String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 10-13-17-26-36-46

D'Addario NYXL1046 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in E standard on a 27" scale

10-46 Regular Light, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to E standard (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2), pulls 114.8 lb52.1 kg511 N in total and 19.1 lb8.68 kg85 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.2%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +11% from the set average.

Total tension
114.8 lb52.1 kg511 N
Average per string
19.1 lb8.68 kg85 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.2%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1E4.01018.2 lb8.24 kg81 N2B3.01317.3 lb7.84 kg77 N3G3.01718.6 lb8.45 kg83 N4D3.02620.5 lb9.31 kg91 N5A2.03621.3 lb9.67 kg95 N6E2.04618.8 lb8.55 kg84 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
1E4329.6 .010NYS010plain 18.2 lb8.24 kg81 N−5%
2B3246.9 .013NYS013plain 17.3 lb7.84 kg77 N−10%
3G3196.0 .017NYS017plain 18.6 lb8.45 kg83 N−3%
4D3146.8 .026NYNW026wound 20.5 lb9.31 kg91 N+7%
5A2110.0 .036NYNW036wound 21.3 lb9.67 kg95 N+11%
6E282.4 .046NYNW046wound 18.8 lb8.55 kg84 N−1%
Total114.8 lb52.1 kg511 N

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Similar sets in E standard, 27"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL125 9-11-16-26-36-4617.4 lb7.90 kg77 N 104.5 lb47.4 kg465 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-4618.5 lb8.38 kg82 N 110.9 lb50.3 kg493 Ntighteven
D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-4618.8 lb8.54 kg84 N 113.0 lb51.2 kg503 Ntightvery even
NYXL1046 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4619.1 lb8.68 kg85 N 114.8 lb52.1 kg511 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4619.1 lb8.68 kg85 N 114.8 lb52.1 kg511 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4619.2 lb8.69 kg85 N 115.0 lb52.2 kg512 Ntightmoderately uneven

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

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

  1. D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 9.6%, average 18.5 lb8.38 kg82 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
  2. D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 10.4%, average 18.8 lb8.54 kg84 N, very even
  3. D'Addario EXL120 9-11-16-24-32-42 deviation 13.1%, average 15.8 lb7.16 kg70 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL0942

More for the NYXL1046

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

E 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.

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