Whether you’re thinking about picking up a new instrument to add to your collection or looking for the right instrument to start learning, the ukulele is an excellent choice. Ukuleles offer bright and cheery tones that just make you want to smile, and their small size makes them portable and easy to learn.
While many people may think of a ukulele as a novelty or playful instrument, the ukulele can be an amazingly versatile and beautiful-sounding instrument in the right hands. But finding the best ukulele for your money can be a difficult task with the wide range of selection and all the different types and sizes of ukuleles out there.
We put together this resource to help make your hunt for the right ukulele much easier. Before we dive into our top ten ukuleles list, let’s cover some ukulele basics first.
- What to Look For in Ukuleles
- Top 10 Best Ukuleles 2024
- 1. Best Overall Ukulele: Kala KA-PWT
- 2. Best Premium Ukulele: Kala Exotic Mahogany U-Bass
- 3. Best Budget Ukulele: Mitchell MU40
- 4. Most Affordable Concert Ukulele: Kala KA-C
- 5. Best Baritone Ukulele: Kala Makala MK-B
- 6. Best Soprano Ukulele: Kala KA-15S
- 7. Best Concert Ukulele: Cordoba 15CM Concert
- 8. Most Beautiful Ukulele: Luna Tattoo Concert Mahogany Ukulele
- 9. Most Durable Ukulele: Mitchell MU70
- 10. Best Guitalele: Yamaha GL1 Guitalele
- Ukulele FAQ
- Your Full Guide to Buying the Best Ukuleles
- Final Thoughts
What to Look For in Ukuleles
Ukuleles are instruments that have a lot of character and personality. Getting to know an instrument is an important part of the buying process. In light of this, we have spent a lot of time and care including all the vital details about each ukulele on our list so you can get to know each one in a few brief moments of reading and listening.
Choosing an instrument can be difficult over the internet since you can’t put your hands on it and hear how it sounds as you play. In our Quick Facts section of our reviews, we include a link to a high-quality audio demo of each ukulele so you can listen to them all and find the one that best suits your preferences. We also include the type and style of each ukulele in this section so you can quickly scan through the list and find what you’re looking for.
There are four main types or sizes of ukulele, ordered from smallest to largest: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. The “standard” ukulele size is generally considered to be the soprano which is quite small and provides the typical, high and bright tones people tend to associate with ukuleles. Each step up in size offers deeper tones and typically increased volume output as well. Check out our guide on ukulele types for more information regarding sizing.
Without any further ado, let’s get to the list.
Top 10 Best Ukuleles 2024
1. Best Overall Ukulele: Kala KA-PWT
Why we like it:
The Kala KA-PWT is a well-crafted ukulele that provides excellent, bright tones at a great price.
Quick Specs:
- Listen:Youtube
- Type:Tenor
- Style:Acoustic
Overview
The Kala KA-PWT is one of Kala’s most popular offerings for a reason. When it comes to practically-priced ukuleles, Kala hits the perfect price to performance ratio with most of their products, and the KA-PWT is no exception to that rule.
This ukulele offers great sound with a solid construction that should stand up well to abuse from new and intermediate players as they learn the ropes. Instead of chucking in low-quality pack-ins like many beginner instrument offerings tend to, Kala opted to keep the price reasonable by focusing their efforts on the instrument itself. This means beginners may need to pick up a few other things like a tuner, picks, and a carrying case or gig bag for transportation and storage.
Quality
The Kala KA-PWT looks and plays the part equally well with its attractive walnut wood construction that provides bright, cheery tones. While it doesn’t sound as rich and full-bodied as high-end ukuleles, it sets the standard for ukuleles in and around its price range.
The Kala KA-PWT has great sound overall, but it can get a little muddied with too much treble when strumming. This isn’t likely something that will be noticed by newer players, but more experienced musicians will pick up on the somewhat overly bright tone this ukulele tends toward.
Who It’s Best For
The Kala KA-PWT is inexpensive enough for first-time uke owners while still offering a level of quality suitable for more experienced musicians. While other ukuleles may offer better sound quality, you’d be extremely hard pressed to find one that does so anywhere near the price of the Kala KA-PWT.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Excellent sound quality
- Attractive walnut body
- Great for beginner and intermediate players
Cons
- Tone trends toward excessively bright when strumming
Why we like it:
The Kala U-Bass packs the punch of an upright double bass with the form factor and weight of a child’s toy—which is awesome!
