Color Code of Resistors

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Standard Resistor Color Code:

Color 1st Digit 2nd Digit 3rd Digit* Multiplier Tolerance Temperature.Coef. Fail Rate
Black 0 0 0 × 100      
Brown 1 1 1 × 101 ±1% (F) 100 ppm/K 1%
Red 2 2 2 × 102 ±2% (G) 50 ppm/K 0.1%
Orange 3 3 3 × 103   15 ppm/K 0.01%
Yellow 4 4 4 × 104   25 ppm/K 0.001%
Green 5 5 5 × 105 ±0.5% (D)    
Blue 6 6 6 × 106 ±0.25% (C)    
Violet 7 7 7 × 107 ±0.1% (B)    
Gray 8 8 8 × 108 ±0.05% (A)    
White 9 9 9 × 109      
Gold       × 0.1 ±5% (J)    
Silver       × 0.01 ±10% (K)    
None         ±20% (M)    
* 3rd Digit - only for 5 band Resistors

The resistor color code is a long standing standard in both the electronics and electrical industries, indicating the value of resistance of a resistor. Resistance is measured in ohms and there is a foundation for it called Ohm's Law. (Want to know about Ohm's Law? If so, please click here or click here!) Each color band represents a number and the order of the color band will represent a number value. The first 2 color bands indicate a number. The 3rd color band indicates the multiplier or in other words the number of zeros. The fourth band indicates the tolerance of the resistor +/- 20%, 10% or 5%. In most cases, there are 4 color bands. However, certain precision resistors have 5 bands or have the values written on them, refining the tolerance value even more. There is no standard (TANS) however, for the 5th band. From one manufacturing company to another, the 5th band may indicate 2%, 1%, 1/2% or even closer, according to their own standards. Color bands are usually found on resistors that have a wattage value of 1/8 to 2 watts; though it is rare, there are some 5 watt resistors that are banded. There are also some capacitors that are color coded. See our Capacitor Color Code Calculator.