String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · XS Nickel (coated) · 10-13-17-26-36-46

D'Addario XSE1046 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in Eb standard on a 24.75" scale

10-46 Regular Light, XS Nickel Coated Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 24.75" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 85.9 lb39.0 kg382 N in total and 14.3 lb6.50 kg64 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.2%). String 5 (Ab2) deviates most: +11% from the set average.

Total tension
85.9 lb39.0 kg382 N
Average per string
14.3 lb6.50 kg64 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.2%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1Eb4.01013.6 lb6.17 kg61 N2Bb3.01312.9 lb5.87 kg58 N3Gb3.01713.9 lb6.32 kg62 N4Db3.02615.4 lb6.97 kg68 N5Ab2.03616.0 lb7.24 kg71 N6Eb2.04614.1 lb6.40 kg63 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 .010XSPL010plain 13.6 lb6.17 kg61 N−5%
2Bb3233.1 .013XSPL013plain 12.9 lb5.87 kg58 N−10%
3Gb3185.0 .017XSPL017plain 13.9 lb6.32 kg62 N−3%
4Db3138.6 .026XSNW026wound 15.4 lb6.97 kg68 N+7%
5Ab2103.8 .036XSNW036wound 16.0 lb7.24 kg71 N+11%
6Eb277.8 .046XSNW046wound 14.1 lb6.40 kg63 N−1%
Total85.9 lb39.0 kg382 N

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Similar sets in Eb standard, 24.75"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-4613.8 lb6.27 kg62 N 83.0 lb37.6 kg369 Nlooseeven
D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-4614.1 lb6.39 kg63 N 84.6 lb38.4 kg376 Nloosevery even
XSE1046 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4614.3 lb6.50 kg64 N 85.9 lb39.0 kg382 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-4614.3 lb6.50 kg64 N 85.9 lb39.0 kg382 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4614.3 lb6.51 kg64 N 86.1 lb39.1 kg383 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-4916.4 lb7.42 kg73 N 98.1 lb44.5 kg436 Nmediumeven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard, 24.75"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 2.6%, average 17.0 lb7.73 kg76 N, very even
  2. D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 7.2%, average 16.4 lb7.44 kg73 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1149
  3. D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48 deviation 9.0%, average 17.1 lb7.75 kg76 N, moderately uneven

More for the XSE1046

Other tunings on 24.75": E standard, Drop D, D standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Eb standard on other scales: 25", 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.

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