Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
General product information only, not medical advice. Which band, and how it is used, is a decision for the person’s clinician or therapist.
The TheraBand color chart ranks eight colors from lightest to heaviest: Tan, Yellow, Red, Green, Blue, Black, Silver and Gold. The manufacturer lists typical resistance for each color in pounds, at 100% and at 200% stretch. This page reproduces that chart so you can look up a color and compare it with the one before and after it.
TheraBand color chart: resistance by color
Values are the manufacturer’s “typical values” in pounds (lb) of resistance, from the Thera-Band Color Progression chart (Performance Health, document P05358, © 2011). The chart’s own note: “Represents typical values. All products not available in all colors.”
| Color | Increase over the preceding color (at 100%) | Resistance at 100% stretch (lb) | Resistance at 200% stretch (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tan | – (lightest) | 2.4 | 3.4 |
| Yellow | 25% | 3.0 | 4.3 |
| Red | 25% | 3.7 | 5.5 |
| Green | 25% | 4.6 | 6.7 |
| Blue | 25% | 5.8 | 8.6 |
| Black | 25% | 7.3 | 10.2 |
| Silver | 40% | 10.2 | 15.3 |
| Gold | 40% | 14.2 | 21.3 |
The manufacturer’s instruction manual lists the same eight colors as the “trademark Thera-Band colors” of its natural rubber latex bands.
How to read the TheraBand resistance levels
What does “100% stretch” mean?
Stretch is measured against the band’s resting length. A band stretched from 1 ft to 2 ft is at 100% elongation; stretched from 2 ft to 4 ft, it is also at 100%, and the manufacturer says the force is the same for the same color. Performance Health’s support material states that “the force produced by bands and tubing is directly related to elongation”, so the same band gives a different force at 100% than at 200%.
What do the step increases mean?
Each of the first five steps (Yellow, Red, Green, Blue and Black, each over the color before it) raises resistance at 100% stretch by 25% over the previous color. The step to Silver and the step to Gold are each 40%. The colors are therefore not evenly spaced: Silver and Gold are larger jumps than the lower colors.
What are the resistance levels by group?
Performance Health describes the lighter levels (tan and yellow) as suitable for people in the early stages of rehabilitation, medium levels as red and green, and higher levels as blue, black and silver. It does not place gold in a group in that article.
Choosing and checking a band
- Length: Performance Health’s FAQ advises using a length of band equal to the limb being exercised.
- Do not overstretch: the manual says not to stretch a band or tube by more than 3 times its resting length. Its example: a 12 in (30 cm) band should not be stretched past 36 in (90 cm) total length.
- Inspect before each use: the manual says to check for small nicks, tears or punctures and to discard and replace a damaged product. Performance Health’s FAQ adds cracks and abrasions.
- Care: the manual says to store away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures, to rinse after chlorinated water and to dry flat.
- Safety: avoid setups where a band could snap back toward the head or eyes; the manual calls for protective eyewear where such exercises are prescribed, and says the bands are not toys, so children need supervision.
Check your product’s labeling: the chart applies to the manufacturer’s own range, and not every product comes in every color.
Equivalence notes
- Pounds to kilograms: 1 lb = 0.4536 kg. The chart itself is published in pounds.
- 100% versus 200%: a figure at 100% stretch cannot be compared with a figure at 200%. Compare colors only at the same stretch.
- Bands versus tubing: Performance Health states that its bands and tubing produce similar forces between similar colors.
Common mix-ups
Are other brands’ resistance band colors the same?
No common color code is established across manufacturers, so a red band from one brand is not necessarily a TheraBand Red. Use the chart published by the maker of the band in your hand.
Is there a latex-free version?
Yes. The manual says Thera-Band Latex Free Resistance Bands provide the same benefits and that patients with latex allergies or sensitivities should use the latex-free bands. Performance Health describes its non-latex bands as synthetic rubber, sold as the THERABAND Non-Latex Resistance Band and as CLX (looped). Use the labelling and chart that come with the specific product.
FAQ
What is TheraBand?
TheraBand (Thera-Band) is the brand name of a line of color-coded elastic resistance bands and tubing, made from natural rubber latex or, in the non-latex versions, synthetic rubber. The colors indicate resistance level.
What is the order of TheraBand resistance levels?
From lightest to heaviest: Tan, Yellow, Red, Green, Blue, Black, Silver, Gold (2.4 lb to 14.2 lb typical at 100% stretch).
What is a resistance bands color chart?
It is a manufacturer’s table matching band colors to resistance. Because colors are not standardized between brands, read the chart that belongs to your band’s maker. For related equipment, see athletic training room equipment, the physical therapy clinic supply checklist, what an elastic bandage is, and another lookup chart, IV catheter gauge selection.
Sources
- Thera-Band Color Progression chart, P05358, Performance Health (checked 2026-10-30): performancehealth.com
- Thera-Band Resistance Band & Tubing Instruction Manual, The Hygenic Corporation, 22136 REV 1 5/12 (checked 2026-10-30): theraband.com
- Performance Health, TheraBand tubing active recovery kit, light (checked 2026-10-30): support.performancehealth.com
- Performance Health, What TheraBand resistance band should I buy, and more FAQ (checked 2026-10-30): performancehealth.com
