A surface-mounted type clamping force strain meter is mounted via a locating seat to a loaded surface of a load-bearing column of a forming machine, so as to measure any stretch, tension, and surface stress of the load-bearing column. The strain meter includes a sensing element having two signal lines extended therefrom, and the locating seat includes a seat body and a plurality of cushion pads. The seat body is provided at two opposite surfaces with communicable first and second receiving recesses. An amplifier base board is fitted in the first receiving recess, and the cushion pads are fitted in the second receiving recesses. The signal lines of the strain meter are upward extended through the cushion pad and the seat body to connect with the amplifier base board, and the sensing element is partially exposed from a bottom of the locating seat to contact with the forming machine.