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Capacitor Color Codes – How To Read Capacitor Value? Calculator

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How to know the Value of Capacitance of a Capacitor using Standard & Color Codes – Calculator & Examples

Same like the resistor color codes, there are special indications like bands, dots or points are printed on different types of capacitors which are used to show the value of capacitance of a capacitor, its voltage rating and tolerance etc. The use of different colors on a capacitor to show its values and characteristics is known as capacitor color coding.

Click on image to enlarge

Table of Contents

Capacitor Standard Codes

Generally, the values of capacitance, voltage rating, tolerance and even the polarity (in case of polarized capacitor) are printed on the large size capacitor. On the other hand, for small capacitors like mica and ceramic capacitors, color codes are used to indicate their values (generally) in pF (picofarad).

The value of ceramic disk capacitors lower than 1000pf is printed on it in the form of digits and numbers. For example, the only number “300” is printed on a capacitor of 300pf.

Those capacitors having capacitance of 1000pf or more, their values can be read by the 3 digits numbers (e.g. 102. 103, 105 etc.) printed on it. These 3 digits color coding can be read as follows.

102 = 10 x 10² = 1000 pF (picofarad)
103 = 10 x 10³ = 10,000 pF (picofarad)
105 = 10 x 10⁵ = 1,000,000. pF (picofarad) = 1 μF (microfarad)

Reading Value of Large Cylindrical Capacitors (Polarized & Non-Polarized)

Generally, the overall rating is written and printed on these capacitors. For example

The fig 2 (a)

The value of capacitance is 47 μF (microfarad).
The value of maximum voltage this capacitor bears is 400V DC

The fig 2 (c)

The value of capacitance is 1200 nF (nanofarad).
The value of maximum bearable voltage is 500V.
The value of tolerance is ± 5%. e.g. variation of capacitance in plus minus.

The fig 2 (c)

The value of capacitance is 1200 μF (microfarad).
The value of maximum voltage is 63 V DC.
The value of tolerance is ± 20%.
The value of temperature coefficient is -40 to +105°C.

The fig 2 (d)

We will show a solved example and table (see fig 3) below to show how to read the value of ceramic capacitors

The value of capacitance is 0.01 μF (microfarad).
The value of maximum voltage is “2G” (400V).
The value of tolerance is “J” ± 5%.

Click on image to enlarge

Keep in mind that polarized and non-polarized capacitors as well as AC and DC capacitors can only be used according to the specifications. For example, A DC capacitor can’t be operated at AC supply and vice versa until and unless mentioned in the user Manual. The VDC and VAC are mentioned on the capacitor rating nameplate with negative (-) sign for negative terminal on it.

The following symbols and units are used to represent the values of capacitance of capacitors in Microfarad (μF), Nano-farad (nF) & Picofarad (pF).

Symbol	Abbreviation	Value in Numbers
μF	Microfarad	10^-6
nF	Nano-farad	10^-9
pF	Picofarad	10^-12

Reading Value of Small Capacitors (Ceramic)

For small capacitors like ceramic, tantalum, film capacitors etc., the area is very small hence it is not possible to print the value of capacitance and voltage on it. This way, some special notations are used e.g. digits, numbers and alphanumeric characters which indicates the different characteristics and values of capacitors. Generally, the values of these capacitors are in pF (picofarad 1 x 10^-9).

Let me show how to read the value of ceramic capacitors?

2 Numerical Values:

If the ceramic capacitor has two numerical values, or any two digits and a letter like 33P, it means the value is 33 picofarad.

If there is a letter in the middle of two digits like 6R2, it shows:

For example: 6R2 = 6.2 pF.

If the first or middle letter is “μ”, “p” or “n” instead of R, it represents the main units of capacitance such as

For examples:

5μ = 5 Microfarad
3μ1 = 3.1 Microfarad
P42 = 42 picofarad

3 Numerical Values:

Most of the ceramic capacitors have three numerical values printed on it. For example, 103, 104, 105 etc. Let’s see how to read these values. Suppose the printed value on the ceramic capacitor is “103”

103 = 10 x 10³ = 10,000 pF (picofarad)

Similarly, if the specials marking code on the ceramic capacitor is 105:

105 = 10 + 5 Zeros = 1,000,000 pF
= 1000 nF = 1 µF

Tolerance of Ceramic Capacitors

There are Capital letters printed on the ceramic capacitor except the value of capacitance such as 22M.

