Engineering Suite v2.4 EIA/IEC Compliant

Capacitor Color Code
Calculator

Instantly decode capacitance, tolerance, and voltage ratings from standard color bands. Accurate precision for restoration, prototyping, and auditing.

Launch Decoder View Examples

Stage 1: Select Color Code Type

Stage 2: Band Configuration & Value Entry

How to Use the Capacitor Color Code Calculator

Our interactive simulator provides direct visual feedback for workbench speed. Sizing capacitors has never been more intuitive:

1

Select Shape

Choose the package type that represents your physical capacitor from the custom cards in Stage 1.

2

Select Bands

Choose whether your physical capacitor has 4 bands or 5 bands from the primary drop-down menu.

3

Choose Colors

Map each band sequence to its correct color. The premium 3D graphic updates live to display your selection.

4

Decode Sizing

Click 'Calculate' to instantly output capacitance values in pF, nF, µF, and mF alongside tolerance and voltage.

Calculation Formulas & Step-by-Step Manual Sizing

Our decoding engine executes calculations using standardized electrical engineering equations. Learn how standard digit-multiplier scales translate color codes into actual capacitance values, and walk through a step-by-step practical manual sizing example.

Capacitance Sizing Formula

The base capacitance is determined by the first two significant digits, multiplied by the base 10 scale multiplier:

Capacitance (pF) = [ (Digit 1 × 10) + Digit 2 ] × Multiplier

Detailed Band Explanations

Band 1 & 2 (Digits)

Represents the first and second significant digits of the nominal capacitance value measured in picofarads (pF).

Band 3 (Multiplier)

Scales the nominal digits by a factor of 10 (from 10^-2 up to 10^6) to calculate total capacitance in pF.

Band 4 (Tolerance)

Dictates the maximum permissible variance (e.g. ±1%, ±5%, ±20%) from the nominal value.

Band 5 (Voltage)

Indicates the maximum safe continuous DC operating voltage rating (e.g., 100V, 250V, 400V).

Practical Example: Sizing a 5-Band Film Capacitor

Let's decode a physical film capacitor with the following five bands from left to right: Yellow, Violet, Red, Black, and Red.

Band 1 (Yellow)
4 (Digit 1)
Band 2 (Violet)
7 (Digit 2)
Band 3 (Red)
x100 (Multiplier)
Band 4 (Black)
±20% (Tolerance)
Band 5 (Red)
250 V (Voltage)

Applying the Sizing Equation:

Capacitance = [ (4 × 10) + 7 ] × 100 pF = 47 × 100 pF = 4,700 pF

Convert from base picofarads to nanofarads or microfarads: 4,700 pF = 4.7 nF = 0.0047 µF. The final component rating is 0.0047 µF with a tolerance of ±20% and a safe operating voltage of 250V DC.

EIA/IEC Standard Capacitor Color Code Reference Chart

This comprehensive reference chart details the values assigned to each color code according to international standard EIA and IEC electronic packaging standards. Use it to verify digit bands, multiplier factors, tolerances, and voltage ratings at a glance.

Color Digit 1 Digit 2 Multiplier Tolerance Voltage Rating
Black 0 0 x1 ±20% -
Brown 1 1 x10 ±1% 100 V
Red 2 2 x100 ±2% 250 V
Orange 3 3 x1,000 ±3% -
Yellow 4 4 x10,000 ±4% 400 V
Green 5 5 x100,000 ±5% -
Blue 6 6 x1,000,000 - 630 V
Violet 7 7 - - -
Gray 8 8 x0.01 - -
White 9 9 x0.1 ±10% -

Frequently Asked Questions

Find quick answers to common questions about reading and decoding legacy or vintage capacitor color codes.

No. Most modern capacitors use printed alphanumeric codes (e.g., "104" stands for 100,000 pF). However, color coding remains extremely common on legacy devices, vintage electronics (like tube radios and vintage guitar amplifiers), and special silver mica or dipped tantalum capacitors. Knowing how to read these codes is key for restoration and repair work.
On axial-lead capacitors, the first band is typically printed much closer to one of the metal leads than the others. On radial or dipped capacitors, read the bands from top to bottom (or clockwise starting from the upper left), with the multiplier and voltage bands located towards the bottom or right.
They are very similar. They share the identical base color-to-number sequence (Black = 0, Brown = 1, Red = 2, etc.). However, they differ in two main ways: (1) The base unit of a capacitor is Picofarads (pF) instead of Ohms (Ω), and (2) The tolerance color assignments and the inclusion of voltage rating bands (Band 5) are specific to capacitors.
A 4-band capacitor code includes two digit bands, a multiplier band, and a tolerance band. A 5-band code adds a fifth band that indicates the maximum safe working voltage (such as 100V, 250V, or 400V).
If the peak voltage across the capacitor exceeds its maximum rated voltage (Band 5), the internal insulating dielectric layer will break down. This causes an electrical short, which can permanently damage the capacitor and lead to overheating, smoke, or even catastrophic failure of the entire circuit board.