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Standard resistor values (E-series) finder

Look up standard resistor values in the E3 to E192 series and round any calculated resistance to the nearest one, with the next value up and down and the error of each. Below the calculator are the full IEC 60063 tables for E3 through E192.

Examples

Resistance you calculated

Accepts 4.95k, 4k95 or 4950.

E-series

Nearest E24 value

5.1 kΩ

+3.03 % from 4.95 kΩ

Next value down: 4.7 kΩ −5.05 %
Next value up: 5.1 kΩ +3.03 %
5.1 kΩ ±5 % spans: 4.845 kΩ to 5.355 kΩ
Target inside that band: Yes
Step between values: ×1.1007 (10.1 %) 24 per decade

Nearest value of 4.95 kΩ in every series

Series	Below	Above	Nearest	Error
E3	4.7 kΩ	10 kΩ	4.7 kΩ	−5.05 %
E6	4.7 kΩ	6.8 kΩ	4.7 kΩ	−5.05 %
E12	4.7 kΩ	5.6 kΩ	4.7 kΩ	−5.05 %
E24	4.7 kΩ	5.1 kΩ	5.1 kΩ	+3.03 %
E48	4.87 kΩ	5.11 kΩ	4.87 kΩ	−1.62 %
E96	4.87 kΩ	4.99 kΩ	4.99 kΩ	+0.81 %
E192	4.93 kΩ	4.99 kΩ	4.93 kΩ	−0.40 %

What are the standard resistor values?

Resistors are made in the IEC 60063 E-series. E12 (±10 %) has 12 values per decade: 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.7, 3.3, 3.9, 4.7, 5.6, 6.8, 8.2. E24 (±5 %) has 24, E96 (±1 %) has 96 and E192 has 192; multiply by powers of ten for every decade. A calculated 4.95 kΩ rounds to 5.1 kΩ in E24 (+3.03 %) and 4.99 kΩ in E96 (+0.81 %).

How E-series resistor values are built

Each series divides a decade into n steps of equal ratio, so every value is the same percentage above the one before it. That is what lets one tolerance band meet the next.

Vm = 10^(m ÷ n)

n: values per decade: 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 or 192
m: position in the decade, 0 to n − 1
Vm: the mantissa, rounded to 2 figures (E3 to E24) or 3 figures (E48 to E192)

The step is 10^(1/n): ×1.2115 for E12, ×1.1007 for E24 and ×1.0243 for E96. The printed standard departs from the rounded formula at 8 E24 positions (2.7, 3.0, 3.3, 3.6, 3.9, 4.3, 4.7, 8.2) and one E192 position (9.20); the tables here follow the standard.

The calculator measures closeness as a ratio, because the series are geometric:

error = (Vstandard − Vtarget) ÷ Vtarget nearest = smallest |ln(Vstandard ÷ Vtarget)|

Worked examples

Example 1: an LED resistor (round up)

An LED with a 1.7 V forward drop on 5 V at 20 mA needs (5 − 1.7) ÷ 0.02 = 165 Ω. In E24 that sits between 160 Ω (−3.03 %) and 180 Ω (+9.09 %). The nearest is 160 Ω, but a current-limiting resistor rounds up: 180 Ω gives 18.3 mA, safely under the 20 mA target.

Example 2: a regulator feedback divider (nearest, finer series)

For 3.3 V from a 0.8 V reference with R2 = 10 kΩ, R1 = 10 kΩ × (3.3 ÷ 0.8 − 1) = 31.25 kΩ. The nearest E96 value is 31.6 kΩ (+1.12 %), giving 3.328 V; E192 has 31.2 kΩ (−0.16 %), giving 3.296 V. Ratios are where a finer series pays off.

Example 3: 4.7 kΩ when the BOM says 1 %

4.7 kΩ is not an E96 value: the nearest E96 value is 4.75 kΩ (+1.06 %). Allowing E24 values as well, the search returns 4.7 kΩ exactly, and that is what 1 % ranges listed as “E24; E96” stock. Keep the E24 value and avoid an extra line on the BOM.

