What color code standard does this calculator use?

It uses the standard IEC 60062 color code, the same system used for resistors and widely adopted for axial through-hole inductors. Each color represents a digit (0-9) for the value bands, a multiplier band, and an optional tolerance band.

What is the difference between 4-band and 5-band inductors?

A 4-band inductor has two significant digit bands, one multiplier band, and one tolerance band. A 5-band inductor adds a third significant digit band for higher precision, followed by a multiplier and a tolerance band.

What unit is the result given in?

Results are shown in the most human-readable unit (nH, uH, mH, or H) and always accompanied by the value in microhenries (uH) for easy comparison with datasheets.

Why do some inductors not have color bands?

SMD (surface-mount) inductors typically use numeric codes or are too small for color bands. Color band coding is mainly used on larger through-hole axial inductors. Some manufacturers also use their own proprietary marking systems.

What does the tolerance band mean?

The tolerance band indicates how closely the actual inductance matches the nominal value. For example, gold means +/-5%, silver means +/-10%, and no band typically means +/-20%.

Can I use this for resistors too?

The color code digits and multipliers are the same as resistors, but the base unit here is microhenries (uH) instead of ohms. For resistors, use a dedicated resistor color code calculator.

Inductor Color Code Calculator

Name: Inductor Color Code Calculator
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Decode inductor color bands to inductance value in microhenries, or encode a value back to color bands.

Number of Bands

4 Bands 5 Bands

Select Color Bands

Select color bands or enter a value to see results

Color Band Preview

Inductance

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In Microhenries

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Band Details

Band	Color	Meaning

Tolerance —

Summary

Decode inductor color bands to inductance value in microhenries, or encode a value back to color bands.

How it works

Select the number of bands (4-band or 5-band) for your inductor.
In Decode mode, pick each color band from the dropdown menus.
The calculator computes the inductance using the standard resistor/inductor color code formula.
The result is shown in the most readable unit (nH, uH, mH, or H) plus microhenries for reference.
In Encode mode, type a numeric value and select the unit, then click Calculate to see the matching color bands.

Use cases

Identify the inductance of an unmarked or worn through-hole inductor.
Verify that a color-coded inductor matches the value specified in a BOM.
Quickly convert an inductance value to the color band equivalent when ordering parts.
Teach students how the inductor color code system works.
Cross-check inductor values during PCB debugging sessions.
Reverse-engineer old circuits where part numbers are no longer readable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-13 · Reviewed by Nham Vu