Your child is going to LOVE having their own ukulele to make music with! And while, if things go well, this won’t be the last uke they pick up, getting a great sounding ukulele that won’t break at the first drop is still important.
So here’s our choice of best ukuleles for kids.
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Makala Shark – Best Overall
One of the most highly regarded budget ukuleles for beginners, the Makala Shark (compare prices on Amazon and Guitar Center) is an excellent choice for a kid’s ukulele.
The Shark, named after its shark-shaped bridge, is a soprano, the smallest standard size of ukulele and perfect for even the youngest hands. Kala/ Makala also makes the Dolphin, the same instrument but with a dolphin-shaped bridge.
The Shark comes in various colors and shades, making it easy to find one a kid will be drawn to.
The Shark’s top is Philippine mahogany, and the back and sides are composite. Some uke players will complain that the plastic back and sides don’t create as pleasant a tone as wood, but this ukulele does have a bright tone and decent projection. Most young kids won’t care about the fullness of tone, and this is a uke that can go anywhere and take a beating.
Makala’s Shark is often considered the best-sounding and easiest ukulele to play in its price range. It’s affordable enough to buy more if a kid does manage to break it or begs for one in another color. But it’s also not a huge commitment if the kid decides they don’t want to play it and shoves it under their bed instead.
This is a super-cute, super fun-to-play ukulele and would be an excellent choice for any kid or parent.
Number of Frets: 12
Scale Length: 13.5”
Luna Starry Night – Premium Option
A great way to get a kid interested in an instrument is to get one that looks cool. The Luna Starry Night Soprano Ukulele (compare prices Sweetwater, Amazon, and Guitar Center) features a graphic print of Van Gogh’s famous “Starry Night” painting.
While a kid might not be familiar with Van Gogh, they will love the fun swirls of blue and yellow dancing all over the ukulele, the blue back and headstock, and the mother-of-pearl fingerboard inlays that depict the phases of the moon.
The Starry Night ukulele is still affordable as far as ukuleles go, making it an excellent choice for someone looking to spend a little more on a nicer instrument for a kid while still being mindful of the risks of buying a kid an expensive ukulele.
This ukulele is a soprano which is excellent for small hands. Thoughtfully designed and constructed with a maple front and stained mahogany back and sides, it produces a bright, rich, robust tone. The C-profile mahogany neck and the flat, radiused walnut fingerboard make it comfortable and easy to play. It features pearloid open-gear tuners, a solid walnut bridge, and Aquila Nylgut strings.
The Luna Starry Night is the perfect ukulele for the budding artist/ musician, a kid who wants a beautiful tone, or a kid who loves the sky and the magic of dreams.
Number of Frets: 12
Scale Length: 13.5”
Hola! Music Beginner’s 21” Maple Soprano – Best Budget Option
Ukuleles bundled with accessories and lessons are an excellent way for a kid to get started with the uke. The Hola! Music Beginner’s 21” Maple Soprano bundle (see prices on Amazon) comes with a ukulele, bag, picks, a strap with a hook, and access to two months of free lessons.
The Hola! Soprano ukulele bundle is probably the cheapest, best-reviewed product of its kind. It’s an excellent choice if budget is an issue or if you’re purchasing ukuleles for multiple children.
The soprano is the perfect choice for a child. This ukulele also comes in a wide selection of colors. With maple front, back, and sides, it is a durable instrument with a bright, happy tone. Because of the price, it won’t be the best-sounding instrument out there, but it will be good enough for a kid just starting. It is cheap, but it’s not a toy.
The Hola! Soprano’s walnut fingerboard and nato neck are smooth and playable. The ukulele comes with Aquila Nylgut strings, a uke standard for tone and playability.
This is a starter ukulele, but it will help a child learn how to play and determine if they are interested enough in playing that it would be worth investing in a more expensive ukulele in the future.
Kala Sparkle Concert Ukulele
For the glamorous singer-songwriter to be in your life, the Kala Sparkle Concert Ukulele (compare prices Sweetwater, Amazon) will have them shining in no time.
The Sparkle is a concert-size ukulele, so it would be a good choice for older children, children with larger hands, or kids who aren’t interested in playing a soprano.
Made with a lightweight, resonant basswood top and mahogany back and sides, the Sparkle has a sweet, bright, balanced tone with good volume and projection. The rosewood fingerboard and mahogany neck give the Sparkle incredible response and playability.
The glittery sparkle body comes in four colors: Rhapsody in Blue, Stardust Gold, Pink Champagne, and Ritzy Red. Cream binding complements the color and makes the instrument pop.
The Sparkle is a mid-range kid’s ukulele. It is affordable, and its beautiful craftsmanship and lovely, well-projected sound make it a great value. It would be the perfect ukulele for a princess, glam rocker, pirate, or pre-teen.
Number of Frets:18
Scale Length: 15”