This article is one part of my Ultimate Parent's Guide to Kid's Guitar Lessons.

How to perfectly size a guitar for your child

By inputting one simple measurement, you can use the Guitar Size Calculator to help avoid the most common mistake parents make when buying a guitar for their child. The calculator will tell you what sized guitar your child needs. Then, at the bottom of the page, you can check out some of my recommended guitars in each size. These guitars are some of the best guitars for the money. Use this calculator to avoid the mistake of buying your guitar based on your child's age or buying a fractional guitar (¼, ½, and ¾ sized-guitars) without checking to see if it will fit first. 

Click here to jump to the guitar-sizing calculator.

To find a guitar that fits well, measure the height of your child's belly-button when standing. Then, put that measurement into the guitar-sizing calculator to find the proper-sized guitar. An ideally sized guitar for your child will fit under your child's belly button when both are standing on the floor. The guitar sizing calculator will give you a range of "Scale Lengths" that would be appropriate for your child. Then, pick your guitar from the instruments in the table below!

You can also take an additional measurement using finger-span to ensure that the guitar is a proper fit for your child. Note that, in my experience, a guitar that is the same height as your child's belly button will be perfectly sized for playing. However, most parents want a guitar that their child can use for a few years. For this reason, I recommend that your child places 3  above their belly-button when checking for guitar size. If the guitar is under the 3-fingers, it should still be very playable while providing room for growth.

Problems of an oversized kids guitar

If your child uses an oversized guitar, they'll encounter 3 issues; each compounding the others. First, larger guitars have higher-tension strings. Your child will need to use more muscle to get the notes down. That's never beneficial; any experienced musician will tell you to play with the least amount of force possible. Second, your child's fingers will need to stretch beyond their optimal range, making it even more challenging to apply the force needed. Finally, your child's arm will also need to be held further away from the body, which will compromise the wrist, hand, and finger positions. They'll also end up tensing up their shoulder muscles to support their arm. All of this will make playing a strenuous activity for your child and can minimize their enjoyment.

It's kinda like going for a run in sweatpants two sizes too large. Sure, you can do it, but you won't develop a good technique, improve very fast, or have much fun doing it.

Problems with most recommendations

Much like children playing oversized guitars, parents are faced with compounding problems when it comes to most guitar recommendation charts. 

Age-based Recommendations

Most guitar sizing charts for kids are age-based recommendations. However, age isn't the best determination of what size guitar will fit your child. The best determination of what size guitar fits your child is.... your child's size! Taking a few measurements can ensure a better fit.

Non-Standard Sizing

Another common recommendation is to buy a fractional guitar based on your child's age. Here we get into the compounding problem. First, your child may be large or small for their age, so the age-based chart may not be accurate. Second, unlike other instruments, fractional guitars are not all a standard size. This means that one maker's ¼, ½, or  ¾ sized guitars could be as much as 10% larger than a different maker. That's a lot!

Hand Size

I've been teaching guitar since 2006, and I've seen hands and fingers of all sorts. Long, skinny fingers like my own. Average-sized fingers. And short, stubby, sausage-like fingers.

All shapes and sizes of fingers can master the guitar (see Segovia for sausage-finger virtuosity) examples. However, shorter fingers need a shorter guitar to help them play with ease.

I haven't found a single online chart that takes this into account.

Two Measurements to fit

This guitar-sizing system combines two different systems. First, it calculates size based on proportions derived from a sizing chart common among Suzuki Guitar teachers like me. Then, optionally, it checks it against the guitar-sizing system developed by Alicia Kopfstein-Penk , in conjunction with Dr. Richard Norris, former medical director of the National Arts Medicine Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

It only takes two quick measurements to get a well-fitted guitar. You'll need a few supplies so grab a ruler, some cardboard and a pin, and a tape measure!

Belly-Button Height

Have your child stand on the floor, barefoot. Measure the distance to their belly-button. That's it. 

Finger Span (Optional)

You'll need a ruler and, ideally, a piece of cardboard and a pin. Put a ruler down on a piece of cardboard and stick a pin at they "0" end of the ruler. Have your child place their hand and wrist flat on the table and their fingers on top of the ruler. Place the ruler on the inside of the index finger (see above image).

 Then, have them  fan their left-hand fingers out as wide as they can on the ruler (if your child will be playing left-handed, measure the right hand). Keep the wrist flat on the table. Do not strain the fingers or stretch them beyond what they do naturally. 

Measure the distance from the left-side of the index finger to the left-size of pinky, at the tip (see above image for reference). 

