How to use the Resistor Color Code Calculator
- Choose 4 or 5 bands.
- Select each band's colour, starting from the end without the gap.
- Read the resistance and tolerance range.
What does this tool do?
Resistor colour bands encode digits, a multiplier and a tolerance. On a 4-band resistor, yellow-violet-red-gold means 4, 7, × 100, ±5% = 4.7 kΩ ±5%.
Five-band resistors add a third digit for more precise values. The tolerance band is usually set slightly apart from the others.
Why use it?
- 4- and 5-band resistors.
- Tolerance range shown.
- No chart to squint at.
Privacy
The calculation happens instantly in your browser. The numbers you enter are not sent to our servers or saved. There's no account to create and nothing to install.
Frequently asked questions
Which end do I start from?
Start from the end where the bands are bunched together; the tolerance band (often gold or silver) is on the other end.
Last reviewed by the M2Toolkit team.