Capacitor Markings

Capacitors are often marked with codes to show the value, tolerance and material. This is particularly true for small types such as ceramic disc or polystyrene where there is little space for full markings.

Value Codes:

The capacitance value is often marked using a 3 digit code. This works in the same way as resistor coding but using numbers instead of colours. The first 2 numbers give the value and the last number is the multiplier. These give the value in Picofarads (pF), e.g. code 103 = 1 0 000pF (=0.01uF – see Capacitance Conversion Table). Alternatively the value may be marked directly, for example 2n2 is 2.2 Nanofarads (nF).

Tolerance Code:

A single letter is often used to indicate the tolerance of the component. These can be translated using the following table:

Tolerance Code	Tolerance
C	+/- 0.25pF
D	+/- 0.5pF
F	+/- 1%
G	+/- 2%
J	+/- 5%
K	+/- 10%
M	+/- 20%
Z	– 20% +80%

Material Code:

The dielectric material is often marked in abbreviated form. The table below shows the meaning of these abbreviations.

Marking	Material
MKT	Metallised Polyester (PETP)
MKC	Metallised Polycarbonate
KT	Polyester Film / Foil
KS	Polystyrene Film / Foil
KP	Polypropylene Film / Foil
MKP	Metallised Polypropylene

Source: Electronics 2000 | Capacitor Markings