Resistor Color Codes & Primer

Common Resistor

Resistors are color coded for easy reading. Imagine how many blind technicians there would be otherwise.

To determine the value of a given resistor look for the gold or silver tolerance band and rotate the resistor as in the photo above. Tolerance band to the right). Look at the 1st color band and determine its color. This maybe difficult on small or oddly colored resistors. Now look at the chart and match the "1st & 2nd color band" color to the "Digit it represents". Write this number down.

Example:

First color is red which is 2
Second color is black which is 0
third color is yellow which is 10,000
Torerance is silver which is 10%
Therefore the equation is:

2 0 x 10,000 = 200,000 Ohms

Tolerances
Gold= 5%
Silver=10%
None=20%

Resistor Color Code Table And Calculator

This converter requires the use of JavaScript enabled and capable browsers. For operational and other information, and for those unable to use the calculator because of browser limitations, there is a table below the calculator and additional information below the table. This table names (as well as shows) the colors and the values. To use the calculator, select a value from the vertical group of Color Band 1, from Color Band 2 and from Color Band 3. Immediately to the left of the Calculate Values button below the three bands, there are three boxes that upon selection of a color from the bands, an identifying number and color will correspond in appearance. After selecting a value from all three bands, click on Calculate Values and the resistor's value is calculated and will appear as well as a text representation of the three bands. This calculator does not consider the 4th Band, tolerance, since it would not change the calculation. You may change a value by again clicking on the band values from any of the three bands but be sure to click on Calculate Values after each selection to update the correct information of resistor value and color band text representation.

Band Color
Options Band #1
Possible Band #2
Possible Band #3
Possible Multiplier Value
For Band 3 Band #4
Value Tolerance

Black 0 1 1

Brown 1 1 1 10

Red 2 2 2 100

Orange 3 3 3 1,000

Yellow 4 4 4 10,000

Green 5 5 5 100,000

Blue 6 6 6 1,000,000

Violet 7 7 10,000,000

Gray 8 8 100,000,000

White 9 9 1,000,000,000

None 20%

Silver 10%

Gold 5%

`Resistor Color Code Chart`
1st. & 2nd Color Band	Digit it Represents	-----Multiplier-----
`BLACK`	0	X1
`BROWN`	1	X10
`RED`	2	X100
`ORANGE`	3	X1,000 or 1K
`YELLOW`	4	X10,000 or 10K
`GREEN`	5	X100,000 or 100K
`BLUE`	6	X1,000,000 or 1M
`VIOLET`	7	Silver is divide by 100
`GRAY`	8	Gold is divide by 10
`WHITE`

Now look at the 2nd color band and match that color to the same chart. Write this number next to the 1st Digit.

The Last color band is the number you will multiply the result by. Match the 3rd color band with the chart under multiplier. This is the number you will mulitple the other 2 numbers by. Write it next to the other 2 numbers with a multiplication sign before it. Example : 2 2 x 1,000.

To pull it all together now, simply multiply the first 2 numbers (1st number in the tens column and 2nd in the ones column) by the Multiplier.

Tolerance Explanation

Resistors are never the exact value that the color codes indicate.Therefore manufacturers place a tolerance color band on the resistor to tell you just how accurate this resistor is made. It is simply a measurment of the imperfections. Gold means the resistor is within 5% of being dead-on accurate. Silver being within 10% and no color band being within 20%. To determine the exact range that the resistor may be, take the value of the resistor and mutiply it by 5,10, 0r 20%. That is the number that the resistor may go either way.

Example: A 1,000 Ohm resistor with a gold band maybe any value between 950 to 1050 Ohms.

Example: A 22,000 Ohm resistor with a silver band maybe any value between 19,800 and 24,200 Ohms.

FAQ

Just a few common questions to help you out.
1) Which side of the resistor do I read from?
The Gold or Silver band is always set to the right, then you read from left to right. Sometimes there will be no tolerance band -- Simply find the side that has a band closest to a lead and make that the first band.
2) Sometimes the colors are hard to make out. How do I make certain what the value of the resistor really is?
Occasionally the colors are jumbled or burnt off. The only way to read it then is with a multimeter across the leads
3) How do I remember this sequence of colors?
Remember the color codes with this sentence: Big Brown Rabbits Often Yield Great Big Vocal Groans When Gingerly Slapped.