Calculator KB-05
Resistor codes: color bands and SMD codes
Find a resistor's value from its color bands or SMD code, or see how a value you need will be marked.
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Result
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In brief: Determine a resistor's value from its color bands or SMD code, including EIA-96, or find the marking for a given resistance value. Example: Resistance: 1 kΩ.
Calculation example
| Number of bands | 4 |
|---|---|
| 1st band | 1 — brown |
| 2nd band | 0 — black |
| Multiplier | ×100 — red |
| Tolerance | ±5 % — gold |
| Resistance | 1 kΩ |
|---|---|
| Tolerance | ±5 % |
| Value range | 950 Ω … 1.05 kΩ |
How to read the marking
For a 4-band resistor, the first two bands are digits, the third is the multiplier, and the fourth is the tolerance. For a 5-band resistor, there are three digits, and the sixth band, if present, indicates the temperature coefficient. The tolerance band is usually spaced slightly apart from the others, so start reading from the opposite end.
- 3 digits: two digits and a power of ten.
103= 10 × 10³ = 10 kΩ. - 4 digits: three digits and a power of ten.
1002= 100 × 10² = 10 kΩ. This usually indicates 1% tolerance. - The letter R replaces the decimal point:
4R7= 4.7 Ω,R22= 0.22 Ω. - EIA-96: two digits give the value number in the E96 series, and the letter is the multiplier.
01C= 100 × 100 = 10 kΩ. - 0 or 000 indicates a jumper, a zero-ohm resistor.
Without context, a code can be ambiguous—for example, capacitors and inductors can have similar markings. If the resistor is already on the circuit board, check its value with a multimeter.
Frequently asked questions
How do I read a resistor with four bands?
The first two bands are digits, the third is the multiplier, and the fourth is the tolerance. Brown, black, red, gold means 10 × 100 = 1 kΩ ±5%.
What does the SMD code 103 mean?
10 followed by three zeros, or 10 kΩ. The code 1002 also means 10 kΩ, usually with 1% tolerance. 4R7 is 4.7 Ω, and 000 is a jumper.
What is EIA-96 marking?
Two digits and a letter: the digits give the value’s position in the E96 series, and the letter is the multiplier. Code 01C means 100 × 100 = 10 kΩ with 1% tolerance.