The following table shows the tolerance for ceramic capacitors indicated by Letters.

Letters	Tolerance in %
A	±0.05 pF
B	±0.1 pF
C	±0.25 pF
D	±0.5 pF
E	±0.5%
F	±1%
G	±2%
H	±3%
J	±5 %
K	±10%
L	±15%
M	±20%
N	±30%
P	–0%, + 100%
S	–20%, + 50%
W	–0%, + 200%
X	–20%, + 40%
Z	–20%, + 80%

Value of Standard Capacitor Codes

The following table shows the standard value of standard capacitor codes and letters markings printed on it.

Code	Microfarad “μF”	Nanofarad “nF”	Picofarad “pF”	Code	Microfarad “μF”	Nanofarad “nF”	Picofarad “pF”
100	0.00001	0.01	10	225	2.2	2200	2200000
101	0.0001	0.1	100	254	0.2	200	200000
102	0.001	1.0	1000	330	0.000033	0.033	33
103	0.01	10	10000	331	0.00033	0.33	330
104	0.1	100	100000	332	0.0033	3.3	3300
105	1.0	1000	1000000	333	0.033	33	33000
121	0.00012	0.12	120	334	0.33	330	330000
131	0.00013	0.13	130	335	3.3	3300	3300000
150	0.000015	0.015	15	470	0.000047	0.047	47
151	0.00015	0.15	150	471	0.00047	0.47	470
152	0.0015	1.5	1500	472	0.0047	4.7	4700
153	0.015	15	15000	473	0.047	47	47000
154	0.15	150	150000	474	0.47	470	470000
155	1.5	1500	1500000	502	0.005	5.0	5000
181	0.00018	0.18	180	561	0.00056	0.56	560
202	0.002	2.0	2000	562	0.0056	5.6	5600
205	2.0	2000	2000000	681	0.00068	0.68	680
220	0.000022	0.022	22	682	0.0068	6.8	6800
221	0.00022	0.22	220	683	0.068	68	68000
222	0.0022	2.2	2200	684	0.68	680	680000
223	0.022	22	22000	751	0.00075	0.75	750
224	0.22	220	220000	821	0.00082	0.82	820

Capacitor Color Codes

How to Read Capacitor Color Codes?

Except marking and alphanumeric codes, different color codes are also used to identify the value of a capacitor. These colored bands (on ceramic tubular capacitors) or dots ( on Mica capacitors) are printed on the outer surface of the capacitor.

Click on image to enlarge

Capacitance of Capacitor Color Code

The value of a capacitor having five color bands (or 5 dots) can be read using the following table.

In the following tables, the first three color bands show the value of capacitance, the fourth band as tolerance in percentage and the fifth band shows the temperature coefficient. For example:

1^st Color Band = First Number of Value of Capacitor.
2^nd Color Band = Second Number of value of Capacitor.
3^3rd Color Band = The number of Zeros (as multiplier) with the first two digits of capacitor (In numbers).
4^th Color Band = Tolerance in percentage.
5^th Color Band = Temperature coefficient.

Table for 5 bands color codes for ceramic capacitors

Band Color	1^st Digit	2^nd Digit	Multiplier	Tolerance (%)		Temperature Coefficient
Band Color	1^st Digit	2^nd Digit	Multiplier	Above 10pf	Below 10pf	Temperature Coefficient
BLACK	0	0	1	± 20%	± 2.0pF	0
BROWN	1	1	10	± 1%	± 0.1pF	-30
RED	2	2	100	± 2%	± 0.25pF	-80
ORANGE	3	3	1,000	± 3%	–	-150
YELLOW	4	4	10,000	± 4%	–	-220
GREEN	5	5	100,000	± 5%	± 0.5pF	-330
BLUE	6	6	1,000,000	± 6%	–	-470
VIOLET	7	7	–	± 7%	–	-750
GREY	8	8	0.01	+80%,-20%	± 0.25pF	+30
WHITE	9	9	0.1	± 10%	± 1.0pF	+120-750
GOLD	–	–	0.1	± 5%	–	–
SILVER	–	–	0.01	± 10%	–	–

Table for 4 bands color codes for ceramic & tubular paper capacitors with voltage rating (especially for dot color code for mica and molded paper capacitors).

