String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · Pure Nickel · 11-14-18-27-37-48

D'Addario EPN115 (11-14-18-27-37-48) in D standard on a 27" scale

11-48 Medium, XL Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to D standard (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2), pulls 108.6 lb49.3 kg483 N in total and 18.1 lb8.21 kg81 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 9.0%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +13% from the set average.

Total tension
108.6 lb49.3 kg483 N
Average per string
18.1 lb8.21 kg81 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 9.0%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1D4.01117.5 lb7.92 kg78 N2A3.01415.9 lb7.19 kg71 N3F3.01816.6 lb7.51 kg74 N4C3.02719.6 lb8.89 kg87 N5G2.03720.5 lb9.29 kg91 N6D2.04818.7 lb8.48 kg83 N
The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 10-46 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N). Loose and tight are measured against it.Line thickness follows the string gauge; textured lines are wound strings. Hover, tap or tab to a string for details.
#NoteHzGaugeItemType Tensionvs avg
1D4293.7 .011PL011plain 17.5 lb7.92 kg78 N−4%
2A3220.0 .014PL014plain 15.9 lb7.19 kg71 N−12%
3F3174.6 .018PL018plain 16.6 lb7.51 kg74 N−9%
4C3130.8 .027PNG027wound 19.6 lb8.89 kg87 N+8%
5G298.0 .037PNG037wound 20.5 lb9.29 kg91 N+13%
6D273.4 .048PNG048wound 18.7 lb8.48 kg83 N+3%
Total108.6 lb49.3 kg483 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in D standard, 27"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4917.4 lb7.88 kg77 N 104.3 lb47.3 kg464 Nmediumeven
D'Addario NYXL1052 10-13-17-30-42-5217.7 lb8.03 kg79 N 106.2 lb48.2 kg473 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL140 10-13-17-30-42-5217.8 lb8.05 kg79 N 106.5 lb48.3 kg474 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-5018.1 lb8.20 kg80 N 108.5 lb49.2 kg482 Nmediumvery even
EPN115 (this page) 11-14-18-27-37-4818.1 lb8.21 kg81 N 108.6 lb49.3 kg483 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1152 11-14-18-30-42-5218.9 lb8.56 kg84 N 113.2 lb51.3 kg503 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in D standard, 27"

Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).

  1. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 6.3%, average 17.3 lb7.86 kg77 N, even; same gauges: EXL115
  2. D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 6.4%, average 18.1 lb8.20 kg80 N, very even
  3. D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48 deviation 11.3%, average 18.1 lb8.21 kg81 N, moderately uneven

More for the EPN115

Other tunings on 27": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, Drop C, C standard, B standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

D standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 28", 25.5"–27" multiscale

About these numbers

Tension is calculated, not measured: T = μ · (2 · L · f)², where μ is the string's mass per unit length (unit weight), L the vibrating length (scale) and f the pitch (A4 = 440 Hz, equal temperament). kg means kilogram-force: 1 kg ≈ 9.81 N ≈ 2.205 lb.

How a set feels also depends on the guitar's setup: action height, break angle over the nut and saddle, string length behind the nut and bridge, and your playing style. Plain strings feel stiffer than wound strings at the same tension. Use these figures to compare sets, not as an absolute measure of feel.

Sources