Our daughter playing a 1/16th size "La Volta" violin
Sizes
Most adult players play full-size instruments though some prefer slightly smaller ones (known as "fractional sizes") - a common fractional size for adults is 7/8. Violins go all the way down to 1/16th size, like the one in the picture - it's really tiny! Using the "size" is convenient, but sizes are not standard and vary between makers and countries.
Finding an instrument that fits
Because the sizes (see above) aren't totally reliable, the best way to work out what size you need is to use the total length measurement. The total length corresponds to the length of your outstretched arm. This is an easy way to find out the best size and for this reason we list the total length of all our fractional-sized violins. To work out what size you need:
Hold the player's arm out straight in front of them with the palm facing upwards (don't stretch, just relax)
Measure from the neck to the middle of the palm
Find an instrument with the equivalent total length
This means the violin will be comfortable to play with the elbow bent and the fingers on the fingerboard. If in doubt about measurements, ask your teacher or contact us and we'll do our best to help.
Violin finder
Total length
Length of back
Size
Age
Find one!
(inches)
(mm)
(inches)
(mm)
New
Old
23½
590
14
360
Full
4/4
12+
22½
570
13½
340
Seven eighths
7/8
10+
22
550
13
330
Three quarters (three fourths USA)
3/4
8-12
20
520
12
305
Half
1/2
6-9
18
460
11
280
Quarter (fourth USA)
1/4
5-7
16½
420
10
255
Eighth
1/8
4-6
15¾
400
9½
240
Tenth
1/10
4-5
14¾
375
9
230
Sixteenth
1/16
3-5
Fast Facts
Measuring violins
Violins are commonly measured in sizes based on the length of back (see left for more about this).
Sizes are a good guide but they vary between makers and country or origin so a more reliable method is to use the total length
