How to Calculate the Value of Resistor for different types of LEDs

Circuits
This tutorial will help you to find the proper value of resistor (or resistors) for one or more
LEDs to connect with battery. If you pick this topic, you will be able to:
Calculate the value of resistors for different LEDs Circuit diagrams
Calculate the Forward Current of LEDs
Calculate the Forward Voltage for different LEDs Circuits
Connect LEDs in Series with batter
Connect LEDs in Parallel with battery
Connect LEDs in Series-Parallel Circuits
Update: You can Also use this LED Resistor Calculator for this purpose
Typical LED Symbol, Construction and Lead Identification.
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Before we go in detail, we will try to get ride on below simple circuit, so that the other
calculation will be easier to understand.
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This is the
Simplest LED Series circuit ever.
 Here, the supply voltage is 6V, LED Forward Voltage (VF) is 1.3 Volt and Forward Current
(IF) is 10mA.
Now the Value of resistor (which we will connect in Series with LED) for this circuit would
be:
Resistor Value = (Vsupply VF)/ IF= (6 -1.3) / 10mA = 470
Current draw = 20mA
Resistor Power rating formula for this circuit
Resistor Power Rating = IF2x Resistor Value= (10mA) 2 x 470 = 0.047W = 47mW
But This is the minimum required resistor value to ensure that resistor will not overheat,
so its recommended that to double the power rating of resistor that you have calculated,
therefore, choose 0.047W x 2 = 0.094W = 94mW resistor for this circuit.Resistor power
rating (Value is doubled) = 0.094 W = (94 mW)
Also keep in mind that:
It is too difficult to find the exact power rating resistors that you have calculated. Generally,
Resistors come in 1/4 watt, 1/2 watt, 1 watt, 2 watt, 5 watt, and so on. Therefore, select
the next higher value of power rating. For example, if youre calculated value of resistor
power rating is 0.789W = 789mW, then you would select 1W Resistor.
It is too difficult to find the exact value of resistors that you have calculated. Generally,
Resistors come in standard values. If you are not able to find the exact value of resistor
that you have calculated, and then select the next coming value of resistor that you have
calculated, For Example, if the calculated value is 313.5, you would use the closest
standard value, which is 330 . if the closest value is not close enough, then you can
make it by connecting resistors in series parallel configuration.
IF = Forward Current of LED: This is the amount of maximum current that LED can
accept continuously. It is recommended that provide 80% of LED forward current rating
for long life and stability. For example, if the rating current of LED is 30mA, then you
should run this LED on 24mA. Value of current over this amount will shorten LED life or
may start to smock and burn.
If you are still unable to find the LED forward current, than assume it 20mA because a
typical LEDs run on 20mA.
VF = Forward Voltage of LED: This is the forward voltage of LED i.e. the voltage drop
when we supply the rated forward current. You can find this data on LEDs Packages, but
is somewhere between 1.3V to 3.5V depending on type, color and brightness. If you are
still unable to find the forward voltage, simply connect the LED through 200 with 6V
battery. Now measure the voltage across LED. It will be 2V and this is the forward voltage.
Formula for finding the value of resistor(s) to connect LEDs in Series:
Below is another simple LEDs (LEDs Connected in Series) Circuit. In this circuit, we
have connected 6 LEDs in Series. Supply Voltage is 18V, The Forward Voltage (VF) of
LEDs is 2V and the forward Current (IF) is 20mA each.
Click Image to enlarge
 Resistor Value
(LEDs in Series) = (Vsupply (VF x No. of LEDs)) / IF
Here, Total forward voltage (VF) of 6 LEDs = 2 x 6 = 12V
and forward Current (IF) is same (i.e. 20mA)
(Note: this is a series circuit, so current in series circuit in each point is same while
voltages are additive)Now, the value of resistor (for Series Circuit) would be:
= (Vsupply (VF x No. of LEDs)) / IF= (18 (2 x 6)) / 20mA
= (18-12) / 20mA = 300
Total Current draw = 20mA
(This is series circuit, so currents are same)Resistor Power Rating
= IF2x Resistor Value= (20mA) 2 x 300 = 0.12 = 120mW
But This is the minimum required resistor value to ensure that resistor will not overheat,
so its recommended that to double the power rating of resistor that you have calculated,
therefore, choose 0.12W x 2 = 0.24W = 240mW resistor for this circuit.Resistor power
rating (Value is doubled) = 0.24 W = (240 mW)
Formula for finding the value of resistor(s) to connect LEDs in Parallel (With
Common Resistor):
Click Image to enlarge

In this circuit, we
have connected LEDs in parallel with common resistor. Supply Voltage is 18V, The
Forward Voltage (VF) of LEDs is 2V and the forward Current (IF) is 20mA each.
Resistor Value (LEDs in parallel With Common Resistor) = (Vsupply VF)/ (IF x No. of
LEDs)
Here, Total forward Current (IF) of 4 LEDs = 20mA x 4 = 0.08A, and forward Voltage (VF)
is same (i.e. 2V)
(Note: this is a parallel circuit, so voltage is parallel circuit is same in each point while
currents are additive).
Now, the value of resistor (for parallel Circuit with common resistor) would be:
= (Vsupply VF)/ (IF x No. of LEDs)
= (18 2) / 0.08
= 200
Total Current draw = 20mA x 4 = 80mA
(This is parallel circuit, so currents are additive)
Resistor Power Rating = IF2x Resistor Value= (20mA) 2 x 200 = 0.08 W = 80mW
But This is the minimum required resistor value to ensure that resistor will not overheat,
so its recommended that to double the power rating of resistor that you have calculated,
therefore, choose 1.28W x 2 = 2.56W resistor for this circuit. Resistor power rating (Value
is doubled) = 2.56W (280 mW)
Formula for finding the value of resistor(s) for connecting LEDs in Parallel (With
Separate resistor)
Click Image to enlarge

This is another
way to connect LEDs in parallel with separate resistors. In this circuit, we have connected
4 LEDs in parallel with separate resistors. Supply Voltage is 9V and the Forward Voltage
(VF) of LEDs is 2V and the forward Current (IF) is 20mA each.
Resistor Value (LEDs in parallel with separate Resistor) = (Vsupply VF)/ IFHere, Total
forward voltage (VF) of LEDs = 2 and forward Current (IF) 20mA (i.e. 20mA)
(Note: this is a parallel circuit, but we are finding the value of resistor for each section,
not for whole circuit. So in each section, the circuit becomes in Series position (refer to
the Series Circuit formula or the 1st simple circuit above, you will find that these are same)
Now, the value of resistor (for parallel Circuit with separate resistors) would be:
= (Vsupply VF)/ IF= (9 2) / 20mA = 350
Total Current draw = 20mA x 4 = 80mA (This is parallel circuit, so currents are additive)
Resistor Power Rating = IF2x Resistor Value= (20mA) 2 x 350 = 0.14 = 140mW
But This is the minimum required resistor value to ensure that resistor will not overheat,
so its recommended that to double the power rating of resistor that you have calculated,
therefore, choose 0.14W x 2 = 0.28W = 280mW resistor for this circuit.Resistor power
rating (Value is doubled) = 0.28 W (280 mW)
There is another way (Series-Parallel Combination) to connect LEDs with battery; if you
understood this simple calculation then Im sure that you can easily calculate the value of
resistors for Series-Parallel Combination LEDs connection circuit as well.