Relief
Nut
Action
Intonation
Setup
Pocket Roady Tool Stack Deluxe
Power
Guitar Action Calculator

Is your action where it should be?

Diagram showing how to measure guitar action at the 12th fret

Enter your 12th fret measurements and get a clear result based on your instrument and playing style. Takes about two minutes.

You will need a ruler or action gauge.

Relief → Nut → Action →

The calculator does not store or transmit anything. All processing stays on your device.

Step 1 of 4

What kind of guitar is it?

Choose the guitar family so we can set a practical target range.

Electric guitar
Electric
Solid body, semi-hollow, hollow
Acoustic guitar
Acoustic
Steel-string, resonator
Classical guitar
Classical
Nylon string, flamenco
Step 2 of 4

How do you play?

Pick the playing style that best matches how you actually use the guitar.

Light / Precision
Fingerpicking, light strumming, studio work, jazz. You prefer easy playability over volume.
Balanced / Standard
A mix of everything. Comfortable for most players and most situations.
Heavy / Aggressive
Hard strumming, slide, open tunings, or you just hit the strings hard.
Step 3 of 4

Choose your units

Measure at the 12th fret — from the top of the fret wire to the bottom of the string.

How to measure:
Place your ruler or action gauge directly on top of the 12th fret wire. Measure from the top of the fret wire to the bottom of the string — not from the fretboard wood.
Step 4 of 4 — Bass Side

Low E action at the 12th fret

Enter the bass-side reading first. Low E usually runs a little higher than the treble side.

Low E String
in
Please enter a valid number.
Step 4 of 4 — Treble Side

High E action at the 12th fret

Enter the treble-side reading next.

High E String
in
Please enter a valid number.
Your Result

Action Check

Low E
High E
Next Step

What to do now

Recommendation

Remember the Setup Order

Action is the third step in the setup chain. Once the action feels right, intonation is the final step — and it should always come last. If you change action significantly, recheck intonation before calling it done.

Read the Full Action Guide →
Good to Know

Guitar action questions, answered

What is guitar action, and why does it matter?
Action is the height of your strings above the frets, usually measured at the 12th fret. It’s one of the biggest factors in how a guitar feels: lower action makes fretting and fast playing easier, while higher action gives the strings more room to ring out cleanly without buzzing. Dialling it in to your hands and style is a big part of what makes a guitar feel like yours.
What's a good action height?
There’s no single right number, but here are common starting points, measured at the 12th fret. For electric, many players land around 1.5 mm (roughly 1/16 inch) on the treble side and 2 mm (roughly 5/64 inch) on the bass side. Acoustics usually sit a little higher for clean projection. Lighter, faster players often go lower; heavy strummers go higher. The tool above checks your measurements against a sensible range for your guitar and style.
How do I measure my action?
Fret nothing, and measure the gap from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the string. A small machinist’s ruler (one that starts right at the edge) or a set of feeler gauges works well. Check both the low E and the high E, since they’re usually set a little differently — and those two numbers are exactly what the tool above asks for.
How do I lower or raise my action?
On most electrics you adjust the bridge saddles — raising or lowering them changes string height directly. But action isn’t only the bridge: your neck relief and nut height both feed into how high the strings feel, so it’s worth checking relief first. On acoustics, action is set at the saddle and nut, which is more involved — go slowly, or hand it to a tech if you’re unsure.
Is lower action always better?
Not quite. Lower action is easier to play, but go too low and the strings start to buzz against the frets. The sweet spot depends on your frets, your neck relief, and how hard you pick. The goal isn’t the lowest possible number — it’s the lowest that still plays clean for your hands, which is usually a touch higher than people expect.
Why does my guitar buzz after I lower the action?
Buzz after dropping the action usually means it’s now too low for the rest of the setup. The common causes are not quite enough neck relief, frets that aren’t perfectly level, or simply a heavier pick attack than the height allows. Nudging the action back up a touch often clears it; if it doesn’t, relief or fret level is the next place to look.