The universal standard for decoding axial lead resistors is the IEC 60062 color code. Whether you are sorting through a mixed grab-bag from a swap meet or verifying a precision feedback network on a custom PCB, the resistor bands chart maps specific colors to significant digits, multipliers, tolerances, and temperature coefficients. A standard 4-band resistor uses two significant digits, while 5-band and 6-band variants add a third digit and a temperature coefficient (tempco) to handle tight-tolerance and high-reliability applications.
The Master Resistor Bands Chart (IEC 60062 Standard)
Before reading the table, understand the column definitions. The Digit column provides the base numerical value (0-9). The Multiplier column dictates how many zeros to append (or the decimal shift for gold/silver). The Tolerance column defines the maximum permissible deviation from the stated value at room temperature (usually 20°C). Finally, the Tempco column (exclusive to 6-band resistors) defines how much the resistance drifts per degree Celsius of temperature change, measured in parts per million (ppm/°C).
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance | Tempco (ppm/°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 (10⁰) | — | — |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 (10¹) | ±1% | 100 |
| Red | 2 | ×100 (10²) | ±2% | 50 |
| Orange | 3 | ×1k (10³) | — | 15 |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10k (10⁴) | — | 25 |
| Green | 5 | ×100k (10⁵) | ±0.5% | — |
| Blue | 6 | ×1M (10⁶) | ±0.25% | 10 |
| Violet | 7 | ×10M (10⁷) | ±0.1% | 5 |
| Gray | 8 | ×100M (10⁸) | ±0.05% | — |
| White | 9 | ×1G (10⁹) | — | — |
| Gold | — | ×0.1 (10⁻¹) | ±5% | — |
| Silver | — | ×0.01 (10⁻²) | ±10% | — |
Source: IEC 60062 International Standard for Resistor Colour Codes.
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For 90% of standard E12 and E24 through-hole prototyping, you will only need to memorize the "Big Five" multiplier and tolerance bands:
- Brown (Multiplier): ×10 (e.g., Brown-Black-Brown = 100Ω)
- Red (Multiplier): ×100 (e.g., Brown-Black-Red = 1kΩ)
- Orange (Multiplier): ×1,000 (e.g., Brown-Black-Orange = 10kΩ)
- Yellow (Multiplier): ×10,000 (e.g., Brown-Black-Yellow = 100kΩ)
- Gold (Tolerance): ±5% (The universal marker for standard carbon/metal film resistors)
How to Read the Chart: 4, 5, and 6-Band Systems
The physical spacing of the bands tells you which system you are reading. The tolerance band (usually gold or silver) is typically spaced slightly further away from the other bands, or grouped tightly with the significant digits on the opposite end. Always read from the end closest to the first color band toward the spaced-out tolerance band.
If you are holding a 5-band resistor with no gold or silver band, look for the physical gap. The first three bands will be tightly clustered, followed by a slight gap, then the multiplier, and another gap before the tolerance band. If the bands are perfectly evenly spaced, check the schematic or measure it; it is likely a 5-band precision resistor where the 5th band is brown (1%) or red (2%).
4-Band System: Band 1 (1st digit) + Band 2 (2nd digit) + Band 3 (Multiplier) + Band 4 (Tolerance). Example: Yellow, Violet, Red, Gold = 4, 7, ×100, ±5% = 4,700Ω (4.7kΩ).
5-Band System: Band 1 (1st digit) + Band 2 (2nd digit) + Band 3 (3rd digit) + Band 4 (Multiplier) + Band 5 (Tolerance). Used for 1% and tighter metal film resistors. Example: Brown, Black, Black, Brown, Brown = 1, 0, 0, ×10, ±1% = 1,000Ω (1kΩ).
6-Band System: Identical to the 5-band system, but adds a 6th band for the Temperature Coefficient (Tempco).
What the Color Code Cannot Tell You (and How to Derate)
What this table cannot tell you: The IEC 60062 color code strictly defines resistance value and tolerance. It tells you absolutely nothing about the power rating (wattage) or the physical size of the component. A 10kΩ resistor with Brown-Black-Orange-Gold bands could be a tiny 1/8W (0.125W) axial component measuring 3mm long, or a massive 2W flameproof resistor measuring 12mm long. You must determine the power rating by measuring the physical dimensions of the resistor body or checking the manufacturer's datasheet for the specific part number (e.g., Vishay PR01 vs. PR02 series). Furthermore, this chart does not apply to Surface Mount Device (SMD) resistors, which use printed 3-digit, 4-digit, or EIA-96 alphanumeric codes.
Which column applies to your installation? The Tolerance column is your governing constraint for circuit stability. If you are building a precision analog front-end, an active filter, or an ADC voltage divider, a ±5% (Gold) tolerance is unacceptable. You must select components with a Brown (±1%) or Red (±2%) tolerance band to ensure your voltage thresholds do not drift outside your microcontroller's logic windows.
How the Temperature Coefficient (Tempco) row modifies the base value: In 6-band resistors, the 6th band dictates thermal drift. Let us run a concrete numeric derating example. Suppose you have a 10,000Ω (10kΩ) precision resistor with a Brown 6th band, indicating a Tempco of 100 ppm/°C. The base value is calibrated at 20°C. If your circuit operates inside an enclosure that reaches 70°C, your temperature delta (ΔT) is 50°C.
- Convert ppm to a decimal: 100 ppm = 0.0001 per °C.
- Calculate total drift factor: 0.0001 × 50°C = 0.005 (or 0.5%).
- Calculate absolute drift: 10,000Ω × 0.005 = 50Ω.
At 70°C, your 10kΩ resistor could legally measure anywhere between 9,950Ω and 10,050Ω, entirely independent of its base tolerance. For high-heat environments, you must specify a lower tempco band, such as Blue (10 ppm/°C) or Violet (5 ppm/°C), to prevent thermal runaway in sensitive feedback loops. For deeper analysis on component derating, refer to the SparkFun resistor guide and All About Circuits.
Resistor Bands Chart FAQ
How do I read a resistor bands chart if the colors are faded or burned?
If a resistor has overheated, the lacquer coating often darkens, turning red into brown or brown into black. Do not trust the visual chart on a heat-damaged component. Remove the resistor from the circuit (or lift one leg to break parallel paths) and measure it with a digital multimeter. If the multimeter reads "OL" (Open Loop) or infinite resistance, the internal resistive element has fractured, and the component is dead regardless of what the faded bands suggest.
Why does my 5-band resistor chart show a different multiplier than a 4-band?
It does not. The multiplier colors are mathematically identical across all IEC 60062 formats. The confusion arises because a 5-band resistor uses three significant digits instead of two. For example, a 4.7kΩ resistor in a 4-band format is Yellow-Violet-Red (4-7-×100). In a 5-band format, that exact same 4.7kΩ value is Yellow-Violet-Black-Brown (4-7-0-×10). The multiplier shifted from Red (×100) to Brown (×10) because the third significant digit (Black/0) absorbed one of the decimal places.
Which way do I read the bands if there is no gold or silver tolerance ring?
Look closely at the physical spacing between the painted bands. Manufacturers intentionally group the significant digits and multiplier tightly together on the left side, leaving a noticeably wider gap before the tolerance band on the right side. If the spacing is perfectly uniform and there is no gold/silver band, you are likely holding a 5-band military or precision resistor where the 5th band is Brown (±1%). In this case, the first band is almost always Brown or Red, as 1% resistors rarely start with higher E96 series values that would require Orange or Yellow as the first digit.
