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Resistor Color Code Decoder

Pick the band colors on a 4, 5, or 6-band resistor to see its resistance, tolerance, and temperature coefficient.

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Resistor Color Code Decoder

Results

Resistance
1 kΩ
Tolerance
±5%
Range
950 Ω – 1.05 kΩ

How it works

  1. Enter your input

    Fill in the values, paste your text, or upload the file this tool works with.

  2. See results instantly

    Most tools update live as you type; a few use a single button. Either way, the result appears right on this page.

  3. Use your results

    Copy, download, or share what the tool produces — you're always in control of the output.

Privacy and processing — Runs locally in your browser. This tool does not upload your input.

What is Resistor Color Code Decoder?

Pick the band colors on a 4, 5, or 6-band resistor to see its resistance, tolerance, and (for 6 bands) temperature coefficient.

UNDERSTAND THE TOOL

How to read a resistor's color code

How to read the bands

Hold the resistor so the tolerance band (gold, silver, or a color set apart from the others) is on the right — the digit bands read left to right. A 4-band resistor has 2 significant digits, a 5 or 6-band resistor has 3, followed by a multiplier and a tolerance band.

4, 5, and 6 bands

  • 4-band: 2 digits + multiplier + tolerance — the most common on general-purpose resistors.
  • 5-band: 3 digits + multiplier + tolerance — used for tighter-tolerance (1% or better) resistors.
  • 6-band: adds a temperature coefficient band after the tolerance, for precision applications.

How to use it

  • Choose the band count that matches your resistor.
  • Pick each band's color from the dropdowns, in left-to-right order.
  • Read the resistance, tolerance, and its min–max range.

Worked example

Resistance
significant_digits * multiplier

Brown Black Red Gold

10 times 100 gives 1 kΩ with ±5% tolerance.

10 * 100 = 1000 Ω

Electronics lookup notes

Band selections are decoded locally from the standard color tables. Confirm the resistor orientation before relying on the value in a circuit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which end do I start reading from?

Start from the end farthest from the tolerance band — the tolerance band (often gold or silver, and usually spaced slightly apart) is always read last, on the right.

What if there's no visible tolerance band?

A resistor with no tolerance band at all is a legacy ±20% part — select "None" for the tolerance color.

What does the temperature coefficient mean?

It's how many parts-per-million the resistance shifts per °C of temperature change (ppm/°C). It only matters for precision circuits operating across a wide temperature range — most hobbyist projects can ignore it.

Why do 5-band resistors show a different value?

A 5-band resistor uses three significant digits instead of two, so the same first colors can represent a more precise value.

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