String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · XL Nickel · 11-14-18-30-42-52

D'Addario EXL116 (11-14-18-30-42-52) in Eb standard on a 26.5" scale

11-52 Medium Top/Heavy Bottom, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 26.5" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 122.7 lb55.7 kg546 N in total and 20.4 lb9.28 kg91 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 13.9%). String 5 (Ab2) deviates most: +21% from the set average.

Total tension
122.7 lb55.7 kg546 N
Average per string
20.4 lb9.28 kg91 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 13.9%

Tension per string

01020lb0510kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1Eb4.01118.9 lb8.56 kg84 N2Bb3.01417.1 lb7.77 kg76 N3Gb3.01817.9 lb8.12 kg80 N4Db3.03023.8 lb10.80 kg106 N5Ab2.04224.7 lb11.18 kg110 N6Eb2.05220.3 lb9.22 kg90 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
1Eb4311.1 .011PL011plain 18.9 lb8.56 kg84 N−8%
2Bb3233.1 .014PL014plain 17.1 lb7.77 kg76 N−16%
3Gb3185.0 .018PL018plain 17.9 lb8.12 kg80 N−12%
4Db3138.6 .030NW030wound 23.8 lb10.80 kg106 N+16%
5Ab2103.8 .042NW042wound 24.7 lb11.18 kg110 N+21%
6Eb277.8 .052NW052wound 20.3 lb9.22 kg90 N−1%
Total122.7 lb55.7 kg546 N

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Similar sets in Eb standard, 26.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1052 10-13-17-30-42-5219.1 lb8.68 kg85 N 114.9 lb52.1 kg511 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL140 10-13-17-30-42-5219.2 lb8.71 kg85 N 115.2 lb52.2 kg512 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-5019.5 lb8.87 kg87 N 117.3 lb53.2 kg522 Ntightvery even
D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-4819.6 lb8.88 kg87 N 117.5 lb53.3 kg523 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1152 11-14-18-30-42-5220.4 lb9.25 kg91 N 122.4 lb55.5 kg544 Ntightuneven
EXL116 (this page) 11-14-18-30-42-5220.4 lb9.28 kg91 N 122.7 lb55.7 kg546 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard, 26.5"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 5.8%, average 16.2 lb7.33 kg72 N, very even
  2. D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 8.0%, average 16.4 lb7.46 kg73 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EPS510
  3. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 11.7%, average 18.7 lb8.50 kg83 N, even; same gauges: EXL115

More for the EXL116

Other tunings on 26.5": E standard, Drop D, D standard, Drop C, C standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Eb standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 27", 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