How To Size For An Instrument

The best way to size your child is to bring them into our shop and have someone on staff size them or to have your teacher size them. When this isn’t possible, here is a guide to sizing your student:

Violin and Viola sizing corresponds to the student’s arm length while Cello and Bass are sized using the students height.

For Violin/Viola, extend the arm fully and perpendicular to the body, and measure from the left side of the neck to the heart of the palm.

For Cello/Bass, measure the height of the student.

The chart below shows approximate arm lengths for violin and viola, and approximate heights for cello and bass. If in between sizes, always choose the smaller size

Arm Length Violin Size Average Grade
14" 1/16 Up to Pre K
15.5" 1/10 Pre K - K
17" 1/8 1-3
18.5 1/4 3-5
20.5 1/2 4-6
22.5 3/4 5-7
24"+ 4/4 7-8+
Arm Length Viola Size Average Grade
15.5" 9" Pre K - K
17" 10" 1-3
18.5" 11" 3-5
20.5" 12" 4-6
22.5" 13" 5-7
24" 14" 7-8
25.5" 15" 8+
26.25" 15.5" 8+
27" 16" 8+
Height Range Cello Size Average Grade
43" to 46" 1/10 Pre K - K
47" to 50" 1/8 1-3
51" to 54" 1/4 3-5
55" to 58" 1/2 4-6
59" to 62 3/4 5-7
63" and up 4/4 8+
Height Range Bass Size Average Grade
47" to 50" 1/10 1-3
51" to 54" 1/8 3-5
55" to 58" 1/4 4-6
59" to 62" 1/2 5-7
63" and up 3/4 8+