Enter a code and press Decode.
Small ceramic capacitors are too tiny to print the full value, so they use a 3-digit code (plus an optional tolerance letter). The first two digits are the significant figures and the third is the multiplier — the number of zeros to add — giving the value in picofarads (pF). For example, 104 means 10 followed by four zeros = 100000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF.
| Multiplier digit | Multiply by |
|---|---|
| 0 | ×1 |
| 1 | ×10 |
| 2 | ×100 |
| 3 | ×1000 (1 nF) |
| 4 | ×10000 |
| 5 | ×100000 |
| 8 / 9 | ×0.01 / ×0.1 (rare) |
A code of two or fewer digits (like "22") is simply the value in pF. An "R" marks a decimal point (4R7 = 4.7 pF). The tolerance letter (J = ±5%, K = ±10%, M = ±20%) follows the number.
The first two digits are the significant figures and the third is the number of zeros to add, giving the value in picofarads. For example 104 = 10 with four zeros = 100000 pF = 0.1 µF.
104 = 10 × 10⁴ pF = 100000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF — the common decoupling/bypass capacitor value.
The code convention always gives picofarads first because ceramic capacitors are usually small. You then convert to nF (÷1000) or µF (÷1,000,000) as needed.
It is the tolerance: J = ±5%, K = ±10%, M = ±20%, and letters like F (±1%) or Z (+80/−20%) for others. It tells you how far the real value can vary.
Then it is simply the value in picofarads. For example "22" means 22 pF and "47" means 47 pF.
R marks a decimal point in a small-value part. So 4R7 = 4.7 pF and R47 = 0.47 pF.
No — 101 is a coded value: 10 × 10¹ = 100 pF. Only two- or one-digit markings are read directly.
Work out the pF value, then divide by 1000 for nF or by 1,000,000 for µF. So 104 = 100000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF.
They are the rare fractional multipliers: 8 means ×0.01 and 9 means ×0.1. Most codes use 0–6.
No — the 3-digit code is only the capacitance. Voltage rating and temperature coefficient (like X7R or C0G) are marked separately or found in the datasheet.
Modern ceramic capacitors use the numeric 3-digit code; older or larger types sometimes used color bands, which are now uncommon.
Convert the value to picofarads, then write the first two significant digits followed by the count of trailing zeros. The second tab of this calculator does it for you.
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