Children’s guitars come in four common sizes: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and full size. The right one depends on the child’s height and reach. This page gives a chart by height and age, explains what the fractions mean, and shows how to check the fit.
Size chart
This chart comes from Yamaha, a maker of student guitars.
| Guitar size | Child’s height | Rough age | Scale length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 100 to 115 cm (3 feet 3 inches to 3 feet 9 inches) | 4 to 6 | 480 mm (about 19 inches) |
| 1/2 | 115 to 135 cm (3 feet 10 inches to 4 feet 5 inches) | 5 to 8 | 535 mm (about 21 inches) |
| 3/4 | 135 to 150 cm (4 feet 6 inches to 4 feet 11 inches) | 8 to 11 | 580 mm (about 22.8 inches) |
| Full size (4/4) | 150 cm and up (5 feet and up) | 11 to adult | 650 to 660 mm (about 25.6 to 26 inches) |
Height is a better guide than age. Two eight-year-olds can need two different sizes.
What the fractions mean
The fractions are names. A 1/2 size guitar is not half as long as a full-size one. Yamaha explains that the names are a convention for matching a guitar to a student’s hand, and that they are not based on real proportions.
Look at the scale lengths in the chart. A 1/2 size guitar has a scale of 535 mm. A full-size guitar has a scale of 650 mm. The “half” guitar is about four fifths as long.
What scale length is
Scale length is the length of the part of the string that vibrates. It runs from the nut, near the tuning pegs, to the bridge on the body.
A shorter scale does two things for a child.
- The frets sit closer together. Small fingers can reach from one to the next.
- The strings are a little looser. They take less force to press down.
Sizes are not the same from brand to brand. One maker’s 3/4 can be longer than another’s. Compare the scale length in millimeters when you shop.
The fit test at home
Yamaha suggests a simple test.
- Sit your child on a chair with the guitar on the lap.
- Ask your child to reach the left hand to the far end of the neck, by the tuning pegs.
- If the hand cannot get there with ease, the guitar is too long. Try one with a shorter scale.
Two more checks help.
- The right arm rests over the body, and the hand reaches the strings near the sound hole without a raised shoulder.
- The left hand wraps around the neck, and a finger presses a string on the first fret without strain.
When in doubt, go smaller
A guitar that is too big is hard to hold and hard to play. Yamaha notes that the wrong size makes learning harder and less fun. Do not buy a size “to grow into.”
Nylon strings or steel strings?
This matters as much as the size.
Classical guitars have nylon strings. They are soft under the fingers. The neck is wide, which leaves room between the strings. School programs and Suzuki guitar use classical guitars.
Acoustic guitars have steel strings. They are louder and brighter. They press harder into young fingertips.
Electric guitars have thin steel strings and a slim neck. They are easy to press. They need an amplifier.
For a young beginner in lessons, ask the teacher which kind they teach. Many classical and Suzuki teachers ask for nylon strings. Read the classical guitar for kids.
What age to start
The guitar maker Fender puts the usual starting age between 6 and 10. Younger children can begin on a 1/4 size guitar with a teacher who works with small children. Read Suzuki viola, flute, and guitar.
When to move up
- The left elbow is squeezed against the body.
- The fingers crowd one another on the frets.
- Your child has grown past the height for the size in the chart.
- The teacher says so.
A small guitar can be handed down to a younger child. Ask a shop about trading in the old size.
What to check in a shop
- The strings sit low. High strings are hard to press. A shop can adjust this.
- It stays in tune. Tune it, strum for a minute, and check it again.
- The edges are smooth. Run a finger along the side of the neck. The metal fret ends should not stick out.
- Your child can hold it sitting down without help.
Related pages
- How many strings on a violin, cello, harp, and guitar
- Easiest instruments for a child to learn, and why
- Best instruments for 3, 4, and 5 year olds
- Violin sizes for kids: how to measure and choose
- Music lessons for kids: a parent’s guide
Sources
Checked in November 2026.
- Yamaha. Classical guitar: what is the scale length of a classical guitar?
- Yamaha. Standard classical guitar scale length and size designation.
- Yamaha. School classical guitars: specifications.
- Yamaha. How to choose your first guitar.
- Taylor Guitars. All about handfeel, for scale length.
- Fender. Kids guitar lessons: how to teach a kid guitar.
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Use it with your kids
Print a listening page, a practice chart, or a composer fact sheet. Or try a tool, such as the composer timeline or the piece picker.