Resistor Color Code Calculator
Pick the band colors to get the resistance and its tolerance range. Or type a value to find its color bands.
How to read the bands
On a 4-band resistor, the first two bands are significant digits, the third is the multiplier (a power of ten), and the last is the tolerance. A 5-band resistor has three significant digits and is common on precision parts of 1% or better. The tolerance band (often gold or silver) usually sits slightly apart from the others, so start reading from the opposite end.
Frequently asked questions
Which end of a resistor do I read from?
Start from the end opposite the tolerance band, which is usually gold or silver. The tolerance band often sits slightly apart from the others, so the end where the bands are bunched together is the start.
What is the difference between 4-band and 5-band resistors?
A 4-band resistor has two significant digits and a 5-band resistor has three. Five bands are used on precision parts (usually metal film, 1% or better) so they can show finer values such as 4.99 kΩ.
My multimeter reading differs from the color code. Is the part bad?
Not if it falls within the tolerance. A 4.7 kΩ resistor with a gold (±5%) band is fine anywhere from 4.465 kΩ to 4.935 kΩ.