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Choose the dielectric, not the family name. For the tightest temperature stability, start by evaluating a Class 1 C0G/NP0 ceramic capacitor. Its specified temperature coefficient is small and defined across a stated range. A film capacitor can also be highly stable, but its behavior depends on the polymer—polypropylene, polyester, PEN, or another material—and on the exact series. Class 2 ceramics such as X7R and X5R permit a much larger capacitance change over their rated temperature intervals.
The correct part still depends on your operating-temperature span, capacitance, bias voltage, tolerance, frequency, package, and circuit function. No dielectric wins every application. Compare the individual datasheets under the conditions your circuit will actually see.
Which is more temperature-stable: ceramic or film?
There is no valid answer based only on the words “ceramic” and “film.” Ceramic capacitors include very stable Class 1 dielectrics and deliberately high-capacitance Class 2 dielectrics. Film capacitors use several polymers with different, sometimes opposite, temperature coefficients.
For a capacitance that must remain nearly constant with temperature, evaluate a C0G or NP0 Class 1 ceramic first. TDK lists both at a temperature coefficient of ±30 ppm/°C, with C0G specified from −55°C to +125°C and NP0 from −55°C to +150°C. The distinction in that table is the rated temperature range, so the exact part still matters.
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Film is a credible alternative when its polymer and series meet the requirement. TDK Electronics’ 2025 technical information lists typical coefficients of −250 ppm/K for polypropylene (PP), +600 ppm/K for polyester (PET), and +200 ppm/K for PEN. Those values are not interchangeable: PP trends downward as temperature rises, while PET and PEN trend upward. A series datasheet can specify a different value or additional limits.
X7R and X5R are not temperature-invariant capacitors. TDK defines X7R as allowing a maximum capacitance change of ±15% from −55°C to +125°C, and X5R as ±15% from −55°C to +85°C. That may be acceptable for decoupling or other non-critical functions, but it is usually too loose for a precision timing, filtering, sensing, or calibration network unless the circuit is designed around the variation.
What the temperature markings actually mean
Class 1 ceramic: C0G and NP0
C0G and NP0 are two names used for the same broadly recognized Class 1 temperature-stable behavior. The TDK table gives a ±30 ppm/°C coefficient for each. “ppm/°C” describes the fractional change per degree relative to the nominal capacitance, not a guaranteed percentage over every possible temperature. The stated operating range accompanies the coefficient and must be checked on the selected part.
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Class 2 ceramic: X7R and X5R
Class 2 codes express an allowed capacitance change over a defined temperature interval rather than a small linear ppm coefficient. In TDK’s table, the “7” in X7R is associated with −55°C to +125°C and the “5” in X5R with −55°C to +85°C; the final “R” corresponds to a maximum change of ±15% in those definitions.
That percentage is a maximum characteristic limit, not a promise that every X7R part changes by exactly 15%. A particular component may perform better, but you cannot assume it will. Temperature is only one source of variation: Class 2 ceramics can also lose capacitance under applied DC bias, and their tolerance and aging specifications must be read separately.
Film coefficients
Film capacitors are identified by their polymer and construction, not by a single universal temperature class. TDK Electronics reports typical values of −250 × 10−6/K for polypropylene, +600 × 10−6/K for polyester, and +200 × 10−6/K for PEN in its 2025 general technical information. “Typical” indicates a representative dielectric characteristic; the exact component’s guaranteed range, test frequency, and temperature limits take precedence.
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Side-by-side comparison
| Comparison point | Class 1 ceramic (C0G/NP0) | Class 2 ceramic (X7R/X5R) | Film capacitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| What identifies the dielectric | C0G or NP0 marking and the individual MLCC datasheet | X7R, X5R, or another Class 2 code | Polymer such as PP, PET, or PEN plus the exact series |
| Temperature specification in the cited manufacturer data | ±30 ppm/°C; C0G −55°C to +125°C, NP0 −55°C to +150°C | X7R ±15% over −55°C to +125°C; X5R ±15% over −55°C to +85°C | Typical: PP −250 ppm/K, PET +600 ppm/K, PEN +200 ppm/K; exact series may differ |
| How to interpret the number | Small coefficient expressed per degree | Permitted percentage change over a stated interval | Coefficient and limits depend on polymer, construction, series, and test conditions |
| Temperature range | Use the selected part’s rated range; the cited C0G/NP0 ranges are not interchangeable | Use the code’s range and the individual part’s rating | Check the series category range and any voltage derating |
| Physical implementation | Surface-mount package, electrode system, capacitance, and voltage vary by MLCC series | Usually compact MLCC packages, with capacitance and DC-bias behavior tied to size and dielectric | Leaded or surface-mount construction, with body size, lead spacing, and winding or stacking geometry set by the series |
| Best starting point | Precision timing, reference, filter, and sensor networks requiring low thermal drift | General-purpose bypassing, filtering, and energy storage where ±15% temperature variation is acceptable | Applications needing a specified film behavior, higher pulse capability, low loss, or a practical capacitance/voltage combination |
The table compares published category characteristics, not a controlled cross-vendor test. A production decision requires a like-for-like review of actual part numbers.