Standard resistor values table: E3, E6, E12 and E24

One decade of each series. Multiply by 1, 10, 100, 1 k, 10 k, 100 k or 1 M for every decade of resistance. A dash means the value is not in that series.

E24 (±5 %)	E12 (±10 %)	E6 (±20 %)	E3 (no tolerance class)
1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
1.1	–	–	–
1.2	1.2	–	–
1.3	–	–	–
1.5	1.5	1.5	–
1.6	–	–	–
1.8	1.8	–	–
2.0	–	–	–
2.2	2.2	2.2	2.2
2.4	–	–	–
2.7	2.7	–	–
3.0	–	–	–
3.3	3.3	3.3	–
3.6	–	–	–
3.9	3.9	–	–
4.3	–	–	–
4.7	4.7	4.7	4.7
5.1	–	–	–
5.6	5.6	–	–
6.2	–	–	–
6.8	6.8	6.8	–
7.5	–	–	–
8.2	8.2	–	–
9.1	–	–	–

E48 resistor values (±2 %)

All 48 values of one decade, read down each column.

1.00 to 1.40	1.47 to 2.05	2.15 to 3.01	3.16 to 4.42	4.64 to 6.49	6.81 to 9.53
1.00	1.47	2.15	3.16	4.64	6.81
1.05	1.54	2.26	3.32	4.87	7.15
1.10	1.62	2.37	3.48	5.11	7.50
1.15	1.69	2.49	3.65	5.36	7.87
1.21	1.78	2.61	3.83	5.62	8.25
1.27	1.87	2.74	4.02	5.90	8.66
1.33	1.96	2.87	4.22	6.19	9.09
1.40	2.05	3.01	4.42	6.49	9.53

E96 resistor values (±1 %)

All 96 values of one decade, read down each column. E48 is every second value.

1.00 to 1.43	1.47 to 2.10	2.15 to 3.09	3.16 to 4.53	4.64 to 6.65	6.81 to 9.76
1.00	1.47	2.15	3.16	4.64	6.81
1.02	1.50	2.21	3.24	4.75	6.98
1.05	1.54	2.26	3.32	4.87	7.15
1.07	1.58	2.32	3.40	4.99	7.32
1.10	1.62	2.37	3.48	5.11	7.50
1.13	1.65	2.43	3.57	5.23	7.68
1.15	1.69	2.49	3.65	5.36	7.87
1.18	1.74	2.55	3.74	5.49	8.06
1.21	1.78	2.61	3.83	5.62	8.25
1.24	1.82	2.67	3.92	5.76	8.45
1.27	1.87	2.74	4.02	5.90	8.66
1.30	1.91	2.80	4.12	6.04	8.87
1.33	1.96	2.87	4.22	6.19	9.09
1.37	2.00	2.94	4.32	6.34	9.31
1.40	2.05	3.01	4.42	6.49	9.53
1.43	2.10	3.09	4.53	6.65	9.76

E192 resistor values (±0.5 % and tighter)

All 192 values of one decade, read down each column. E96 is every second value.

