Most children learn on a nylon-string classical guitar in 1/2 or 3/4 size; full size (4/4) usually fits from about 12 or 13 years. Choose by height and arm length rather than age, and check the scale length (the vibrating length of the string), because sizes aren't standardized: Thomann sells 1/4-size guitars with a 438 mm scale and others with 480 mm.
Guitar size chart for children
| Size | Typical age | Child's height | Scale length (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 4 to 6 | under 3'9" (115 cm) | 440 to 480 mm |
| 1/2 | 6 to 8 | 3'9" to 4'3" (115 to 130 cm) | 520 to 540 mm |
| 3/4 | 8 to 11 | 4'3" to 4'11" (130 to 150 cm) | 570 to 590 mm |
| 7/8 | 11 to 13, small adults | 4'11" to 5'3" (150 to 160 cm) | 610 to 630 mm |
| 4/4 (full size) | 13 and up | over 5'3" (160 cm) | 650 mm |
Sizes are approximate; children of the same age vary a lot. If in doubt, choose the smaller size: a guitar that's too big makes chords painful and is the fastest way to lose a beginner.
How to check the fit
Sitting down, the child should reach the first fret with the left hand while the elbow stays bent, and the right arm should rest comfortably over the body. If they lean forward or stretch to reach, the guitar is too big.
What each size costs
Children's sizes are cheap: the average 1/2 guitar at Thomann costs about $210 and the average 3/4 about $230, against an average of about $1,400 for full-size classical guitars, where professional models pull the number up.
Good guitars for each size
1/4: Ortega R121-1/4 NT, $196
A spruce top and mahogany body with a 438 mm scale and a deluxe gig bag. The highest-ranked 1/4 guitar in our index when we checked: #1 of 8 1/4 size classical guitars.
1/4 on a budget: Startone CG851 1/4, $43
A very cheap first guitar with a 480 mm scale, a longer neck than the Ortega's: check the child's reach. #2 of 8 1/4 size classical guitars.
1/2: Ortega R121-1/2 NT, $201
The same Family series in half size. #1 of 27 1/2 size classical guitars.
3/4: Ortega R121-3/4OC, $223
A 590 mm scale with a spruce top and mahogany body, in an ocean blue gloss finish that kids tend to like. #1 of 44 3/4 size classical guitars.
7/8: Ortega R121-7/8 NT, $235
A 615 mm scale for teenagers and adults with small hands. #1 of 28 7/8 size classical guitars.
Electric: Squier Mini Strat MN SFMG, $201
For a child who wants to play electric: a short-scale Stratocaster made for small hands. #5 of 31 shortscale guitars.
Questions
What size guitar does a 7-year-old need?
Usually a 1/2 size, sometimes a 1/4 for a small child. Check that they reach the first fret with a bent elbow.
What size guitar for a 10-year-old?
Usually a 3/4 size, with a scale around 580 mm.
Should a child start on a classical or acoustic guitar?
Classical. Nylon strings are softer on young fingertips than steel strings, and classical guitars are made in all children's sizes.
How we measured. Size chart: common guidelines used by guitar teachers; scale lengths from Thomann's product data. Prices: average of every classical guitar in each size Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026, 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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