Complete Guide to Reading 4, 5, and 6-Band Resistor Color Codes

Resistors are the fundamental passive components found in almost every electronic circuit. Because through-hole axial resistors are often too small to print legible numerical values, manufacturers use colored bands to indicate their nominal resistance value, precision tolerance, and in some cases, temperature stability.

In this comprehensive guide, we break down how to read 4-band, 5-band, and 6-band resistors accurately without confusion.

How to Determine Which Direction to Read

One of the most common stumbling blocks when reading axial resistors is identifying which end is the start (Band 1) and which is the end:

1. Look for the Gap: Most resistors feature a noticeably wider space between the multiplier band and the tolerance band.
2. Tolerance Colors: The tolerance band is frequently Gold (±5%) or Silver (±10%). Since these colors are never used for the first significant digit, if you see Gold or Silver near an edge, that band is always on the right side.
3. Band Position: The first band is typically printed closer to one of the ceramic leads than the last band is to the opposite lead.

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4-Band Resistors: The Everyday Standard

The 4-band resistor is the most ubiquitous configuration in consumer electronics and introductory prototyping.

• Band 1: First significant digit (0–9)
• Band 2: Second significant digit (0–9)
• Band 3: Decimal multiplier (10ⁿ)
• Band 4: Tolerance percentage (Gold = ±5%, Silver = ±10%)

Example:

• Band 1: Red (2)
• Band 2: Violet (7)
• Band 3: Red (× 100 Ω)
• Band 4: Gold (± 5%)

Value = 27 × 100 Ω = 2.7 kΩ ± 5%

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5-Band Resistors: Precision Components

Precision metal film resistors usually require three significant digits to represent standard values in the E48, E96, or E192 series.

• Band 1: First significant digit
• Band 2: Second significant digit
• Band 3: Third significant digit
• Band 4: Decimal multiplier
• Band 5: Tolerance (Brown = ±1%, Red = ±2%, Green = ±0.5%)

Example:

• Band 1: Brown (1)
• Band 2: Black (0)
• Band 3: Black (0)
• Band 4: Orange (× 1,000 Ω)
• Band 5: Brown (± 1%)

Value = 100 × 1,000 Ω = 100 kΩ ± 1%

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6-Band Resistors: High-Reliability and Temperature Drift

High-specification scientific, aerospace, and medical grade circuits use 6-band resistors. The sixth band indicates the Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR), measured in parts per million per degree Celsius (ppm/°C).

6th Band Color	Temperature Coefficient (TCR)
Brown	100 ppm/°C
Red	50 ppm/°C
Orange	15 ppm/°C
Yellow	25 ppm/°C
Blue	10 ppm/°C
Violet	5 ppm/°C

A lower TCR means the resistance will drift significantly less as ambient temperature changes, which is critical for precision voltage references and instrumentation amplifiers.

Summary Checklist

• Verify your reading direction by locating the gold/silver band or the wider band separation.
• Use our interactive ResistCalc Color Code Calculator for instant verification of real circuit components.