What’s the best violin case?

There is no hard and fast answer to this question. The best violin case is the one that works best for you and fits your needs, preferences, and lifestyle. In this article, you’ll understand the types of violin cases, their pros and cons, and how to decide which case is right for you.

What types of violin cases are there?

Hard cases vs. soft cases

Hard violin cases have a hard, shell-like exterior, while soft cases are usually made out of fabric and conform to the shape of your instrument. I strongly recommend going with a hard case simply because it offers much more protection than a soft case. They may be a bit heavier, but there are a plethora of great lightweight hard case options available.

I know that for guitar soft cases are far more popular than for violin. This is because the violin has a bridge that is fragile and can break and damage the instrument when it breaks or falls down. Because of the construction of the violin, a soft case or bag is not safe.

Hard violin case

Shaped cases vs oblong cases

Shaped cases mimic the shape of the violin on the outside. They are often smaller and more lightweight than oblong cases, which look like a simple rectangles on the outside. Oblong cases are generally more spacious and usually dote a sheet music pouch on the outside.

Gewa Air 2.1 Oblong violin case

Wood vs. fiberglass cases

What is a violin case made of and what’s best?

Wood is the best material for protecting your instrument from the elements. However, this does not mean that all wood cases are amazing! Cheaper wood cases tend to be less protective and much heavier than fiberglass or carbon fiber cases. Even the more expensive wood violin cases are relatively heavy.

Fiberglass cases offer solid protection, but they do have a higher heat conductivity compared to wood, meaning that they get hotter much faster, which may not be ideal if you live in a hotter climate.

Thermoplastic is a great material that is very strong yet light and isolates well against the elements. ABS is also a good option. The downside is that these cases are usually relatively expensive. If you have a precious violin and travel a lot, the safety and convenience are quite worth it though.

Cheap hard violin cases have a foam shell. For light use, say you walk to your violin lesson weekly or just use it at home, this is fine. Just don’t drive over it with your car… well, let’s not try that with other cases as well.

Bobelock 1060 Fiberglass Oblong Suspension Violin Case

Attached or detached bow cases

The great majority of cases include a spot for the bow on the inside, however, there are some that include a detachable bow case. This could be ideal for those looking to save space within their case.

Bam Artisto Violin Case

with four bow holders inside the case

What is that tube in the violin case for?

In some luxury violin cases you will notice a plastic tube. That is for an extra set of strings. Many players simply leave the strings in their packaging and place them in the pocket of their case, but some choose to unfurl them and place them in that tube.

Which violin case is right for me?

There are several factors that will determine which kind of violin case will be right for you.

Size. Are you someone who keeps a lot of extra things in your case (like me?!) Things like extra strings, rosins, pencils, nail clippers, etc. If so, you will need a case with an inside pocket, which is more likely to be larger and oblong-shaped. Additionally, do you want an outside pocket where you can keep your music, or are you okay with carrying an additional bag for your music?

Weight. In my opinion, the lighter the better! Weight is especially important if you travel with your violin quite frequently. If you’re a gigging musician, you’ll most likely need a very light case, but if you are someone who only travels with your violin once a week for your lesson, you could potentially be open to a slightly heavier case.

Transportation. As mentioned above, the lighter the better, especially when it comes to transportation! Additionally, do you want your case to have backpack straps for easy carrying? Do you fly with your violin a lot and therefore need the case to be rather small so that it can fit in the overhead compartment (never check your violin!!!)

Durability. Your violin case needs to not only be able to stand up to the weather but also daily use. Violin cases are almost never replaced because the shell cracked, but often because the zipper broke or the lock stopped working. I know what you might be thinking- how can you tell if a case is durable? Your best bet is going to be choosing a trusted brand like the ones listed below. These brands have built a reputation for a reason.

Equipment. Some cases come with hygrometers, which measure humidity levels, and humidifiers, which correct dryness. These may be extremely important if you live in a particularly humid climate.

Design. The majority of violin cases have a sleek, plain design, but there are some companies that produce more uniquely designed cases. In my opinion, functionality comes first!

Budget. Usually the more options, the firmer, the lighter, the more high tech and the more luxury finish, the more expensive. Choose what fits your budget and what makes sense for your instrument. There are already great violin cases around 100 USD and there are professional luxury cases that cost thousands.

Negri Diplomat Wooden Violin Case

This case costs over $ 2,000, but if you have a Strad to protect it’s worth every penny!

2022 Violin Case Buying Guide

Now that you know what violin cases there are on the market and what to look out for when buying a violin case, I will point out some great violin cases for you to consider for each budget.

How much does a violin case cost?

There are excellent cases available starting at around 100 USD, and cases with a lot of bells and whistles that go up into the thousands. If you have a budget between 200 to 500 USD, you already have some very nice cases to choose from. 

Best violin case < $ 100

Gewa Bio-S Shaped Violin Case

Gewa is a fantastic brand for violin cases. I’m happy they introduced this light and affordable Bio-S violin case.

Cons

• Simple case, not much features
• Not suitable for a lot of travel
• Not so protective against the elements

Best violin case < $ 200

Bobelock 1007 Puffy Shaped Violin Case

What stands out first when you look into this violin case, is the variety of bright colors to choose from. It’s a sturdy violin case and a good bang for the buck.

Cons

• Heavier case-weighs 9 pounds
• Comes with only one shoulder strap

Most Beautiful Violin Case

Gewa Air 1.7 Shaped Violin Case

I love the design of the Gewa Air violin case. It’s very strong and light. The finishing is beautiful. I personally own a glossy black one for years and it’s so durable. Another good option is the Gewa Air Prestige, which is the same case with a slightly different design and a beautiful layer of leather on top of the outside shell.

Cons

• Velcro rings for the shoulder rest (takes some getting used to, in fact I have my violin in a silk bag and just place the shoulder rest beside it without the velcro rings)
• No sheet music compartment. For the oblong version you can buy a separate sheet music pouch to place on the outside of the violin case.
• With a price of around $ 500 it will not be within everybody’s budget, however compared to BAM cases it’s still a reasonable price.

Most functional violin case

Bobelock 1051 “Corregidor” Oblong Violin Case

This is a spacious and luxurious case with plywood shell. There are four bow holders, a string tube, humistat and a hygrometer. The sheet music compartment is the size of the case.

Cons

• Relatively heavy compared to for example thermoplastic cases: 8LBS
• A little over $ 400 will not be within everybody’s budget, but in the end it’s a luxury case

Best Violin Case of All

Bam Hightech Oblong Violin Case With Pocket

Ultralight weight and strong violin case that sort of has it all: it’s light, all you need fits in and it’s very practical. At the same time it’s very safe for your instrument in terms of the strength of the shell and protection against the elements.

It can easily compete with premium cases by Negri or Musafia, but it’s lighter and cheaper. But yes, a thousand dollars is still a lot of cash.

Cons

• A thousand dollars for a violin case isn’t cheap. As an alternative you could consider the Gewa Air 2.1

Double Violin and Viola Cases

A multi-instrument case can be a great option if you travel lot with two or more instruments: a violin and a viola, a violin and an electric violin or two different violins. Cases for four and more violins are mostly used by violin sellers only. Most popular are double violin and viola cases like this one: