Resistor color chart (IEC 60062)
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance | Temp. coefficient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pink | — | ×0.001 | — | — |
| Silver | — | ×0.01 | ±10% | — |
| Gold | — | ×0.1 | ±5% | — |
| Black | 0 | ×1 | — | ±250 ppm/K |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% | ±100 ppm/K |
| Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% | ±50 ppm/K |
| Orange | 3 | ×1k | ±0.05% | ±15 ppm/K |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10k | ±0.02% | ±25 ppm/K |
| Green | 5 | ×100k | ±0.5% | ±20 ppm/K |
| Blue | 6 | ×1M | ±0.25% | ±10 ppm/K |
| Violet | 7 | ×10M | ±0.1% | ±5 ppm/K |
| Grey | 8 | ×100M | ±0.01% | ±1 ppm/K |
| White | 9 | ×1G | — | — |
3- and 4-band resistors have two digit bands, 5- and 6-band resistors three. No tolerance band means ±20%. Pink (×0.001) was added in the 2016 edition and is rare.
Common resistor values and their colors
| Value | 4-band colors (±5%) | 5-band colors (±1%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Ω | Brown · Black · Black · Gold | Brown · Black · Black · Gold · Brown |
| 22 Ω | Red · Red · Black · Gold | Red · Red · Black · Gold · Brown |
| 47 Ω | Yellow · Violet · Black · Gold | Yellow · Violet · Black · Gold · Brown |
| 100 Ω | Brown · Black · Brown · Gold | Brown · Black · Black · Black · Brown |
| 220 Ω | Red · Red · Brown · Gold | Red · Red · Black · Black · Brown |
| 330 Ω | Orange · Orange · Brown · Gold | Orange · Orange · Black · Black · Brown |
| 470 Ω | Yellow · Violet · Brown · Gold | Yellow · Violet · Black · Black · Brown |
| 1 kΩ | Brown · Black · Red · Gold | Brown · Black · Black · Brown · Brown |
| 2.2 kΩ | Red · Red · Red · Gold | Red · Red · Black · Brown · Brown |
| 4.7 kΩ | Yellow · Violet · Red · Gold | Yellow · Violet · Black · Brown · Brown |
| 10 kΩ | Brown · Black · Orange · Gold | Brown · Black · Black · Red · Brown |
| 22 kΩ | Red · Red · Orange · Gold | Red · Red · Black · Red · Brown |
| 47 kΩ | Yellow · Violet · Orange · Gold | Yellow · Violet · Black · Red · Brown |
| 100 kΩ | Brown · Black · Yellow · Gold | Brown · Black · Black · Orange · Brown |
| 220 kΩ | Red · Red · Yellow · Gold | Red · Red · Black · Orange · Brown |
| 470 kΩ | Yellow · Violet · Yellow · Gold | Yellow · Violet · Black · Orange · Brown |
| 1 MΩ | Brown · Black · Green · Gold | Brown · Black · Black · Yellow · Brown |
How to read the bands
- Find the first band — it sits closest to one end. Gold and silver are almost always the tolerance (or multiplier) end, so start from the opposite side.
- 4 bands: digit, digit, multiplier, tolerance. 5 bands: three digits, multiplier, tolerance. 6 bands: a 5-band code plus the temperature coefficient.
- Check the result against the E-series — ±5% parts come in E24 values (1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, …) and ±1% parts in E96. A value outside the series usually means the resistor was read backwards.
Some makers use other markings (dots, a broken band for the temperature coefficient, printed codes). When in doubt, measure with a multimeter.
Frequently asked questions
How do I read a 4-band resistor?
Start from the band nearest one end. The first two bands are digits, the third is the multiplier and the fourth is the tolerance. Brown-black-red-gold is 1, 0, ×100, ±5% — 1 kΩ ±5%.
Which end is the first band?
The first band sits closest to one end of the resistor. The tolerance band is often set a little apart or wider, and gold or silver almost always marks the tolerance end — so read from the other side.
What does a 3-band resistor mean?
Two digits and a multiplier with no tolerance band. IEC 60062 treats a missing tolerance band as ±20%.
What is the sixth band?
On 6-band resistors, the last band is the temperature coefficient in ppm/K — how much the resistance drifts per degree. Brown means ±100 ppm/K, red ±50 ppm/K.
What are E24 and E96 values?
Preferred number series from IEC 60063. E24 has 24 values per decade and is typical for ±5% parts; E96 has 96 values per decade for ±1% parts. A value outside the series is usually a misread band.