Ukulele Size Guide
Compare soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone scale length, total length, tuning, and sound in inches and cm.
Scale length: 15in (38.1 cm)
Total length: 23in (58.4 cm)
Tuning: GCEA
Voice: a little more room and volume
| Size | Scale length | Total length | Tuning | Voice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soprano | 13in (33 cm) | 21in (53.3 cm) | GCEA | the classic plinky uke sound |
| Concert | 15in (38.1 cm) | 23in (58.4 cm) | GCEA | a little more room and volume |
| Tenor | 17in (43.2 cm) | 26in (66 cm) | GCEA | fuller tone, the modern performer default |
| Baritone | 19in (48.3 cm) | 30in (76.2 cm) | DGBE | tuned like a guitar's top four strings |
Bigger hands often feel more at home on concert or tenor. Hand size and comfort matter more here than any chart, so try one in person if you can.
How it works
Pick a size and the calculator shows its scale length (the distance from the nut to the bridge, which decides string tension and fret spacing), its total body length, its tuning, and a plain-English note on how it tends to sound. Every measurement also converts to centimeters, since ukuleles are usually listed in inches but a lot of shoppers think in metric.
Worked example: pick tenor and you get a 17in scale length, which the calculator also shows as 43.2 cm, and a 26in total length, which comes out to 66 cm. Tenor keeps the same GCEA tuning as soprano and concert, so nothing changes about which chords you play, only how much string and body you are working with. Switch to baritone and the tuning line changes to DGBE, which is the biggest practical difference between it and the other three sizes.
The four sizes trade off in a fairly simple way. Soprano is the smallest and lightest, with the tightest fret spacing and the sound most people picture when they think "ukulele." Concert and tenor add scale length and body size a little at a time, which gives more room for your fretting hand and a fuller, slightly louder tone. Baritone is the odd one out: it is tuned like the top four strings of a guitar, so if you already play guitar, baritone chord shapes will feel immediately familiar even though the sound is different from a standard GCEA uke.
FAQ
Which size should a beginner buy?
Soprano and concert are the two most common starting points. If your hands are on the larger side, or you found a soprano's frets cramped when you tried one, concert or tenor usually feels more comfortable without giving up any of the beginner-friendly GCEA tuning.
Does a bigger uke sound better?
Not better, just different. Soprano gives you that bright, plinky classic tone. Concert and tenor trade a bit of that brightness for more volume and low-end fullness. Which one sounds "better" really comes down to what you want the instrument to do.
Can I use standard ukulele songbooks on a baritone?
Chord diagrams will not transfer directly, since baritone is tuned DGBE instead of GCEA. You can still play along, but the chord shapes are different (they match guitar shapes for the same chord names), so a beginner songbook written for GCEA needs some translation first.
Is total length or scale length more important for comfort?
Scale length matters more for playability, since it sets how far apart the frets sit and how much your fretting hand has to stretch. Total length affects how the instrument feels against your body and in a case, but it does not change how hard the chords are to play.
For more on choosing between the two most common starter sizes, see concert vs. soprano, which is better for beginners, our full breakdown of all four sizes explained, and how to choose your first ukulele for the rest of what matters before you buy.