Use this 5-band resistor calculator to decode resistor color bands into resistance value, tolerance, and minimum/maximum range.
How a 5-band resistor color code works
A 5-band resistor uses color stripes to represent its electrical value. In this format:
- Band 1 = first significant digit
- Band 2 = second significant digit
- Band 3 = third significant digit
- Band 4 = multiplier
- Band 5 = tolerance
Compared with a 4-band resistor, the 5-band format gives one extra significant digit, which allows finer precision and is common in 1% and tighter tolerance parts.
5-band resistor color chart
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 | — |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% |
| Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% |
| Orange | 3 | ×1,000 | — |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10,000 | — |
| Green | 5 | ×100,000 | ±0.5% |
| Blue | 6 | ×1,000,000 | ±0.25% |
| Violet | 7 | ×10,000,000 | ±0.1% |
| Gray | 8 | ×100,000,000 | ±0.05% |
| White | 9 | ×1,000,000,000 | — |
| Gold | — | ×0.1 | ±5% |
| Silver | — | ×0.01 | ±10% |
Step-by-step reading method
1) Find the tolerance band
The tolerance band is usually separated slightly from the others and often appears in brown, red, gold, or silver. Read the resistor from the opposite side toward that tolerance band.
2) Read the first three bands as digits
Example: Brown-Black-Black means 100.
3) Apply the multiplier
If multiplier is red, multiply by 100. So 100 × 100 = 10,000 Ω (10 kΩ).
4) Apply tolerance
If the fifth band is brown (±1%), the true value can vary by 1% above or below the nominal value.
Worked examples
- Brown-Black-Black-Red-Brown → 100 × 100 = 10 kΩ ±1%
- Orange-Orange-Black-Brown-Red → 330 × 10 = 3.3 kΩ ±2%
- Green-Blue-Brown-Gold-Brown → 561 × 0.1 = 56.1 Ω ±1%
Common mistakes to avoid
- Reading the resistor backward and treating tolerance as a digit band.
- Confusing violet and blue under poor lighting.
- Using 4-band logic on a 5-band resistor (first three bands are digits, not two).
- Ignoring tolerance when selecting parts for precision circuits.
Where this calculator helps most
This tool is useful for electronics students, hobbyists, repair technicians, and engineers who need quick resistor identification in prototyping, PCB debugging, and component verification.
You can also use it to double-check resistor bins before assembly to reduce wrong-value placement errors.
Quick FAQ
Is this for 5-band resistors only?
Yes. This calculator is specifically configured for 5-band color coding.
Can gold or silver be used as a digit band?
No. Gold and silver are used for multiplier and/or tolerance, not digit positions.
Why does tolerance matter?
Tolerance tells you how far the real resistor can deviate from nominal value. In sensitive analog or measurement circuits, this is critical.
Final thoughts
If you frequently work with through-hole components, mastering the 5-band resistor code saves time and prevents wiring mistakes. Use the calculator above whenever you need fast, accurate decoding from color bands to ohms.