What changes in a 5-band resistor?
Five-band coding uses three significant digits before the multiplier.
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Resistor Color Code Calculator — 4 & 5 Band Values
Decode 4-band and 5-band resistor color codes into resistance and tolerance with deterministic IEC-style digit and multiplier mapping.
Result
1,000 Ω
1 kΩ · 0.001 MΩ
Tolerance ±5% → 950 to 1,050 Ω
Formula and worked example
4-band R = (10×d1+d2)×multiplier; 5-band R = (100×d1+10×d2+d3)×multiplier.
Brown-black-red on a 4-band resistor gives 10 × 100 = 1,000 Ω before tolerance.
Assumptions
- The entered bands are read left to right.
- Temperature-coefficient bands are outside this resistance/tolerance decoder.
Last updated: 2026-09-16
Frequently asked questions
Does tolerance change nominal resistance?
No. It defines the permitted range around the nominal value.