How to select a capacitor for a temperature-stable circuit
- Write the real temperature requirement. Record the minimum and maximum ambient, board temperature, self-heating, storage conditions if relevant, and whether the circuit must operate continuously across the span. A “−20°C to +70°C” requirement is not equivalent to a component rated −55°C to +125°C if the circuit experiences hot spots or thermal cycling.
- Set the allowable capacitance error. Include initial tolerance, temperature drift, DC-bias loss, aging, frequency dependence, and measurement uncertainty. If the total error budget is 1%, an X7R’s ±15% temperature characteristic cannot be treated as a minor detail.
- Choose the dielectric category. Search C0G/NP0 parts when thermal drift dominates and the required capacitance is available. Consider a film part when its polymer coefficient, voltage rating, size, and circuit behavior fit better. Use X7R or X5R only after confirming that their temperature and bias variation fits the error budget.
- Compare the actual temperature curve. Do not compare a film’s ppm/K figure directly with an X7R percentage unless the temperature interval and reference capacitance are stated. Read the manufacturer’s capacitance-versus-temperature graph or limit table for the exact part.
- Check voltage and bias conditions. Verify rated voltage, derating rules, transient or pulse voltage, and the voltage actually present across the capacitor. Class 2 MLCC capacitance can change significantly with DC bias; a nominal value measured at low voltage may not be the in-circuit value.
- Check frequency and loss. Confirm the test frequency for capacitance and temperature coefficient. Then review dissipation factor, equivalent series resistance, self-resonance, and ripple-current limits for the circuit’s frequency range.
- Check mechanical and environmental limits. Compare footprint, height, lead spacing, board-flex sensitivity, vibration, humidity, encapsulation, and soldering restrictions. A thermally excellent part that cannot survive assembly or fit the enclosure is not a solution.
- Verify availability and qualification. Confirm the exact ordering code, tolerance, voltage, temperature range, revision-controlled datasheet, and approved-vendor status. Do not substitute a visually similar capacitor with a different dielectric code.
When C0G/NP0 is the better choice
C0G/NP0 is the natural first candidate when a capacitance must track a stable value over temperature and the required value is available in that dielectric. Its ±30 ppm/°C specification is far tighter than the ±15% Class 2 limits cited for X7R and X5R. Typical uses include precision timing networks, resonant or narrow-band filters, sensor interfaces, charge-redistribution circuits, and reference paths where a thermal change would become an output error.
Availability imposes a practical limit. High capacitance, high voltage, small size, and tight tolerance are difficult to obtain simultaneously in C0G/NP0. If the required value is unavailable, combining several stable capacitors, changing the circuit topology, or evaluating a film part may be more realistic than selecting X7R by default.
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Even with C0G/NP0, read the individual datasheet. Confirm whether the stated coefficient applies over the full required range, the available tolerance, aging specification, voltage rating, and the capacitance at the circuit’s measurement frequency.
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When film is the better choice
Film can be preferable when the design benefits from a particular polymer’s electrical or mechanical characteristics, when a required capacitance and voltage combination is easier to obtain in a film package, or when pulse, loss, and long-term behavior favor the selected series. The key is to choose by polymer and series rather than treating “film” as one behavior.
Polypropylene (PP)
PP has a negative temperature coefficient in TDK Electronics’ table, listed as −250 ppm/K typically. KEMET’s R73 example specifies −(150 ±70) ppm/°C at 1 kHz and −55°C to +105°C. Use the sign as well as the magnitude: a negative coefficient can offset a circuit element with positive thermal drift, but only if the combined values and tolerances are modeled.
Polyester (PET)
PET is listed by TDK Electronics at a typical +600 ppm/K. That positive coefficient is substantially different from PP’s negative trend. PET may still be appropriate where its capacitance, package, cost, or voltage options fit, but it should not be selected under the assumption that all film capacitors are thermally similar.