1.00 to 1.45	1.47 to 2.13	2.15 to 3.12	3.16 to 4.59	4.64 to 6.73	6.81 to 9.88
1.00	1.47	2.15	3.16	4.64	6.81
1.01	1.49	2.18	3.20	4.70	6.90
1.02	1.50	2.21	3.24	4.75	6.98
1.04	1.52	2.23	3.28	4.81	7.06
1.05	1.54	2.26	3.32	4.87	7.15
1.06	1.56	2.29	3.36	4.93	7.23
1.07	1.58	2.32	3.40	4.99	7.32
1.09	1.60	2.34	3.44	5.05	7.41
1.10	1.62	2.37	3.48	5.11	7.50
1.11	1.64	2.40	3.52	5.17	7.59
1.13	1.65	2.43	3.57	5.23	7.68
1.14	1.67	2.46	3.61	5.30	7.77
1.15	1.69	2.49	3.65	5.36	7.87
1.17	1.72	2.52	3.70	5.42	7.96
1.18	1.74	2.55	3.74	5.49	8.06
1.20	1.76	2.58	3.79	5.56	8.16
1.21	1.78	2.61	3.83	5.62	8.25
1.23	1.80	2.64	3.88	5.69	8.35
1.24	1.82	2.67	3.92	5.76	8.45
1.26	1.84	2.71	3.97	5.83	8.56
1.27	1.87	2.74	4.02	5.90	8.66
1.29	1.89	2.77	4.07	5.97	8.76
1.30	1.91	2.80	4.12	6.04	8.87
1.32	1.93	2.84	4.17	6.12	8.98
1.33	1.96	2.87	4.22	6.19	9.09
1.35	1.98	2.91	4.27	6.26	9.20
1.37	2.00	2.94	4.32	6.34	9.31
1.38	2.03	2.98	4.37	6.42	9.42
1.40	2.05	3.01	4.42	6.49	9.53
1.42	2.08	3.05	4.48	6.57	9.65
1.43	2.10	3.09	4.53	6.65	9.76
1.45	2.13	3.12	4.59	6.73	9.88

Choosing a series in practice

Match the series to the tolerance you buy

Vishay pairs E24 with ±2 % and ±5 % parts, E96 with ±1 %, and E192 with ±0.5 %, ±0.25 % and ±0.1 %. Picking an E192 value for a 5 % resistor buys nothing: the tolerance is wider than the gap to the next value.

Things that catch people out

Manufacturers build their stocking programs around standard values; Vishay notes that intermediate values can be special-ordered where permitted.
Common 1 % chip ranges (Vishay CRCW, YAGEO RC) also carry the E24 values, so 4.7 kΩ, 2.2 kΩ and 10 kΩ exist at 1 % even though only 10 kΩ is in E96.
When one standard value is not close enough, two in series or parallel usually are; that keeps every part on the common reels.
1 % thick film chip ranges run from 1 Ω to 10 MΩ (Vishay CRCW, YAGEO RC). Below that, look at current-sense families; above it, at high-value ones.

Glossary

E-series: The IEC 60063 preferred-number series. The number after the E is how many values sit in each decade.
Decade: A tenfold span such as 1 kΩ to 10 kΩ. Every decade repeats the same mantissas.
Mantissa: The significant figures of a value, 4.7 in 4.7 kΩ, independent of the power of ten.
Tolerance: How far a new part may be from its marked value, for example ±1 %.
Preferred value: A value from an E-series, which manufacturers stock by default.
E24 + E96: How common 1 % chip ranges are sold: every E96 value plus the E24 values, such as 4.7 kΩ and 2.2 kΩ.

Related guides

Resistor color code calculator: read the value off a banded resistor.
Voltage divider calculator: pick a standard pair for a ratio.
LED resistor calculator: the series resistor, already rounded to a standard value.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common resistor values?

Common resistor values are the E-series preferred values that manufacturers stock by default. E12 gives 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.7, 3.3, 3.9, 4.7, 5.6, 6.8, 8.2, times a power of ten; E24 adds the values between them, and common 1 % chip ranges are sold as E96 plus the E24 values.

What are the E24 resistor values?

1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.7, 3.0, 3.3, 3.6, 3.9, 4.3, 4.7, 5.1, 5.6, 6.2, 6.8, 7.5, 8.2, 9.1, multiplied by any power of ten (so 4.7 means 4.7 Ω, 47 Ω, 470 Ω, 4.7 kΩ and so on). The E24 series is for ±5 % resistors and has 24 values per decade.

What are the E12 resistor values?

1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.7, 3.3, 3.9, 4.7, 5.6, 6.8, 8.2, times a power of ten. The E12 series is every second E24 value and goes with ±10 % parts; E6 (1.0, 1.5, 2.2, 3.3, 4.7, 6.8) is every second E12 value.

What are the E6 resistor values?

1.0, 1.5, 2.2, 3.3, 4.7, 6.8, times a power of ten. The E6 series has 6 values per decade, goes with ±20 % parts and is every second E12 value.

What are the 1 % resistor values, and how many are in the E96 series?

