Inductor Color Code Calculator
What µH are those colored stripes? Tap colors to find out — or look up the bands
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Common Inductance Values
Can't read the bands? Click a common value first to see its colors
About Inductor Color Code Calculator
The Inductor Color Code Calculator is a practical tool for electronics engineers and hobbyists. This calculator supports 3 and 4-band inductor color code conversion, as well as reverse lookup functionality. The base unit for inductors is microhenry (µH), and all calculations follow the IEC 60062 international standard.
How to Use the Inductor Color Code Calculator
- Select inductor type (3-band or 4-band)
- Click color blocks to select each band color
- The system instantly displays inductance value and tolerance range
- Use "Value to Bands" to reverse lookup color codes
Inductor Color Code Chart
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 µH | ±20% |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% |
| Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% |
| Orange | 3 | ×1k | - |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10k | - |
| Green | 5 | ×100k | ±0.5% |
| Blue | 6 | ×1M | ±0.25% |
| Violet | 7 | - | ±0.1% |
| Gray | 8 | - | ±0.05% |
| White | 9 | - | - |
| Gold | - | ×0.1 | ±5% |
| Silver | - | ×0.01 | ±10% |
Difference Between Inductor and Resistor Color Codes
Inductor color codes use the same color system as resistors. Key differences: 1) Inductors are measured in microhenry (µH), resistors in ohms (Ω); 2) Inductors typically only have 3 or 4 bands, no 5 or 6-band versions; 3) Inductors do not have a temperature coefficient band.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I determine the reading direction of an inductor?
3-band inductors default to ±20% tolerance with no tolerance band. For 4-band inductors, the gold or silver tolerance band is usually on the right. If uncertain, try both directions and choose the more reasonable standard value.
Q: What's the difference between inductor and resistor color codes?
Both use the same color system. Key differences: (1) Different units—inductors use µH, resistors use Ω; (2) Inductors typically only have 3 or 4 bands, no 5-band, 6-band, or temperature coefficient band.
Q: What are common inductor values?
High-frequency circuits commonly use 1-100µH; switching power supplies use 100µH-1mH; audio filters use 1-10mH. Standard values include 1, 2.2, 4.7, 10, 22, 47, 100 series.
Q: What does inductor tolerance mean?
Tolerance indicates the percentage range by which the actual inductance may deviate from the nominal value. For example, a 100µH ±5% inductor may have an actual value between 95-105µH.
Reference Standards
- IEC 60062: Marking codes for resistors and capacitors
- EIA-RS-279: Electronic component color code standard
This calculator is developed based on the IEC 60062 standard. For reference only.
