Resistor Color Codes

The vast majority of resistors created throughout all of history indicated their value and tolerance with color bands.

We favor resistors that print the value in numbers, e.g. "10kΩ," because unless you've spent a decade building circuits, you probably don't recognize color bands. For neophytes and hobbyists, printed values are much easier.

There is one exception: if you install such resistors with the value obscured (e.g. facing the PCB), then it becomes impossible later to determine the resistor's value after installation. Color bands can be read from any point on the circumference.

In any case, if your DIY kit contained a resistor with color bands, you can decode the value using any online resistor color code calculator. Search Google to find one.

(Pro tip: if you enter the colors in the wrong order, you'll get a different result. Try the colors in both orders before contacting us to claim that we shipped the wrong value, because we only stock a few values with bands, so it is unlikely we sent the incorrect value in your kit.)