ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS ASSEMBLY SERVICING (EPAS)

RESISTOR COLOR CODING

Resistor Color Coding uses colored bands to quickly identify a resistors resistive value and its
percentage of tolerance with the physical size of the resistor indicating its wattage rating.

Generally, the resistance value, tolerance, and wattage rating are printed on the body of a resistor
as numbers or letters when the resistors body is big enough to read the print, such as large power
resistors.

But when a resistor is smaller (example: 1/4-watt carbon or film type), the print is too small to
read, so the specifications must be shown in another way.

Most resistors have colored bands or regions that indicate their values and tolerances. You’ll see
three, four, or five bands around most carbon-composition resistors and film resistors. Other
resistors have enough physical bulk to allow for printed numbers that tell you the values and
tolerances directly.

RESISTOR COLOR CODE CHART

COLOR 1ST DIGIT 2ND DIGIT 3RD DIGIT MULTIPLIER TOLERANCE

BLACK 0 0 0 x1 0
BROWN 1 1 1 x 10 ± 1%
RED 2 2 2 x 100 ± 2%
ORANGE 3 3 3 x 1000
YELLOW 4 4 4 x 10K
GREEN 5 5 5 x 100K
BLUE 6 6 6 x 1M
VIOLET 7 7 7 x 10M
GREY 8 8 8 x 100M
WHITE 9 9 9 x 1G
GOLD x 0.1 ± 5%
SILVER x 0.01 ± 10%
NO COLOR ± 20%
5-Band Resistor is a high precision resistor, the first 3 bands are the significant digits.

How to read the color code of a resistor?

When reading the colors of a resistor, always begin reading from the first color nearest to
the end of the resistor and continue as indicated by the arrow in the image below.

1|Page Technology and Livelihood Education – EPAS 9

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS ASSEMBLY SERVICING (EPAS)

If the color band at one end is GOLD or SILVER it must be positioned in the right side and
read the color codes from opposite end, starting from the left end going to the right.

Interpreting the Color Codes of a Resistor

In interpreting the colors of a resistor, the first color band near the left side end of the
resistor is the first digit, the second color band is the second digit, the third color band is the
multiplier or simply the number of zero(es) to be added to the first and second digits. The fourth
color band is the tolerance.

Resistors with high precision have an extra band to indicate a third significant digit.
Therefore, the first three bands indicate the significant digits, the fourth band is the multiplier
and the fifth band represents the tolerance.

2|Page Technology and Livelihood Education – EPAS 9

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS ASSEMBLY SERVICING (EPAS)

In the example that follows, we will disregard the 4th color band (in case of 4-band
resistor) or the 5th color band (in case of a 5-band resistor) which is also known as the tolerance
band for a while. This is to simplify and ease the learning on how to read the Resistance Value
(RV) of a resistor.

Resistance Value (RV) – is the resistance factor of a specific color-banded resistor which can be
determined by simply looking, and identifying the values of its significant digits band multiplied
by its multiplier band value.

If it is a 4-band resistor, put together the 1st Digit and the 2nd Digit (do not add, just put
together the 2 digits) then multiplied by the value of the 3rd Color Band which is the multiplier.

Red – 2
Yellow – 4
Black – x 1
Resistance Value (RV) = 24Ω

Based on the chart the value of Red is 2, and the value of Yellow is 4, put it together, it
formed the number 24. Then multiplied it by the value of Black as the multiplier which is (x 1).
So, 24 x 1 is equals to 24 ohms.

To simplify it, since Multiplier is also known as the number of zero(es) to be put together
also with the significant digits, the significant value of Black is 0. Therefore, there is no zero to be
put beside the first 2 significant digit which is 2 and 4. So, the resistance value is 24ohms.

Brown – 1
Green – 5
Red – x 100
Resistance Value (RV) = 1,500Ω or 1.5KΩ

The value of Brown is 1, and the value of Green is 5, put it together, it formed the number
15. Then multiplied it by the value of Red as the multiplier which is (x 100). So, 15 x 100 is equals
to 1,500 ohms or 1.5 kilo ohms.

In another way, since the significant digit value of Red is 2, simply write two (2) zeroes
after the first digit and second digit to give you the same answer. Multiplying a number by 100 is
the same as adding two zeroes to the right side of the first two digits.

1 5 0 0

1st Digit 15 x 100 = 1, 500

2nd Digit

3|Page Technology and Livelihood Education – EPAS 9

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS ASSEMBLY SERVICING (EPAS)

In the case of a high precision resistor, a 5-band resistor, put together the 1st Digit, the 2nd
Digit, and the 3rd Digit (do not add, just put together the 3 digits) then multiplied by the value of
the 4th Color Band which is the multiplier.