Which Size do I use?

It is typically best to use the largest size recommended. If there is a large difference between the Finger-Span recommendation and the Maximum Size (by belly button) recommendation, please contact me and let me know the two measurements. I'll give you further guidance from there.

Other Considerations

If you're lucky enough to try out guitars in-person, sit your child down and have them hold the guitar in the proper playing position.

Look out for their right-shoulder rising as your child sits in the proper position. Their shoulders should remain level and well-aligned as they hold the instrument.

Suppose they are taking Suzuki or Classical guitar lessons. In that case, their left hand should remain below their shoulder when their hand in the first position (by the headstock).

If you are unsure of which fit is best, err on the side of the larger scale length.

Best Children's Starter Guitars

One of the biggest hurdles your child will face as they start playing guitar is the development of calluses. Good technique helps to minimize the pain involved and shortens the time it takes to develop the callouses. Unfortunately, the pain makes developing good technique quite challenging!

I teach my students using the Suzuki method, which is classically-based and uses nylon string guitars exclusively. Nylon strings are both lower tension and larger diameter than the steel strings used on Acoustic guitars. The lower tension means that my students don't need to press down as hard to make a note sound. The larger diameter means that the force required to push the string down is spread over a larger portion of the finger. These two differences allow my students to develop their technique without a "breaking-in" period before developing their calluses. Then, when they are ready, their excellent technique allows them to easily transition to a steel-stringed guitar.

Another advantage of nylon guitars, especially for younger students, is that they are available in a much more comprehensive range of sizes. You may find that there are no steel-stringed or electric guitars made that will fit your child. In that case, start them off on a nylon-stringed guitar and transition to a larger instrument after they've grown a bit.

Necessary Accessories

If your child is just starting off on guitar, you'll want a few extra items (affiliate links below):

• assorted pics, if you'll be strumming chords
• a guitar amp, if you're playing electric. I recommend the Orange I20 amp. It's got an excellent cabinet simulator that makes it sound like a cranked amp at a rock show, even through headphones. Way better than the boring practice amp I started off with.
• A case. Make sure is either hardshell or has some padding and is the correct size. Avoid the bags that are just a thin nylon; they offer no protection from the scrapes and bumps that kids put instruments through. Additionally, if you buy an accoustic guitar, they will not seal well enough to allow you to properly humidify your guitar in dry climates and seasons. 
• if playing a classical guitar and strumming chords, kling-on soundboard protector

Recommended Guitars

Note: Some of these links below are affiliate links and may make some money if you buy them.

I recommend that you get the best guitar you can afford (or guitar and amp combo, if buying an electric guitar). Take good care of it, and you should be able to resell it to another young student for almost full-price.

You can check out this article to see what you can expect at different price points (this article is geared towards classical guitars).

More expensive guitars sound more beautiful, and your child will enjoy playing them much more. Less expensive guitars are less enjoyable to play, and your child won't understand that they are really good at guitar, but their instrument is holding them back.

The tables below are sortable. You can sort these tables by any column; just click the table header (click "scale size" or "price" to sort by price). Some of these guitars have affiliate links; others don't. They're on the list because they're some of the best guitars you can get for the money (affiliate link or not).

These recommendation lists take up a good bit of room; if you'd like to jump to classical (nylon-stringed), acoustic, or electric, click on the link!

Classical (Nylon-Stringed) Guitars

These are the guitars with which I have the most experience as a teacher.

The Benjamin Garcia guitars are hand-built and will blow you away with their fantastic tone and perfectly miniaturized proportions. The LaMancha and more-expensive Cordoba guitars are well-built and have a pleasant tone.

Note that guitars under $200 can experience quality control issues and may need to be taken to a guitar repair person for minor adjustments.

Please take note that some of these guitars come with cases. Others will require you to buy a case.

Selections marked with an asterisk (*) are travel guitars made for adults. As such, the fretboard will be wider and create unnecessary strain on your child's fingers. Use them only in a pinch.

Acoustic Guitars

Note that steel string and electric guitars usually have their scale lengths measure in inches. I've provided both measurements here so you can be certain your buying the correct guitar.

If you're child is still fairly small, you'll likely need to start off on a nylon-string, classical guitar.

Electric Guitars

Just like with steel-string guitars, there aren't a ton of options out there for smaller kids. Starting off on a nylon-stringed, classical guitar may be your best option.

You will need an amp. I recommend the Orange I20 amp. It's got an excellent cabinet simulator that makes it sound like a cranked amp at a rock show, even through headphones.