{"id":1005,"date":"2026-05-12T20:17:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T20:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edk-tech.net\/?p=1005"},"modified":"2026-05-14T15:23:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T15:23:19","slug":"electronic-color-codes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edk-tech.net\/?p=1005","title":{"rendered":"Electronic Color Codes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Electronic components often use color bands or printed codes to indicate their electrical values. The most common example is the resistor color code<\/strong>, which uses colored stripes to show resistance, tolerance, and sometimes temperature coefficient. Older capacitors also used color codes, but modern capacitors now use printed numeric markings instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide explains how to read both resistor and capacitor color codes accurately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resistor Color Codes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Color<\/strong><\/th>Digit<\/strong><\/th>Multiplier<\/strong><\/th>Tolerance<\/strong><\/th>Temp. Coefficient (ppm\/K)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
 <\/td>Black<\/td>0<\/td>\u00d71<\/td>–<\/td>250<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Brown<\/td>1<\/td>\u00d710<\/td>\u00b11%<\/td>100<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Red<\/td>2<\/td>\u00d7100<\/td>\u00b12%<\/td>50<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Orange<\/td>3<\/td>\u00d71,000<\/td>–<\/td>15<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Yellow<\/td>4<\/td>\u00d710,000<\/td>–<\/td>25<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Green<\/td>5<\/td>\u00d7100,000<\/td>\u00b10.5%<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Blue<\/td>6<\/td>\u00d71,000,000<\/td>\u00b10.25%<\/td>10<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Violet<\/td>7<\/td>\u00d710,000,000<\/td>\u00b10.1%<\/td>5<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Gray<\/td>8<\/td>–<\/td>\u00b10.05%<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>White<\/td>9<\/td>–<\/td>–<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Gold<\/td>–<\/td>\u00d70.1<\/td>\u00b15%<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Silver<\/td>–<\/td>\u00d70.01<\/td>\u00b110%<\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Color Digit & Multiplier Table<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Usage: Color codes vs printed values<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Resistors that use color\u2011banded:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Through\u2011hole, low\u2011power resistors<\/strong> from about 1\/8 W<\/abbr> up to 2 W<\/abbr><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Common carbon film<\/strong>, metal film<\/strong>, and carbon composition<\/strong> resistors<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Used on PCBs, prototyping boards, and legacy equipment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Resistors that use printed values (no color bands):<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Surface\u2011mount resistors (SMD)<\/strong> \u2014 use numeric codes like \u201c103\u201d (10 k\u03a9), \u201c472\u201d (4.7 k\u03a9)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Higher\u2011power wire\u2011wound resistors<\/strong> (5 W<\/abbr>, 10 W<\/abbr>, etc.) \u2014 often have the resistance and tolerance printed directly on the body<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Precision network \/ array resistors<\/strong> \u2014 usually labeled or coded in text<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Resistor Band Rules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Resistors typically use 4\u2011band<\/strong>, 5\u2011band<\/strong>, or 6\u2011band<\/strong> color coding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      4\u2011Band Resistor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Band 1:<\/strong> First digit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Band 2:<\/strong> Second digit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Band 3:<\/strong> Multiplier<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Band 4:<\/strong> Tolerance<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Example: Red (2) \u2013 Violet (7) \u2013 Orange (<\/strong>\u00d7<\/mo>1,000<\/mn><\/mrow>\u00d71,000<\/annotation><\/semantics><\/math>) \u2013 Gold (<\/strong>\u00b1<\/mo>5<\/mn><\/mrow>\u00b15%<\/annotation><\/semantics><\/math>)<\/strong> \u2192 27,000<\/mn>\u03a9<\/mi><\/mrow>\u00b1<\/mo>5<\/mn><\/mrow>27,000 \u03a9 \u00b15%<\/annotation><\/semantics><\/math><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        5\u2011Band Resistor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Used for precision resistors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Band 1:<\/strong> First digit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Band 2:<\/strong> Second digit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Band 3:<\/strong> Third digit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Band 4:<\/strong> Multiplier<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. Band 5:<\/strong> Tolerance<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Example: Brown \u2013 Black \u2013 Black \u2013 Red \u2013 Brown<\/strong> \u2192 100<\/mn>\u00d7<\/mo>100<\/mn>=<\/mo>10<\/mn>k<\/mi>\u03a9<\/mi><\/mrow>\u00b1<\/mo>1<\/mn><\/mrow>100 \u00d7 100 = 10 k\u03a9 \u00b11%<\/annotation><\/semantics><\/math><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          6\u2011Band Resistor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Same as 5\u2011band, plus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. Band 6:<\/strong> Temperature coefficient (ppm\/K)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Example: Blue (10 ppm\/K)<\/strong> indicates high stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
            \n

            Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
            \n
            \n
            \n

            How do I read resistor color bands?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Use the color table.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            • First two (or three) bands = digits<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Next band = multiplier<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Last band = tolerance Multiply the digits by the multiplier to get the resistance value.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
              \n
              \n

              What is the difference between 4\u2011band and 5\u2011band resistors?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              • 4\u2011band<\/strong> = general\u2011purpose resistors<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • 5\u2011band<\/strong> = precision resistors with an extra digit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • 6\u2011band<\/strong> adds temperature coefficientperspectives of each artist.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
                \n
                \n
                \n

                Do capacitors still use color codes?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                No. Color\u2011coded capacitors are obsolete<\/strong>. Modern capacitors use printed numeric codes<\/strong> (e.g., \u201c<\/mtext>104<\/mn>\u201d<\/mtext>=<\/mo>100,000<\/mn>p<\/mi>F<\/mi>=<\/mo>0.1<\/mn>\u00b5<\/mtext>F<\/mi><\/mrow>\u201c104\u201d = 100,000 pF = 0.1 \u00b5F<\/annotation><\/semantics><\/math>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
                \n
                \n

                What does the gold or silver band mean?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                  \n
                • Gold:<\/strong> \u00b1<\/mo>5<\/mn>%<\/mi><\/mrow>\u00b15\\%<\/annotation><\/semantics><\/math> tolerance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Silver:<\/strong> \u00b1<\/mo>10<\/mn>%<\/mi><\/mrow>\u00b110\\%<\/annotation><\/semantics><\/math> tolerance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n
                  \n

                  How do I know which side to read from?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                  • The tolerance band<\/strong> (gold\/silver\/brown\/red) is usually spaced farther apart<\/strong> or placed at the right end<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Start reading from the opposite side.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                    Electronic components often use color bands or printed codes to indicate their electrical values. The most common example is the resistor color code, which uses colored stripes to show resistance, tolerance, and sometimes temperature coefficient. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,23],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1005","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-electronics-electrical-engineering","7":"category-knowledgebase"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/peQefU-gd","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edk-tech.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edk-tech.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edk-tech.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edk-tech.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edk-tech.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1005"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/edk-tech.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1417,"href":"https:\/\/edk-tech.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1005\/revisions\/1417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edk-tech.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edk-tech.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edk-tech.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}