Orange – 3
Black – 0
Grey – 8
Red – x 100
Resistance Value (RV) = 30,800Ω or 30.8KΩ

The value of Orange is 3, the value of Black is 0, and the value of Grey is 8, put it together, it formed
the number 308. Then multiplied it by the value of Red as the multiplier which is (x 100). So, 308
x 100 is equals to 30, 800 ohms or 30.8 kilo ohms.

In another way, since the significant digit value of Red is 2, simply write two (2) zeroes
after the first digit and second digit to give you the same answer. Multiplying a number by 100 is
the same as adding two zeroes to the right side of the first two digits.

3 0 8 0 0

1st Digit 308 x 100 = 30, 800

2nd Digit
3rd Digit

If it is a 4-Band resistor the multiplier is the 3rd color band or in the case of a 5-Band resistor
the multiplier is the 4th color band.

When the multiplier band is gold, simply multiply the significant digits by zero point one (0.1).

Brown – 1
Red– 2
Gold – x 0.1
12 x 0.1
Resistance Value (RV) = 1.2Ω

When the multiplier band is silver, simply multiply the significant digits by zero point zero one
(0.01).

Green – 5
White – 9
Grey – 8
Silver – x 0.01
589 x 0.01
Resistance Value (RV) = 5.98Ω

4|Page Technology and Livelihood Education – EPAS 9

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS ASSEMBLY SERVICING (EPAS)

Tolerance of the Resistor

The fourth color band of a resistor represents its tolerance value. Tolerance indicates the
permissible minimum and maximum value of a particular resistor which can deviate from its
original coded value when that resistor is used in a circuit.

There are five (5) tolerance values used in a resistor. Please refer to the Resistor Color
Coded Chart.

Rules to Determine Tolerance of a Resistor

1. When the fourth color band in the case of a 4-Band Resistor or fifth color band
in the case of a 5-Band Resistor is Brown, it means that the tolerance is ±1%
above and below its color-coded value

2. While if Red is the fourth color band in the case of a 4-Band Resistor or fifth
color band in the case of a 5-Band Resistor, the tolerance is ±2% above and
below its color-coded value.

3. If the fourth color band in the case of a 4-Band Resistor or fifth color band in
the case of a 5-Band Resistor is Gold, the tolerance is ±5% above and below its
color-coded value.

4. When Silver is used as the fourth color band in the case of a 4-Band Resistor
or fifth color band in the case of a 5-Band Resistor, the tolerance is ±20%
above and below its color-coded value.

5. If a resistor has only 3 color bands, it means that its tolerance is ±20% above
and below its color-coded value. This tolerance is applied only to a 4-Band
Resistor which contains only 3 color bands and refers the fourth band as “No
Color” which usually is the same as the body color of the resistor.

▪ A 5-Band resistor has no 20% tolerance because it is a high precision

resistor.

▪ For a resistor to be considered as good, it must have a measured value

falling within its maximum and minimum tolerances.

How to solve the value of a Resistor considering its Tolerance?

1. Write down the color bands of a resistor and indicate its values based in the
Resistor Color Code Chart.

2. Determine the Resistance Value (RV) and the percentage of Tolerance (T).

3. Solve for the Tolerance Value (TV) by multiplying the Resistance Value by the
percentage of Tolerance.

TV = RV x T

5|Page Technology and Livelihood Education – EPAS 9

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS ASSEMBLY SERVICING (EPAS)

4. Maximum Tolerance (MaxT) is the highest possible rating of a resistor that can
be measured of beyond its color-coded value. To determine the Maximum
Tolerance of a resistor, add the Tolerance Value with the resistance value.

MaxT = RV + TV

5. Minimum Tolerance (MinT)on the other hand is the lowest measurement a

resistor can get below its color-coded value. To get the Minimum Tolerance,
simply subtract the Tolerance Value from the Resistance Value.

MinT = RV – TV

Resistors that measure beyond its computed Maximum Tolerance value or below its
determined Minimum Tolerance value is a defective resistor. It is classified as leaky
resistor and must be replaced immediately.

