SMD Resistor Code Calculator & Decoder
Surface-mount device (SMD) chip resistors cannot accommodate colored stripes due to their tiny physical footprint (0805, 0603, 0402). Instead, they use numerical markings: 3-digit EIA, 4-digit EIA, decimal R notation, and EIA-96 precision codes.
Resistor Color Code Calculator
Select band count and click colors below to calculate resistance and tolerance.
Select Band Colors
Click any swatch to change value
SMD Resistor Code Calculator
Decode 3-digit, 4-digit, and EIA-96 surface mount resistor codes.
• 3-Digit: 2 digits + multiplier (±5%)
• 4-Digit: 3 digits + multiplier (±1%)
• EIA-96: 2 digits lookup + letter multiplier (±1%)
• Decimal 'R': 'R' acts as decimal point (e.g. 4R7 = 4.7Ω)
First 2 digits are significant numbers; 3rd digit is the power of 10 multiplier: 10 × 10³ = 10,000 Ω (10 kΩ).
Common Questions About SMD Resistor Code Calculator & Decoder
How do you read a 3-digit SMD resistor code like 103?▼
The first two digits represent the significant figures (1 and 0 = "10"). The third digit represents the multiplier exponent (10³ = 1,000). 10 × 1,000 = 10,000 ohms or 10 kΩ.
What does R mean in an SMD resistor code like 4R7 or R22?▼
The letter "R" acts as a decimal point for values under 10 ohms. "4R7" translates to 4.7 Ω, "R22" translates to 0.22 Ω, and "0R0" indicates a 0 ohm jumper.
What is the EIA-96 marking standard?▼
EIA-96 is a 3-character code for 1% tolerance SMD resistors. The first two digits (01 to 96) reference a 3-digit mantissa lookup table, and the final letter represents a power-of-10 multiplier.
Complete Resistor Color Code Chart
View the full 12-color lookup matrix covering significant figures 0–9, multipliers from 0.01 to 1G, and tolerance bands from ±0.05% to ±20%. Includes searchable values and instant CSV export.
How to Read & Calculate Resistor Bands
Learn step-by-step reading rules, standard E-series decade values (E12, E24, E96), memory mnemonics, and surface-mount (SMD) 3-digit and EIA-96 code conversion formulas.
Popular Resistor Color Code Guides & Calculators
Jump directly to pre-calculated stripe guides for common standard resistances or explore individual band systems.