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PEN is listed at a typical +200 ppm/K in the same 2025 TDK technical information. Its positive trend is lower in magnitude than the cited PET value, yet the exact series specification remains decisive.
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Understanding ppm/°C versus percent limits
A coefficient in ppm/°C describes a rate of change relative to nominal capacitance. A value of 250 ppm/K is 0.025% per kelvin because 1,000,000 ppm equals 100%. Over a small interval, multiplying the coefficient by the temperature change gives a first-order estimate. The sign indicates whether capacitance rises or falls as temperature increases.
An X7R or X5R code instead states a bounded percentage characteristic over a defined range. It does not provide a single slope and should not be converted into a ppm number without a specified curve and interval. The capacitance can be nonlinear, and the limiting value may occur near one end of the range.
For either format, distinguish temperature drift from initial tolerance. A capacitor marked ±1% can still move with temperature; a capacitor with a small temperature coefficient can still arrive outside the desired value because of its initial tolerance. Add both effects in the error budget rather than replacing one with the other.
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Common selection mistakes and their fixes
- Mistake: treating every ceramic as stable. Fix: require a C0G/NP0 designation when the application needs Class 1 behavior; do not infer it from the word ceramic.
- Mistake: calling X7R temperature-invariant. Fix: carry its ±15% maximum change and −55°C to +125°C definition into the circuit tolerance analysis.
- Mistake: treating every film capacitor as polypropylene. Fix: identify PP, PET, PEN, or another polymer and read the exact series data.
- Mistake: comparing coefficients without conditions. Fix: record the temperature interval, test frequency, tolerance, and whether a value is typical or guaranteed.
- Mistake: ignoring voltage effects. Fix: evaluate capacitance at the applied DC and AC voltage, especially for Class 2 MLCCs, and apply the manufacturer’s derating.
- Mistake: choosing by nominal capacitance alone. Fix: compare the effective in-circuit capacitance, temperature range, loss, package, and mechanical constraints.
- Mistake: using a category number as a qualification. Fix: freeze the exact manufacturer part number and datasheet revision in the bill of materials.
How to verify temperature stability in a design
Start with the datasheet limits
Extract the initial tolerance, temperature characteristic, rated temperature range, voltage rating, test frequency, dissipation factor, and aging information. Mark which values are guaranteed limits and which are typical curves. For a film part, note the polymer and any category temperature range; for an MLCC, note the dielectric code, package, and DC-bias curves.
Model the circuit’s sensitivity
Calculate how a capacitance change affects the circuit output rather than judging the capacitor in isolation. In a first-order RC time constant, fractional timing change follows the fractional capacitance change when resistance is stable. In a resonant network, frequency varies approximately with the inverse square root of capacitance, so the same capacitance drift produces roughly half as much fractional frequency drift in the opposite direction. These are linearized estimates; simulate the complete circuit when the error budget is tight.
Measure representative hardware
Use a controlled temperature sweep with the capacitor mounted as it will be used, and measure at the circuit’s operating bias and frequency. Allow the assembly to reach thermal equilibrium at each point. Record heating from ripple or nearby components, because the component temperature can differ from ambient. Compare measured results with the datasheet limits and retain the test conditions with the design record.
Practical decision checklist
- Is the dielectric explicitly C0G/NP0, X7R/X5R, PP, PET, PEN, or another named material?
- What are the minimum and maximum component temperatures, including self-heating?
- What total capacitance error is allowed after tolerance, temperature, bias, aging, and frequency effects?
- Does the selected part’s temperature coefficient or percentage limit cover the complete operating span?
- Is the coefficient typical or guaranteed, and at what frequency?
- Will the applied voltage change effective capacitance or require derating?
- Does the package fit while meeting mechanical, vibration, humidity, and assembly requirements?
- Are capacitance, tolerance, voltage, and approved-source availability adequate for production?
- Has the exact part been evaluated in the actual circuit rather than substituted by dielectric family?
Bottom line: a defensible choice
For the most demanding temperature-stability requirement, evaluate a C0G/NP0 ceramic capacitor first and verify its exact range, tolerance, voltage, and capacitance. Choose film when a named polymer and series provide the required coefficient, voltage, loss, pulse, or mechanical performance. Use X7R or X5R when their defined ±15% temperature characteristic is acceptable for the circuit, not as a synonym for temperature-invariant capacitance. The winning component is the one whose datasheet meets the complete operating and error budget.
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