Stop searching for a printable resistance colour code PDF. The universal standard for through-hole resistor banding is IEC 60062, and the core color mappings have not changed in decades. Below is the complete, benchmarked reference table, followed by the exact decision paths for reading faded components, navigating regional wiring confusion, and translating modern SMD equivalents.
The Universal IEC 60062 Resistor Colour Code Table
Unlike wiring standards, resistor color codes are globally unified. Whether you are buying from Mouser in the US, Farnell in the UK, or RS Components in Australia, the bands follow the IEC 60062 standard. Read the bands from left to right, with the tolerance band (usually gold or silver) spaced slightly wider on the far right.
| Color | Digit (Bands 1-3) | Multiplier (Band 4) | Tolerance (Band 5) | Temp Coeff (Band 6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 Ω | — | 250 ppm/°C |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 Ω | ±1% (F) | 100 ppm/°C |
| Red | 2 | ×100 Ω | ±2% (G) | 50 ppm/°C |
| Orange | 3 | ×1 kΩ | — | 15 ppm/°C |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10 kΩ | — | 25 ppm/°C |
| Green | 5 | ×100 kΩ | ±0.5% (D) | — |
| Blue | 6 | ×1 MΩ | ±0.25% (C) | 10 ppm/°C |
| Violet | 7 | ×10 MΩ | ±0.1% (B) | 5 ppm/°C |
| Grey | 8 | ×100 MΩ | ±0.05% (A) | — |
| White | 9 | ×1 GΩ | — | — |
| Gold | — | ×0.1 Ω | ±5% (J) | — |
| Silver | — | ×0.01 Ω | ±10% (K) | — |
Regional Standards: Component Marks vs. Wire Colors
A common point of confusion for beginners downloading generic electrical PDFs is mixing up component color codes with wiring color codes. While resistors are universally IEC 60062, mains wiring colors change drastically depending on your region. Do not apply resistor color logic to household wiring.
| Function | US / Canada (NEC) | EU / UK (IEC 60446) | Old UK (Pre-2004) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line (Hot/Phase) | Black (or Red) | Brown | Red |
| Neutral | White (or Grey) | Blue | Black |
| Earth (Ground) | Green / Bare / Green-Yellow | Green-Yellow | Green |
The Takeaway: A brown band on a resistor means the digit '1'. A brown wire in an EU/UK appliance means 230V AC Line. Never cross these mental models.
The 'Rows People Get Wrong' Field Notes
When reading resistors under harsh fluorescent shop lights or on aging PCBs, specific color combinations cause consistent misreads. Here is how to handle the edge cases:
- Gold and Silver as Multipliers: Most hobbyists memorize Gold as 5% tolerance. However, in 4-band resistors, if Gold appears in the multiplier position (Band 3 on a 3-digit resistor, or Band 4 on a standard 4-band), it means ×0.1. A 4.7Ω resistor is Yellow-Violet-Gold-Gold (4-7-×0.1-5%).
- Red (2) vs. Brown (1): Under 4000K LED or fluorescent lighting, red and brown look nearly identical. If you are debating between 1kΩ and 2kΩ, check the physical size. If it is a standard 1/4W axial, measure it. If your DMM reads ~980Ω, it is Brown (1kΩ). If it reads ~1.96kΩ, it is Red (2kΩ).
- Violet (7) vs. Grey (8): Faded epoxy bodies turn grey bands purple. Always verify 7/8 values with a meter if the component has been subjected to high ambient heat.
- The 'Body Color' Trap: Do not read the beige or blue epoxy body as a color band. Only read the painted stripes. (Note: Blue-bodied resistors are typically 1% metal film, while beige/tan bodies are usually 5% carbon film, but this is a manufacturing convention, not an IEC rule).
Decision Path: Identifying Faded, Burnt, or Missing Bands
When a resistor has overheated, the paint blisters and the bands turn black or flake off entirely. Use this decision tree to determine the correct replacement value and part number.
| Symptom / Condition | Action | Concrete Resolution / Part Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Bands are faded but legible; circuit is unpowered. | Measure in-circuit with DMM. If reading is erratic or higher than expected, desolder one leg and measure again. | Replace with standard 1/4W Metal Film (e.g., Vishay MRS25 series) for better long-term stability. |
| Bands are completely burnt off; physical body is charred. | Do NOT measure in-circuit. Trace the schematic or find an identical parallel circuit on the board to measure a known-good sibling resistor. | Replace with a 1/2W or 1W Metal Oxide Film resistor (e.g., Yageo FMP200) to handle the thermal load that killed the original. |
| Resistor is missing; no schematic available. | Identify the circuit block. If it is an LED indicator, calculate based on Vcc. If it is a pull-up on an I2C line, default to standard values. | For 5V I2C pull-ups, use 4.7kΩ. For 3.3V I2C pull-ups, use 2.2kΩ. For standard LED limiting at 5V, use 220Ω. |
SMD Resistors: When Colour Codes Disappear
If you are repairing modern consumer electronics, through-hole resistors are rare. Surface Mount Device (SMD) resistors use printed numeric codes instead of color bands. The logic is similar to the multiplier band, but uses numbers.
- 3-Digit Code (5% Tolerance): The first two digits are the value, the third is the multiplier (number of zeros).
103= 10 × 10^3 = 10,000Ω (10kΩ). - 4-Digit Code (1% Tolerance): The first three digits are the value, the fourth is the multiplier.
1002= 100 × 10^2 = 10,000Ω (10kΩ). - EIA-96 Code (High Precision): Two numbers followed by a letter. The numbers correspond to a lookup table (e.g., 01 = 100, 68 = 499), and the letter is the multiplier (e.g., A = ×1, C = ×100).
68C= 499 × 100 = 49.9kΩ.
Default Recommendation: For general-purpose SMD replacements on hobby boards or non-critical consumer repairs, stock your bench with 0805 size, 1/8W, 1% thick film resistors (e.g., Panasonic ERJ-6EN series). The 0805 package is large enough to hand-solder with a standard iron, unlike 0402 or 0201 sizes which require a microscope and hot air.
