Pickup Height Calculator: Free Tool for Every Guitar (2026)
Free pickup height calculator for Strat, Tele, Jaguar, Jazzmaster, P-Bass and PRS. Get your ideal pickup-to-string gap in mm or 64ths, then a raise/lower recommendation from your current measurement.
Getting the pickup height right is the cheapest tone upgrade a guitar owner can make — and it's usually the most overlooked. Too close to the strings and the pickups wander into magnetic-pull territory: harsh highs, choking bass strings, weak sustain. Too far away and the tone turns thin and weak, the output drops, and the pickup loses the warmth it's capable of.
This free pickup height calculator gives you the exact target gap for your brand and model — in millimeters and 64ths of an inch — plus a concrete raise/lower recommendation based on the gap you measure today. No email, no signup, no cost.
Quick Answer: The ideal pickup-to-string gap (string fretted at the last fret) varies by model. A Fender Stratocaster target is 7/64" (2.8mm) bass / 6/64" (2.4mm) treble on the neck, stepping down to 5/64" (2.0mm) / 4/64" (1.6mm) on the bridge. PRS humbuckers run 2.8mm bass / 2.0mm treble. Use the calculator below for your exact model.
Pickup Height Calculator
Why Pickup Height Matters
Pickup height controls the balance between output, clarity, and sustain. The closer a pickup sits to the strings, the stronger its magnetic field interacts with the string — louder, but with more string-pull that can deaden notes. The further away it sits, the cleaner and weaker the signal.
Every guitar balances this differently:
- Single-coils (Strat, Tele, Jaguar): lower saturation, so height is the main tone control.
- Humbuckers (PRS Core/S2/SE, Les Paul): higher output already, so many players set them a touch lower.
- Fender offsets (Jazzmaster, Jaguar): wide, flat pickups sit lower than a Strat's to keep the low end tight.
- Split-coil (P-Bass): the bass side (E-A) sits further to keep the low end focused.
How to Measure Pickup Height
- Fret the string at the last fret (the highest one).
- Measure the gap from the top of the pickup pole piece to the bottom of the string.
- Record two values: the bass side (low E string) and the treble side (high E string).
- Adjust the pickup-height screws in quarter-turn increments, then re-measure.
A tuner or a ruler works for this. The key is measuring with the string fretted at the last fret, not open — that's the factory convention almost every brand uses.
Pickup height is one step in a full setup. The setup guides walk relief, action, pickup height, and intonation with exact factory specs on one printable card.
Fender Setup Cheat Sheet: Exact Specs That Work
Pickup Height Specs by Model
| Model | Position | Bass side | Treble side |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fender Stratocaster | Neck | 2.8mm (7/64") | 2.4mm (6/64") |
| Fender Stratocaster | Middle | 2.4mm (6/64") | 2.0mm (5/64") |
| Fender Stratocaster | Bridge | 2.0mm (5/64") | 1.6mm (4/64") |
| Fender Telecaster | Neck + Bridge | 2.4mm (6/64") | 2.0mm (5/64") |
| Fender Jazzmaster | Neck + Bridge | 3.2mm (8/64") | 2.4mm (6/64") |
| Fender Jaguar | Bridge | 2.0mm (5/64") | 1.6mm (4/64") |
| Fender Jaguar | Neck | 2.4mm (6/64") | 2.0mm (5/64") |
| Fender P-Bass (split-coil) | — | 3.2mm (8/64") | 2.4mm (6/64") |
| PRS humbuckers (Custom 24/McCarty/CE/S2/SE) | Neck + Bridge | 2.8mm (7/64") | 2.0mm (5/64") |
| PRS Silver Sky (single-coil) | Neck | 3.2mm (8/64") | 2.0mm (5/64") |
| PRS Silver Sky | Middle | 3.2mm (8/64") | 2.8mm (7/64") |
| PRS Silver Sky | Bridge | 3.2mm (8/64") | 1.6mm (4/64") |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I measure pickup height?
Fret the string at the last fret, then measure from the top of the pickup pole piece to the bottom of the string. Record both the bass side (low E) and treble side (high E).
What is standard Stratocaster pickup height?
Fender factory Stratocaster pickup height is bass 7/64" (2.8mm) / treble 6/64" (2.4mm) on the neck, 6/64" (2.4mm) / 5/64" (2.0mm) on the middle, and 5/64" (2.0mm) / 4/64" (1.6mm) on the bridge, measured with the string fretted at the last fret.
What pickup height should a PRS be?
PRS humbuckers (85/15, 58/15, McCarty III) run 2.8mm on the bass side and 2.0mm on the treble side, measured with the strings fretted at the last fret. Do not adjust the individual pole screws — they're preset at the factory.
Are pickups closer or further from the strings better?
Neither is universally better. Closer = louder but more magnetic string-pull that can deaden sustain. Further = cleaner but weaker output. The factory targets in the calculator balance the two for the strongest output without choking the strings.
How much does pickup height affect tone?
A lot — arguably as much as string choice. The gap determines output, clarity, and how hard the strings can be driven before they choke. Even 0.5mm makes a clearly audible difference, which is why the guides recommend quarter-turn adjustments.
Should humbuckers be lower than single-coils?
Often yes. Humbuckers already have high output, so many players set them a touch lower than single-coils for a cleaner, more balanced signal. The calculator shows each model's factory baseline so you can start from a sensible spot.
Conclusion
A well-set pickup height is the fastest, cheapest way to improve your guitar's tone and response. Use the calculator to find your model's target, measure what you have, and make small quarter-turn adjustments until the strings ring clear.
Once your pickups are dialed in, finish the job with the rest of the setup — relief, action, and intonation. Our Fender Setup Guide, Guitar Action Height Calculator, and the Factory Setup Specs Lookup cover the full picture.
