E-series preferred values

Which standard resistor or capacitor value is closest?

Find the nearest E3 to E192 value to the one you need, with its neighbours and error.

Value you need

Part

Value

Series

Standard E24 value

5.1 kΩ

+2% from 5 kΩ · E24, usually ±5%

Nearest E24 value

E24: 5.1 kΩ
Next lower: 4.7 kΩ
Next higher: 5.1 kΩ
Difference: +2%

Nearest value in every series

The nearest preferred value to the value you need in each E series, finest last, with the difference in per cent.

Nearest value in every series
Series	Nearest value	Difference
E3 (±40%)	4.7 kΩ	−6%
E6 (±20%)	4.7 kΩ	−6%
E12 (±10%)	4.7 kΩ	−6%
E24 (±5%)	5.1 kΩ	+2%
E48 (±2%)	5.11 kΩ	+2.2%
E96 (±1%)	4.99 kΩ	−0.2%
E192 (±0.5%)	4.99 kΩ	−0.2%

Find the nearest E3 to E192 value to the one you need, with its neighbours and error.

How to use

Choose resistor or capacitor and type the value your calculation gave, in any unit.
Pick the series you can buy: E12 or E24 for common parts, E96 for 1 % resistors.
Read the nearest standard value, the ones just below and above, and how far off each series would be.

How it works

Resistors and capacitors are not made in every value. They come in fixed steps called E series, chosen so that the steps are the same in proportion: with ±10 % parts there is no point making values closer together than about 20 %, because the parts' own spread would overlap. A circuit design usually gives an exact number, and you need the standard part closest to it.

Each series divides one decade, from 1 to 10, into n steps of equal ratio, roughly 10^(k/n): E12 has 12 values (1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.7, 3.3, 3.9, 4.7, 5.6, 6.8, 8.2), E24 has 24 and E96 has 96. The same steps repeat in every decade, so 4.7 Ω, 47 Ω and 4.7 kΩ are all E12 values. The nearest value is the one with the smallest ratio to yours: for 5 kΩ in E24 that is 5.1 kΩ, 2 % high. The lists are those of the standard IEC 60063, whose values are rounded and not exactly 10^(k/n).

A part's real value can differ from its marking by its tolerance, so the nearest standard value is not a guarantee of the exact value. When a value matters, combine two parts in series or parallel, or use a trimmer.

Frequently asked questions

Which series should I use?

E12 or E24 for everyday resistors (±5 %), E6 or E12 for most capacitors, and E96 when you buy 1 % metal-film resistors.

Why are the values not round numbers?

Each step is the same percentage bigger than the last, so the values follow a geometric series: 1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.2 and so on, rounded.

What if my value falls exactly between two?

The tool picks the one with the smaller ratio, and the lower value on an exact tie. Both neighbours are shown, so you can choose the safer side for your circuit.

Does the nearest value include component tolerance?

No. It is the marked nominal value. Check the part’s tolerance separately.

Can I use this for capacitors?

Yes. Select capacitor and enter the capacitance in the chosen unit.