EXAMPLES:

1. Blue – 6
Red – 2
Yellow – x 10K (4 zeroes)
Gold – 5%

RV = 620, 000Ω or 620KΩ

T = 5% or 0.05

TV = RV x T
= 620, 000Ω x 0.05
TV = 31, 000 Ω

MaxT = RV + TV
= 620, 000Ω + 31, 000Ω
MaxT = 651, 000Ω

MinT = RV – TV
= 620, 000Ω – 31, 000Ω
MinT = 589, 000Ω

2. Green – 5
Black – 0
Grey – 8
Brown – x 10 (1 zero)
Silver – 10%

RV = 5, 080Ω or 5.08KΩ

T = 10% or 0.1

6|Page Technology and Livelihood Education – EPAS 9

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS ASSEMBLY SERVICING (EPAS)

TV = RV x T
= 5, 080Ω x 0.1
TV = 508Ω

MaxT = RV + TV
= 5, 080Ω + 508Ω
MaxT = 5, 588Ω

MinT = RV – TV
= 5, 080Ω – 508Ω
MinT = 4, 572Ω

3. Red – 2
Black – 0
Orange – x 1K (3 zeroes)
No Band – 20%

RV = 20, 000Ω or 20KΩ

T = 20% or 0.2

TV = RV x T
= 20, 000Ω x 0.2
TV = 4, 000 Ω

MaxT = RV + TV
= 20, 000Ω + 4, 000Ω
MaxT = 24, 000Ω

MinT = RV – TV
= 20, 000Ω – 4, 000Ω
MinT = 16, 000Ω

4. Violet – 7
White – 9
Gold – x 0.1
Brown – 1%

RV = 7.9Ω (79 x 0.1 = 7.9)

T = 1% or 0.01

TV = RV x T
= 7.9Ω x 0.01
TV = 0.079Ω

MaxT = RV + TV
= 7.9Ω + 0.079Ω
MaxT = 7.979Ω

7|Page Technology and Livelihood Education – EPAS 9

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS ASSEMBLY SERVICING (EPAS)

MinT = RV – TV
= 7.9Ω – 0.079Ω
MinT = 7.821Ω

5. Yellow – 4
Blue – 6
Grey – 8
Silver – x 0.01
Red – 2%

RV = 4.68Ω (468 x 0.01 = 4.68)

T = 2% or 0.02

TV = RV x T
= 4.68Ω x 0.02
TV = 0.0936Ω

MaxT = RV + TV
= 4.68Ω + 0.0936Ω
MaxT = 4.7736Ω

MinT = RV – TV
= 4.68Ω – 0.0936Ω
MinT = 4.5864Ω

EXERCISES:

Directions: Copy and answer. In a separate piece of paper, preferably a tablet paper,
determine and solve for the following factors of the problem; Resistance
Value, Tolerance, Tolerance Value, Maximum Tolerance, and Minimum
Tolerance.

1. Orange 2. Red 3. Grey 4. Brown

Orange Black Violet Green
Orange Brown Green Yellow
Silver Red Red
Gold

5. Blue 6. White 7. Green 8. Brown

Yellow Brown Red Blue
Gold Black Green Green
Brown Black Silver Red
Red Gold Red

9. White 10. Grey

White Violet
Brown Orange
Gold

8|Page Technology and Livelihood Education – EPAS 9

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS ASSEMBLY SERVICING (EPAS)

ACTIVITY NO. 2

Directions: In an A4 size bond paper illustrate/draw the specifications of the resistors

written below. Use any drawing and coloring materials as long as it could
depicts the colors required for every given description of a resistor.

Determine and solve for the following factors in every illustration;

Resistance Value, Tolerance, Tolerance Value, Maximum Tolerance, and
Minimum Tolerance.

1. Brown 2. Red 3. Grey 4. Violet

Orange Black Blue Green
Red Orange Green Yellow
Gold Brown Gold
Gold

5. Blue 6. Blue 7. Green 8. Blue

Grey Brown Black Blue
Silver Brown Green Green
Red Red Gold Red
Silver Gold Brown

9. Brown 10. Yellow

White Red
Brown Yellow
Silver

QUIZ NO. 1

Directions: Determine all the color bands of a resistor based on the Resistance Value
given below. Even number items have a Tolerance of 5% while the odd
number items have a Tolerance of 10%, compute for the Tolerance Value,
Maximum Tolerance, and Minimum Tolerance thereafter. Answer this in a
separate sheet of paper, preferably, a tablet paper.

1. RV = 24Ω 6. RV = 17KΩ 11. RV = 52GΩ

2. RV = 22.5Ω 7. RV = 35KΩ 12. RV = 750Ω

3. RV = 1Ω 8. RV = 0.26Ω 13. RV = 22MΩ

4. RV = 555Ω 9. RV = 8.9Ω 14. RV = 2.08KΩ

5. RV = 0.8Ω 10. RV = 100Ω 15. RV = 67.2KΩ

9|Page Technology and Livelihood Education – EPAS 9