470 Ohm Resistor: Color Code, Applications & Selection Guide

The 470 ohm resistor holds a special place in my parts collection. It’s one of those values that keeps showing up in designs, particularly when working with 9V and 12V circuits. While the 330 ohm gets all the attention in 5V Arduino projects, the 470 ohm really shines when you need to drive LEDs from higher voltage sources without cooking them.

I’ve used hundreds of these over the years in everything from indicator panels to audio circuits. Understanding how to identify and apply the 470 ohm value correctly will make your circuit designs cleaner and more reliable.

What is a 470 Ohm Resistor?

A 470 ohm resistor provides exactly 470 ohms of electrical resistance. This value sits comfortably in the E12 standard series, making it universally available and inexpensive. When current flows through this resistor, it opposes that flow proportionally, following Ohm’s Law.

In practical terms, connecting a 470 ohm resistor to a 9V supply limits current to roughly 19 milliamps (ignoring any load). That’s right in the sweet spot for driving standard indicator LEDs at full brightness without exceeding their ratings.

Key Specifications of 470 Ohm Resistors

Parameter	Typical Value	Notes
Resistance	470 Ω	E12/E24 standard value
Common Tolerances	±5%, ±1%, ±10%	Gold, Brown, or Silver band
Power Ratings	1/8W, 1/4W, 1/2W, 1W	1/4W most common for through-hole
Temperature Coefficient	100-250 ppm/K	Depends on construction type
Maximum Voltage	150-500V	Varies by package and rating

470 Ohm Resistor Color Code

The color bands on a 470 ohm resistor create a distinctive yellow-violet-brown pattern that becomes easy to spot once you’ve worked with a few. The yellow starting band sets it apart from lower values in the same series.

4-Band 470 Ohm Resistor Color Code

The standard 4-band configuration you’ll encounter most often:

Band Position	Color	Value	Meaning
1st Band	Yellow	4	First significant digit
2nd Band	Violet	7	Second significant digit
3rd Band	Brown	×10	Multiplier
4th Band	Gold	±5%	Tolerance

Reading it: Yellow-Violet-Brown-Gold gives you 47 × 10 = 470Ω with ±5% tolerance.

With that gold tolerance band, your actual resistance falls between 446.5Ω and 493.5Ω. For LED current limiting and most general applications, this range works perfectly.

5-Band 470 Ohm Resistor Color Code

When you need tighter tolerance for precision work:

Band Position	Color	Value	Meaning
1st Band	Yellow	4	First significant digit
2nd Band	Violet	7	Second significant digit
3rd Band	Black	0	Third significant digit
4th Band	Black	×1	Multiplier
5th Band	Brown	±1%	Tolerance

The 5-band code Yellow-Violet-Black-Black-Brown represents 470 × 1 = 470Ω with ±1% tolerance.

6-Band 470 Ohm Resistor Color Code

For temperature-sensitive applications requiring stability:

Band Position	Color	Value	Meaning
1st Band	Yellow	4	First significant digit
2nd Band	Violet	7	Second significant digit
3rd Band	Black	0	Third significant digit
4th Band	Black	×1	Multiplier
5th Band	Brown	±1%	Tolerance
6th Band	Brown	100 ppm/K	Temperature coefficient

The sixth band tells you the resistance drift per degree Celsius, critical for precision analog circuits.

Resistor Color Code Reference Chart

Color	Digit	Multiplier	Tolerance
Black	0	×1	–
Brown	1	×10	±1%
Red	2	×100	±2%
Orange	3	×1,000	–
Yellow	4	×10,000	–
Green	5	×100,000	±0.5%
Blue	6	×1,000,000	±0.25%
Violet	7	–	±0.1%
Gray	8	–	±0.05%
White	9	–	–
Gold	–	×0.1	±5%
Silver	–	×0.01	±10%

SMD 470 Ohm Resistor Markings

Surface mount 470 ohm resistors use numerical codes. Here’s where it gets a bit tricky, so pay attention.

3-Digit SMD Code

A 470 ohm resistor in 3-digit format is marked 471.

Breaking it down:

• First two digits (47) = significant figures
• Third digit (1) = number of zeros to add = one zero

Result: 47 + one zero = 470Ω

Important: Don’t confuse 470 marked on an SMD with 470Ω. The code 470 actually means 47Ω (47 with zero additional zeros). This trips up a lot of people.

4-Digit SMD Code

Precision SMD resistors use 4700 for 470 ohms:

• First three digits (470) = significant figures
• Fourth digit (0) = multiplier = ×1

Result: 470 × 1 = 470Ω

EIA-96 Code

For 1% tolerance SMDs, the EIA-96 system marks 470Ω as 68A:

• 68 = code for 470 (from the E96 lookup table)
• A = multiplier of ×1

SMD Marking System	Code for 470Ω	Typical Tolerance
3-Digit	471	±5%
4-Digit	4700	±1%
EIA-96	68A	±1%

Circuit Applications for 470 Ohm Resistors

The 470 ohm resistor excels in specific voltage ranges where lower values would allow too much current and higher values would dim your LEDs excessively.

