a resistance, unit, and tolerance in Ohms → Colors mode.

Click Calculate and Check the Reference Charts

See the resistance, tolerance, and min/max range, plus a text color legend for accessibility. Expand the Quick Reference or Full EIA Chart below, and use Print for documentation.

Quick Reference — Common 4-Band Resistor Values

Standard E12-series values seen constantly on the bench, with their 4-band color sequence (±5% tolerance, gold band).

Value	Band 1	Band 2	Multiplier	Tolerance
10 Ω	Brown	Black	Black	Gold (±5%)
100 Ω	Brown	Black	Brown	Gold (±5%)
220 Ω	Red	Red	Brown	Gold (±5%)
330 Ω	Orange	Orange	Brown	Gold (±5%)
470 Ω	Yellow	Violet	Brown	Gold (±5%)
1 kΩ	Brown	Black	Red	Gold (±5%)
2.2 kΩ	Red	Red	Red	Gold (±5%)
4.7 kΩ	Yellow	Violet	Red	Gold (±5%)
10 kΩ	Brown	Black	Orange	Gold (±5%)
47 kΩ	Yellow	Violet	Orange	Gold (±5%)
100 kΩ	Brown	Black	Yellow	Gold (±5%)
1 MΩ	Brown	Black	Green	Gold (±5%)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I read a 4-band resistor?

The first two bands are significant digits, the third band is a multiplier (a power of ten), and the fourth band is tolerance. Read left to right, starting from the band closest to one end, with the tolerance band — often gold or silver — set slightly apart from the others.

What is the difference between 4-band, 5-band, and 6-band resistors?

A 4-band resistor has two significant digits, a 5-band resistor has three significant digits for tighter precision, and a 6-band resistor adds a temperature coefficient band on top of the 5-band layout. More bands generally mean a more precise, higher-tolerance component.

How do I find the color code for a specific resistance value?

Use the Ohms → Colors mode above: enter the resistance value, choose a unit and band count, and the tool calculates the nearest representable value and displays the matching band colors, since color codes can only express a fixed number of significant digits.

What does a single black band on a resistor mean?

A resistor body marked with a single black band is a zero-ohm resistor — essentially a wire link used to bridge a printed circuit board trace using standard resistor placement equipment, not a color-coded value.

Which end of the resistor do I start reading from?

Start from the end where the bands are grouped closer together; the tolerance band is usually separated by a larger gap and positioned closer to the other end. If a band is gold or silver, that is almost always the tolerance band, confirming the reading direction.