How to Read Resistor Color Code — Chart & Beginner's Guide
Step-by-step resistor color code guide: free chart, mnemonic, 4/5/6-band walkthrough & tolerance explained. Learn to read any through-hole resistor in under 60 seconds.
Decode any resistor in seconds
What is the resistor color code?
The resistor color code is an IEC 60062 standard that encodes resistance value, tolerance, and sometimes temperature coefficient using colored bands on the component body. It exists because printing tiny numbers on small cylindrical parts is impractical.
If you already know the band colors and want an instant value, skip ahead to our Resistor Color Code Calculator — this guide teaches you how to read them by hand.
How to read resistor color code (step by step)
- Find the tolerance band — gold or silver is almost always on the right
- Start from the opposite end — the grouped bands (closer together) mark the start
- Read digits — first two (4-band) or three (5-band) colors are significant digits
- Apply the multiplier — the next band multiplies by a power of 10
- Note tolerance — gold = ±5%, silver = ±10%, brown = ±1%
- Verify — use the calculator or a multimeter if bands are faded
Resistor color code chart (quick reference)
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 | — |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% |
| Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% |
| Orange | 3 | ×1 k | — |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10 k | — |
| Green | 5 | ×100 k | — |
| Blue | 6 | ×1 M | — |
| Violet | 7 | ×10 M | — |
| Gray | 8 | ×100 M | — |
| White | 9 | ×1 G | — |
| Gold | — | ×0.1 | ±5% |
| Silver | — | ×0.01 | ±10% |
4-band resistor color code (most common)
Read left to right with the tolerance band (gold/silver) on the right:
| Band | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1st | First significant digit |
| 2nd | Second significant digit |
| 3rd | Multiplier (power of 10) |
| 4th | Tolerance |
Example — Brown Black Red Gold: 1 · 0 · ×100 · ±5% → 1 kΩ ±5%
Common resistor color codes
| Value | 4-band colors | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 220 Ω | Red · Red · Brown · Gold | 22 × 10 = 220 Ω ±5% |
| 1 kΩ | Brown · Black · Red · Gold | 10 × 100 = 1 kΩ ±5% |
| 4.7 kΩ | Yellow · Violet · Red · Gold | 47 × 100 = 4.7 kΩ ±5% |
| 10 kΩ | Brown · Black · Orange · Gold | 10 × 1k = 10 kΩ ±5% |
| 1 MΩ | Brown · Black · Green · Gold | 10 × 100k = 1 MΩ ±5% |
5-band & 6-band codes
- 5-band: adds a third significant digit (common for 1% precision parts)
- 6-band: adds temperature coefficient (ppm/°C) — brown = 100 ppm/°C, red = 50 ppm/°C
5-band example — Brown Black Black Brown Brown: 100 × 10 = 1 kΩ ±1%
Resistor color code mnemonic
Classic phrase: "Bad Beer Rots Out Your Guts But Value Good Works"
Next step: decode instantly
Once you can read the bands, use our free Resistor Color Code Calculator to tap colors and get exact ohms.