Violin Size Recommendation

 

Violin comes in 8 different sizes: 4/4 (also called full size), 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, 1/32. 4/4 size being the biggest and 1/32 size being the smallest. All adults, regardless of their size, use the 4/4 violin.

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.


Violin SizeViolin Length    Arm Length   Recommended Age
4/4 (Full Size)        23 inch 23.5" and up        12 and older
3/422 inch   22" - 23.5"       10-11
1/2           20 inch  20" - 22"            8-9
1/4                   18 ½ inch        17.6" - 20"          6-7
1/8                    16 ½ inch       17.1" - 17.5"                5-6
1/10                  15 inch  15 3/8" - 17"                4-5
1/16                  14 inch  14" - 15 3/8"                2-3
1/32        13 inch            Less than 14"Under 2
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