Violin Sizes Chart: Every Size from 1/16 to 4/4, by Age and Arm Length
For parents, students and teachers choosing or checking a violin size. The chart gives body length, overall length and bow length for every fraction, the arm measurement that decides the size, and how to tell what size an instrument already is.
Violins come in eight common sizes: 1/16, 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 7/8 and full-size 4/4. A 4/4 violin has a body length of about 14 in (356 mm) and an overall length of about 23.5 in (59–60 cm); a 3/4 has a 13 in (33 cm) body and a 1/2 has a 12.2 in (31 cm) body. Size is chosen by arm length: an arm of 23 in (58.5 cm) or more, measured to the middle of the palm, takes a 4/4.
- 4/4 body length
- 14 in (356 mm)
- 4/4 overall length
- ≈ 23.5 in (59–60 cm)
- Arm for a 4/4
- 23 in+ (58.5 cm+)
- Sizes in use
- 1/16 to 4/4
On this page
Browse by size
Violin size chart
The body length (the length of the back, not counting the neck or scroll) defines a violin's size. Overall length and bow length scale with it. Makers vary by a few millimeters, and the smallest sizes vary the most, so treat the figures for 1/10 and 1/16 as approximate.
| Size | Body length | Overall length | Bow length | Typical age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/4 (full) | 14 in (356 mm) | 23.5 in (59–60 cm) | 29.5 in (75 cm) | 12+ and adults |
| 7/8 | 13.5 in (343 mm) | 22.5 in (57 cm) | 28.7 in (73 cm) | 11–12, small adults |
| 3/4 | 13 in (330–335 mm) | 22 in (56 cm) | 27.5 in (70 cm) | 10–11 |
| 1/2 | 12.2 in (310 mm) | 20.5 in (52 cm) | 25.2 in (64 cm) | 8–9 |
| 1/4 | 11 in (280 mm) | 18.7 in (47.5 cm) | 22.4 in (57 cm) | 6–7 |
| 1/8 | 10 in (255 mm) | 17 in (43 cm) | 20.5 in (52 cm) | 5–6 |
| 1/10 | 9.5 in (240 mm) | 16 in (41 cm) | 19.3 in (49 cm) | 4–5 |
| 1/16 | 9 in (230 mm) | 14.5 in (37 cm) | 18.5 in (47 cm) | 3–4 |
The fractions are labels, not ratios. A 1/2 violin is about 87% as long as a full-size one, and even a 1/16 is more than 60% of the length of a 4/4. The labels came from the trade, and they only tell you the order of the sizes.
Violin size by arm length
Age is a rough guide. Arm length decides the size, because the left hand has to reach the scroll and the fingers have to reach the notes without strain.
| Arm length | Arm length (cm) | Violin size |
|---|---|---|
| 23 in or more | 58.5 cm or more | 4/4 |
| About 23 in | About 58.5 cm | 7/8 (optional step between 3/4 and 4/4) |
| 22–23 in | 56–58.5 cm | 3/4 |
| 20–22 in | 51–56 cm | 1/2 |
| 18.5–20 in | 47–51 cm | 1/4 |
| 17–18.5 in | 43–47 cm | 1/8 |
| 15.5–17 in | 39.5–43 cm | 1/10 |
| Under 15.5 in | Under 39.5 cm | 1/16 |
Retailers place the boundaries up to about 1/2 in (1 cm) apart, so a reading near a line can be called either way. Some charts measure to the wrist crease instead of the palm. That reading comes out about 1.5–2 in (4–5 cm) shorter, so always check which point a chart uses before you compare numbers.
How to measure a child for a violin
- Stand the player upright and raise the left arm straight out to the side, level with the floor, palm facing up.
- Turn the head to the left as if holding a violin, so the jaw points along the arm.
- Measure from the side of the neck (where the violin would sit under the jaw) along the arm to the middle of the palm.
- Read the chart. If the number falls on a boundary, choose the smaller size. Playing a slightly small violin is easy; reaching on a large one causes tension in the shoulder and wrist.
- Confirm with the instrument. With the violin in playing position, the player should be able to curl the fingers around the scroll with the elbow slightly bent. If the arm is fully straight just to reach the scroll, the violin is too big.
Children usually move up a size every one to two years, so most families rent fractional violins. Many rental programs credit payments toward a full-size purchase, which makes the 4/4 the first violin worth buying outright.
How to tell what size a violin is
Labels inside the f-holes are unreliable on older or student instruments. A ruler is faster:
- Turn the violin over and lay a ruler or tape on the back, along the center line.
