Capacitor Code Calculator - Decode & Encode Capacitor Codes

How to use this tool

1. Enter a capacitor marking such as 104K, 104K1H, 4n7, or 4R7.
2. View the nominal capacitance in pF, nF, and µF plus its tolerance range.
3. Enter a capacitance value in pF, nF, or µF to find the closest 3-digit code.

Common Capacitor Codes

How three-digit codes work

The three-digit code on ceramic and film capacitors works as follows: the first two digits are the significant value, and the third digit is the multiplier, with the result expressed in picofarads (pF). Digits 0 through 7 mean multiply by 10 raised to that digit. The special multipliers are 8 = ×0.01 and 9 = ×0.1, which are used for very small capacitances.

Example: 104 -> first two digits = 10, third digit = 4 (multiply by 10⁴ = 10,000) -> 10 × 10,000 = 100,000 pF = 100 nF = 0.1 µF.

For example, 229 means 22 × 0.1 = 2.2 pF, while 228 means 22 × 0.01 = 0.22 pF. A tolerance letter can follow the three digits: in 104K, K means ±10%, so a nominal 100 nF part may measure from 90 to 110 nF. The calculator also accepts common markings such as 4n7 (4.7 nF) and 4R7 (4.7 pF).

Some parts add a voltage code after the capacitance and tolerance, such as 104K1H. The calculator uses the capacitance and tolerance and leaves the voltage marking for you to verify against the part's datasheet. Marking conventions vary, and a package-size label such as 0805 describes the component's dimensions rather than its capacitance.

Tolerance codes

Voltage rating markings

Voltage ratings may be printed alongside the capacitance code in several ways: as a number followed by a letter (e.g., 1H = 50 V using EIA code), as a direct voltage value (e.g., 50V or 50VDC), or via a letter code where common values include E = 25 V, F = 35 V, G = 40 V, H = 50 V, I = 63 V, J = 63 V, K = 80 V. Always verify the voltage rating for your specific component's datasheet, as coding conventions vary by manufacturer.