Band Color	Significant Figure	Decimal Multiplier	Tolerances (%)	Voltage Rating
BLACK	0	1	–	–
BROWN	1	10	1	100
RED	2	100	2	200
ORANGE	3	1,000	3*	300
YELLOW	4	10,000	4*	400
GREEN	5	100,000	5	500
BLUE	6	1,000,000	6	600
VIOLET	7	10,000,000	7	700
GREY	8	100,000,000	8	800
WHITE	9	1000,000,000	9	900
GOLD	–	0.1	5	1000
SILVER	–	0.01	10	2000
No Color	–	–	20	500

* Voltage Rating for K type Capacitors

** Multiply by 10 for tubular paper capacitors.

Voltage of Capacitor Color Code

Band Color	Type “J”	Type “K”	Type “L”	Type “M”	Type “N”
BLACK	4	100	–	10	10
BROWN	6	200	100	1.6	–
RED	10	300	250	4	35
ORANGE	15	400	–	40	–
YELLOW	20	500	400	6.3	6
GREEN	25	600		16	15
BLUE	35	700	630	–	20
VIOLET	50	800	–	–	–
GREY	–	900	–	25	25
WHITE	3	1000	–	2.5	3
GOLD	–	2000	–	–	–
SILVER	–	–	–	–	–

Note: The letters of “J”, “K”, “L”, “M” & “N” shows the following types of capacitors

Type “J” = Dipped Tantalum Capacitors
Type “K” = Mica Capacitors
Type “L” = Polyester & Polystyrene Capacitors
Type “M” = Electrolytic Four-Bands Capacitors
Type “N” = Electrolytic Three-Bands Capacitors

Formula and Equations For Capacitor and Capacitance
Capacitor Symbols

The following fig shows how to read the bumblebee capacigor color codes with a solved example of 0.047µF (equivalent to 47000 pF or 47 nF).

How to Read Color Codes for Disc & Ceramic Capacitors?

Color codes for non-polarized mica molded and polyester capacitors like ceramic and disc capacitors are an old school method (BS-EN 60062) and hence replaced by the capacitor marking ( BS-1852 Standard) with alphanumeric codes. If you still find the old age color coded capacitor, you may identify the value of the ceramic capacitor using the following example (see fig 3(c) and 3(d).

Capacitor Color Codes Calculator

The following 5-bands capacitor calculator will calculate the value of capacitance of five colored strips printed on a capacitor. This calculator supports 5-colored strips and values of capacitance in F (Farad), µF (micro-Farad), nF (nano-farad) and pF (pico-farad). Just select the color codes of the capacitor and click on calculate for the desired value of capacitance, Its tolerance and maximum voltage of the (Type K) capacitor.

Capacitor Code to Capacitance Value of Capacitor Calculator

The following capacitor value calculator calculates the values of capacitance for ceramic capacitors. Just put the capacitor code marking such as “103” and click on calculate. The result will show the value of capacitance of ceramic capacitor in μF (microfarad = 1×10^-6), nF (nano-farad = 1×10^-9) or pF (picofarad = 1×10^-12).

Capacitance Value to Capacitor Code Calculator

The following capacitor code calculator calculates the code of capacitance for ceramic capacitors. Just put the value of capacitance of ceramic capacitor in μF (microfarad = 1×10^-6), nF (nano-farad = 1×10^-9) or pF (picofarad = 1×10^-12) and click on calculate. The result will show the code of capacitance of ceramic capacitors such as “103”, “104”, “105” and so on depending on the input value.