Most adults and teenagers from about 12 need a full-size violin, called 4/4. Children need a smaller one, and the right size depends on arm length, not age. Measure the left arm stretched out to the side, palm up, from the side of the neck to the middle of the palm, and compare the number with the chart below.
Violin size chart
| Arm length | Size | Typical age | Body length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23" (58.5 cm) or more | 4/4 | 12 and up, adults | 14" (356 mm) |
| 22" to 23" | 3/4 | 10 to 12 | 13" (335 mm) |
| 20" to 22" | 1/2 | 7 to 10 | 12.5" (310 mm) |
| 18.5" to 20" | 1/4 | 5 to 7 | 11" (280 mm) |
| 17" to 18.5" | 1/8 | 4 to 5 | 10" (255 mm) |
| 15.5" to 17" | 1/10 | 3 to 4 | 9" (230 mm) |
| 14" to 15.5" | 1/16 | 3 | 8.5" (215 mm) |
Sizes are approximate, and children of the same age can need different ones. If a measurement falls between two sizes, choose the smaller: a violin that's slightly small is easy to play, one that's too big pulls the arm and makes good intonation hard. A teacher's fitting beats any chart.
How to check the fit
With the violin under the chin, the child should be able to wrap the fingers of the left hand comfortably around the scroll, the curled end of the neck, with the elbow slightly bent. If the arm has to stretch straight to reach it, the violin is too big.
What each size costs
Thomann had 155 children's violins and 246 full-size violins in stock in October 2026. Children's sizes cost less, with a median around $400.
| Size | Models | Cheapest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 and smaller | 31 | $145 | $280 |
| 1/4 | 45 | $123 | $393 |
| 1/2 | 37 | $168 | $415 |
| 3/4 and 7/8 | 42 | $168 | $415 |
| 4/4 (full size) | 246 | $145 | $1,461 |
Children outgrow a size every year or two, which is why many families rent the small sizes or buy affordable sets that include a bow and a case.
Good violins for each size
1/8: Stentor SR1400 Violinset 1/8, $179
A beginner set with a spruce top, maple back, bow and case. Stentor's student violins are a classroom standard. #1 of 18 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, 1/32 and 1/64 violins.
1/4: Gewa Allegro Violin Set 1/4 SC MB, $359
Solid European spruce and maple, ebony fingerboard and pegs, with a bow and case. One of the highest-ranked children's violins in our index: #1 of 38 1/4 violins.
1/2: Gewa Ideale Violin Set 1/2 SC MB, $404
Solid European tonewoods with an ebony fingerboard, a step up in sound for a child who practices every day. #1 of 30 1/2 violins.
3/4: Gewa Ideale Violin Set 3/4 OC MB, $415
The same Ideale series in 3/4, the last size before full size. #1 of 36 3/4 and 7/8 violins.
4/4: Stentor SR1401 Harlequin Violin 4/4 DP, $213
A full-size student violin from Stentor, for teenagers and adults starting out. #1 of 217 acoustic violins.
Questions
What size violin does an adult need?
Almost always 4/4. Adults with small hands or short arms sometimes play a 7/8, which Thomann lists together with 3/4.
What size violin for a 10-year-old?
Usually a 1/2 or a 3/4, depending on arm length. Measure: 20 to 22 inches means 1/2, 22 to 23 inches means 3/4.
What size violin for a 6-year-old?
Usually a 1/4, sometimes a 1/8 for a small child. Arm length between 18.5 and 20 inches means 1/4.
Is a viola the same size as a violin?
No. Violas are measured in inches of body length, usually 15 to 17 inches for adults, and are bigger than a full-size violin.
How we measured. Size chart: common arm-length guidelines used by violin teachers; body lengths are standard for each size. Prices: every violin Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026, grouped by Thomann's size categories and converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate. Products show today's price and rank, updated every night.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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