How do I read a 3-digit capacitor code?

The first two digits are the significant figures and the third digit is the multiplier (the number of zeros to append). The result is in picofarads (pF). For example, 104 means 10 followed by 4 zeros = 100000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF.

What does the code 104 mean?

104 = 10 × 10^4 pF = 100000 pF, which equals 100 nF or 0.1 µF. It is one of the most common ceramic capacitor markings.

What do the third digits 8 and 9 mean?

A third digit of 8 means multiply by 0.01 and 9 means multiply by 0.1. For example, 229 = 22 × 0.1 = 2.2 pF and 478 = 47 × 0.01 = 0.47 pF.

What does the letter after a capacitor code mean?

The trailing letter is the tolerance. Common values are J = ±5%, K = ±10%, and M = ±20%. For small capacitors, letters such as B, C, and D give an absolute tolerance in pF.

What is the R in a code like 4R7?

The letter R acts as a decimal point for sub-10 pF values. 4R7 means 4.7 pF and R47 means 0.47 pF.

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🔋 Reference

Capacitor Code Calculator

Decode 3-digit capacitor markings into pF, nF, and µF.

Capacitor code

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µF

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Common Codes

Code	pF	nF	µF	Typical name

Tolerance Letters

Letter	Tolerance	Notes