An apparatus and method for the non-contact measurement of tension in a moving web material (11) are provided herein. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a non-contacting tension-sensing element, such as an airfoil (500), disposed transverse to the machine direction of the web material, at least one sensor (400) capable of detecting a reaction of the non-contacting tension-sensing element to changes in the tension of the moving web material and a data processing system capable (500) of determining a web tension analog value that is proportional to the tension of the web material (11).