Category: Calculators
Resistor Color Code Calculator
Decode 4-band and 5-band resistor color bands
Select the color of each band on a 4-band or 5-band resistor to read off its resistance in ohms and its tolerance range.
Resistance1 kΩ ±5%
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What this tool does
Fixed resistors are marked with colored bands instead of printed numbers because paint survives heat and handling better than ink. Each digit band contributes a significant figure, the multiplier band scales the result, and the tolerance band states how far the true value may vary from what is printed.
How to use it
- Choose 4-band or 5-band to match your resistor.
- Select the color of each band in order, starting from the band closest to one end.
- Read the resistance and tolerance range underneath.
Privacy
This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your input is never uploaded, stored or shared — closing the tab removes it.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I know which end to start reading from?
- Start from the band closest to one edge of the resistor; the tolerance band (commonly gold or silver) is usually spaced slightly further from the others and sits last, at the opposite end.
- What is the difference between a 4-band and 5-band resistor?
- A 4-band resistor has two significant-digit bands, then a multiplier and a tolerance band. A 5-band resistor has three significant-digit bands for finer precision, then the same multiplier and tolerance bands.
- What does the tolerance band mean?
- Tolerance states the manufacturer's guaranteed accuracy. A 1 kΩ resistor with 5% tolerance (gold) could measure anywhere from 950 Ω to 1,050 Ω and still be within specification.