Guitar Fret Calculator
Enter the scale length and number of frets to compute each fret's distance from the nut and the spacing between frets using equal temperament. Great for guitar and bass building or modification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is fret position calculated?
Using the equal-temperament formula: distance of fret n from the nut = scale length × (1 − 2^(−n/12)). The 12th fret sits exactly at half the scale length because an octave halves the string length.
What is scale length?
The vibrating length from the nut to the bridge — the basis for fret math. Fender commonly uses 25.5 inches (~648 mm); Gibson uses 24.75 inches (~628 mm).
Can I use these numbers directly for drilling?
They are a reliable theoretical reference. In practice allow for fret wire width, a compensated saddle, and measurement error — leave a margin and do a test fit before drilling.
Why is the 12th fret exactly half the scale?
In equal temperament an octave doubles frequency, which halves the string length. So the 12th fret is half the scale length from the nut and half from the bridge.