Quick Specs:
- Listen:Youtube
- Type:Bass
- Style:Acoustic-Electric
Overview
The Kala U-Bass is a charming little uke with a beautiful mahogany body that sports electronics and a tuner built into it. This acoustic-electric bass ukulele uses rubbery silicon strings to achieve a deep and rich tone that offers the same range of a standard 4-string bass guitar. These strings are incredibly easy on the fingers and have a lot of play, easily rolling over the fretboard—allowing the uke player to easily bend notes.
Quality
While it may not look like much, the Kala U-Bass is capable of producing deep, rich bass tones that are almost indistinguishable from those of an upright bass when the U-Bass is plugged into an amp or sound system. However, the quality and depth of the acoustic sound produced by the Kala U-Bass when it’s not plugged in is much less impressive. The silicon strings are very stretchy, which is great for playing funky licks but also results in the Kala U-Bass requiring frequent tuning while the strings are new.
Who It’s Best For
The Kala U-Bass would be a perfect beginner’s instrument for those interested in playing bass if not for its fairly steep price. The silicon strings are perfect for young players who haven’t developed calluses yet or for older players with arthritis or less strength in their hands and fingers. The Kala U-Bass produces excellent, deep tones when amped, but you may want to look elsewhere if you were planning on going au naturel as the sound level and quality drops off precipitously when this uke isn’t plugged in.
Pros
- Amazingly rich and deep tones when amped
- Silicon strings are easy to play on for young and old musicians
- Built-in electronics and tuner for quickly dialing in the perfect levels
Cons
- Fairly expensive
- Quality and volume of sound is lacking when unplugged
3. Best Budget Ukulele: Mitchell MU40
Why we like it:
The Mitchell MU40 is the go-to uke for beginners looking to dip their fingers into the world of ukuleles without breaking or even cracking the bank.
Quick Specs:
- Listen:Youtube
- Type:Soprano
- Style:Acoustic
Overview
The Mitchell MU40 is an entry-level ukulele that’s so inexpensive you won’t mind how not great it is. This is definitely a uke built for those with zero experience who just want to try their hand at the ukulele without dropping any more cash than absolutely necessary. Despite this, the Mitchell MU40 still produces solid volume and reasonable sound quality.
Quality
The Mitchell MU40 has solid build quality and comes in a variety of colors. While it certainly isn’t a premium offering, it’s also not a piece of junk. We do recommend replacing the strings fairly quickly as the stock strings are quite poor.
Let’s be real—the sound quality produced by the Mitchell MU40 is definitely not great. And they are prone to having intonation issues that result in fretted notes tending sharp. However, these problems are unlikely to be noticed by the target audience for the Mitchell MU40: uke noobs.
Who It’s Best For
The Mitchell MU40 is purpose-built as a starter ukulele and priced to fly off shelves. With a price this low, it’s fair to expect that the manufacturer made some compromises along the way. And they definitely did.
But even with its issues, the Mitchell MU40 still provides a ton of value and is an excellent entry-level offering great for people who haven’t decided whether the ukulele is the right instrument for them yet. They are also priced well for buying in bulk for music classes—especially if you can catch them on sale.
Pros
- Super inexpensive
- Solid build quality
- Great for beginners
Cons
- Intonation issues
- Sound quality isn’t great
4. Most Affordable Concert Ukulele: Kala KA-C
Why we like it:
The Kala KA-C sets the standard for inexpensive concert ukuleles with its excellent quality and volume of sound.
Quick Specs:
- Listen:Youtube
- Type:Concert
- Style:Acoustic
Overview
The Kala KA-C is a tidy little uke that is capable of producing quality notes at a loud volume for tunes that are as pleasing as they are portable. As a concert style ukulele, the Kala KA-C is a step above soprano ukes in terms of size and voice, but still quite compact overall. While it may not be the prettiest uke on our list, the Kala KA-C is well worth its asking price.
