Violin & Cello Size Chart (by arm length / height)

Understanding the violin and cello size chart — concept and principle

Children learn on smaller "fractional" violins and cellos so that they can reach the strings and hold the instrument without strain. This chart matches each violin size, from 1/16 to full size (4/4), to an arm-length range and a typical age, and lists cello sizes by the player's height in a separate table. Use it as a starting point before visiting a teacher or a string shop, or to judge when a growing child is ready for the next size.

How it is calculated

There is no formula: the chart is a lookup table built from common teacher and retailer sizing guides. For violin, measure arm length with the left arm stretched straight out to the side, palm up, from the side of the neck to the middle of the palm. Find the row whose range contains that measurement. For cello, use the player's standing height in the separate cello table (for example 135–145 cm → 1/2, 145–155 cm → 3/4, 160 cm and taller → 4/4). The two scales are independent: a 1/2 violinist does not need a 1/2 or 3/4 cello.

The principle

Comfortable playing depends on reach. With the instrument on the shoulder, the left hand must cradle the scroll and the fingers must stretch along the fingerboard, so the instrument's length should match the arm. For the cello, the instrument stands on the floor, so overall body height and leg length matter more. The fraction names are traditional labels, not true ratios: a 1/2 violin is far more than half as long as a full-size one. Makers also differ slightly in body length and string length, which is why ranges overlap from one chart to another.

Worked example

Default selection: violin size 1/2.

1. Arm length (neck to mid-palm): 51–56 cm.
2. Typical age: 8–10 years.
3. Example: a child whose arm measures 54 cm sits inside 51–56 cm, so 1/2 is the starting size.
4. For comparison, the cello table gives 3/4 for a height of 145–155 cm; a cello is chosen by height, not by violin size.

How to read the result

If a measurement falls near the top of a range, the child may move up soon; near the bottom, the smaller size may be more comfortable. Age is only a rough guide, because children of the same age differ widely in arm length. A good fit lets the left fingers curl comfortably around the scroll with the elbow slightly bent.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a bigger size so a child can "grow into it", which strains posture and slows progress.
• Measuring to the fingertips instead of the middle of the palm, which suggests a size too large.
• Choosing a cello size from the violin chart instead of from the player's height.

Frequently asked questions

My child's arm is 55 cm. Which violin size?

Usually 1/2, with a move to 3/4 likely within a year or so.

What size do adults play?

Most adults play a full-size (4/4) violin or cello; very small adults sometimes prefer 7/8.

Is a viola sized the same way?

Usually not. Violas are most often sized by body length in inches or centimetres rather than by fractions.

Sources: General string-teacher and retailer sizing guides (for example those used in Suzuki-method programs); sizes vary by maker