How to Measure Your Violin for a Case

Most violin cases are built to an “average” full-size violin. But violins are handmade, and no two are quite the same — older instruments, fractional sizes, broad-shouldered modern copies and unusually long models can all sit loosely, or refuse to close, in a case that was supposed to fit. A loose fit lets the instrument shift in transit, which is exactly what a case exists to prevent.

Measuring your violin takes about five minutes and a soft tape measure. This guide covers every measurement a case maker actually needs.

What you’ll need

• A soft dressmaker’s tape measure (not a rigid metal one)
• A pencil and paper, or your phone’s notes
• A flat, well-lit surface with a soft cloth to protect the varnish

Work gently, never press the tape into the edges or varnish, and take each measurement twice.

The measurements that matter

1. Body length (length of back, “LOB”)

The most important number. Measure the back of the violin, from the edge where the neck joins the body down to the bottom edge — the body only, not the scroll or neck. A full-size (4/4) violin is typically around 14 inches (355–360 mm), but yours may differ, and that difference is the whole reason to measure.

2. Overall length

From the top of the scroll to the bottom edge of the body. This sets how long the internal cavity needs to be.

3. Upper bout width

The width across the upper curves (the shoulders, nearest the neck), at the widest point.

4. Lower bout width

The width across the lower curves (nearest the chin rest), at the widest point. This is usually the widest part of the instrument and often the measurement that decides whether a case closes.

5. Rib depth (body depth)

The thickness of the body at the sides (the ribs), measured without the bridge. Measure near the lower bout, and near the upper bout if they differ.

6. Bridge clearance (optional but useful)

The height from the top of the body to the top of the bridge. A fitted lid needs this so nothing presses on the bridge.

7. Setup notes

List anything permanently fitted: a tall or unusual chin rest, a shoulder rest you store attached, a heavier tailpiece with fine tuners. These all affect the internal space you need.

How to record it

Body length (back):      ____ mm
Overall length:          ____ mm
Upper bout width:        ____ mm
Lower bout width:        ____ mm
Rib depth (lower):       ____ mm
Rib depth (upper):       ____ mm
Bridge clearance:        ____ mm
Chin rest / setup notes: ____

Keep these somewhere safe — you’ll want them again for insurance and for any future case.

If you can’t measure precisely

There’s a reliable shortcut: measure the internal dimensions of a case that currently fits your violin well — internal length, internal width at the widest point, internal depth — and share those instead. A maker can work from a known-good reference.

Fractional sizes (3/4, 1/2, 7/8 and others)

Fractional violins are not consistently scaled between makers, and 7/8 instruments in particular fall between standard case sizes. If your violin is anything other than a mainstream full size, measuring is the only way to get a case that truly holds it.

Why fit matters more than it seems

A case does two jobs: it absorbs shocks from the outside, and it stops the instrument moving on the inside. A violin that can slide, rattle or rock inside its case is exposed to the very forces the case is meant to neutralise — and over years, repeated small movements wear at the varnish and the setup. A snug, contoured fit is the quiet feature that protects an instrument for decades.

If your violin sits loosely in every case you try, a made-to-measure case is built to your instrument’s body length, bout widths and rib depth. You can also browse our leather violin hard cases, explore the full Musician’s Studio collection, or read about how each case is built.

FAQs

What’s the standard body length of a full-size violin?

Typically around 14 inches (355–360 mm), but individual instruments vary. Always measure your own.

My violin is slightly too long for every case I’ve tried. What are my options?

An oversized case, or a custom-built one. A case that’s slightly too large can sometimes be padded to fit; a case that’s too small cannot be used.

Do I measure with or without the shoulder rest attached?

Measure the violin alone, then note separately whether you store the shoulder rest on the instrument.

Can a case be built around my exact measurements?

Yes. A made-to-measure case is built to your instrument’s body length, bout widths and rib depth, with the interior contoured so the violin is held on all sides.

Have your measurements?

The Cadenza is a hard-shell leather violin case built to your instrument’s exact dimensions, lined in beige velvet and personalised with your name or crest. Handmade to order, dispatched in 12–15 days. Not sure about a measurement? Message us and we’ll help.