Most adults should get a concert ukulele: it has the classic bright uke sound, but frets are a little wider apart than on a soprano, so chords are easier for adult fingers. Kids and travelers often prefer the small soprano. Players with big hands or who want a fuller sound pick tenor. Baritone is the largest and is tuned like the top four strings of a guitar.
Ukulele sizes compared
| Size | Scale length | Tuning | Sound | Models at Thomann | Median price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soprano | about 13 in (330 to 350 mm) | GCEA | Bright, classic | 135 | $55 |
| Concert | about 15 in (380 mm) | GCEA | A bit fuller | 157 | $109 |
| Tenor | about 17 in (430 mm) | GCEA | Fullest of the GCEA sizes | 128 | $235 |
| Baritone | about 19 to 20 in (480 to 510 mm) | DGBE, like a guitar | Deep, guitar-like | 46 | $359 |
Scale length is the vibrating length of the string; makers vary a little. Prices are Thomann's for the 515 ukuleles in stock on October 18, 2026 (31 bass ukuleles and 18 unusual designs aren't in the table).
Which ukulele size is right for you?
- Children under about 10, travel, the cheapest start: soprano.
- Most adult beginners: concert.
- Big hands, fingerpicking, a fuller sound: tenor.
- Guitarists, or anyone who wants a deeper sound: baritone.
A good ukulele in each size
Soprano: Fender Venice, $66
A soprano with a 345 mm (13.6-inch) scale and a basswood body: light and cheerful. #4 of 96 soprano ukuleles.
Concert: Fender Zuma, $138
An all-mahogany concert uke with a 381 mm (15-inch) scale. #4 of 134 concert ukuleles.
Concert with pickup: Kala KA-TK-C-CE, $144
A teak concert ukulele with a pickup for playing through an amp; its 406 mm (16-inch) scale is on the long side for a concert. #1 of 134 concert ukuleles.
Tenor: Kala Satin Mahogany, $83
A mahogany tenor with a 431 mm (17-inch) scale, one of the highest-ranked tenor ukes we track: #2 of 118 tenor ukuleles.
Baritone: Kala Makala MK-B, $132
A baritone with a 510 mm scale, tuned DGBE like a guitar's top four strings. #1 of 42 baritone ukuleles.
Questions
Is soprano or concert better for beginners?
For adults, concert: same tuning and sound, more room for the fingers. For young children, soprano.
Can I use guitar chord shapes on a ukulele?
On a baritone, yes, exactly. On soprano, concert and tenor the shapes are the same as a guitar's top four strings, but the chord names change (a G shape plays C).
How we measured. Counts and medians: every ukulele Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026, by Thomann's size categories, converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate. Scale lengths of the picks are from Thomann's product data. 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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