Size Chart for Violin, Viola, and Cello

Size Chart for Violin, Viola, and Cello

This guide for stringed instrument sizing will help you to choose the correct size of violin, viola or cello. Proper sizing requires the measurement of the player's arm, from the neck to the middle of the palm.

Violin Sizes by Arm Length

Violin Size                       Arm Length (in inches)

4/4 (Full Size)                          23

3/4                                         22

1/2                                         20

1/4                                         18 1/2

1/8                                         16 1/2

1/10                                        15

1/16                                        14

Violins come in 8 different sizes: 4/4 (also called Full size), 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16. 4/4 size being the biggest

and 1/16 size being the smallest. All adults, regardless of their size, use the 4/4 violin. There is another uncommon

size, 7/8, usually used by female professional violinist who wants a full-size violin sound but whose hand might be a

little small for the full size violin. So violin makers would make violins just a little smaller than full size to

accommodate these players.

To measure what size violin best suits you, you need to know the length between your neck and the middle of your

left-hand palm (when your hand is fully extended and raised perpendicular to your body, just like holding a violin).

Some teachers prefer students to use the length from the neck to the wrist for measurement instead of the neck to

mid-palm approach. The violin size determined by the neck/wrist approach would be the size that is more comfortable

for students to hold. The violin size determined by the neck/mid-palm approach would be the biggest size students

should use.

If you have a teacher, you should ask for your teacher's recommendation. If you don't have a teacher, we would

recommend using the neck/wrist approach for students not using full size. For students who are deciding whether to

used 3/4 or 4/4 size, use the neck/mid-palm approach. This is because it is always better that students feel

comfortable holding and playing the violin.

The following chart lists the length of each violin size. Find your length using the your preferred approach and use

that to determine the size of violin to get.

Violin Sizes by Age:

Another more general way of determining the size is by age. If the above, arm length information, is available, it is the more accurate way to determine size. Otherwise, you can use the age chart below to make the determination

Violin Size                         Age

4/4 (Full Size)          12 year and older

3/4                                  10-11

1/2                                   8-9

1/4                                   6-7

1/8                                   5-6

1/10                                 4-5

1/16                           3 and below

Cello Sizing Tips:

Seat the child (or yourself) so that the knees are bent at a ninety degree angle. The instrument should rest such that the upper rim of the cello body rests on the sternum (breast bone), and the left knee contacts the curve below the lower bout corner. The C string (the lowest string) peg should be near the left ear, with the neck a few inches away from the shoulder, and the left hand able to reach both ends of the !ngerboard with ease. 

common sizes for violin, viola, and Cello.

this is a rough guide - sizes may vary

measurements in Inches.

                      Size      Body Length     Total Length     Max Width

Cello
European       4/4 Full          30                   48               17.75

                      7/8              28.5                 46.5            17

                       3/4              27.25              45               16

                       1/2              26                   42              15

                       1/4              23                   38.5           13.5

                       1/8              20                   33.5           11.75

                      1/10             17.75              29.5             9.75

                       Size      Body Length     Total Length     Max Width

Cello
Suzuki             4/4 Full          30                   48             17.75

                        3/4               26                   42             15

                         1/2              23                   38.5           13.5

                         1/4              20                    33.5          11.75

                         1/8             17.75               29.5            9.75

                       Size      Body Length     Total Length     Max Width

Viola                16.5          16.5                  27                   9

                       16             16                     26.5                8.75

                       15.5          15.5                   26                  8.5

                       15             15                      25                  8.0

                       14            (4/4 VI)               23                  7.5

                       13            (3/4 VI)               21.75              7

                       12            (1/2 VI)               20.5                6.75

                       Size      Body Length     Total Length     Max Width

Violin                4/4            14                    23.5               7.5

                       7/8             13.5                 22.5               7.25

                       3/4             13                    21.75             7

                       1/2             12.5                 20.5               6.75

                       1/4             11.5                 18.75             6

                       1/8             10.25                17.25            5.5

                       1/10             9.25                16                 5

                       1/16             8.25                14.5              4.45