Electrical · Free Calculator
Resistor Color Code Calculator
Choose the colours of each band to read the value and tolerance of a 4 band or 5 band resistor.
4 band5 bandToleranceMin and max value
Resistance4.7 kΩ
Tolerance± 5 %
Minimum4.465 kΩ
Maximum4.935 kΩ
How this result was calculated
- Digits = 47, multiplier = 102
- R = 47 × 102 = 4.7 kΩ
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How to Read Resistor Bands
Hold the resistor with the tolerance band (often gold or silver, and usually spaced slightly apart) on the right and read from left to right.
4 band: [digit][digit][multiplier][tolerance]
5 band: [digit][digit][digit][multiplier][tolerance]
5 band: [digit][digit][digit][multiplier][tolerance]
Worked example
Yellow, violet, red, gold = 4, 7, × 100, ± 5 % = 4.7 kΩ ± 5 % (4.465 to 4.935 kΩ).
Key insight: if the colours are hard to read, measure the resistor out of circuit with a multimeter. In circuit, parallel paths make the reading lower.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remember the resistor colour order?
Black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, grey, white stand for 0 to 9.
What does a gold band mean?
As the last band it means ± 5 % tolerance. As the multiplier it means × 0.1.
Why do some resistors have 5 bands?
Precision resistors use three significant digits for better resolution, usually with 1 % or tighter tolerance.
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Resistor color code guide
A practical, field focused guide on instrumentationblog.in that explains the theory behind this calculator and how engineers apply it on real plants.
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