Quality
The Kala KA-C is a no-frills ukulele that offers a lot in terms of sound quality and volume despite its unassuming appearance. With its durable mahogany construction, the Kala KA-C offers dependable performance and lilting notes that ring true. Despite its bland looks, the Kala KA-C produces crisp and clear sounds that are sure to impress.
Who It’s Best For
Perhaps even more impressive than the Kala KA-C’s performance is its incredibly affordable price point. The Kala KA-C provides excellent value with its combination of great sound and low cost that makes this an attractive offering for seasoned veterans and uke noobs alike.
While it’s not nearly as cheap as the Mitchell MU40, the Kala KA-C has much better overall build quality and sound production—making it a great option for beginners that want a uke that will last them longer than true budget offerings.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Produces great volume
- Great build quality
- Competitively priced
Cons
- Not the prettiest uke around
5. Best Baritone Ukulele: Kala Makala MK-B
Why we like it:
The Kala MK-B is a charming and affordable baritone ukulele that offers excellent clarity and warmth of tone.
Quick Specs:
- Listen:Youtube
- Type:Baritone
- Style:Acoustic
Overview
You may have noticed by now that Kala brand ukuleles are popping up on our list a lot, and for good reason. The Kala MK-B is a finely crafted baritone ukulele that provides great sound quality. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Kala’s ukuleles is the level of quality they offer while still keeping their prices down.
Quality
The supremely affordable Kala MK-B is a treat to look at and listen to, thanks to Kala’s craftsmanship and attention to detail. Made from all-natural mahogany and rosewood, you won’t find any cheap pressboard here.
As you can hear in the listen link above, the Kala MK-B provides rich and vibrant tones with enough volume to get the job done. While it may not offer the best in terms of audio quality for higher-priced ukes, the Kala MK-B stands above similarly priced competitors. On the downside, the included strings aren’t the greatest and you’ll likely want to replace them immediately.
Who It’s Best For
As with most Kala ukes, the Kala MK-B is a great beginner to intermediate ukulele that balances cost and performance excellently to provide great value. The Kala MK-B offers rich and warm tones with its mahogany body. This baritone ukulele is perfect for people looking for a good middle ground between the size of a standard guitar and the much smaller standard uke.
Pros
- Very affordable
- High quality construction
- Great sound with loud, warm tones
Cons
- Included strings aren’t great
6. Best Soprano Ukulele: Kala KA-15S
Why we like it:
The Kala KA-15S is a fantastic little budget uke that provides great sound quality and volume despite its diminutive stature.
Quick Specs:
- Listen:Youtube
- Type:Soprano
- Style:Acoustic
Overview
Kala dominates our list for one good reason: they make excellent and affordable ukes. The Kala KA-15S sets the standard that all other entry-level ukuleles struggle to meet. This soprano ukulele provides bright, clear tones with a dash of warmth that keeps the sound from becoming overly treble intensive.
Quality
The Kala KA-15S may be small, but it makes big waves with the quality and volume of sound that it offers. Soprano ukuleles can often sound a bit too treble intensive, but the mahogany body of the Kala KA-15S resonates with a nice warmth that helps to ground the high notes that come from this little uke.
As with all Kala ukes, the Kala KA-15S has great craftsmanship and solid construction that won’t fall apart on you. The price on this ukulele is hard to beat without sacrificing quality considerably. To keep the price down, Kala doesn’t include any pack-ins, and they also tend to string their instruments with fairly poor strings which is also the case for the Kala KA-15S.
Who It’s Best For
The Kala KA-15S is a great beginner uke that provides excellent sound quality and volume at a very low cost. The price on the Kala KA-15S makes it a great gift for first-time ukers, but there are certainly better soprano ukuleles out there for more serious musicians that want performance-level quality of sound production.
Pros
- Incredibly affordable
- Great sound quality and volume
- Excellent construction and craftsmanship
Cons
- Poor quality of included strings
7. Best Concert Ukulele: Cordoba 15CM Concert
Why we like it:
The Cordoba 15CM Concert ukulele offers a delicate yet resonant sound and easy playability at a great price.
Quick Specs:
- Listen:Youtube
- Type:Concert
- Style:Acoustic
Overview
The Cordoba 15CM Concert ukulele is a pretty little thing that provides great sound with a distinct resonance different from many ukuleles. It strums and picks well with a clear, warm tone that doesn’t muddy itself up too much. The Cordoba 15CM Concert ukulele is priced to sell without being so cheap that it can’t provide great sound quality and lasting performance.
