⚡ Resistor Color Code Calculator
Pick the bands and get the resistance and tolerance instantly — or decode an SMD code below. A free tool from the bench, built for the same day-to-day repair work we do for clients.
SMD Resistor Code Calculator
Type the code printed on a surface-mount resistor. Works with 3-digit, 4-digit, EIA-96 and R-notation codes.
How SMD codes work
| Type | Example | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| 3-digit | 103 | First two digits, then that many zeros: 10 + 000 = 10 kΩ (usually ±5%) |
| 4-digit | 4702 | First three digits, then that many zeros: 470 + 00 = 47 kΩ (usually ±1%) |
| R-notation | 4R7 | R marks the decimal point: 4R7 = 4.7 Ω, R047 = 0.047 Ω |
| EIA-96 | 01C | Two digits pick a value from the E96 table (01 = 100), the letter is the multiplier (C = ×100): 10 kΩ, ±1% |
| Jumper | 0 / 000 | Zero-ohm link used as a bridge, not a real resistor |
EIA-96 letters: Z=×0.001, Y/R=×0.01, X/S=×0.1, A=×1, B/H=×10, C=×100, D=×1k, E=×10k, F=×100k.
How to read the bands
Reading left to right (the tolerance band is usually set apart from the others, closer to one end): the first two (or three, on 5-band resistors) bands are digits, the next band is the multiplier you multiply those digits by, and the last band is the tolerance — how far the actual resistance can vary from the printed value.
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance |
|---|
Not sure what you're looking at, or the bands are hard to tell apart? Send us a photo — get in touch and we'll help you sort it out.