Resistor Color Codes – A Comprehensive Guide to Decoding Value, Tolerance, and E-Series Standards

Resistor Color Codes – A Comprehensive Guide

Every electronic component hides a story in its color bands. Whether you’re soldering a prototype or designing a high‑volume PCB, understanding resistor color codes is essential for accurate measurement and reliable circuitry.

Explore our Resistor Color Code Calculator in the Tools section to quickly convert any band sequence into its exact resistance value and tolerance.

Standard Resistor Values and Color Coding

Resistors use colored bands to convey their resistance, tolerance, and, in some cases, wattage. While larger power resistors often carry printed numbers, miniature parts rely solely on color bands for identification.

Color	Digit	Multiplier	Tolerance (%)
Black	0	100 (1)
Brown	1	101	1
Red	2	102	2
Orange	3	103
Yellow	4	104
Green	5	105	0.5
Blue	6	106	0.25
Violet	7	107	0.1
Grey	8	108
White	9	109
Gold		10-1	5
Silver		10-2	10
(None)			20

In 5‑band resistors, the tolerance band is always present and uses brown, red, green, blue, or violet. A blank (20%) band appears only on 4‑band codes.

Color Code Examples

Yellow‑Violet‑Orange‑Gold

This resistor equals 47 kΩ with a ±5% tolerance.

Green‑Red‑Gold‑Silver

Value: 5.2 Ω, tolerance ±10%.

White‑Violet‑Black

Value: 97 Ω, tolerance ±20% (blank band indicates 20%).

Orange‑Orange‑Black‑Brown‑Violet

Value: 3.3 kΩ, tolerance ±0.1%.

Brown‑Green‑Grey‑Silver‑Red

Value: 1.58 Ω, tolerance ±2%.

Blue‑Brown‑Green‑Silver‑Blue

Value: 6.15 Ω, tolerance ±0.25%.

Preferred Values or E‑Series Standards

The IEC introduced E‑series in 1952 to standardize resistor values, easing mass production and ensuring component compatibility across manufacturers. These series span a logarithmic scale, providing a predictable set of values for every decade.

E Series	Tolerance (SIG FIGS)	# of Values per Decade
E3	36%*	3
E6	20%	6
E12	10%	12
E24	5%	24
E48	2%	48
E96	1%	96
E192	0.5% – 0.25% and higher	192

*The calculated tolerance for E3 is 36.60%; industry practice varies between 36–50%.

E‑Series Value Lists

Below are the common values for each series. Use these tables to choose the minimal set of resistors for your design, which reduces BOM complexity and cost.

E3 (3 Values)

1 Ω, 2.2 Ω, 4.7 Ω

E6 (6 Values)

1 Ω, 1.5 Ω, 2.2 Ω, 3.3 Ω, 4.7 Ω, 6.8 Ω

E12 (12 Values)

1 Ω, 1.2 Ω, 1.5 Ω, 1.8 Ω, 2.2 Ω, 2.7 Ω, 3.3 Ω, 3.9 Ω, 4.7 Ω, 5.6 Ω, 6.8 Ω, 8.2 Ω

E24 (24 Values)

1 Ω, 1.1 Ω, 1.2 Ω, 1.3 Ω, 1.5 Ω, 1.6 Ω, 1.8 Ω, 2 Ω, 2.2 Ω, 2.4 Ω, 2.7 Ω, 3 Ω, 3.3 Ω, 3.6 Ω, 3.9 Ω, 4.3 Ω, 4.7 Ω, 5.1 Ω, 5.6 Ω, 6.2 Ω, 6.8 Ω, 7.5 Ω, 8.2 Ω, 9.1 Ω

E48 (48 Values)

1 Ω, 1.05 Ω, 1.1 Ω, 1.15 Ω, 1.21 Ω, 1.27 Ω, 1.33 Ω, 1.4 Ω, 1.47 Ω, 1.54 Ω, 1.62 Ω, 1.69 Ω, 1.78 Ω, 1.87 Ω, 1.96 Ω, 2.05 Ω, 2.15 Ω, 2.26 Ω, 2.37 Ω, 2.49 Ω, 2.61 Ω, 2.74 Ω, 2.87 Ω, 3.01 Ω, 3.16 Ω, 3.32 Ω, 3.48 Ω, 3.65 Ω, 3.83 Ω, 4.02 Ω, 4.22 Ω, 4.42 Ω, 4.64 Ω, 4.87 Ω, 5.11 Ω, 5.36 Ω, 5.62 Ω, 5.9 Ω, 6.19 Ω, 6.49 Ω, 6.81 Ω, 7.15 Ω, 7.5 Ω, 7.87 Ω, 8.25 Ω, 8.66 Ω, 9.09 Ω, 9.53 Ω

E96 and E192

These finer series offer tolerances of 0.5% or 0.25% but increase component count and cost. Use them only when circuit precision demands it.

Ready to design? Try our Resistor Color Code Calculator in the Tools section to instantly translate color bands into values.

Related Resources

• Resistors Worksheet