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220 Ω resistor color code

A 220 Ω resistor is Red, Red, Brown, Gold: 22 × 10 = 220 Ω, ±5%, so anything from 209 to 231 Ω is in spec.

  1. Red
  2. Red
  3. Brown
  4. Gold

220 Ω±5%

Range 209–231 Ω

Open in calculator
220 ohm resistor: red, red, brown and gold bands

22 × 10 = 220 Ω

5-band version

Red · Red · Black · Black · Brown = 220 Ω ±1%

220 × 1 = 220 Ω. Range 217.8–222.2 Ω (±1%).

Open the 5-band version
220 ohm resistor: red, red, black, black and brown bands

Where you'll meet it

An LED on a 5 V Arduino pin

The classic first circuit: pin D9 drives a red LED through a 220 Ω resistor to ground. The resistor sets the current.

Schematic: An LED on a 5 V Arduino pinArduino pin D9 at 5 V connects through a 220 Ω resistor to the anode of a red LED. The LED's cathode connects to GND, the Arduino's ground.D9 · 5 V220 Ωred LEDGND

I = (5 V − 2.0 V) / 220 Ω ≈ 13.6 mA

That is a bright, safe current, well under the 20 mA a pin should give (40 mA is the absolute maximum on an Arduino Uno).

From a 3.3 V board the same resistor gives (3.3 V − 2.0 V) / 220 Ω ≈ 5.9 mA: dimmer, still visible.

The resistor turns (13.6 mA)² × 220 Ω ≈ 0.041 W into heat, so a normal ¼ W (0.25 W) part is fine.

2.0 V is a typical red LED forward voltage. Check your LED's datasheet. The pin voltage also sags a little under load, so the real current is slightly lower.

On SMD parts

Look for 221 or 2200

  • 221221 = 22 × 10¹ = 220 Ω (3-digit code).
  • 22002200 = 220 × 10⁰ = 220 Ω (4-digit code, usually ±1% parts).

There is no EIA-96 code, because 220 is not an E96 value (the nearest E96 values are 215 and 221). A part marked 220 is 22 Ω, not 220 Ω.

Don't mix it up

Only band 3 changes

These four share Red, Red and Gold. Read the third band carefully: it moves the value by ten each step.

  • 22 ohm resistor: red, red, black and gold bands22 Ωband 3 black
  • 220 ohm resistor: red, red, brown and gold bands220 Ωband 3 brownThis page
  • 2.2 kilohm resistor: red, red, red and gold bands2.2 kΩband 3 red
  • 22 kilohm resistor: red, red, orange and gold bands22 kΩband 3 orange

Check it with a meter

Read 209–231 Ω

  1. Take the resistor out of the circuit.
  2. Set the meter to Ω, range 2 kΩ (or auto).
  3. Touch one probe to each lead. Keep your fingers off the metal: your body is a resistor too.
  4. Anything from 209 to 231 Ω is a good ±5% part. A 5-band ±1% part should read 217.8 to 222.2 Ω.

A meter has a small error of its own, so a reading a hair outside the range does not prove the part is bad. Measure again with firm contact before you swap it.

Spot it

Can you find 220 Ω in a pile?

Practise reading it, and its look-alikes, in the resistor challenge.

Try the resistor challenge

220 Ω resistor FAQ

Is 220 Ω the right resistor for an LED on 5 V?

For a typical red LED (about 2.0 V) it gives about 13.6 mA from 5 V: bright, and inside the 20 mA an Arduino Uno pin should supply. Blue and white LEDs drop about 3 V, so the same resistor gives about 9.1 mA. Check your LED's datasheet for its forward voltage and current.

What is the SMD code for a 220 Ω resistor?

221 on 3-digit parts (22 × 10¹) and 2200 on 4-digit parts (220 × 10⁰). There is no EIA-96 code, because 220 is not an E96 value.

What are the 5-band colors for 220 Ω?

Red, Red, Black, Black, Brown: 220 × 1 = 220 Ω with ±1% tolerance, so 217.8 to 222.2 Ω.

Bands, ranges and codes come from the same engine as the calculator. Last reviewed .