E96 is the series for ±1 % resistors: 96 values per decade, each about 2.4 % above the last, all listed in the E96 table on this page. E48 (±2 %) is every second E96 value and E192 (±0.5 % and tighter) adds one value between each pair.

Why is 4.7 kΩ not an E96 value?

E96 has 4.64 kΩ and 4.75 kΩ on either side of it. Common 1 % chip ranges such as Vishay CRCW and YAGEO RC are sold as E24 plus E96, so 4.7 kΩ 1 % is a normal part; turn on "Also allow E24 values" to search that way.

Why do some E24 values not follow the formula?

Rounding 10^(m/24) to two figures gives 2.6, 2.9, 3.2, 3.5, 3.8, 4.2, 4.6, 8.3, but IEC 60063 lists 2.7, 3.0, 3.3, 3.6, 3.9, 4.3, 4.7, 8.2 at those positions. E192 has one such value: 9.20 where the formula gives 9.19.

Should I round to the nearest value, up or down?

Round in the safe direction for the job. A resistor that limits current (an LED or base resistor) rounds up; one that sets a minimum current or a pull-down strength rounds down; a value in a ratio (a divider or gain) wants the nearest value, or a finer series.

Which values appear in every E-series?

Only 1.0 and its decades (10 Ω, 100 Ω, 1 kΩ, 10 kΩ…). E48 and E96 use three-figure values such as 2.21 and 4.75, so they contain neither 2.2 nor 4.7; E192 has 4.70 but not 2.20. E24 and E96 share just 1.0, 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 2.0, 7.5.

Do capacitors use the same standard values?

Yes. IEC 60063 defines the same series for resistors and capacitors, but capacitors are usually stocked in the coarser E6 or E12 values.

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E24 (±5 %)	E12 (±10 %)	E6 (±20 %)	E3 (no tolerance class)
1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
1.1	–	–	–
1.2	1.2	–	–
1.3	–	–	–
1.5	1.5	1.5	–
1.6	–	–	–
1.8	1.8	–	–
2.0	–	–	–
2.2	2.2	2.2	2.2
2.4	–	–	–
2.7	2.7	–	–
3.0	–	–	–
3.3	3.3	3.3	–
3.6	–	–	–
3.9	3.9	–	–
4.3	–	–	–
4.7	4.7	4.7	4.7
5.1	–	–	–
5.6	5.6	–	–
6.2	–	–	–
6.8	6.8	6.8	–
7.5	–	–	–
8.2	8.2	–	–
9.1	–	–	–

E24 (±5 %)	E12 (±10 %)	E6 (±20 %)	E3 (no tolerance class)
1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
1.1	–	–	–
1.2	1.2	–	–
1.3	–	–	–
1.5	1.5	1.5	–
1.6	–	–	–
1.8	1.8	–	–
2.0	–	–	–
2.2	2.2	2.2	2.2
2.4	–	–	–
2.7	2.7	–	–
3.0	–	–	–
3.3	3.3	3.3	–
3.6	–	–	–
3.9	3.9	–	–
4.3	–	–	–
4.7	4.7	4.7	4.7
5.1	–	–	–
5.6	5.6	–	–
6.2	–	–	–
6.8	6.8	6.8	–
7.5	–	–	–
8.2	8.2	–	–
9.1	–	–	–

E24 (±5 %)	E12 (±10 %)	E6 (±20 %)	E3 (no tolerance class)
1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
1.1	–	–	–
1.2	1.2	–	–
1.3	–	–	–
1.5	1.5	1.5	–
1.6	–	–	–
1.8	1.8	–	–
2.0	–	–	–
2.2	2.2	2.2	2.2
2.4	–	–	–
2.7	2.7	–	–
3.0	–	–	–
3.3	3.3	3.3	–
3.6	–	–	–
3.9	3.9	–	–
4.3	–	–	–
4.7	4.7	4.7	4.7
5.1	–	–	–
5.6	5.6	–	–
6.2	–	–	–
6.8	6.8	6.8	–
7.5	–	–	–
8.2	8.2	–	–
9.1	–	–	–