Resistor colour code table

Resistor colour codes are used to indicate the value of leaded resistors. These resistor colours have been
widely used for many years.
The resistor colour code provides an easy and reliable method for value indication - often printing the
values in figures can be obscured or erased during handling making identification difficult.

Resistor colour code basics

The resistor colour coding is carried on a number of coloured rings placed around the resistor. As
virtually all leaded resistors are cylindrical, it is difficult to print numbers on them, and they can also
become obscured during handling and use. As the resistor colour code system relies on rings around the
resistor, even if part of the coding scheme is marked, other areas can be seen and the values and other
information deciphered.
Dependent upon the tolerance and accuracy required for the resistor, there are a number of colour
coding schemes that may be used. All the different resistor colour code systems are basically the same
in outline, but there provide differing levels of information.
The main resistor colour coding schemes that are seen are:
• Four band resistor colour code scheme
• Five band resistor colour code scheme
• Six band resistor colour code scheme

Dependent upon the number of rings used, the different resistor colour code schemes are able to
provide

Four band resistor colour code system

The four band system is used for E6, E12, and E24 series values. It can accommodate values with up to
two significant figures which is acceptable for the resistor value ranges up to E24 which normally
accommodate tolerance values up to ±2%.
The resistor colour code bands give the value of the resistor as well as other information including the
tolerance and sometimes the temperature coefficient. The band closest to the end of the resistor body is
taken to be Band 1. The first two bands of the resistor colour code are the significant figures of the
value, and the third of the resistor colour code is a multiplier.
 4 band resistor colour code
As an example the colours shown above are red, violet, and orange on the left - the forth band on the
right is red. The value is given by the first three, red violet corresponds to the significant figures, 27,
and then the orange corresponds to a multiplier of 1000. This gives the value 27kΩ. The fourth band
gives a tolerance of ±2%.
Note: If only three bands are present on the resistor, they will be the two significant figures, followed
by the multiplier, i.e. no tolerance band.

Five band resistor colour code system

For resistors where higher tolerances are needed, i.e. ±1% and better and for the E48, E96 and E192
series resistors where three significant figures are required, an extra digit band is included. Otherwise
this resistor colour coding system is the same as the four band colour code system.

5 band resistor colour code

Using the example in the diagram where the resistor colours are, orange; brown; blue; red; brown.
From the first three resistor colour bands, it can be seen that the significant digits are 316, and the
multiplier is 100. This gives 31600 or 31.6kΩ. The final band or ring indicates the tolerance is 1%

Six band resistor colour code system

The six band resistor colour code system provides the maximum amount of information about the
resistor parameters. Like the Five band colour code system, this one is generally used with high
tolerance values i.e. ±1% and better and E$*, E96, & E192 series resistor values.
 6 band resistor colour code
The example of the six band resistor colour code system shown in the diagram has colours of where the
resistor colours are, orange; brown; blue; red; brown red. From the first three resistor colour bands, it
can be seen that the significant digits are 316, and the multiplier is 100. This gives 31600 or 31.6kΩ.
The fifth band or ring is brown and indicates the tolerance is 1%. The final red band indicates the
temperature coefficient is 50 ppm/°K.

Resistor Colour Code Chart

The resistor colour code table or chart below summarises the different colour codes used for resistors.

Digits Temp Coefficient

Colour Multiplier Tolerance
(Sig Figs) ppm/°K
Black 0 100
Brown 1 101 ±1% 100
Red 2 102 ±2% 50
Orange 3 103 15
Yellow 4 104 25
Green 5 105 ±0.5%
Blue 6 106 ±0.25%
Violet 7 107 ±0.1%
Grey 8 108 ±0.05%
White 9 109
Gold ±5%
Silver ±10%
None ±20%
The resistor colour code is used in virtually all leaded resistors with power dissipation levels up to
about a watt. Beyond this the resistors are generally large enough, and use a different form of
construction allowing sufficient space for the values to be marked in figures. Nevertheless the resistor
colour code is the most widely used system for leaded resistors. The same basic concept is also used on
some capacitors.

E series of standard resistor values

In order to enable the common resistor values to be spaced apart according to their tolerance, a series
known as the E series for standard or preferred values is used. Resistors are spaced apart so that the top
of the tolerance band of one value and the bottom of the tolerance band of the next one do not overlap.
Take for example a resistor with a value of 1 ohm and a tolerance of ±20%. If the actual resistance of
the component falls at the top of the tolerance band then it will have a value of 1.2 ohms. Take then a
resistor with a value of 1.5 ohms. Again it is found that the value at the bottom of its tolerance band is
1.2 ohms. By calculating a range of values in this way a series can be built up. This is repeated for each
decade.
The series generated in this way for standard resistor values is known as the E series and these are
preferred values. The most basic series within the E range is the E3 series which has just three values:
1, 2.2 and 4.7. This is seldom used as such because the associated tolerance is too wide for most of
today's applications, although the basic values themselves may be used more widely to reduce stock
holding.
The next is the E6 series with six values in each decade for a ±20% tolerance, E12 series with 12
values in each decade for a ±10%, E24 series with 24 values in each decade for a ±5% tolerance.
Values for resistors in these series are given below. Further series (E48 and E96) are available, but are
not as common as the ones given below.
The E6 and E12 resistors are available in virtually all types of resistor. However the E24 series, being a
much closer tolerance series is only available in the higher tolerance types. Metal oxide film resistors
that are in common use today are available in the E24 series as are several other types. Carbon types
are rarely available these days and in any case would only available in the lower tolerance ranges as
their values cannot be guaranteed to such a close tolerance.
The E series preferred or standard resistor ranges are widely used and have been adopted by standards
organisations. The EIA (Electrical Industries Association) based in North America has, for example
adopted the system and as such the values included are often referred to as the EIA preferred values.

