R = (Vs − Vf) / If

Supply voltage Vs, LED forward voltage Vf, and desired If in mA—ballast resistor (Ω) and resistor power (W).

FAQ

How is the series resistor value chosen?

Supply Vs must exceed LED forward Vf. Forward current is entered in mA and converted to amperes. Then R = (Vs − Vf) ÷ I and resistor dissipation P ≈ (Vs − Vf)×I (rough sizing only; pick a rated power above this estimate).

Does the decimal separator matter?

This calculator uses plain decimal numbers. If a result looks wrong, check whether you used a comma instead of a dot (or vice versa) where the field expects one.