Fret Position Calculator
Calculate exact fret distances from the nut for any scale length, useful for checking a neck or a DIY build.
| Fret | Distance from nut | Spacing from previous fret |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.43" | 1.43" |
| 2 | 2.78" | 1.35" |
| 3 | 4.06" | 1.28" |
| 4 | 5.26" | 1.2" |
| 5 | 6.4" | 1.14" |
| 6 | 7.47" | 1.07" |
| 7 | 8.48" | 1.01" |
| 8 | 9.44" | 0.96" |
| 9 | 10.34" | 0.9" |
| 10 | 11.19" | 0.85" |
| 11 | 11.99" | 0.8" |
| 12 | 12.75" | 0.76" |
| 13 | 13.47" | 0.72" |
| 14 | 14.14" | 0.68" |
| 15 | 14.78" | 0.64" |
| 16 | 15.38" | 0.6" |
| 17 | 15.95" | 0.57" |
| 18 | 16.48" | 0.54" |
| 19 | 16.99" | 0.51" |
| 20 | 17.47" | 0.48" |
| 21 | 17.92" | 0.45" |
| 22 | 18.34" | 0.43" |
The 12th fret should land at exactly half your scale length. If it doesn't on a real instrument, something is off with the neck or the measurement.
How it works
Fret spacing follows the rule of the 12th root of 2. Each fret sits at a point that divides the remaining string length by that constant, which is why frets bunch up tight near the body and spread out wide near the nut. The distance from the nut to any fret is the scale length minus the scale length divided by 2 raised to the power of the fret number over 12.
Worked example: on a standard 25.5 inch Fender-style scale, fret 1 sits 1.43 inches from the nut, and fret 5 sits 6.4 inches from the nut. Fret 12, the octave, always lands at exactly half the scale length: 12.75 inches on a 25.5 inch scale. That's a genuinely useful sanity check on a real instrument, not just a formula. Measure from the nut to the 12th fret and it should read almost exactly half the string's vibrating length. If it's noticeably off, the neck geometry or your measurement point is the problem.
FAQ
Why would a beginner need this?
Most players never need it. It's here for the smaller group building a cigar-box guitar, checking whether a cheap instrument's frets were placed correctly, or just curious why the frets look so different in spacing as they climb the neck.
Does scale length change how a guitar feels to play?
Yes. A shorter scale, like Gibson's 24.75 inches, puts less tension on the strings at the same tuning and pitch, and the frets sit slightly closer together, so chords can feel easier to fret. A longer scale, like Fender's 25.5 inches, adds tension and a bit more finger stretch but tends to sound brighter and more defined.
What if my guitar's scale length isn't listed?
Use the custom option and enter the exact number. Scale length is measured from the nut to the center of the 12th fret, then doubled, or from the nut straight to the bridge saddle on a guitar with a fixed, non-compensated saddle. Most spec sheets list it directly.
Why does spacing shrink as the fret number goes up?
Each fret removes the same proportion of whatever string length is left, not the same fixed distance. Early frets are cutting a proportion of a long remaining length, so the gaps are wide. By the time you're past fret 12, that same proportion is being applied to a much shorter remaining length, so the gaps shrink accordingly.
If you're trying to figure out whether your own guitar's setup is the issue rather than the fretwork, what guitar action is and how to tell if yours is too high is the next thing to check, alongside the parts of the guitar explained if any of the terms here are unfamiliar.