The Best Non-Toxic Guitar Strings of 2026
We scored 15 guitar strings for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. The top pick is D'Addario D'Addario Electric Guitar Strings Nickel at 85/100. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
53% of the 15 guitar strings we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free guitar strings we have scored
- 1
D'Addario
Electric Guitar Strings Nickel
Nickel-plated steel core with nickel-brass wound exterior
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade71Good⚠️70Nickel skin contact sensitivity
Limited concern
⏳45Coating degradation and core exposure
Moderate concern
Lower PFAS concern; traditional guitar strings use established metallic coatings, not Teflon-family coating.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
- 2
D'Addario
Acoustic Bronze Guitar Strings
Phosphor bronze wound over steel hex core
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade77Excellent🏭70Manufacturing residue or contaminants (oils, lubricants, solder flux)
Limited concern
⚠️70Nickel exposure from steel core (for nickel-sensitive individuals)
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern; standard string material composition poses minimal exposure risk.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
- 3
D'Addario
Acoustic Guitar Strings XS 80/20 Bronze Coated
80/20 Bronze (copper-tin alloy) with phosphor-bronze coating
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade77Excellent⏳70Coating degradation and particulate release
Limited concern
⚠️70Allergic contact dermatitis (copper sensitivity)
Limited concern
Lower concern; acoustic guitar strings composed of well-established metals with no known PFAS use.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
- 4
Ernie Ball
Everlast Acoustic Guitar Strings
Steel wound on steel core, nylon/polymer windings
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade77Excellent🫧70Degradation or microparticle shedding of coating
Limited concern
⚠️70Nickel sensitivity from metal contact
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern; standard acoustic strings with no known fluorochemical treatments.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
- 5
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky Electric Guitar Strings
nickel-plated steel wound core with bronze/phosphor bronze wrap
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade81Excellent⚠️70Nickel skin contact and sensitization
Limited concern
Low concern; metal guitar strings show no known fluorochemical treatment.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
- 6
Ernie Ball
Super Slinky Electric Guitar Strings
Steel core with nickel-plated wound strings
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade81Excellent⚠️70Nickel skin contact / allergy
Limited concern
Low concern; traditional metal guitar strings carry no known PFAS risk profile.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
- 7
Ernie Ball
Beefy Slinky Electric Guitar Strings
Nickel-plated steel wound around hexagonal steel core
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade77Excellent⚠️70Nickel contact dermatitis
Limited concern
⚠️70Hexagonal core fracture and sharp edges
Limited concern
Low concern; traditional guitar string materials show no fluorochemical treatment association.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Every guitar strings that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. Higher is safer.
| # | Guitar Strings | Score | Rating | Made of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D'Addario D'Addario Electric Guitar Strings Nickel | 85 | Excellent | Nickel-plated steel core with nickel-brass wound exterior |
| 2 | D'Addario D'Addario Acoustic Bronze Guitar Strings | 85 | Excellent | Phosphor bronze wound over steel hex core |
| 3 | D'Addario D'Addario Acoustic Guitar Strings XS 80/20 Bronze Coated | 85 | Excellent | 80/20 Bronze (copper-tin alloy) with phosphor-bronze coating |
| 4 | Ernie Ball Ernie Ball Everlast Acoustic Guitar Strings | 85 | Excellent | Steel wound on steel core, nylon/polymer windings |
| 5 | Ernie Ball Ernie Ball Power Slinky Electric Guitar Strings | 85 | Excellent | nickel-plated steel wound core with bronze/phosphor bronze wrap |
| 6 | Ernie Ball Ernie Ball Super Slinky Electric Guitar Strings | 85 | Excellent | Steel core with nickel-plated wound strings |
| 7 | Ernie Ball Ernie Ball Beefy Slinky Electric Guitar Strings | 85 | Excellent | Nickel-plated steel wound around hexagonal steel core |
The guitar strings we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
Elixir
Nanoweb Acoustic Guitar Strings
Polymer-coated steel strings with proprietary nanoweb coating
Polymer coating composition (unknown)
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from degraded coating
Limited concern
Avoid until coating composition is disclosed; Elixir's proprietary nanoweb raises PFAS questions.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Elixir
80/20 Acoustic Guitar Strings
Steel wound with bronze or nickel-silver wrap; proprietary polymer coating
Undisclosed polymer coating composition
Limited concern
Nickel in wrap alloy
Moderate concern
Polymer coating degradation
Limited concern
Elixir's coating formula is undisclosed; possible PFAS use, but no public evidence confirms it.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Elixir
Phosphor Acoustic Guitar Strings
Phosphor bronze wound steel strings with proprietary Elixir coating
Proprietary polymer coating composition unknown
Limited concern
Coating degradation and particulate ingestion
Limited concern
Avoid until brand discloses coating chemistry; Elixir's proprietary finish lacks transparency.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
What we check on guitar strings
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The guitar strings brands that will not say
4 of the brands here publish nothing about PFAS at all. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is why none of them score well on disclosure.
D'Addario, Elixir, Ernie Ball, GHS.
Common questions about PFAS-free guitar strings
Is guitar strings PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 15 guitar strings we have scored, 53% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 7 that pass. The highest scoring is D'Addario D'Addario Electric Guitar Strings Nickel at 85 out of 100. The lowest is Elixir Elixir Nanoweb Acoustic Guitar Strings at 40.
What is the safest guitar strings you have scored?
D'Addario D'Addario Electric Guitar Strings Nickel, at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is nickel-plated steel core with nickel-brass wound exterior. The runner up is D'Addario D'Addario Acoustic Bronze Guitar Strings at 85.
Which guitar strings should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Elixir Elixir Nanoweb Acoustic Guitar Strings at 40, Elixir Elixir 80/20 Acoustic Guitar Strings at 40, Elixir Elixir Phosphor Acoustic Guitar Strings at 50. The problem with the first is that avoid until coating composition is disclosed; Elixir's proprietary nanoweb raises PFAS questions.
Which guitar strings brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
4 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including D'Addario, Elixir, Ernie Ball, GHS. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test guitar strings?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
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Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 15 guitar strings.