LED Current Limiting at 9V and 12V

This is where the 470 ohm truly shines. At 9V with a standard red LED (2V forward voltage):

The calculation: R = (Vsupply – Vforward) / I

For a red LED at 20mA target: R = (9V – 2V) / 0.020A = 350Ω

The nearest standard value above this? 470 ohm. This gives approximately 14.9mA, keeping the LED well within safe operating limits while maintaining good brightness.

Supply Voltage	LED Type	Forward Voltage	Current with 470Ω
5V	Red	2.0V	6.4 mA
5V	Blue/White	3.2V	3.8 mA
9V	Red	2.0V	14.9 mA
9V	Blue/White	3.2V	12.3 mA
12V	Red	2.0V	21.3 mA
12V	Blue/White	3.2V	18.7 mA

Notice how the 470 ohm keeps current under 20mA across most common scenarios. At 12V, you’re right at the edge for red LEDs. Some engineers prefer 560Ω for 12V systems with plenty of margin.

Automotive and 12V Systems

The 470 ohm resistor appears frequently in 12V automotive circuits for LED indicators. Vehicle electrical systems can spike to 14.4V during charging, and the 470 ohm provides enough headroom to handle those peaks without smoking your LEDs.

Audio Circuit Applications

In audio amplifiers and signal conditioning circuits, 470 ohm resistors serve several purposes:

• Setting bias points for transistor stages
• Input impedance matching
• Feedback networks in op-amp circuits
• Signal attenuation in headphone amplifiers

The moderate resistance keeps noise manageable while allowing sufficient signal swing.

Voltage Divider Networks

Combine a 470 ohm resistor with other values for specific voltage ratios:

R1	R2	Vout (from 12V input)
470Ω	470Ω	6V
470Ω	1kΩ	8.16V
470Ω	2.2kΩ	9.89V
1kΩ	470Ω	3.84V

Transistor Biasing

When driving transistors from higher voltage rails, a 470 ohm base resistor limits current appropriately. With 12V drive:

Ibase = (12V – 0.7V) / 470Ω = 24mA

That’s solid base drive for saturating transistors handling loads up to about 2.4A (assuming hFE of 100).

Optocoupler Input Circuits

The input LED of optocouplers often runs at 10-20mA. A 470 ohm resistor from a 9V or 12V signal provides appropriate current without overstressing the internal LED.

Signal Conditioning and Filtering

In RC filter circuits, combining a 470 ohm resistor with capacitors creates useful time constants:

Capacitor	Time Constant (τ)	Cutoff Frequency
100nF	47µs	3.39 kHz
1µF	470µs	339 Hz
10µF	4.7ms	33.9 Hz
100µF	47ms	3.39 Hz

Power Rating Considerations

Before specifying a 470 ohm resistor, calculate the power dissipation:

Power formula: P = I² × R or P = V² / R

For a 470 ohm resistor dropping 7V (typical for 9V supply with 2V LED):

P = (7V)² / 470Ω = 104mW

A standard 1/4W (250mW) resistor handles this with comfortable margin.

Voltage Across 470Ω	Power Dissipated	Minimum Rating
3V	19 mW	1/8W fine
5V	53 mW	1/8W fine
7V	104 mW	1/4W fine
10V	213 mW	1/4W marginal
12V	306 mW	1/2W needed

SMD Package Selection for 470 Ohm Resistors

Package	Size (mm)	Typical Power
0201	0.6 × 0.3	1/20W (50mW)
0402	1.0 × 0.5	1/16W (62.5mW)
0603	1.6 × 0.8	1/10W (100mW)
0805	2.0 × 1.25	1/8W (125mW)
1206	3.2 × 1.6	1/4W (250mW)

For 12V LED circuits, I typically use 0805 or 1206 packages with 470 ohm values to ensure adequate power handling.

Types of 470 Ohm Resistors

Carbon Film Resistors

The most common and economical choice for general applications. Carbon film 470 ohm resistors offer:

• Tolerance: typically ±5%
• Temperature coefficient: 200-500 ppm/K
• Good for hobby projects and non-critical circuits

Metal Film Resistors

Better stability and precision for demanding applications:

• Tolerance: ±1% or better available
• Temperature coefficient: 50-100 ppm/K
• Lower noise than carbon film
• Preferred for audio and measurement circuits

Wirewound Resistors

For high-power applications where standard resistors would overheat:

• Available in 1W, 2W, 5W and higher ratings
• Excellent stability
• Used in power supplies and industrial controls

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Confusing 470Ω with 47Ω or 4.7kΩ

These values look similar under poor lighting:

Value	Color Code	Quick Identifier
47Ω	Yellow-Violet-Black	Black multiplier
470Ω	Yellow-Violet-Brown	Brown multiplier
4.7kΩ	Yellow-Violet-Red	Red multiplier

When in doubt, verify with your multimeter before soldering.

