String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

Elixir · NANOWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) · 10-14-23-30-39-47

Elixir 11002 (10-14-23-30-39-47) in E standard on a 25.5" scale

NANOWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) Extra Light (10-47) on an acoustic guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to E standard (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2), pulls 131.1 lb59.4 kg583 N in total and 21.8 lb9.91 kg97 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 8.5%). String 1 (E4) deviates most: −26% from the set average.

Total tension
131.1 lb59.4 kg583 N
Average per string
21.8 lb9.91 kg97 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 8.5%

Tension per string

0102030lb0510kg050100Nset averagemedium (12-53)1E4.01016.1 lb7.29 kg71 N2B3.01417.9 lb8.12 kg80 N3G3.02327.0 lb12.26 kg120 N4D3.03026.0 lb11.80 kg116 N5A2.03924.0 lb10.89 kg107 N6E2.04720.0 lb9.08 kg89 N
The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 12-53 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (26.8 lb12.14 kg119 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 .010AR010plain 16.1 lb7.29 kg71 N−26%
2B3246.9 .014AR014plain 17.9 lb8.12 kg80 N−18%
3G3196.0 .023ABN023wound 27.0 lb12.26 kg120 N+24%
4D3146.8 .030ABN030wound 26.0 lb11.80 kg116 N+19%
5A2110.0 .039ABN039wound 24.0 lb10.89 kg107 N+10%
6E282.4 .047ABN047wound 20.0 lb9.08 kg89 N−8%
Total131.1 lb59.4 kg583 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in E standard, 25.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
11002 (this page) 10-14-23-30-39-4721.8 lb9.91 kg97 N 131.1 lb59.4 kg583 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11000 10-14-23-30-39-4721.8 lb9.91 kg97 N 131.1 lb59.4 kg583 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 16002 10-14-23-30-39-4722.5 lb10.21 kg100 N 135.1 lb61.3 kg601 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11025 11-15-22-32-42-5224.5 lb11.10 kg109 N 146.8 lb66.6 kg653 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11027 11-15-22-32-42-5224.5 lb11.10 kg109 N 146.8 lb66.6 kg653 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EJ26 11-15-22-32-42-5224.8 lb11.24 kg110 N 148.6 lb67.4 kg661 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in E standard, 25.5"

Ranked by how close every string is to 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N (lower deviation is better).

  1. D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 0.0%, average 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N, very even; same gauges: XSAPB1253, XSABR1253
  2. Elixir 11050 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 2.0%, average 26.4 lb11.99 kg118 N, very even; same gauges: 11052, 16052
  3. Elixir 11182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 8.7%, average 28.1 lb12.74 kg125 N, even; same gauges: 16182

More for the 11002

Other tunings on 25.5": Drop D

E standard on other scales: 25"

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