- Measure the back only, from the top edge where the neck meets the body to the bottom edge at the end pin. Leave out the small semicircle (the button) where the neck joins.
- Compare with the body column in the chart above: about 14 in is a 4/4, 13.5 in a 7/8, 13 in a 3/4 and 12.2 in a 1/2.
Measuring the whole instrument works too, but overall length varies more because scrolls and end buttons differ between makers. A violin that measures 23 in or more overall is almost always a 4/4.
Full size 4/4 compared with 7/8 and 3/4
The jump from 3/4 to 4/4 is only about 1 in of body length (25 mm), but the string length grows too, so the gaps between notes are wider under the fingers. Teachers often wait until the student's arm clearly passes 23 in before moving up.
- 3/4: body 13 in (330–335 mm), the last fractional size before full size, typically played from about age 10 until 12.
- 7/8: body 13.5 in (343 mm). Sometimes called a "lady's size". Useful for players between sizes and adults with small hands, but less widely made.
- 4/4: body 14 in (356 mm), with a string length of about 12.9 in (328 mm) from nut to bridge. Full specifications, bow and case sizes are on the 4/4 violin size page.
Bows, cases and strings must match the size
- Bows are sold in the same fractions. A 4/4 bow is about 75 cm (29.5 in) long and weighs about 60 g. A full-size bow on a 1/2 violin is hard to control and throws off the balance point.
- Strings are made for each size. Strings for a larger size are too long, and their tension and pitch response are wrong on a smaller instrument.
- Cases are sized by fraction too. A 3/4 violin rattles in a 4/4 case unless it is padded, and a 4/4 will not close in a 3/4 case.
- Shoulder rests and chinrests are usually sold in ranges such as 1/4–1/2, 3/4–4/4 or 4/4 only. Check the range on the packaging.
Flying with a violin
A 4/4 violin case is roughly 30–32 in (76–81 cm) long, longer than the 22 in (56 cm) carry-on bag limit most US airlines use. Under the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, US airlines must allow a small instrument such as a violin into the cabin as a carry-on if it fits in the overhead bin or under a seat and space is available when you board. Board early, keep the case slim, and carry a printout of the airline's instrument policy. For general bag limits, see the carry-on size rules and carry-on bag sizes.
Other string instruments
Violas use body length in inches instead of fractions (adult sizes are mostly 15 to 17 in), and cellos use the same fraction labels as violins but at roughly twice the body length: a 4/4 cello body is about 30 in (76 cm). Fractional sizing works on the same arm-length principle for guitars; see the guitar size guide for 1/4 to full-size guitars, or compare with the piano size guide if you are choosing a first instrument for a room.
Frequently asked questions
What size violin does a 10 or 11 year old need?
Most 10 and 11 year olds play a 3/4, which suits an arm length of about 22–23 in (56–58.5 cm) to the middle of the palm. A child whose arm is still under 22 in is better on a 1/2, and one who has passed 23 in is ready for a 4/4. Measure the arm rather than going by age.
What are the dimensions of a half size violin?
A 1/2 size violin has a body length of about 12.2 in (31 cm) and an overall length of about 20.5 in (52 cm). It takes a bow of roughly 25 in (64 cm) and usually suits players aged about 8 to 9 with an arm of 20–22 in (51–56 cm).
How do I tell what size my violin is?
Measure the length of the back in a straight line from the top edge, where the neck joins, to the bottom edge, leaving out the small button at the neck. About 14 in (355–358 mm) is a 4/4, 13.5 in (343 mm) a 7/8, 13 in (330–335 mm) a 3/4, 12.2 in (310 mm) a 1/2 and 11 in (280 mm) a 1/4.
Is a 4/4 violin full size?
Yes. 4/4 is the full size played by adults and most teenagers. The fractions describe smaller instruments for children, not literal proportions: a 1/2 violin is about 87% of the length of a 4/4, not half.
Is a 7/8 violin worth buying?
A 7/8 (body about 13.5 in, 343 mm) suits players whose arm is right around 23 in (58.5 cm), typically ages 11–12, and adults with small hands. It is less common, so there are fewer instruments to choose from, and many players move straight from 3/4 to 4/4.
Are viola sizes the same as violin sizes?
No. Violas are sized by body length in inches, usually 15 to 17 in for adults, rather than by fractions. A small viola of 12 to 14 in is often a violin-size body strung as a viola, which is how children start on viola.