Capacitor Code Decoder
Decode the markings printed on a ceramic or film capacitor into a capacitance value.
Capacitance
—
Tolerance
—
How to Read a Capacitor Code
Most small ceramic capacitors print a 3-digit EIA code instead of the full value. The first two digits are significant figures, and the third digit tells you how many zeros to add — in picofarads (pF). For example, 104 means 10 followed by 4 zeros: 100,000pF, which is 100nF or 0.1µF.
Some capacitors instead use a letter as a decimal point and unit marker, like 4n7 (4.7nF) or 2p2 (2.2pF). This decoder handles both formats, plus plain values like 2.2uF.
Common Capacitor Codes
| Code | Value |
|---|---|
| 101 | 100pF |
| 221 | 220pF |
| 471 | 470pF |
| 102 | 1nF (1000pF) |
| 103 | 10nF |
| 104 | 100nF (0.1µF) |
| 105 | 1µF |
| 224 | 220nF (0.22µF) |
| 474 | 470nF (0.47µF) |
Want to know what a capacitor actually does in a circuit? Read What Is a Capacitor?, or check the Resistor Color Code Calculator for the equivalent on resistors.