Picking a new acoustic and stuck on which size to get? The body you choose changes how the guitar feels against you, how loud it plays, and which styles it favors.
A small parlor tucks in close and rewards fingerpicking. A jumbo pushes far more bass and volume for hard strumming.
This guide walks through each size in plain terms, with notes on the tone and feel of each. You can browse top acoustic guitars and the different acoustic guitar shapes alongside it.
Let’s start at the small end.
Parlor Sized Guitars
As the name suggests, parlor guitars are small. They’re among the most compact of all the sizes listed here, with a smaller body and lighter weight than the larger shapes.
These guitars are ideal for children, smaller-framed players, or anyone with smaller hands. They’re also great for people who want a really easy-to-carry instrument they can take anywhere.
That makes them an excellent choice for guitar playing with small hands.
Scale length: around 24.75 inches.
Single Naught (0) Acoustics
The single naught, or “0” body, is another small-bodied acoustic. It keeps the compact, lightweight feel of a parlor while offering a slightly different shape and voice.
Like the parlor, it suits children, smaller players, and anyone who values an easy-to-handle guitar that travels well.
Scale length: around 24.4 inches.
Double Naught (00) Acoustic Guitars
This acoustic is essentially the same idea as the single naught, with a fuller bridge that makes it easier to change chords and strum, since you can rest your hands comfortably on both sides of the guitar.
Because of that, it works for styles such as folk or country, while still being well suited to fingerpicking. The double naught is one of the more popular small-body sizes because it offers solid quality and balance, even though it isn’t built for heavy strumming.
Triple Naught (Auditorium - 000)
The triple naught, often called an auditorium, is larger than the single and double naught bodies. The sound is fuller, which makes it a great fit for strumming songs.
It’s a preferred size for many musicians playing traditional folk or country.
The body is large enough to play comfortably with both hands, opening the door to more advanced fingerstyle techniques such as tap harmonics.
Concert Sized Acoustic Guitars
Concert acoustics are commonly used by fingerstyle guitarists who want a bigger guitar for a larger finger span, and they’re popular with strummers too. The sound is richer than the triple naught, yet the body isn’t so big that it becomes hard for players with smaller hands to manage.
This is a common size for beginner to intermediate players, and most mid-level guitar companies offer one as part of their standard lineup.
Dreadnought Acoustics
The dreadnought is a very popular acoustic guitar size with a large body and a big, powerful voice.
It’s a favorite among acoustic blues players and acoustic rock players. Guitarists who mix pick and strum often reach for this size, since heavy strumming is difficult on smaller bodies.
That makes the dreadnought perfect for players who like songs with strong strumming or driving fingerpicked rhythms.
Grand Auditorium
The grand auditorium is built for players who want big sound. It strikes a good balance between volume and projection, so it can cut through large rooms and deliver enough power for live performances.
This size is popular with many rock players because it produces a huge sound and lets the player stay loud on stage while still handling fingerpicked passages. For a closer look, see our dreadnought vs auditorium and dreadnought vs concert guitars comparisons.
Jumbo Acoustic Guitars
Jumbos are the largest of all acoustic guitar sizes. The oversized body is built for strumming, making it perfect for players who want maximum volume and resonance.
This size is often chosen by guitarists who need serious projection, thanks to its large body, big sound, and ability to fill a room.
What Is the Best Acoustic Guitar Size?
There are many types of acoustic guitars on the market today, but for the average player, the sweet spot usually falls between the concert and dreadnought sizes.
If you want a guitar for playing live or in a band, the concert size is a strong pick, with a loud sound and good projection. If you mainly play casually with friends and family, the dreadnought is a great all-rounder that handles both strumming and fingerpicking with ease.
If you’re a lighter strummer, a dreadnought or concert lets you play at a comfortable medium volume while still being able to dig in when you want to. Above all, choose a guitar with dimensions that fit your hands and a body you feel comfortable holding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the most popular acoustic guitar size?
The dreadnought is the most popular acoustic guitar size by a wide margin. Its large body delivers strong volume and bass, and it handles both strumming and fingerpicking well, which is why it shows up in nearly every brand’s lineup.
That said, popularity doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone. Smaller players or dedicated fingerstyle guitarists often prefer concert or auditorium bodies for the better fit and balanced tone.
Which acoustic guitar size is best for small hands?
Smaller bodies like the parlor, single naught (0), and concert sizes are the friendliest for small hands. They’re easier to wrap your arm around and often pair with shorter scale lengths that make chord shapes feel more comfortable.
If you’re buying for a child or a younger beginner, you may also want to look at fractional sizes such as the best 3/4 acoustic guitars, which shrink both the body and the scale length.
Are bigger acoustic guitars always louder?
Generally, yes. A larger body like a dreadnought or jumbo moves more air, which produces more volume and deeper bass than a parlor or concert guitar.
Volume isn’t the whole story, though. Wood choice, build quality, string gauge, and your own technique all shape how loud and full a guitar sounds, so a well-made smaller guitar can still project surprisingly well.
Does body size change the tone of an acoustic guitar?
Yes. Body size is one of the biggest factors in tone.
Larger bodies emphasize bass and overall power, which suits heavy strumming, while smaller bodies tend to sound more balanced and articulate, which flatters fingerpicking and recording.
Mid-size shapes like the auditorium and grand auditorium aim for the best of both worlds, offering a balanced voice that works across many playing styles.
Final Thoughts
Now you have a clear picture of how acoustic guitar sizes differ, from the compact parlor up to the room-filling jumbo. Every size is popular with some group of players, so there’s no single “best” body, only the one that fits you.
Match the body to your hands, your playing style, and how loud you need to be, and try a few in person if you can. The right size is the one that feels comfortable to hold and inspires you to keep playing.
These are considered full-sized acoustic guitar sizes, but there are also smaller options like the best 3/4 acoustic guitars if you need something more compact.
