Skip to content
Ohm Bands

0.18 Ω resistor colour code

Four bands: Brown · Grey · Silver · Gold. The first two give the digits, the third multiplies, the fourth states how far off the real part may be.

Below 1 Ω a resistor stops being a resistor in the usual sense. Values like this sit in series with a load so a circuit can measure the current through them, or they limit inrush. The silver multiplier band is what takes the value under one ohm — and nothing takes it below 0.1 Ω, because no colour means ×0.001. Smaller shunts exist; their value is printed on the body instead.

18×0.01±5%
Brown1Grey8Silver×0.01Gold±5%

Nominal

0.18 Ω

0.18 ohms

Real range at ±5%

0.171 Ω – 0.189 Ω

A gold band allows this much drift.

Series

E12

A current-sense value. Rarely in a hobby parts drawer.


Band by band

BandColourMeaning
1Brown1st digit — 1
2Grey2nd digit — 8
3SilverMultiplier — ×0.01
4GoldTolerance — ±5%

How much it can take

Current and dissipation across the resistor, and the package you need. The suggested rating keeps a factor of two in hand, which is what anyone building a board actually does.

Across itCurrentDissipatedPackage to pick
3.3 V18.3 A60.5 Wno standard part — needs a power resistor or a heatsink
5 V27.8 A139 Wno standard part — needs a power resistor or a heatsink
12 V66.7 A800 Wno standard part — needs a power resistor or a heatsink
24 V133 A3200 Wno standard part — needs a power resistor or a heatsink

What you can actually get

Standard on paper, absent from the shelf.

0.18 Ω is a proper E12 value, but no part carrying it is currently held for assembly.

Assembly stock from the JLCPCB library, read 2026-09-24. That is what a board house will place for you — not everything a distributor sells.

The same value, marked differently

Surface mount

R18· three-digit

R180· four-digit, precision parts

If you do not have one

Standard values that land within 1% of 0.18 Ω when combined.