Quality
The Cordoba 15CM Concert ukulele has a mahogany body with a rosewood bridge and fretboard. Boasting solid build quality, this uke offers great sound quality that is warm and resonant. It plays well and holds up well over time, thanks to its solid construction.
As with most lower-end ukuleles, the included strings aren’t very high quality and will take some time to stretch so expect to tune often at first. The Cordoba 15CM Concert ukulele plays well but can be a bit touchy when it comes to finger placement for finding the sweet spot for playing chords.
Who It’s Best For
The Cordoba 15CM Concert ukulele is a great entry-level ukulele offered at a very reasonable price. It provides a somewhat unique sound different from many other ukuleles that many users love, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. The build quality is great, but some inconsistencies in the setup happen from time to time that may result in intonation issues.
Pros
- Unique resonant and warm tone
- Solid build quality
- Great price
Cons
- Finger placement can be touchy for playing in tune
- Included strings aren’t great
8. Most Beautiful Ukulele: Luna Tattoo Concert Mahogany Ukulele
Why we like it:
The Luna Tattoo Concert ukulele is a beautiful little uke that offers cheery tones and great style at an affordable price.
Quick Specs:
- Listen:Youtube
- Type:Concert
- Style:Acoustic
Overview
The Luna Tattoo Concert ukulele is decorated with laser-etched detailing on its mahogany body that looks great and sounds great too. This ukulele comes with an included gig bag at a great price to provide solid overall value. It has style in spades, but the build quality is somewhat suspect in some areas.
Quality
The Luna Tattoo Concert ukulele is an attractive uke that offers good tone and plays well out of the box. The included strings are quite poor and will require lots of tuning as they stretch over time. There are some concerns regarding the longevity of this ukulele due to issues with the neck bowing over time. The frets also project off the neck a bit too much, causing some discomfort when moving up and down the fretboard.
Who It’s Best For
The Luna Tattoo Concert ukulele is a solid choice for first-timers despite some unfortunate drawbacks. This uke looks great and provides excellent sound quality and volume, but the frets sit a bit high off the fretboard which can cause discomfort during play. With heaps of style and great sound at an excellent price, the Luna Tattoo Concert ukulele offers good value overall for beginner ukulele musicians.
Pros
- Great price
- Beautiful laser-etched detailing
- Solid sound quality and volume
- Comes with a gig bag
Cons
- The neck can bow over time
- Frets could be set deeper
- Poor quality strings
9. Most Durable Ukulele: Mitchell MU70
Why we like it:
The Mitchell MU70 is a solid and attractive ukulele that holds up well to a beating while providing a decent tone.
Quick Specs:
- Listen:Youtube
- Type:Concert
- Style:Acoustic
Overview
The Mitchell MU70 is an attractive concert sized ukulele that offers great playability and decent quality and volume of sound at a reasonable price. This ukulele provides solid overall value, but it has a hard time competing with the other ukuleles in its price range due to its lower quality of sound. However, the sturdiness of the Mitchell MU70 is well worth mentioning as it makes it a great option for young players that might not take the best care of their instruments.
Quality
The Mitchell MU70 is a great starter ukulele thanks to its solid build and sturdy construction that can take a beating. We think this ukulele is particularly well-suited for younger players due to its smaller size and its ability to withstand rough treatment.
The Mitchell MU70 has some tendency to buzz due to a bit of looseness in the tuning pegs that can vibrate during play. It also has a bit of a muddy sound, likely as a result of its thicker construction. The tradeoff is worth considering as new players are unlikely to notice the drawbacks of the Mitchell MU70 while its sturdy construction will help it last even if it’s not properly cared for.
Who It’s Best For
The Mitchell MU70 is a good option for young beginner players thanks to its solid build quality and decent sound production. This uke provides good volume levels and good enough tone quality while being capable of taking a fair beating. It’s not the best sounding uke out there, but it gets the job done and holds up well over time.
