This paper aims to evaluate quantitatively the springback characteristics that evolve in the sheet metal forming of an S-rail in order to understand the reasons of shape inaccuracy and to find a remedy. The geometrical springback is classified into six modes: angle change of punch and die shoulders, wall curl, ridge curl, section twist, and axial twist. The measuring method for each springback mode is suggested and quantitative measurements were made to determine the tendency towards shape accuracy. Forming experiments were conducted with four types of steel sheets that have different tensile strengths, which were 340MPa, 440MPa, 590MPa and 780MPa, in order to evaluate the effect of the tensile strength and the bead shape on the springback behavior. Springback tendencies show that they are greatly affected by the tensile strength of the sheet and the shape of the tools. Almost all springback modes except the section twist and the axial twist show a linearly increasing trend as the tensile strength of the sheet increases. The results can be used as basic data for design and for compensation of the press die geometry when forming high strength steels which exhibit large amounts of springback.