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LED Resistor Calculator

How to choose an LED resistor

  1. Enter the supply voltage.
  2. Enter the LED forward voltage and current from its datasheet, and how many LEDs are in series.
  3. Use the nearest standard value, and a resistor rated for at least the suggested power.

Frequently asked questions

What forward voltage should I use?

From the datasheet. Typical values are about 2 V for red, yellow and green LEDs and about 3 V for blue and white ones.

Why round up?

A slightly larger resistor gives slightly less current, which keeps the LED within its rating.

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