Capacitors

Capacitors may be marked with 4 or more colored bands or dots. The colors encode the first and second most significant digits of the value in picofarads, and the third color the decimal multiplier. Additional bands have meanings which may vary from one type to another. Low-tolerance capacitors may begin with the first 3 (rather than 2) digits of the value. It is usually, but not always, possible to work out what scheme is used by the particular colors used. Cylindrical capacitors marked with bands may look like resistors.

Color		Significant digits	Multiplier	Tolerance %	Characteristic	DC working voltage V	Operating temperature °C	EIA/vibration Hz
	Black	0	1	—	—	—	−55 to +70	10 to 55
	Brown	1	10	±1	B	100	—	—
	Red	2	100	±2	C	—	−55 to +85	—
	Orange	3	1000	—	D	300	—	—
	Yellow	4	10000	—	E	—	−55 to +125	10 to 2000
	Green	5	100000	±0.5	F	500	—	—
	Blue	6	1000000	—	—	—	−55 to +150	—
	Violet	7	10000000	—	—	—	—	—
	Grey	8	—	—	—	—	—	—
	White	9	—	—	—	—	—	EIA
	Gold	—	—	±5nb	—	1000	—	—
	Silver	—	—	±10	—	—	—	—

Extra bands on ceramic capacitors identify the voltage rating class and temperature coefficient characteristics. A broad black band was applied to some tubular paper capacitors to indicate the end that had the outer electrode; this allowed this end to be connected to chassis ground to provide some shielding against hum and noise pickup.

Polyester film and "gum drop" tantalum electrolytic capacitors may also be color-coded to give the value, working voltage and tolerance.

Postage stamp capacitors and war standard codingedit

Capacitors of the rectangular "postage stamp" form made for military use during World War II used American War Standard (AWS) or Joint Army-Navy (JAN) coding in six dots stamped on the capacitor. An arrow on the top row of dots pointed to the right, indicating the reading order. From left to right the top dots were: either black, indicating JAN mica, or silver, indicating AWS paper; first significant digit; and second significant digit. The bottom three dots indicated temperature characteristic, tolerance, and decimal multiplier. The characteristic was black for ±1000 ppm/°C, brown for ±500, red for ±200, orange for ±100, yellow for −20 to +100 ppm/°C, and green for 0 to +70 ppm/°C.

A similar six-dot code by EIA had the top row as first, second and third significant digits and the bottom row as voltage rating (in hundreds of volts; no color indicated 500 volts), tolerance, and multiplier. A three-dot EIA code was used for 500 volt 20% tolerance capacitors, and the dots signified first and second significant digits and the multiplier. Such capacitors were common in vacuum tube equipment and in surplus for a generation after the war but are unavailable now.