Abstract: Indentation strain-gage method is one of basically non-destructive stress determination methods. It has some advantages, like quickness, convenience, accuracy and so on. One of the factors influencing the accuracy of stress measurement is determination of stress calculation function (the relationship between strain increment Δε and the elastic strain ε). Based on existing research, the relationship between stress calculation function and mechanical properties for 12 kinds of low-alloy steels was discussed in this paper. The numerical simulation method combined with experimental calibration results was adopted. The study shows that stress calculation function for a certain steel could be extracted if its mechanical properties and Δε₀ were obtained. By this way, the complex experimental calibration tests or numerical simulation works could be eliminated.