String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

Elixir · NANOWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) · 13-17-25-32-42-53

Elixir 11182 (13-17-25-32-42-53) in Eb standard on a 25" scale

NANOWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) HD Light (13-53) on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 144.3 lb65.4 kg642 N in total and 24.0 lb10.91 kg107 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is even (spread 6.6%). String 1 (Eb4) deviates most: −4% from the set average.

Total tension
144.3 lb65.4 kg642 N
Average per string
24.0 lb10.91 kg107 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
even
spread 6.6%

Tension per string

0102030lb0510kg050100Nset averagemedium (12-53)1Eb4.01323.1 lb10.50 kg103 N2Bb3.01722.6 lb10.24 kg100 N3Gb3.02527.4 lb12.44 kg122 N4Db3.03225.7 lb11.66 kg114 N5Ab2.04224.0 lb10.88 kg107 N6Eb2.05321.4 lb9.72 kg95 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 .013AR013plain 23.1 lb10.50 kg103 N−4%
2Bb3233.1 .017AR017plain 22.6 lb10.24 kg100 N−6%
3Gb3185.0 .025ABN025wound 27.4 lb12.44 kg122 N+14%
4Db3138.6 .032ABN032wound 25.7 lb11.66 kg114 N+7%
5Ab2103.8 .042ABN042wound 24.0 lb10.88 kg107 N−0%
6Eb277.8 .053ABN053wound 21.4 lb9.72 kg95 N−11%
Total144.3 lb65.4 kg642 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Eb standard, 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-5322.9 lb10.40 kg102 N 137.6 lb62.4 kg612 Nloosevery even
Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-5323.3 lb10.56 kg104 N 139.6 lb63.3 kg621 Nloosevery even
11182 (this page) 13-17-25-32-42-5324.0 lb10.91 kg107 N 144.3 lb65.4 kg642 Nlooseeven
Elixir 11075 12-16-24-35-45-5624.5 lb11.11 kg109 N 146.9 lb66.6 kg654 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11077 12-16-24-35-45-5624.5 lb11.11 kg109 N 146.9 lb66.6 kg654 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-5324.8 lb11.26 kg110 N 149.0 lb67.6 kg663 Nlooseeven

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 11182

Other tunings on 25": E standard, Drop D, D standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

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