Summary of EIA Preferred or Standard Resistor Series

Tolerance Number of values in each
E Series
(Sig Figs) decade
E6 20% 6
E12 10% 12
5%
E24 [normally also available in 2% 24
tolerance]
E48 2% 48
 Summary of EIA Preferred or Standard Resistor Series
Tolerance Number of values in each
E Series
(Sig Figs) decade
E96 1% 96
0.5%, 0.25% and higher
E192 192
tolerances

Preferred and standard values of other components

The system for adopting standard component values works very well for resistors. It is also equally
applicable for other components. The same concept of using values in a standard list that are
determined by the tolerance of the components is equally applicable.
Accordingly the E series preferred values are also widely used for capacitors, where some of the lower
order series are used - E3, E6 as the values on many capacitors do not have a high tolerance.
Electrolytic capacitors typically have a very wide tolerance, although others such as many ceramic
types have a much tighter tolerance and many be available in ranges conforming to the E12 or even
E24 values.
Another example of components that follow the EIA E series preferred values is Zener diodes for their
breakdown voltages. The Zener diode standard voltages typically conform to the E12 values although
E24 series voltage values are also available - especially 5.1 volt Zener diode for 5 volt rails.

Resistor E Series: E3, E6, E12, E24, E48, E96

Values

The EIA preferred values can be summarised in tabular form to give the different values within each
decade. These values are the common resistor values that are used throughout the electronics industry.
When designing equipment, it is good practice to keep to the lowest E-series section, i.e. it is better to
use E3 rather than E6. In this way the number of different parts in any equipment can be minimised. If
decade values, i.e. 100R, 1K, 10, etc can be used so much the better. These are very common resistor
values and ore widely used. It also reduces the variety of components and makes inventory more
manageable.
For many digital designs where the resistor is used as a pull up or pull down, the resistor value is of
little consequence and this is easy. For analogue designs it is a little more complicated, and E12, or E24
values are needed. E48, E96 or even E192 series values are needed for high accuracy and close
tolerance requirements.
As the higher order series are used less, their costs are also normally higher. Using common resistor
values can reduce costs as well as reducing inventory.
Resistor E series tables of values
Below are the common resistor values. They are the standard E3, E6, E12, E24, E48 and E96 resistor
values.

E3 Standard Resistor Series

1.0 2.2 4.7
The E3 series resistors are the most widely used and hence these values will be the most common
resistor values used within the electronics industry.

E6 Standard Resistor Series

1.0 1.5 2.2
3.3 4.7 6.8
The E6 series resistor values are also widely used within the industry. They provide a wider range of
common resistor values that can be used.

E12 Standard Resistor Series

1.0 1.2 1.5
1.8 2.2 2.7
3.3 3.9 4.7
5.6 6.8 8.2

E24 Standard Resistor Series

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 9.1

E48 Standard Resistor Series

1.00 1.05 1.10
1.15 1.21 1.27
1.33 1.40 1.47
1.54 1.62 1.69
1.78 1.87 1.96
2.05 2.15 2.26
 E48 Standard Resistor Series
2.37 2.49 2.61
2.74 2.87 3.01
3.16 3.32 3.48
3.65 3.83 4.02
4.22 4.42 4.64
4.87 5.11 5.36
5.62 5.90 6.19
6.49 6.81 7.15
7.50 7.87 8.25
8.66 9.09 9.53

E96 Standard Resistor Series

1.00 1.02 1.05
1.07 1.10 1.13
1.15 1.18 1.21
1.24 1.27 1.30
1.33 1.37 1.40
1.43 1.47 1.50
1.54 1,58 1.62
1.65 1.69 1.74
1.78 1.82 1.87
1.91 1.96 2.00
2.05 2.10 2.16
2.21 2.26 2.32
2.37 2.43 2.49
2.55 2.61 2.67
2.74 2.80 2.87
2.94 3.01 3.09
3.16 3.24 3.32
3.40 3.48 3.57
3.65 3.74 3.83
3.92 4.02 4.12
4.22 4.32 4.42
4.53 4.64 4.75
4.87 4.99 5.11
5.23 5.36 5.49
5.62 5.76 5.90
6.04 6.19 6.34
6.49 6.65 6,81
 E96 Standard Resistor Series
6.98 7.15 7.32
7.50 7.68 7.87
8.06 8.25 8.45
8.66 8.87 9.09
9.31 9.53 9.76
Tables of standard resistor values in the E series
Virtually all resistors that are available fall into the standard resistor values that are given in the table
above. Although resistors are specified up to the E96 series, for most applications a comparatively few
number of resistor values is needed. By choosing from E3 or E6 series of standard resistor values, and
not going to some of the higher order series, it can reduce the stock holding as there is a greater chance
the same values may be used elsewhere in a design. Only where close tolerance types are required
should resistors from the E24, or even E48 or E96 series of standard resistors should be used.