Choose a cello size by the player's height. Most players from about 5 feet (150 cm) tall, including teens and adults, play a full-size 4/4 cello. Younger children start on smaller cellos and move up every year or two. The final check is done sitting: with the endpin adjusted, the neck should rest near the chest without hitting it, the left hand should reach first position comfortably, and the knees should hold the lower bouts.
Cello size chart
| Player height | Size | Typical age | Body length (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'0" (150 cm) and up | 4/4 | 14 and up, adults | 30" (75 cm) |
| 4'6" to 5'0" (137 to 150 cm) | 3/4 | 11 to 14 | 27" (69 cm) |
| 4'0" to 4'6" (122 to 137 cm) | 1/2 | 8 to 11 | 25.5" (65 cm) |
| 3'6" to 4'0" (107 to 122 cm) | 1/4 | 6 to 8 | 23" (58 cm) |
| Under 3'6" (107 cm) | 1/8 or 1/10 | 4 to 6 | 20" (51 cm) or less |
This is a rough guide; arm and leg length vary, so ask a teacher before buying. Small adults sometimes play a 7/8. Our violin size guide works the same way.
What each size costs
| Size | Models at Thomann | Cheapest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4, 1/8, 1/10 and 1/16 | 35 | $483 | $1,123 |
| 1/2 | 22 | $494 | $1,180 |
| 3/4 | 28 | $618 | $1,348 |
| 4/4 (and 7/8) | 123 | $472 | $3,252 |
Prices are Thomann's on October 19, 2026. Children's cellos cost about the same in every size, and many families rent while a child is still growing.
Good cellos in each size
Gewa Allegro VC1 Cello Set 1/2, $1,082
A solid spruce and maple 1/2 cello with an ebony fingerboard, sold as a set. One of the highest-ranked children's cellos we track: #1 of 13 1/2 cellos.
Gewa Allegro VC1 Cello Set 1/4, $1,082
The same solid-wood student cello in 1/4 size. #1 of 17 1/4, 1/8, 1/10 and 1/16 cellos.
Gewa Allegro VC1 Cello 3/4, $948
The 3/4 version, with Larsen Aurora strings and a Wittner tailpiece with fine tuners. #1 of 19 3/4 cellos.
Gewa Ideale VC2 Cello 4/4, $1,217
A full-size student cello with a 76 cm body. #3 of 94 acoustic cellos.
Questions
What size cello does an adult need?
A 4/4 (full size). Very small adults sometimes prefer a 7/8.
What size cello for a 10-year-old?
Usually a 1/2, or a 3/4 for a tall child. Height and a sitting check decide.
How we measured. Counts and prices: every cello Thomann listed as in stock on October 19, 2026, by Thomann's size categories, converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate. The size chart is a common teaching guideline; full-size body lengths match Thomann's product data (74 to 76 cm). 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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