Instrument Size Lab

Use your height: under 3'10" (117 cm) → 1/4 size, 3'10"–4'5" (117–137 cm) → 1/2, 4'6"–4'11" (137–152 cm) → 3/4, and 5'0" (152 cm) or taller → full-size 4/4. Age is a rough guide (1/4 for ages 3–5, 1/2 for 5–8, 3/4 for 8–11, 4/4 for 12+), but height is the more reliable measurement — enter it in the guitar finder above for a precise recommendation.

Most 10-year-olds fit a 3/4 size guitar, which suits ages 8–11 and heights of about 4'6"–4'11" (137–150 cm). A tall 10-year-old may already be comfortable on a full-size 4/4. Classical (nylon-string) 3/4 guitars are gentler on young fingers, making them a popular first guitar for this age.

Yes — many adults play 3/4 guitars for travel, couch practice, or a softer, quieter voice. The shorter 23" (59 cm) scale length also suits players with small hands. The trade-off is less volume and bass compared to a full-size 4/4, so for your main guitar most adults still choose 4/4.

Extend the left arm straight out to the side at shoulder height, palm up. Measure from the base of the neck (where the neck meets the shoulder) to the middle of the palm. Compare that arm length to the violin size chart: under 15" (38 cm) → 1/16, 15–16" → 1/10, 16–18" → 1/8, 18–20" → 1/4, 20–22" → 1/2, 22–23.5" → 3/4, 23.5"+ → full-size 4/4.

As a rough guide: ages 2–4 → 1/16, 4–5 → 1/10, 4–6 → 1/8, 5–7 → 1/4, 6–10 → 1/2, 9–12 → 3/4, 11–12+ → 4/4. But arm length beats age every time — measure neck-to-palm and use the violin finder above. Children grow fast, so most parents rent fractional violins rather than buying them.

Yes — bows are matched to violin size so the balance point sits correctly in the hand. A 4/4 violin uses a 74.5 cm bow, 3/4 uses 70.5 cm, 1/2 uses 66 cm, 1/4 uses 61.5 cm, 1/8 uses 58 cm, 1/10 uses 56 cm, and 1/16 uses 54.5 cm. A full-size bow on a 1/2 violin will feel tip-heavy and exhaust a young arm.

Violas are sized in inches of body length from 12" to 16.5", chosen by the same neck-to-palm arm measurement as violins: under 20" (51 cm) → 12", 20–21.5" → 13", 21.5–23" → 14", 23–24.5" → 15", 24.5–25.5" → 15.5", 25.5–27" → 16", 27"+ → 16.5". Most adults play 15"–16.5". Bigger sounds richer but is harder to hold — comfort should win over tone.

Use your height: 4'0"–4'4" (122–132 cm) → 1/8, 4'4"–4'8" (132–142 cm) → 1/4, 4'8"–5'0" (142–152 cm) → 1/2, 5'0"–5'4" (152–163 cm) → 3/4, 5'4" (163 cm) and up → full-size 4/4. Seated with the endpin adjusted, the scroll should sit around ear-to-nose level and the left hand should reach first position without strain.

They differ in size, voice, and tuning. Soprano (21") is the smallest and brightest — the classic ukulele sound. Concert (23") is slightly bigger and fuller, the safest all-rounder. Tenor (26") is warm and resonant, favored for fingerstyle. Baritone (30") is the largest and deepest, and the only one with different tuning: D–G–B–E like a guitar's top four strings, while the other three all use standard G–C–E–A.

A concert ukulele is the best default for beginners: roomier fret spacing than a soprano makes chords easier, while it keeps the classic bright ukulele voice. Choose soprano if you want maximum portability or the most traditional sound, tenor if you have large hands or want to play fingerstyle, and baritone only if you're coming from guitar and want familiar tuning.

The best ukulele for a child is the soprano — small, light, and easy to hold. For older kids (around 10+) with bigger hands, a concert works well and is less likely to be outgrown. Nylon strings on all ukulele sizes are gentle on young fingers, so no special "kids" string type is needed.

Buy the size that fits now. An oversized instrument forces bad posture, strains small hands, and is the most common reason beginners quit. Fractional violins, violas, and cellos are cheap to rent and easy to exchange as a child grows — that rental cycle exists precisely because "growing into it" doesn't work. The exception is borderline cases on cello, where the endpin buys a little growing room.

The standard charts (height for guitar and cello, arm length for violin and viola) are accurate for the large majority of players — they're what music shops use as a starting point. Body proportions vary, so treat any result as a strong starting recommendation, then confirm with a 5-minute hands-on test in a shop if you can. When a measurement lands exactly on a boundary, this tool assigns the larger of the two sizes — so test the fit in person if you are right on the line.

Yes, as a secondary factor. Players with small hands often prefer shorter scale lengths — a 3/4 guitar or a concert/tenor ukulele over a soprano — because frets are closer together and stretches are easier. Hand size rarely changes the size category (height and arm length decide that), but it can nudge you toward the smaller end when you're between sizes.

They're fractional sizes relative to a full-size (4/4) instrument — a 3/4 violin is roughly three-quarters the size of a full violin, a 1/2 cello about half the size of a full cello. The fractions are traditional names rather than exact math: a 1/2 violin is not literally half the length of a 4/4. Violas are the exception and are measured directly in inches of body length (12"–16.5") instead of fractions.

Yes. Every calculation on this page runs entirely in your browser — your height, arm length, and age are never sent anywhere. There is no account, no tracking of your inputs, and no server involved.