Capacitor Code Calculator

Enter a 3-digit capacitor code to instantly decode it to pF, nF, and uF — or enter a capacitance to find its code.

Use the Capacitor Code Calculator

Digits 1–2: base value in pF  |  Digit 3: multiplier (0–9)

Quick Reference — Common Codes

Enter a capacitor code or value to see results.

Multiplier Reference Table
Digit Multiplier Example (base 10) Result
0 ×1 100 10 pF
1 ×10 101 100 pF
2 ×100 102 1,000 pF = 1 nF
3 ×1,000 103 10,000 pF = 10 nF
4 ×10,000 104 100,000 pF = 100 nF
5 ×100,000 105 1,000,000 pF = 1 uF
6 ×1,000,000 106 10,000,000 pF = 10 uF
8 ×0.01 108 0.1 pF (rare)
9 ×0.1 229 2.2 pF (rare)
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Summary

Ceramic capacitors are marked with a compact 3-digit code rather than a printed value. The first two digits are the significant figures of the capacitance in picofarads, and the third digit is a power-of-ten multiplier. This tool decodes any such code instantly and also converts between pF, nF, and uF so you never have to do the arithmetic by hand.

How it works

  1. Enter the 3-digit code printed on the capacitor body (e.g. 104).
  2. The first two digits (10) are the base capacitance in pF.
  3. The third digit (4) is the exponent: multiply by 10^4 = 10,000.
  4. Result: 10 × 10,000 = 100,000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 uF.
  5. Use the Encode tab to go in reverse — type a capacitance and get the code.

Use cases

  • Identify an unmarked or hard-to-read capacitor on a PCB.
  • Verify capacitor values when building or repairing circuits.
  • Convert between pF, nF, and uF without manual calculation.
  • Cross-reference capacitor codes when substituting components.
  • Teach students the standard capacitor marking convention.
  • Quickly encode a desired capacitance value into its 3-digit code for ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-05-23 · Reviewed by Nham Vu