A high sensitivity inductive sensor for measuring clearance of a rotating blade tip includes a one or more of sensing coils. The sensing coils are formed of magnet wire, which is wound to form planar spiral coils. Each of the coils are coupled in series with a function generator, which applies an excitation signal thereto. Accordingly, based on the change in impedance of the coils, a clearance measurement, which identifies the distance between the coil and the tip of the rotating blade can be obtained using predetermined calibration curve values.