How to Read a Capacitor Color Code
Color-banded capacitors (tubular polyester, molded mica and older ceramic types) use the same color-to-digit system as resistors, read from the band nearest the lead or the top of the body:
Value (pF) = (Band1 digit × 10 + Band2 digit) × Band3 multiplier
Band 4 = tolerance · Band 5 (tubular types) = voltage rating
Capacitor Color Chart
| Color | Digit | Multiplier | Tolerance | Voltage (band 5) |
|---|
| Black | 0 | ×1 | ±20% | — |
| Brown | 1 | ×10 | ±1% | 100 V |
| Red | 2 | ×100 | ±2% | 250 V |
| Orange | 3 | ×1,000 | — | — |
| Yellow | 4 | ×10,000 | — | 400 V |
| Green | 5 | ×100,000 | ±5% | — |
| Blue | 6 | — | — | 630 V |
| Violet | 7 | — | — | — |
| Gray | 8 | ×0.01 | — | — |
| White | 9 | ×0.1 | ±10% | — |
Voltage band colors vary between manufacturers and series — treat band 5 as indicative and confirm against the datasheet where the rating matters.
Worked Example — Yellow • Violet • Orange • White
- Yellow = 4, Violet = 7 → digits 47
- Orange multiplier = ×1,000 → 47 × 1,000 = 47,000 pF = 47 nF
- White tolerance band = ±10% → actual value 42.3 – 51.7 nF
Enter the same bands in the calculator above to see it decoded live on the capacitor visual.
Reading the Printed Numeric Code (104, 473, 4R7)
Modern capacitors print an EIA 3-digit code instead of bands: the first two digits are the value, the third is the number of zeros, in picofarads.
104 → 10 × 10⁴ = 100,000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF
473 → 47 × 10³ = 47,000 pF = 47 nF
4R7 → R is the decimal point → 4.7 pF · 47 → just 47 pF
Third digit 8 = ×0.01 · 9 = ×0.1 (rare, sub-10 pF values)
Tolerance Letters (after the code)
| Letter | Tolerance | Letter | Tolerance |
|---|
| B | ±0.1 pF | J | ±5% |
| C | ±0.25 pF | K | ±10% |
| D | ±0.5 pF | M | ±20% |
| F | ±1% | Z | +80% / −20% |
| G | ±2% | e.g. 104K = 100 nF ±10% |
Where You'll Meet These Codes in MEP Work
- Vintage panel & equipment repair: color-banded capacitors show up in older motor starters, control panels and audio/PA equipment from the pre-1990s era.
- Control circuit troubleshooting: snubber and timing capacitors in relays, contactors and PCB-based controllers carry the 3-digit code.
- Power factor correction is a different beast: PFC capacitor banks are rated in kVAR, not pF — size those with our Power Factor Correction Calculator, and measure the existing PF first with the Power Factor Calculator.
- Motor run/start capacitors are printed directly in µF with voltage — no decoding needed, but the tolerance letters above still apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 104 mean on a capacitor?
10 followed by 4 zeros, in picofarads: 10 × 10⁴ = 100,000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF. A letter after it is the tolerance — 104K = 100 nF ±10%.
How do you read a capacitor color code?
First two bands = digits, third = multiplier → value in pF. Fourth band = tolerance (black 20%, white 10%, green 5%, red 2%, brown 1%), fifth band on tubular types = voltage. Example: yellow-violet-orange-white = 47 × 1,000 = 47 nF ±10%.
What does 4R7 mean on a capacitor?
The R is a decimal point (printed dots rub off): 4R7 = 4.7 pF. Similarly 0R5 = 0.5 pF. Seen on small ceramic capacitors below 10 pF.
What do the letters J, K and M mean?
EIA tolerance letters: J = ±5%, K = ±10%, M = ±20%. Tighter: F = ±1%, G = ±2%. For very small values, B/C/D = ±0.1/0.25/0.5 pF absolute. Z = +80/−20% (general-purpose ceramics).
Why don't modern capacitors use color bands?
Bands were the marking system for tubular/molded capacitors up to roughly the 1980s. Modern parts print the numeric code directly — cheaper and unambiguous. The color code still matters for repairing vintage equipment, radios and old industrial panels.
Disclaimer: Color interpretations — especially the voltage band — vary between manufacturers and eras. For anything safety-critical, verify the value with a capacitance meter and the rating with the manufacturer's datasheet before replacement.