The common resistor values table is not a random assortment of numbers; it is a strictly defined logarithmic scale governed by the IEC 60063 (and legacy EIA RS-279) standard. If you need a quick answer: the most common bench values belong to the E24 series (5% tolerance), which includes base multipliers of 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.7, 3.0, 3.3, 3.6, 3.9, 4.3, 4.7, 5.1, 5.6, 6.2, 6.8, 7.5, 8.2, and 9.1. You scale these by decades (e.g., 4.7 becomes 4.7Ω, 47Ω, 470Ω, 4.7kΩ, 47kΩ, 470kΩ, 4.7MΩ).
This reference guide provides the complete lookup table, explains how to read the tolerance columns, and details the critical thermal and parasitic limits that the table leaves out.
How to Read the Standard Resistor Values Table
Before ordering parts from distributors like Mouser or Digi-Key, you need to understand how the IEC 60063 standard structures preferred numbers. The standard uses a geometric progression so that the maximum gap between any two adjacent values is roughly equal to the component's manufacturing tolerance. This ensures you never need a value that doesn't exist in the series.
The table below is divided by E-series. The E12 column applies to 10% tolerance resistors (mostly legacy carbon composition). The E24 column applies to standard 5% tolerance resistors (the ubiquitous carbon/metal film axials you keep in your bench drawers). The E96 series applies to 1% precision metal film or thick-film chip resistors. To find your exact part, take the base number from the table and multiply it by a power of 10 (from 10^-2 up to 10^6).
Bookmark-Friendly Quick Jumps for Most Queried Values:
- 1.0 / 10 / 100 / 1k / 10k / 100k / 1M Base
- 2.2 / 22 / 220 / 2.2k / 22k / 220k / 2.2M Base
- 3.3 / 33 / 330 / 3.3k / 33k / 330k / 3.3M Base
- 4.7 / 47 / 470 / 4.7k / 47k / 470k / 4.7M Base
- 10 / 100 / 1k / 10k / 100k / 1M / 10M Base
The Complete E-Series Resistor Values Table (E12, E24, E96)
The following spec-sheet-table contains the complete base values for the most commonly stocked E12 and E24 series, alongside the corresponding E96 precision values that bracket them. According to the IEC 60063 preferred numbers documentation, these values are mathematically derived from the 12th, 24th, and 96th roots of 10.
| Base Multiplier | E12 (10% Tol.) | E24 (5% Tol.) | Nearest E96 (1% Tol.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.00 |
| 1.1 | - | 1.1 | 1.10 |
| 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.21 |
| 1.3 | - | 1.3 | 1.33 |
| 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.50 |
| 1.6 | - | 1.6 | 1.62 |
| 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.82 |
| 2.0 | - | 2.0 | 2.00 |
| 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.21 |
| 2.4 | - | 2.4 | 2.43 |
| 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.74 |
| 3.0 | - | 3.0 | 3.01 |
| 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.32 |
| 3.6 | - | 3.6 | 3.65 |
| 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.92 |
| 4.3 | - | 4.3 | 4.32 |
| 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.75 |
| 5.1 | - | 5.1 | 5.11 |
| 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.62 |
| 6.2 | - | 6.2 | 6.19 |
| 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.81 |
| 7.5 | - | 7.5 | 7.50 |
| 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.25 |
| 9.1 | - | 9.1 | 9.09 |
| 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.00 |
Note: To use this table, multiply the base value by your required decade. For example, base 4.7 becomes 4.7kΩ (4,700 ohms) when multiplied by 1,000.
Power Derating and Parasitics: What the Table Cannot Tell You
A common mistake among hobbyists and junior engineers is treating the common resistor values table as a complete specification. The table only gives you the nominal resistance at room temperature. It does not tell you how the part behaves under thermal stress, high voltage, or high frequency.
Which Column Applies to Your Installation?
Your choice of column is dictated by your circuit's error budget. If you are building a simple LED current limiter or an RC low-pass filter for audio (under 20 kHz), the E24 (5%) column is perfectly adequate and costs pennies. However, if you are designing a precision voltage divider for an ADC reference, or a current shunt for a BMS, you must use the E96 (1%) column. Using a 5% resistor in a precision feedback loop will introduce up to 10% total error when you account for the tolerance stacking of two resistors.
How Derating Rows Modify the Base Value
Resistors do not maintain their rated power dissipation at all temperatures. Standard thick-film chip resistors (like the ubiquitous Yageo RC series or Vishay CRCW) are rated for 100% of their nominal power (e.g., 0.1W for an 0603 package) only up to an ambient temperature of 70°C.
Above 70°C, the power rating drops linearly, reaching 0W at 155°C. If your circuit operates inside an enclosed box where the ambient air hits 85°C, a 1/4W (0.25W) axial resistor is actually only safe to dissipate about 0.17W. If you push 0.25W through it at 85°C, the part will overheat, drift wildly in value, and eventually fail open.
What the Table Cannot Tell You: Parasitics and Voltage Coefficients
The IEC 60063 table assumes an ideal, purely resistive component. In reality, every resistor has parasitic inductance and capacitance.
- Wirewound Resistors: A 10Ω wirewound power resistor might have 50 nH of parasitic inductance. At DC, it's 10Ω. At 10 MHz, its impedance is vastly higher. Never use wirewounds for high-frequency RF termination.
- Carbon Composition: These exhibit a high Voltage Coefficient of Resistance (VCR). A 1MΩ carbon comp resistor might drop to 850kΩ when 500V is applied across it due to the internal dielectric breakdown of the carbon binder.
- Pulse Handling: A standard 0603 thick-film resistor might be rated for 0.1W continuous, but a 10-microsecond, 500W surge will vaporize the resistive element. For surge protection, you must look up the manufacturer's specific pulse-energy (Joule) charts, not just the continuous power rating.
Frequently Asked Questions About Resistor Value Charts
Why are there no 25k or 50k resistors in the common values table?
Because of the logarithmic spacing of the E-series. In the E24 series, the values step from 24 to 27. There is no 25. If you absolutely need 25.0kΩ, you must step up to the E96 series (which includes 24.9kΩ and 25.5kΩ) or use a precision trimmer potentiometer. In 99% of DIY and commercial designs, a 24kΩ or 27kΩ E24 resistor is close enough to function perfectly within the circuit's tolerance margins.
How do I calculate the color bands for a 4.7k ohm resistor?
For a standard 4-band (5% tolerance) resistor, you use the first two significant digits from the E24 table (4 and 7), followed by the multiplier. 4.7kΩ is 4,700 ohms. The first band is Yellow (4), the second is Violet (7), and the third is Red (multiplier of 100). The fourth band is Gold (5% tolerance). So, 4.7kΩ is Yellow-Violet-Red-Gold.
Can I substitute an E96 1% resistor for an E24 5% resistor in my circuit?
Yes, almost always. An E96 1% resistor is simply a tighter-tolerance version of a resistor. If your circuit calls for a 10kΩ 5% resistor, a 10.0kΩ 1% resistor will fit perfectly and perform better. The only rare exception is in high-frequency RF circuits where the specific parasitic capacitance of a 1% thin-film part might differ slightly from a 5% thick-film part, but for general electronics, substituting a tighter tolerance is always safe.
What standard defines the preferred resistor values?
The global standard is IEC 60063, published by the International Electrotechnical Commission. In the United States, it was historically known as EIA RS-279 (Electronic Industries Alliance), but the industry has universally harmonized on the IEC designation for global supply chain consistency. Capacitor values also follow this exact same E-series standard.
