The 5.6 kilo ohm (5.6kΩ or 5600Ω) resistor color code for a standard 4-band through-hole component is Green, Blue, Red, Gold. For a 5-band precision resistor, the sequence is Green, Blue, Black, Brown, Gold. If you are working with surface-mount devices (SMD), the standard 3-digit EIA code is 562, and the 4-digit precision code is 5601.
Whether you are biasing a transistor, building a voltage divider for an ESP32 ADC, or replacing a burnt component on a control board, getting this specific value right is critical. A 5.6kΩ resistor sits in a very useful middle ground for pulling up I2C lines or limiting current in 5V logic circuits. Below is the complete bench reference for identifying, verifying, and sourcing this exact value.
The Complete 5.6kΩ Color Code Reference Table
Use this spec-sheet table to decode the bands on the physical component sitting on your workbench. Read the bands from left to right, keeping the tolerance band (usually Gold or Silver) on the far right.
| Format | Band 1 (Digit 1) | Band 2 (Digit 2) | Band 3 (Digit 3 / Multiplier) | Band 4 (Multiplier / Tolerance) | Band 5 (Tolerance) | Actual Value Range (1%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Band (5%) | Green (5) | Blue (6) | Red (×100) | Gold (±5%) | N/A | 5320Ω – 5880Ω |
| 5-Band (1%) | Green (5) | Blue (6) | Black (0) | Brown (×10) | Brown (±1%) | 5544Ω – 5656Ω |
| SMD 3-Digit | 562 (56 × 10²) | ±5% Tolerance | 5320Ω – 5880Ω | |||
| SMD 4-Digit | 5601 (560 × 10¹) | ±1% Tolerance | 5544Ω – 5656Ω | |||
Standard Variants: IEC 60062, MIL-SPEC, and SMD
A common point of confusion for makers crossing over from home wiring is the assumption that regional electrical codes dictate component colors. While electricians rely on the NEC (US), IEC 60446 (Europe), and old UK wiring regulations for cable and wire color codes (e.g., green/yellow for earth, brown for live), these standards do not apply to electronic component body markings.
Never apply NEC or IEC wire color rules to resistor bands. A green band on a resistor means the digit "5", not "ground". Resistor color codes are governed globally by IEC 60062, regardless of whether you are in the US, EU, or UK.
While IEC 60062 is the global baseline, you will encounter two major variants in practice:
- MIL-PRF-22684 (Military Spec): Older military-surplus gear often uses 5-band color codes even for 5% tolerance resistors. In this variant, the 5th band indicates reliability (failure rate) rather than tolerance. A 5.6kΩ MIL-SPEC resistor might read Green-Blue-Red-Gold-Brown, where the Brown band indicates a 0.1% failure rate per 1000 hours.
- EIA-96 (SMD 1% Code): For ultra-compact 0603 or 0402 SMD resistors, the 3-digit/4-digit space isn't available. The EIA-96 standard uses a 2-digit alphanumeric lookup. The code 75C translates to 5.6kΩ (75 = 590 base, C = ×100 multiplier, yielding 59k... wait, 5.6k in EIA-96 is actually 75B where 75 = 590 and B = ×10, wait no. Let's use the exact EIA-96 table: 5.6kΩ is base 560. The EIA-96 code for 560 is 73. The multiplier for ×10 is A. So 73A is 5.6kΩ). Always verify SMD codes with a trusted calculator before soldering.
Bands and Rows People Get Wrong
When sorting through a mixed bin of through-hole resistors, the 5.6kΩ value is frequently misidentified. Here are the specific rows and visual traps that cause errors on the bench:
- The Multiplier Trap (Red vs. Brown): In a 4-band resistor, the third band is the multiplier. Red means ×100 (yielding 5600Ω). Brown means ×10 (yielding 560Ω). Under harsh fluorescent bench lighting, a faded red band looks exactly like brown. If you accidentally grab a 560Ω resistor for an I2C pull-up, your bus will short to ground and fail to communicate.
- The 5-Band "Missing Zero": Beginners reading a 5-band 5.6kΩ resistor often look for Green-Blue-Brown, forgetting that 5-band codes require three significant digits. The correct sequence is Green (5), Blue (6), Black (0), Brown (×10). If you skip the black band, you are reading a 4-band code backwards.
- Reading Backwards: If a resistor has a Gold or Silver band, that is always the tolerance band and goes on the far right. However, some 1% metal film resistors use a Brown tolerance band. If the spacing between the bands is uniform, look for the thicker gap between the multiplier and tolerance band, or default to the fact that a valid 5.6kΩ code cannot start with Gold or Silver.
Decision Path: Which 5.6kΩ Resistor to Actually Buy
Not all 5.6kΩ resistors are created equal. A carbon film resistor will drift wildly as it heats up, while a precision metal film resistor will hold its value. Use this decision matrix to select the right part for your specific build.
| Your Application | Required Specs | Concrete Part Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Breadboarding / Basic LED limiting | 1/4W, 5%, Carbon Film | Generic kit assortments (e.g., Xikon or Glarks 1000-pack). Cost: ~$0.01/ea. |
| Audio crossovers / DAC filtering | 1/4W, 1%, Metal Film, Low Noise | Yageo MFR-25FBF52-5K6. Cost: ~$0.08/ea. |
| High-temp industrial / Power supplies | 1/2W or 1W, 1%, Metal Oxide | Vishay PR01000105609JA100 (1W). Cost: ~$0.15/ea. |
| Default Bench Pick (ADC dividers, I2C) | 1/4W, 1%, Metal Film, ±50ppm/°C | Vishay MRS25000C5601FCT00 (Buy 100+ for ~$0.04/ea on DigiKey/Mouser) |
The Verdict: If you just want to stock your lab with a reliable, high-quality 5.6kΩ resistor that won't introduce thermal noise into your analog circuits, buy the Vishay MRS25000C5601FCT00. It is a 0.6W (derated to 1/4W in practice), 1% metal film resistor with excellent long-term stability. You can verify its exact specifications in the Vishay MRS25 datasheet.
Safe Interpretation When Markings Are Faded or Missing
Resistors fail by overheating. When a 5.6kΩ resistor absorbs too much power, the epoxy coating scorches, and the color bands degrade. Green (5) and Brown (2) are notorious for looking identical when baked at 150°C. If you are troubleshooting a dead control board and suspect a burnt 5.6kΩ pull-down resistor, do not trust your eyes.
Never measure a resistor's value while it is fully soldered into a circuit. The multimeter will read the parallel equivalent of the resistor and any connected semiconductor junctions, giving you a falsely low reading. To get a true value, use your soldering iron to lift one leg of the resistor out of its pad. Measure across the leads. If it reads open (OL) or significantly higher than 5.88kΩ, the resistive carbon/metal track has fractured internally and the part is dead.
Finally, remember that a 5% tolerance on 5.6kΩ allows a massive ±280Ω swing. If your multimeter reads 5.35kΩ on a brand-new 4-band carbon film resistor, it is technically within factory spec, but it is a terrible choice for a precision voltage divider. Always default to 1% metal film for any circuit where the exact 5600Ω value dictates a voltage threshold or timing constant.
