Capacitor Color Codes for Identification Chart

Electronics, Instrumentation & Electrical Database

Capacitor Color Codes for Identification Chart

Capacitors may be marked with 4 or more colored bands or dots. The colors encode the first and second most significant digits of the value, and the third color the decimal multiplier in picofarads. Additional bands have meanings which may vary from one type to another. Low-tolerance capacitors may begin with the first 3 (rather than 2) digits of the value. It is usually, but not always, possible to work out what scheme is used by the particular colors used. Cylindrical capacitors marked with bands may look like resistors.

Capacitance Color Coding Table #1
Color	1st Digit (A)	2nd Digit (B)	Mutilplier (C)	Tolerance (D)
Black	0	0	1	±20%
Brown	1	1	10	±1%
Red	2	2	100	±2%
Orange	3	3	1,000	±3%
Yellow	4	4	10,000	±4%
Green	5	5	100,000	±5%
Blue	6	6	1,000,000	±6%
Violet	7	7	-	±7%
Grey	8	8	-	±8%
White	9	9	-	±9%
Gold	-	-	-	±5%
Silver	-	-	-	±10%
No Color	-	-	-	±20%

 

Black Brown Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Violet Grey White Gold Silver

Capacitance Color Coding Table #2
Color	Significant Figures	Multiplier	Capacitance Tolerance	Charateristic	DC Working Voltage	Operating Temperature	EIA Vibration
Black	0	1	±20%	???	???	???55 °C to +70 °C	10 to 55 Hz
Brown	1	10	±1%	B	100	???	???
Red	2	100	±2%	C	???	???55 °C to +85 °C	???
Orange	3	1 000	???	D	300	???	???
Yellow	4	10 000	???	E	???	???55 °C to +125 °C	10 to 2000 Hz
Green	5	100 000	±0.5%	F	500	???	???
Blue	6	1 000 000	???	???	???	???55 °C to +150 °C	???
Violet	7	10 000 000	???	???	???	???	???
Grey	8	???	???	???	???	???	???
White	9	???	???	???	???	???	???
Gold	???	???	±5%*	???	1000	???	???
Silver	???	???	±10%	???	???	???	???

Extra bands on ceramic capacitors will identify the voltage rating class and temperature coefficient characteristics. A broad black band was applied to some tubular paper capacitors to indicate the end that had the outer electrode; this allowed this end to be connected to chassis ground to provide some shielding against hum and noise pickup.

Polyester film and "gum drop" tantalum electrolytic capacitors are also color-coded to give the value, working voltage and tolerance.