Resistor Color Code Calculator
Decode 4, 5 and 6 band resistor colour codes to resistance, tolerance and temperature coefficient. Free electronics tool.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I read the bands?
- Hold the resistor with the tolerance band (gold or silver) on the right, then read left to right. Digit bands give the significant figures, the next band the multiplier.
- What does the 6th band mean?
- The temperature coefficient in ppm/°C — how much the resistance drifts per degree Celsius. Brown (100 ppm) is the most common.
- Which way around is a 4-band resistor?
- Three bands on the left, gold or silver tolerance on the right. If the value looks absurd, flip it and re-read.
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