What's the difference between a 4-band and 5-band resistor?

A 4-band resistor has two significant-digit bands, one multiplier band and one tolerance band. A 5-band resistor has three significant-digit bands (for finer precision), a multiplier band and a tolerance band, and is typically used for 1% or better tolerance resistors.

How is the multiplier band used in the calculation?

The digits from the significant-figure bands are combined into a single number, then multiplied by 10 raised to the power shown by the multiplier band's color (e.g. red = ×100), giving the final resistance in ohms.

Resistor Color Code Calculator

Decode a 4-band or 5-band resistor color code into its resistance value and tolerance.

How this is calculated

Resistance = (digit bands as a number) × 10^(multiplier band)

Assumptions used in this calculation

Standard 4-band color code: Uses the IEC 60062 color-to-value mapping for digit, multiplier and tolerance bands as printed on the resistor body.
Reading direction: Assumes bands are entered left-to-right in the standard reading order, with the tolerance band (gold/silver) identified as the last band.

About this calculator

The resistor color code calculator decodes the colored bands on a resistor into its resistance value and tolerance, supporting both 4-band and 5-band resistors.

Worked example

Brown-Black-Red-Gold

Result: 1 kΩ ±5%

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Resistor Color Code Calculator

About this calculator

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a 4-band and 5-band resistor?

How is the multiplier band used in the calculation?

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