Note If there is only 3 colour bands, the missing one will be band d. The absence of band d implies the resistor accuracy is ±20%
 
To read the code,
1. Write down the digit provided by the colour of band a
2. Write down the digit provided by the colour of band b
3. Write down the multiplier provided by the colour of band c
4. You have found the resistance in Ohms
5. If band d is present, this indicates the accuracy of the component.

a	b	c	d
0	0	x100Ω
1	1	x101Ω	±1%
2	2	x102Ω	±2%
3	3	x103Ω
4	4	x104Ω	±5%
5	5	x105Ω
6	6	x106Ω
7	7	x107Ω
8	8	x108Ω	±10%
9	9	x109Ω

 

1. Write down the first 2 digits (shown as a on the diagram)
2. Write down "x10"
3. Write down the x10 multiplier given by the third digit
4. This is the resistance in Ohms
 
Here are some examples
234 = 23 x10⁴Ω = 230kΩ
170 = 17 x10⁰Ω = 17Ω
135 = 13 x10⁵Ω = 1.3MΩ

 

1. Write down all digits before the letter. (If there are no digits before the letter then write "0")
2. Write down a decimal point "."
3. Write down all the digits after the letter
4. Look the letter up in this table and write down the answer

Letter	Answer
R	Ω
k	kΩ
M	MΩ
G	GΩ

 
Here are some examples
23M45 = 23 . 45 M Ω = 23.45MΩ
470k = 470 . 0 k Ω = 470kΩ
1R2 = 1Ω2 = 1.2Ω
1k = 1kΩ
12G0 = 12.0GΩ
G47 = 0.47GΩ = 470MΩ