Resistor manufacturers typically produce resistors whose values are standardized by the EIA Standards Council. The standard values are broken into series based on the tolerance, or accuracy, of the component’s value. Each series represents one decade of values. These series are designated by the letter E followed by a number. The number indicates the quantity of values available in one decade. If you would rather use a solver that returns the closest standard value to the one you are interested in, you can use the Resistor Value Check calculator. See the discussion following the tables to see how they are used and a strategy for selecting resistors based on tolerance.
E192 Series (tolerances of less than 1%)
100, 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 120, 121, 123, 124, 126, 127, 129, 130, 132, 133, 135, 137, 138, 140, 142, 143, 145, 147, 149, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 165, 167, 169, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 187, 189, 191, 193, 196, 198, 200, 203, 205, 208, 210, 213, 215, 218, 221, 223, 226, 229, 232, 234, 237, 240, 243, 246, 249, 252, 255, 258, 261, 264, 267, 271, 274, 277, 280, 284, 287, 291, 294, 298, 301, 305, 309, 312, 316, 320, 324, 328, 332, 336, 340, 344, 348, 352, 357, 361, 365, 370, 374, 379, 383, 388, 392, 397, 402, 407, 412, 417, 422, 427, 432, 437, 442, 448, 453, 459, 464, 470, 475, 481, 487, 493, 499, 505, 511, 517, 523, 530, 536, 542, 549, 556, 562, 569, 576, 583, 590, 597, 604, 612, 619, 626, 634, 642, 649, 657, 665, 673, 681, 690, 698, 706, 715, 723, 732, 741, 750, 759, 768, 777, 787, 796, 806, 816, 825, 835, 845, 856, 866, 876, 887, 898, 909, 920, 931, 942, 953, 965, 976, 988
E96 Series (tolerances of 1%)
100, 102, 105, 107, 110, 113, 115, 118, 121, 124, 127, 130, 133, 137, 140, 143, 147, 150, 154, 158, 162, 165, 169, 174, 178, 182, 187, 191, 196, 200, 205, 210, 215, 221, 226, 232, 237, 243, 249, 255, 261, 267, 274, 280, 287, 294, 301, 309, 316, 324, 332, 340, 348, 357, 365, 374, 383, 392, 402, 412, 422, 432, 442, 453, 464, 475, 487, 491, 499, 511, 523, 536, 549, 562, 576, 590, 604, 619, 634, 649, 665, 681, 698, 715, 732, 750, 768, 787, 806, 825, 845, 866, 887, 909, 931, 953, 976
E48 Series (tolerances of 2%)
100, 105, 110, 115, 121, 127, 133, 140, 147, 154, 162, 169, 178, 187, 196, 205, 215, 226, 237, 249, 261, 274, 287, 301, 316, 332, 348, 365, 383, 402, 422, 442, 464, 487, 511, 536, 562, 590, 619, 649, 681, 715, 750, 787, 825, 866, 909, 953
E24 Series (tolerances of 5%)
10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 43, 47, 51, 56, 62, 68, 75, 82, 91
E12 Series (tolerances of 10%)
10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 27, 33, 39, 47, 56, 68, 82
E6 Series (tolerances of 20%)
10, 15, 22, 33, 47, 68
The values listed in each of the preceding series, cover a one decade range. To derive values in another decade, divide or multiply the value shown by a multiple of 10 (e.g., 10,100,1000…) . For instance, 110 can represent 11 by dividing by 10 or 1.1K by multiplying by 10, or it can also represent 1.1 and 11K by dividing by 100 or multiplying by 100.
If your circuit requires tight control over a component value, you are probably better off using a component with a lower tolerance value that is close to the needed value, even though an exact match is available in a looser tolerance. For instance, suppose your design called for a 3.9KΩ resistor and you need it to always be close to that value. You notice that it is not available in a 1% tolerance (the closest is 3.92KΩ) but it is available in a 5% tolerance. Which one do you choose? You can find the answer by doing the arithmetic. The range of resistance values for the two parts is:
For 5% tolerance:
3.9KΩ - 0.05*3.9KΩ = 3.705KΩ & 3.9KΩ + 0.05*3.9KΩ = 4.095KΩ
For 1% tolerance:
3.92KΩ - 0.01*3.92KΩ = 3.880KΩ & 3.92KΩ + 0.01*3.92KΩ = 3.959KΩ
At both the upper end and lower end of the tolerance band, the 1% resistor is guaranteed to be closer to the required value even though the exact value needed was available in a looser tolerance.