SMD Code Confusion

Remember: 470 on an SMD means 47Ω, not 470Ω. The correct code for a 470 ohm SMD resistor is 471. This catches even experienced engineers occasionally.

Underestimating Power at Higher Voltages

At 12V direct supply, a 470 ohm resistor dissipates over 300mW. A 1/4W resistor will overheat in this scenario. Always calculate power dissipation for your specific circuit conditions.

How to Measure a 470 Ohm Resistor

Verifying resistance takes seconds with a digital multimeter:

1. Set your meter to resistance mode (Ω)
2. Select a range including 470Ω (usually 2kΩ range or auto-range)
3. Remove the resistor from any circuit to avoid parallel path errors
4. Touch probes to each lead
5. Read the display

A ±5% 470 ohm resistor should measure between 446.5Ω and 493.5Ω. Readings outside this range indicate a damaged or mislabeled component.

470 Ohm vs. Neighboring Resistor Values

Value	Color Code	Best For
330Ω	Orange-Orange-Brown	5V LED circuits
470Ω	Yellow-Violet-Brown	9V-12V LED circuits
560Ω	Green-Blue-Brown	Conservative 12V LED limiting
680Ω	Blue-Gray-Brown	Lower brightness, longer LED life
1kΩ	Brown-Black-Red	Pull-ups, general purpose

The 470 ohm occupies that useful range between 5V-optimized values and the higher resistances used for conservative current limiting.

Useful Resources and Tools

Online Calculators

• DigiKey Resistor Color Code Calculator – Decode color bands quickly
• DigiKey SMD Resistor Code Calculator – Convert SMD markings
• LED Series Resistor Calculator – Calculate values for any LED/voltage combination

Component Suppliers

• DigiKey – Comprehensive parametric search
• Mouser – Wide selection with detailed specifications
• Newark – Good for bulk orders

Learning Resources

• Electronzap – Why 470Ω is Common – Practical explanation
• SparkFun Resistor Tutorial – Fundamentals explained
• Electronics Notes – SMD Codes – Complete SMD marking guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What color code is a 470 ohm resistor?

A 4-band 470 ohm resistor has the color code Yellow-Violet-Brown-Gold. Yellow represents 4, Violet represents 7, Brown is a ×10 multiplier, and Gold indicates ±5% tolerance. Multiply 47 by 10 to get 470 ohms. For 5-band precision versions, the code is Yellow-Violet-Black-Black-Brown with ±1% tolerance.

Why is 470 ohm commonly used with 9V batteries?

The 470 ohm value provides ideal current limiting for standard LEDs when powered by 9V sources. With a typical red LED having 2V forward voltage drop, a 470Ω resistor limits current to approximately 14.9mA. This falls safely below the 20mA maximum rating of most indicator LEDs while providing good visible brightness, making 470 ohm the go-to value for 9V LED circuits.

What is the SMD code for a 470 ohm resistor?

For standard tolerance SMD resistors, a 470 ohm value is marked 471 using the 3-digit code (47 with one zero added). For precision 1% resistors using the 4-digit code, look for 4700. Be careful not to confuse 470 on an SMD with 470Ω. The marking 470 actually represents 47Ω (47 with zero additional zeros added).

Can I use 470 ohm instead of 330 ohm for LEDs?

Yes, in most LED circuits you can substitute a 470 ohm resistor for 330Ω. The LED will run slightly dimmer because less current flows. At 5V with a 2V red LED, a 330Ω resistor passes about 9.1mA while a 470 ohm passes about 6.4mA. For 5V circuits where brightness matters, stick with 330Ω. For 9V or 12V circuits, 470 ohm is usually the better choice anyway.

How much power does a 470 ohm resistor dissipate?

Power dissipation depends on voltage and current. Using P = V²/R, a 470 ohm resistor with 5V across it dissipates 53mW. With 7V across it (typical in 9V LED circuits), dissipation reaches 104mW. At 10V, power jumps to 213mW, approaching the limit for 1/4W resistors. Always verify power requirements and select appropriate wattage ratings for your application.

Summary

The 470 ohm resistor earns its keep as the standard choice for 9V and 12V LED circuits. Its Yellow-Violet-Brown color pattern becomes second nature after building a few projects, and the 471 SMD code is worth committing to memory.

For 5V Arduino work, you’ll probably reach for 330Ω instead. But when your power supply jumps to 9V or 12V, the 470 ohm steps in to keep your LEDs running at safe, bright levels without the thermal stress that lower values would cause.

Keep a healthy stock of 470 ohm resistors in various packages. They’re essential components for automotive projects, battery-powered indicators, and any design running from voltages above the standard 5V logic level.