Did you know that violas come in a variety of sizes?

Selecting the correct size for you (or your child) is absolutely vital for fostering a happy and healthy viola journey.

Playing on a viola that is too big forces the player to contort their body into unnatural positions, possibly leading to injury (namely carpal tunnel and tendonitis); and playing on a viola that is too small can cause the player to feel very cramped and limited in their bowings and finger placements. Keep reading this article to discover what viola size is best for you or your child.

Although the violin and viola are similar, sizing is one big way in which they differ. The viola is generally bigger than the violin, and a “full size” viola can actually be a variety of sizes! Bigger violas are generally preferred because they give a deeper, richer sound. With that being said, being tall does not necessarily mean a bigger viola is for you, and being small does not necessarily mean a smaller viola is for you! When trying to find your optimal viola size, I highly recommend trying several options to see what feels (and sounds!) best.

16.5 inch + size viola

16.5 inches is the largest readily available viola size. Bigger violas are certainly available, but you may have to look harder to find them. To fit a 16.5-inch viola, your arm length should be 71 centimeters (or 28 inches) or longer. However, if your arms are shorter but your hands are big, you very well could play on a 16.5-inch. 

16 inch size viola

16-inch violas are considered large violas, recommended for players with an arm’s length of 69 centimeters (or 27 inches). 16-inch violas (and larger) are typically best suited for adults and children above the age of 14.

15.5 inch size viola

15.5-inch violas are made for players with an arm’s length of 66 centimeters (or 26 inches), typically suited for the average adult player, or children above the age of 14.

15 inch size viola

15-inch violas are made for players whose arm’s length is around 58 centimeters (or 23 inches). Children around the ages of 11-13 typically play on 15-inch violas.

14 inch size viola

14-inch violas are best suited for players with an arm’s length of 56 centimeters (or 22 inches), or children ranging from ages 9-12. 14-inch violas are comparable in size to full-size violins.

If you play violin and you want to play viola from now and then, it can be really easy to have a viola in the same size. The distances between the notes are the same.

13 inch size viola

13-inch violas are made for players whose arm’s length is 51 centimeters (or 20 inches), typically children around the ages of 8-10. 13-inch violas are comparable to ¾ size violins.

12 inch size viola

12-inch violas are best suited for players whose arms-length measures around 46 centimeters (or 18 inches). Children around the ages of 7-9 will most likely need this size. 12-inch violas are comparable to ½ size violins.

11 inch size viola

11-inch violas are made for players with an arm’s length of 38 centimeters (or 15 inches), usually children around the ages of 5-7. 11-inch violas are comparable to ¼ size violins.

10 inch size viola

10-inch violas are made for players with an arm’s length of 36 centimeters (or 14 inches), usually, students under the age of 5. 10-inch violas are comparable to ⅛ size violins.

What size viola do you play?

Leave a comment below what your ideal viola size is.

In my article about violin sizes you can find more information how to measure the right size and use the size chart.