Pros
- Sturdy construction—great for rough handlers
- Reasonable price
- Looks great
Cons
- Sound quality is lacking
- Tendency to buzz during play
10. Best Guitalele: Yamaha GL1 Guitalele
Why we like it:
The Yamaha GL1 is a solid guitalele offered at a great price that plays like a guitar with the form factor and charm of a ukulele.
Quick Specs:
- Listen:Youtube
- Type:Guitalele
- Style:Acoustic
Overview
The Yamaha GL1 is a solid guitalele that provides great quality of tone and volume level for playing in all kinds of settings. The Yamaha guitalele is a tidy little instrument that has 6 strings like a standard guitar to make bridging the divide between guitar and ukulele much easier. Its size is similar to a tenor ukulele, making it more portable than a guitar without being so small that it’s overly difficult for those with larger hands to play.
Quality
The Yamaha GL1 guitalele is solidly built with a no-frills design that keeps the price very reasonable. While it doesn’t provide the greatest level of sound quality, it performs nicely in that regard while also offering excellent volume levels. It may not be the prettiest ukulele on our list, but it has a simple kind of charm, nonetheless.
Who It’s Best For
The Yamaha GL1 guitalele is a versatile and super fun instrument that’s perfect for noodling just about anywhere, thanks to its size and volume output. This Yamaha guitalele is great for musicians who are looking to transition between guitar and ukulele with as little friction as possible. It’s also a great choice for guitar players to bring along with them for quick jam sessions on the go.
Pros
- Great for transitioning between guitar and ukulele
- Excellent volume output
- Easy and fun to play
Cons
- Sound quality could be better
Ukulele FAQ
Ukuleles are fairly straightforward instruments with a lot of obvious similarities to guitars; however, they also have a lot of variance in terms of the different types available for purchase. People who are new to ukuleles have a lot of questions, and we’re here to answer them.
The most common type of ukulele is the soprano, which is quite small but can still provide a lot in terms of quality and level of sound. The soprano ukulele is a great choice for beginners because its small size makes it easier to handle, transport, and store.
However, the small size of the soprano ukulele can also be a drawback for people with larger hands. We’d recommend a soprano ukulele for beginners with smaller hands, but suggest larger individuals consider moving up in size to a concert or tenor ukulele if the soprano seems too small for you.
A lot of people look to the ukulele as a beginner instrument for learning to play stringed instruments, and for good reason. The ukulele is an excellent starter instrument because it only has four strings, and you can buy great-sounding ones for a lot cheaper than most other instruments.
While the soprano ukulele is the standard size that you’re most likely to find in music classrooms across the country, it’s not necessarily the easiest for everyone to learn on. Like we mentioned when talking about the best beginner ukulele size, the size that’s easiest to learn will be the one that’s most comfortable for you to play.
The best size ukulele to learn on is whichever size you find to be the most comfortable or enjoyable to play because the best way to learn is to just play all the time. Ukuleles also tend to be so affordable that you could always buy a few different sizes to play whichever one matches the mood you’re in. For more information, check out this quick video on finding the right size for you.
When it comes to the sound quality of a ukulele there is a lot of personal preference involved. Soprano ukuleles offer a high and bright sound that is great for quick, happy melodies and upbeat performances. Larger ukuleles tend to offer more in terms of volume output capabilities while still offering a great ukulele sound with a lot of character.
Every ukulele has its own unique sound that results from the specifics of its construction like what materials are used, the strings it has, and the shape and size of the uke. The only way to find the ukulele that sounds best to you is by listening to a lot of them which is why we have a link for each ukulele on our list where you can hear what that specific uke sounds like.
This is another one that comes down primarily to preference. Once again, the best way to learn any instrument is to just play it all the time. This means the instrument you should learn first is the one you’re going to enjoy playing the most. Whichever instrument you play the most will be the one you learn the fastest on.
Having said that, guitars are generally considered to be slightly more difficult to learn than ukuleles due to the size difference and the number of strings. Ukuleles also tend to be easier on the fingers as their strings tend to be made from a softer material than guitar strings. Check out our rundown on ukulele strings for more details regarding that.
Ukuleles are very simple instruments that are highly recommended for beginners that want to test the waters of stringed instruments, but guitars are great for new players as well if just a tad more difficult to learn. Learning either instrument will make the other easier to pick up later on down the road.
