How to Read Resistor Color Code – 4-Band, 5-Band and 6-Band Resistors
If you are an electronics student or hobbyist, you have seen those tiny resistors with colored stripes. You need to know their resistance value without measuring with a multimeter every time. The resistor color code is the standard way to encode resistance value, tolerance, and sometimes temperature coefficient. In this guide, I will explain how to read 4-band, 5-band, and 6-band resistors. I will also give you a color chart, examples, and a free calculator link.
The Resistor Color Code Chart
Memorizing the color codes is not hard. Here is the standard table. You will use it for both digit bands and multiplier bands.
| Color | Digit Value | Multiplier | Tolerance (4-band/5-band) | Temp. Coefficient (6-band) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | 10^0 = 1 | – | 250 ppm/K |
| Brown | 1 | 10^1 = 10 | ±1% | 100 ppm/K |
| Red | 2 | 10^2 = 100 | ±2% | 50 ppm/K |
| Orange | 3 | 10^3 = 1,000 | ±0.05% | 15 ppm/K |
| Yellow | 4 | 10^4 = 10,000 | ±0.02% | 25 ppm/K |
| Green | 5 | 10^5 = 100,000 | ±0.5% | 20 ppm/K |
| Blue | 6 | 10^6 = 1,000,000 | ±0.25% | 10 ppm/K |
| Violet | 7 | 10^7 = 10,000,000 | ±0.1% | 5 ppm/K |
| Grey | 8 | 10^8 = 100,000,000 | ±0.01% | 1 ppm/K |
| White | 9 | 10^9 = 1,000,000,000 | – | – |
| Gold | – | 10^-1 = 0.1 | ±5% | – |
| Silver | – | 10^-2 = 0.01 | ±10% | – |
| None (4th band missing) | – | – | ±20% | – |
4-Band Resistor Color Code (Most Common)
Through-hole resistors you see in lab kits are usually 4-band. Reading them is simple.
- Band 1: First digit
- Band 2: Second digit
- Band 3: Multiplier (power of ten)
- Band 4: Tolerance (Gold = ±5%, Silver = ±10%, Brown = ±1%)
Formula: Resistance = (Digit1 Digit2) × Multiplier, with tolerance as given.
Example 1: 4-band resistor with colors Yellow, Violet, Red, Gold
Digits: 47. Multiply by 100 = 4700 ohms = 4.7 kilo-ohms (4.7 kΩ).
Gold = ±5% tolerance. So the resistor is 4.7 kΩ ±5%.
Example 2: Brown, Black, Orange, Gold
Digits: 10. 10 × 1000 = 10,000 ohms = 10 kΩ. Tolerance ±5%.
Example 3: Green, Blue, Yellow, Silver
56 × 10,000 = 560,000 ohms = 560 kΩ. Silver = ±10% tolerance.
One thing to remember: sometimes you may see a 4-band resistor with gold or silver as the multiplier (third band). Gold multiplier means divide by 10. For example, Brown, Black, Gold, Gold: Brown=1, Black=0, Gold=0.1, so 10 × 0.1 = 1 ohm ±5%. That is common for very low resistance values.
5-Band Resistor Color Code (High Precision)
5-band resistors are used when you need more precise resistance values. The first three bands are digits, the fourth band is multiplier, and the fifth band is tolerance.
- Band 1: First digit
- Band 2: Second digit
- Band 3: Third digit
- Band 4: Multiplier
- Band 5: Tolerance (often Brown = ±1%, Red = ±2%, Green = ±0.5%)
Formula: Resistance = (Digit1 Digit2 Digit3) × Multiplier.
Example 1: 5-band resistor with colors Brown, Black, Black, Brown, Brown
Fourth band Brown = multiplier 10 (10^1).
100 × 10 = 1000 ohms = 1 kΩ.
Fifth band Brown = ±1% tolerance.
Example 2: Red, Yellow, Violet, Orange, Green
Orange = multiplier 1000 (10^3).
247 × 1000 = 247,000 ohms = 247 kΩ.
Green = ±0.5% tolerance.
A quick tip: if the fourth band is gold or silver for a 5-band resistor? Rare, but possible. Gold multiplier = 0.1, Silver = 0.01. So 100 × 0.1 = 10 ohms.
6-Band Resistor Color Code (With Temperature Coefficient)
6-band resistors are used in applications where resistance stability with temperature is critical, like in precision circuits or measurement equipment. The first five bands are same as 5-band. The sixth band indicates temperature coefficient (ppm/K).
- Band 1-3: Digits
- Band 4: Multiplier
- Band 5: Tolerance
- Band 6: Temp. coefficient (Brown = 100 ppm/K, Red = 50 ppm/K, Blue = 10 ppm/K, etc.)
Lower ppm/K means the resistance changes less with temperature.
Example: 6-band resistor with colors Brown, Black, Black, Brown, Brown, Blue
Fourth band Brown = multiplier 10 → 100 × 10 = 1000 ohms = 1 kΩ.
Fifth band Brown = ±1% tolerance.
Sixth band Blue = 10 ppm/K temperature coefficient.
How to Determine Which End to Start Reading
Sometimes beginners get confused about which band is the first. Here are the rules:
- The tolerance band (gold, silver, brown, red, etc.) is usually placed slightly apart from the other bands, or it is the last band. For 4-band, the tolerance band is the fourth. For 5-band, the tolerance is the fifth.
- If there is a gap between bands, the side with the larger gap is the right side (tolerance side). Start from the opposite side.
- For 6-band, the sixth band (temp. coefficient) is often blue or brown and may be spaced differently.
- When in doubt, measure with a multimeter. But with practice you will read them easily.
Using the Resistor Color Code Calculator
If you do not want to memorize the color code or do manual calculations every time, use the resistor color code calculator on this site. It supports 4-band, 5-band, and 6-band resistors. Just select the colors from dropdowns, and it shows the resistance value, tolerance, and temperature coefficient instantly.
No memorization needed. Select colors and get result.
Practice Examples – Test Yourself
Try to read these resistor color codes. Answers are given below the list.
- 4-band: Red, Red, Brown, Gold
- 4-band: Yellow, Violet, Gold, Gold
- 5-band: Orange, Orange, Orange, Red, Brown
- 5-band: Green, Blue, Black, Black, Brown
- 6-band: Brown, Green, Black, Orange, Brown, Red
1. 220 ohms ±5% (Red=2, Red=2, Brown=10, so 22×10=220)
2. 4.7 ohms ±5% (Yellow=4, Violet=7, Gold=0.1, so 47×0.1=4.7)
3. 33.3 kΩ ±1% (Orange=3, Orange=3, Orange=3, Red=100 → 333×100=33,300)
4. 560 ohms ±1% (Green=5, Blue=6, Black=0, Black=1 → 560×1=560)
5. 150 kΩ ±1% temp coeff 50 ppm/K (Brown=1, Green=5, Black=0, Orange=1000 → 150×1000=150,000; tolerance Brown=1%, sixth band Red=50 ppm/K)