Viola sizes work in a different way from violin sizes. A violin is a 1/4 or a 3/4. A viola is 12 inches or 14 inches. The number is the length of the viola’s body. This page shows how to measure a child, gives a size chart, and explains how to check the fit.
Why violas are sized in inches
Violins have one standard full size. Violas do not. Adult violas range from about 15 inches to 16.5 inches, and players pick the one that fits. So makers label every viola by its body length in inches. Children’s violas start at 11 inches.
A 14-inch viola has about the same body length as a full-size violin. The smallest violas are the size of small violins fitted with viola strings.
How to measure
The steps are the same as for a violin.
- Have your child hold the left arm out to the side at shoulder height.
- Move the arm forward a little, about halfway between the side and the front, and turn the palm up.
- Hold a tape measure at the base of the neck, beside the left collarbone.
- Measure to the middle of the palm.
Measure twice. Do not let your child stretch.
Size chart
This chart is from Shar Music, a string instrument shop. The ages are rough guides.
| Viola size | Arm length in inches | Arm length in centimeters | Rough age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 inches | 18 | 45.7 | 5 to 7 |
| 12 inches | 20 | 50.8 | 6 to 7 |
| 13 inches | 22 | 55.9 | 7 to 9 |
| 14 inches | 23 | 58.4 | 11 to 13 |
| 15 inches | 24.5 | 62.2 | 12 to 14, or a small adult |
| 15.5 inches | 25 to 25.5 | 63.5 to 64.8 | Average adult |
| 16 inches | 26 and up | 66 and up | Large adult |
Charts differ from shop to shop. The music store Sweetwater lists a 12-inch viola for ages 6 to 7, a 13-inch for ages 7 to 9, and a 14-inch for ages 9 to 12. Use a chart to pick a size to try. Let a teacher or a shop confirm it.
Arm length is half the answer
Shar points out one more thing to check on a viola: the hand. A viola is wider than a violin, and the notes sit farther apart. A child with a long arm and a small hand may be happier on the smaller size.
The fit check
Put the viola in playing position. Have your child reach the left hand up to the scroll, the curled end.
A good fit. The fingers curl around the scroll while the elbow stays a little bent.
Too big. The arm is locked straight, or the fingers cannot reach around the scroll.
Too small. The elbow is bent tight, and the arm looks cramped.
Then ask your child to place four fingers on one string. The hand has to reach without strain.
When in doubt, go smaller
Shar’s advice for a child between two sizes is to pick the smaller one. A viola that is too big makes the left hand and arm stretch.
Size affects the sound as well as the feel. Shar suggests that advancing players try several sizes in their range. Comfort comes first.
Moving from violin to viola
Some children start on violin and switch. Shar suggests a 14-inch or 15-inch viola for a student who comes from the violin, so the change in size is small. The child also has to learn the alto clef. Read violin vs viola: how to tell them apart.
When to move up
- The elbow is bent tight when the hand is at the scroll.
- The fingers look crowded on the string.
- The teacher says so. Ask the teacher to check the fit every few months.
A growth spurt can change the size in one season. Renting makes the changes easier. Ask the shop whether you can trade up at no charge.
Related pages
- Viola for kids: how it works and what to hear
- Violin sizes for kids: how to measure and choose
- Cello sizes for kids: how to measure and choose
- Suzuki viola, flute, and guitar: how each school works
- String instruments for kids: violin, viola, cello, and bass
Sources
Checked in November 2026.
- Shar Music. New viola age and size chart.
- Shar Music. The complete string instrument sizing guide.
- Shar Music. How to find the right size instrument for your child or student.
- Shar Music. How to choose your first instrument.
- Sweetwater. What size string instrument do you need?
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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.