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Best 5 String Ukulele (2026): 4 Picks Compared

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The Donner DUT-1 leads this list as Best Overall: a 26-inch tenor ukulele with a mahogany top and a bundle that includes a gig bag, a strap, a tuner, extra strings, picks and a cleaning cloth. If you need 5 strings, the Batking ubass is the only 5-string pick here, with an electric EQ under the bridge and a padded gig bag.

The picks at a glance

Which one should you buy?

  • Beginners who want free online video lessons included: Donner Tenor Ukulele Mahogany Professional 26 inch See pick 1More picks: Best Ukulele for Beginners
  • Players who want a solid mahogany top on a tenor: Cordoba 20TM-CE Acoustic Electric Tenor Ukulele See pick 2
  • Players who want a 5-string electric ukulele bass: Batking Ukulele bass fretted 5 String Ukelele See pick 3More picks: Best Electric Ukulele
  • Players who want a concert-size ukulele with a case: Kala MK-C Makala Concert Ukulele See pick 4

Want the full range? Best Ukulele ranks the top ukuleles for every buyer, or browse all 48 guides.

The 4 picks, ranked

1Best Overall

Donner Tenor Ukulele Mahogany Professional 26 inch

Donner Tenor Ukulele Mahogany Professional 26 inch

  • Case or gig bag included
  • Tuner included
  • Size: tenor
  • Top wood: Mahogany
  • 2-year warranty stated
9.8Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Best Overall with a mahogany top, 18 brass frets, a 26-inch tenor body and a bundle with a gig bag, strap and tuner.

Who it suits

  • Beginners who want free online video lessons included
  • Players who want a tenor ukulele with a gig bag

Skip it if

  • You want a 5-string ukulele rather than a tenor
  • You want a concert-size ukulele rather than a tenor

The DUT-1 is a 26-inch tenor ukulele with a mahogany top, back and neck. The bundle holds a gig bag, a strap, a tuner, 4 extra Aquila nylon strings, 4 picks and a cleaning cloth. It has 18 brass frets with position marks at the 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th frets, and it carries a 2-year warranty.

2Runner-Up

Cordoba 20TM-CE Acoustic Electric Tenor Ukulele

Cordoba 20TM-CE Acoustic Electric Tenor Ukulele

  • Solid top
  • Built-in pickup / EQ
  • Case or gig bag included not stated in the listing
  • Size: tenor
  • Top wood: Solid Mahogany
  • 3 year warranty stated
9.6Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Runner-Up with a solid mahogany top, a soft cutaway and a built-in 2Band EQ.

Who it suits

  • Players who want a solid mahogany top on a tenor
  • Players who want a cutaway ukulele with a 2Band EQ

Skip it if

  • You want a 5-string ukulele rather than a tenor
  • You want a concert-size ukulele rather than a tenor

The 20TM-CE is a tenor ukulele with a solid mahogany top and mahogany back and sides. It has a rosewood bridge and fingerboard, a soft cutaway and a 2Band EQ. It ships with Aquila Nylgut tenor strings in GCEA, weighs 1.3 lb and carries a 3 year warranty.

3Also Great

Batking Ukulele bass fretted 5 String Ukelele

Batking Ukulele bass fretted 5 String Ukelele

  • Case or gig bag included
  • Top wood: Ash Wood, Maple
9.1Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Also Great as the only 5-string pick here: an electric ubass with ash wood, a maple neck and an EQ under the bridge.

Who it suits

  • Players who want a 5-string electric ukulele bass
  • Professional players and beginners who want an electric ubass

Skip it if

  • You want a 4-string acoustic tenor ukulele
  • You want a concert-size ukulele rather than a bass

The Batking ubass is a 5-string electric ukulele bass with ash wood, maple and basswood in the body. It has a truss rod to adjust the neck and keep it straight, plus an EQ under the bridge to adjust volume and tune. It comes with a padded gig bag and a 1/4-inch jack, and it is finished in blue.

4Also Great

Kala MK-C Makala Concert Ukulele

Kala MK-C Makala Concert Ukulele

  • Case or gig bag included
  • Size: concert
  • Top wood: Mahogany
  • 1 year warranty stated
9.0Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Also Great as a concert-size ukulele with a mahogany top, an agathis body and a satin finish.

Who it suits

  • Players who want a concert-size ukulele with a case
  • Players who want a mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard

Skip it if

  • You want a 5-string ukulele rather than a concert
  • You want a tenor-size ukulele rather than a concert

The MK-C is a concert ukulele with a mahogany top and an agathis body in a satin finish. It has a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, a mahogany neck and fret position marks on the fingerboard. It comes with a case and carries a 1 year warranty.

Side by side

ProductSolid topBuilt-in pickup / EQCase or gig bag includedTuner includedSizeTop woodWeightWarranty
Donner Tenor Ukulele Mahogany Professional 26 inchNot statedNot statedYesYestenorMahogany3.3 lb2-year
Cordoba 20TM-CE Acoustic Electric Tenor UkuleleYesYesNot statedNot statedtenorSolid Mahogany1.3 lb3 year
Batking Ukulele bass fretted 5 String UkeleleNot statedNot statedYesNot statedNot statedAsh Wood, MapleNot statedNot stated
Kala MK-C Makala Concert UkuleleNot statedNot statedYesNot statedconcertMahogany1 lb1 year

How we ranked these ukuleles

Every pick has at least 100 customer ratings on Amazon and a listing with real specifications. The order mixes two things: how each model compares on the specs below (higher share of the best value in this group scores more), and how widely it is bought. The spec score runs from 9.0 to 9.8 and only compares these picks with each other. A spec the listing does not state is left out and the other specs are re-weighted; a listing with fewer than 2 stated specs is scored at half. We do not test gear in person. Full method.

  • Solid top weight 3
  • Built-in pickup / EQ weight 2
  • Case or gig bag included weight 1
  • Tuner included weight 1

Buying advice: 5 string ukulele

Count the strings before you buy

Most ukuleles here have 4 strings, but the Batking ubass has 5. If you want a 5-string bass ukulele, the Batking is the pick, with an electric EQ under the bridge and a padded gig bag. If you want a tenor or concert ukulele, the Donner, Cordoba and Kala picks all have 4 strings. Check the string count before you buy.

Choose tenor or concert size

The Donner and Cordoba picks are tenor size, while the Kala MK-C is concert size. The Batking is a 5-string fretted bass, not a tenor or concert ukulele. Pick the size that matches the instrument you already play, and check the size in the specs before you buy.

Check what comes in the box

Bundles differ a lot across these picks. The Donner bundle holds a gig bag, a strap, a tuner, 4 extra Aquila nylon strings, 4 picks and a cleaning cloth. The Batking comes with a padded gig bag, and the Kala comes with a case. Compare the included parts before you buy, so you know what else you need for your first session.

Frequently asked questions

Which pick here has 5 strings?

The Batking ubass. It is a 5-string electric ukulele bass with ash wood, a maple neck and an EQ under the bridge.

What comes in the Donner DUT-1 bundle?

A gig bag, a strap, a tuner, 4 extra Aquila nylon strings, 4 picks and a cleaning cloth, plus the 26-inch tenor ukulele.

Is the Cordoba 20TM-CE a solid top ukulele?

Yes. It has a solid mahogany top with mahogany back and sides, a soft cutaway and a 2Band EQ.

What size is the Kala MK-C ukulele?

Concert size. It has a mahogany top, an agathis body in a satin finish and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge.

Gear that goes with it

More ukuleles guides

Specifications and availability come from each Amazon listing on Oct 24, 2026 and can change. Check the listing before you buy.