Your Full Guide to Buying the Best Ukuleles
Every ukulele on our list is a solid option that has the potential to be your new favorite toy, but finding the one that’s best for you requires careful consideration and a solid foundation of ukulele knowledge.
To help make the process of finding the best ukulele for you easier, we have put together this informational resource that covers the basics of ukuleles and the things you should pay attention to during your search.
Ukulele Types
We mentioned at the top of this article that there are four standard types of ukuleles, from smallest to largest: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. There are other niche types of ukuleles also such as the pineapple ukulele, which has a much rounder body, or the bigger U-bass that offers the deepest notes available from a uke, but these four are the most common.
Let’s talk about each size and their benefits and drawbacks.
Soprano Ukulele
Soprano ukuleles are the most common type of ukulele and are the ones most people think of when they think about ukuleles. They are generally about 53cm in total length and have a standard G/C/E/A tuning like most ukuleles. Their small size helps them create a unique, bright tone that is the unmistakable uke sound.
They are quite easy to play, especially for people with smaller hands that struggle to form chords on something like a guitar. The small size of the soprano results in the strings not having a ton of tension on them, which makes it easier to bend notes (accidentally or otherwise) while playing one.
Concert Ukulele
Also called the alto ukulele, the concert ukulele is a small step up in size from the soprano. They are only slightly longer with an average length of 58cm, but they tend to have a fuller sound than sopranos. These also have a tuning of G/C/E/A like the soprano.
The larger size makes these easier to play for those with larger hands by a marginal difference. The increased size also means there is slightly more tension on the strings, so they don’t bend quite as easily compared to the strings on a soprano uke.
Tenor Ukulele
While still small in comparison to standard guitars, tenor ukuleles are a bit easier to play than sopranos thanks to their larger size. They are generally around 66cm in length and have a standard tuning of G/C/E/A.
Tenor ukuleles produce a sound that many consider to be more versatile in terms of musical styles while still producing the characteristic ukulele feeling in terms of sound.
Baritone Ukulele
The baritone ukulele is considerably bigger at an average length of 76cm, providing the largest jump in relative size. Baritones are also tuned differently from the other ukuleles with a tuning of D/G/B/E.
The larger size allows the baritone ukulele to have a much deeper and more resonant sound with a lot more bass compared to other ukuleles. The baritone ukulele is often considered the easiest transition instrument for going between guitar and ukulele due to its size and tuning.
Ukulele Strings
Much like guitars, there are a surprising number of choices when it comes to picking what strings to use on your ukulele. Here are the most common ukulele string types:
Nylon Strings
These are the standard type of ukulele string that provide that mellow sound ukuleles are so well known for. Nylon strings are soft and gentle on the fingers which is one of the primary factors that makes ukuleles great for beginners.
Fluorocarbon Strings
Fluorocarbon is a material that was originally created for fishing lines, but it has become one of the most popular string types for modern ukulele players thanks to its ability to last longer while also providing a louder and brighter sound than nylon.
Steel Strings
Steel strings are the most common string type for guitars but can also be found on ukuleles from time to time. They offer a very bright twang and a lot of volume while also typically staying in tune longer than standard ukulele strings tend to.
Wound Strings
Available in either nylon or metal variations, wound strings use a core of material with another material wrapped around it to provide rich sounds that balance between different string types.
In general, nylon or fluorocarbon strings are considered to be the best for producing that unique uke sound. They also are easier on the fingers than metal strings. Nylon strings tend to be fairly inexpensive, but they are also prone to going out of tune fairly easily—requiring lots of tuning. Fluorocarbon strings, on the other hand, tend to stay in tune longer and offer more volume, but they are also more expensive.
These aren’t all of the string types, but they are the most commonly found ones. The type of string you use will drastically alter the sound of your ukulele, so make sure you experiment with all different kinds to find the ones you like the best.
Final Thoughts
The ukulele is an amazingly versatile instrument that can be used in all kinds of musical styles and genres despite it often being seen as an island instrument. Ukes are fantastic starter instruments thanks to their ease of play, relatively low cost, and how much fun they are.
If you still aren’t sure which one to get, try giving them another listen with headphones on to get a better feeling of how each one sounds. Good luck, and have fun!