String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

Elixir · POLYWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) · 11-15-22-32-42-52

Elixir 11025 (11-15-22-32-42-52) in Eb standard on a 25" scale

POLYWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) Custom Light (11-52) on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 125.7 lb57.0 kg559 N in total and 21.0 lb9.50 kg93 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.6%). String 4 (Db3) deviates most: +23% from the set average.

Total tension
125.7 lb57.0 kg559 N
Average per string
21.0 lb9.50 kg93 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.6%

Tension per string

01020lb0510kg050100Nset averagemedium (12-53)1Eb4.01116.9 lb7.65 kg75 N2Bb3.01517.1 lb7.77 kg76 N3Gb3.02221.4 lb9.72 kg95 N4Db3.03225.7 lb11.66 kg114 N5Ab2.04224.0 lb10.88 kg107 N6Eb2.05220.6 lb9.33 kg91 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
1Eb4311.1 .011AR011plain 16.9 lb7.65 kg75 N−19%
2Bb3233.1 .015AR015plain 17.1 lb7.77 kg76 N−18%
3Gb3185.0 .022ABP022wound 21.4 lb9.72 kg95 N+2%
4Db3138.6 .032ABP032wound 25.7 lb11.66 kg114 N+23%
5Ab2103.8 .042ABP042wound 24.0 lb10.88 kg107 N+15%
6Eb277.8 .052ABP052wound 20.6 lb9.33 kg91 N−2%
Total125.7 lb57.0 kg559 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Eb standard, 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
11025 (this page) 11-15-22-32-42-5221.0 lb9.50 kg93 N 125.7 lb57.0 kg559 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11027 11-15-22-32-42-5221.0 lb9.50 kg93 N 125.7 lb57.0 kg559 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EJ26 11-15-22-32-42-5221.2 lb9.62 kg94 N 127.3 lb57.7 kg566 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 16027 11-15-22-32-42-5221.5 lb9.73 kg95 N 128.7 lb58.4 kg573 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario XSABR1253 12-16-24-32-42-5322.4 lb10.17 kg100 N 134.5 lb61.0 kg599 Nloosevery even
Elixir 11050 12-16-24-32-42-5322.6 lb10.27 kg101 N 135.8 lb61.6 kg604 Nloosevery even

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

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

  1. Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 2.6%, average 26.2 lb11.88 kg116 N, very even; same gauges: 11102, 16102
  2. D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 2.8%, average 26.5 lb12.01 kg118 N, very even
  3. Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 8.4%, average 24.8 lb11.26 kg110 N, even; same gauges: 11182

More for the 11025

Other tunings on 25": E standard, Drop D

Eb standard on other scales: 24.75", 25.5"

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