Basic Electronics On The Go - Inductor Color Code

From http://www.electronicshub.org/indcutor-color-code/

An inductor establishes a magnetic field when current passes through it. Most of the inductors are in the range of milli Henry (mH) or micro Henry (µH). These are available with air, ferrite and iron cores. In today’s market there are several inductors available from various manufacturers and their size varies from larger to smaller units.


Inductor values can be determined mainly by two ways, namely text coding and color coding methods. Some inductors are larger in size, thus often their values are printed on their body (name plate details).

However, for smaller inductors, abbreviation or text is used because there may not be enough room , for printing the actual value on it. Also, some inductor values can be determined by reading color on the body of inductors by comparing them with color coding chart.

Inductor Value Identification using Text Marking

In this, the value of the inductor is printed on inductor body which consists of numerical digits and alphabets. For this marking, micro Henry is the fundamental unit of measurement (even if no units are given). The following are the steps of identifying the value of inductor by using text marking method.

1. It consists of three or four letters (including alphabets and numerical digits).
2. First two digits indicate the value.
3. Third digit is the power to be applied for the first two , this means it is the multiplier and power of 10. For example, 101 is expressed as 10*101 micro Henry (µH).
4. Suffix or fourth letter or alphabet represents the tolerance value of the inductor. Suppose if this letter is K, then tolerance value is ± 10%, for J it is ± 5%, for M it is ± 20% and so on. Follow the tolerance value table given below to know each letter value.

Example for Text Marking Method

Suppose if an inductor is labeled as 223K, find the exact value of inductor.

First two digits, i.e., 2 and 2 represent the first two digits of the inductor value. Third digit, 3 is the multiplier and hence it is 103 = 1000. Now, multiplying with first two digits we get 22000.

Now, it is to be noted that no units are given, hence this value is in micro Henry (µH). Thus the value becomes 22000 µH or 22mH.

Last letter K represents the tolerance and is equal to ± 10%.

Therefore, this is a 22000 µH or 22mH inductor with ± 10% tolerance.

Inductor Value Identification using Color Coding

The color coding system for inductors is very similar to that of resistors, especially in the case of molded inductors. This color coding is in accordance with the color code table. Starting from the band closest to the one end, this color code sequence is identified. 4-band and 5-band color coding methods are described below with examples.

4-Band Inductor Color Code

The above figure shows the 4-band inductor consisting four different color bands. Similar to the number coding, first and second color bands represents the first and second digits of the value, third color band is the multiplier and fourth band is the tolerance.

Therefore the value of inductor can be determined by reading the colors of inductor body and comparing them with color code chart. It is to be noted that the result of this color coded value is in the unit of micro Henry (µH).

The table below shown gives the color corresponding to the numerical values for a four band inductor.

5-Band Inductor Color Code (Military Standard Inductor Color Code)

Usually cylindrical molded inductors are marked with 5 coloured bands. In this, one end of the coil consists of a wide silver band which identifies the military radio-frequency inductors. The next three bands indicate the value of inductance in micro Henries while  the 4th band indicates the tolerance.

The table below shown gives the color corresponding to the numerical values for a five band inductor.

These inductors consist of tolerance values from 1% to 20%. For inductance values less than 10, the second or third band is gold which represents the decimal point. Then remaining bands indicates the two significant bits, and tolerance.

For inductance values equal or more than 10, first two bands represent the significant bits, third one is multiplier and fourth one is tolerance while considering MIL band.

Surface Mount Device (SMD) or Chip Inductor Codes

Some inductors consist of color dots on surface of the device instead of bands and these are very small in size. Generally these are coded according to the top colored dot on the surface. From this top dot we have to calculate the inductor value in the  clockwise direction. These dots will not indicate polarity. This type of inductors are in nano-henries.

Consider the following example:

Green and red color indicates the value of inductor in nano Henries and the orange color indicates the multiplier.
Thus the value of this inductor is 52  103=52,000 nH

If only single dot is represented, the specifications of the inductor must be referred from data sheet of that particular series to that of corresponding manufacture.

                                                                SMD Indcutor

RF Inductors Color Coding

These are also similar to chip inductors. These are smaller in size. Because of this size, the value of inductor is marked with a single or multiple color dots.

In a single color dot, colored dot is represented on one end or middle of the part as shown in below figure. This dot does not indicate the polarity but the value of inductance which is given on the data page of each type of inductor series.

In multi-dot colored representation, inductors are marked with three color dots. These dots do not indicate the polarity. The first and second colored dots on the chip indicate the inductance in nano Henries and the third dot indicates the multiplier as shown in below.

In the above figure, inductor is marked with three colors and hence the value of the inductor is given as

Yellow violet and orange = 47000 nF

Generally these RF variable inductors have the size and voltage specifications marked on the side of the inductors.

For Values Lower Than 10 nH

It is to be noted that, for inductors which are rated lower than 10nH, the third dot will not act like a multiplier. According to the series some of the inductor values are tabulated as below for inductors with coloured dots: