String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · XL Nickel · 12-16-20-34-46-60

D'Addario EXL148 (12-16-20-34-46-60) in C standard on a 25" scale

12-60 Extra Heavy, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to C standard (C4 G3 Eb3 Bb2 F2 C2), pulls 96.8 lb43.9 kg431 N in total and 16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 12.9%). String 4 (Bb2) deviates most: +15% from the set average.

Total tension
96.8 lb43.9 kg431 N
Average per string
16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 12.9%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1C4.01214.2 lb6.42 kg63 N2G3.01614.1 lb6.41 kg63 N3Eb3.02013.9 lb6.31 kg62 N4Bb2.03418.6 lb8.42 kg83 N5F2.04618.2 lb8.28 kg81 N6C2.06017.8 lb8.07 kg79 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
1C4261.6 .012PL012plain 14.2 lb6.42 kg63 N−12%
2G3196.0 .016PL016plain 14.1 lb6.41 kg63 N−12%
3Eb3155.6 .020PL020plain 13.9 lb6.31 kg62 N−14%
4Bb2116.5 .034NW034wound 18.6 lb8.42 kg83 N+15%
5F287.3 .046NW046wound 18.2 lb8.28 kg81 N+13%
6C265.4 .060NW060wound 17.8 lb8.07 kg79 N+10%
Total96.8 lb43.9 kg431 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in C standard, 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5014.6 lb6.62 kg65 N 87.6 lb39.7 kg390 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5414.8 lb6.69 kg66 N 88.5 lb40.2 kg394 Nlooseeven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5414.8 lb6.71 kg66 N 88.8 lb40.3 kg395 Nlooseeven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6016.1 lb7.30 kg72 N 96.5 lb43.8 kg429 Nmediumuneven
EXL148 (this page) 12-16-20-34-46-6016.1 lb7.32 kg72 N 96.8 lb43.9 kg431 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-6218.4 lb8.32 kg82 N 110.1 lb49.9 kg490 Ntightmoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in C standard, 25"

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 12.0%, average 18.4 lb8.32 kg82 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 13.3%, average 16.1 lb7.30 kg72 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148
  3. D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 14.7%, average 14.8 lb6.71 kg66 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1254

More for the EXL148

Other tunings on 25": Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, B standard, Drop A

C standard on other scales: 24.75", 25.5", 26.5", 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