String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · XL Nickel · 12-16-20-32-42-54

D'Addario EXL145 (12-16-20-32-42-54) in B standard on a 26.5" scale

12-54 Heavy Plain Third, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 26.5" scale, tuned to B standard (B3 F#3 D3 A2 E2 B1), pulls 88.8 lb40.3 kg395 N in total and 14.8 lb6.72 kg66 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is even (spread 6.8%). String 4 (A2) deviates most: +13% from the set average.

Total tension
88.8 lb40.3 kg395 N
Average per string
14.8 lb6.72 kg66 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
even
spread 6.8%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1B3.01214.2 lb6.43 kg63 N2F#3.01614.2 lb6.42 kg63 N3D3.02013.9 lb6.32 kg62 N4A2.03216.7 lb7.59 kg74 N5E2.04215.5 lb7.04 kg69 N6B1.05414.3 lb6.50 kg64 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
1B3246.9 .012PL012plain 14.2 lb6.43 kg63 N−4%
2F#3185.0 .016PL016plain 14.2 lb6.42 kg63 N−4%
3D3146.8 .020PL020plain 13.9 lb6.32 kg62 N−6%
4A2110.0 .032NW032wound 16.7 lb7.59 kg74 N+13%
5E282.4 .042NW042wound 15.5 lb7.04 kg69 N+5%
6B161.7 .054NW054wound 14.3 lb6.50 kg64 N−3%
Total88.8 lb40.3 kg395 N

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Similar sets in B standard, 26.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-5012.3 lb5.58 kg55 N 73.9 lb33.5 kg329 Nloosevery even
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5014.6 lb6.63 kg65 N 87.7 lb39.8 kg390 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5414.8 lb6.70 kg66 N 88.6 lb40.2 kg394 Nlooseeven
EXL145 (this page) 12-16-20-32-42-5414.8 lb6.72 kg66 N 88.8 lb40.3 kg395 Nlooseeven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6016.1 lb7.30 kg72 N 96.6 lb43.8 kg430 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL148 12-16-20-34-46-6016.2 lb7.33 kg72 N 96.9 lb44.0 kg431 Nmediumuneven

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

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

  1. D'Addario EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-62 deviation 12.1%, average 18.4 lb8.33 kg82 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 13.2%, average 16.1 lb7.30 kg72 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148
  3. D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 14.6%, average 14.8 lb6.72 kg66 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1254

More for the EXL145

Other tunings on 26.5": Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, C standard, Drop A

B 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.

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