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5-Band Resistor Color Code Calculator

Select the 5 color bands to automatically calculate resistance value, tolerance, and temperature coefficient.

Resistance Value
Tolerance

5-Band Resistor Information

5-band resistors are precision resistors with tolerance of 1% or less. The first 3 bands represent digits, 4th is multiplier, and 5th is tolerance.

GUIDE

Learn more

01

Understanding 5-Band Resistor Basics

5-band resistors are precision resistors offering higher accuracy than 4-band resistors. The five color bands represent 1st digit, 2nd digit, 3rd digit, multiplier, and tolerance. They typically have tolerance of 1% or less and are used in precision electronic circuits. For example, Brown-Black-Black-Red-Brown represents 10,000Ω (10kΩ) ± 1%.

02

How to Read 5-Band Resistor Color Codes

To read a 5-band resistor, first orient it correctly with the tolerance band (usually gold or silver) on the right. The first three bands represent significant digits where each color corresponds to numbers 0-9: Black(0), Brown(1), Red(2), Orange(3), Yellow(4), Green(5), Blue(6), Violet(7), Grey(8), White(9). For example, Red-Violet-Green-Orange-Brown reads as Red(2), Violet(7), Green(5) = 275, multiplied by Orange(×1,000) = 275,000Ω = 275kΩ ± 1%.

03

Color Code Value and Multiplier Reference

Resistor color codes follow international standard (IEC 60062). Digit values: Black=0, Brown=1, Red=2, Orange=3, Yellow=4, Green=5, Blue=6, Violet=7, Grey=8, White=9. Multipliers (4th band): Black=×1, Brown=×10, Red=×100, Orange=×1K, Yellow=×10K, Green=×100K, Blue=×1M, Violet=×10M, Gold=×0.1, Silver=×0.01. Tolerance (5th band): Brown=±1%, Red=±2%, Green=±0.5%, Blue=±0.25%, Violet=±0.1%, Grey=±0.05%, Gold=±5%, Silver=±10%.

Frequently asked questions

How is a 5-band resistor different from a 4-band one?
A 4-band resistor has 2 significant digits, a multiplier, and a tolerance band, while a 5-band resistor has 3 significant digits, giving finer resolution and typically a tighter tolerance of ±1% or better.
Which direction should I read the color bands?
The tolerance band (often gold, brown, or red) is usually spaced slightly apart from the others or sits near the edge. Orient the resistor so that band is on the right, then read left to right. If unsure, calculate both directions and pick the one matching a standard E-series value.
What if I can't tell brown from red on the bands?
Check under natural light or white LED lighting for the most accurate reading. If it's still unclear, measuring the resistor directly with a multimeter is the most reliable option, since old resistors can discolor over time.
What does gold or silver in the multiplier band mean?
In the multiplier position, gold means ×0.1 and silver means ×0.01, used to express resistance values below 1Ω.
What if the calculated resistance doesn't match any commercially available value?
Resistors are only manufactured at standard E-series values (like E96 or E192), so double-check your color readings if the result seems off — the combination closest to a standard value is usually correct.