Best Acoustic Guitar for Small Hands (2026): 5 Picks Compared

Updated Oct 24, 2026 · By Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank

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The Ashthorpe cutaway thinline leads this search for the best acoustic guitar for small hands as Best Overall: its 41-inch body is only 3 inches thick with a cutaway at the neck. If you want a 3/4-size body, the Yamaha APXT2 is the Runner-Up.

The picks at a glance

#	Pick	Product
1	Best Overall	Ashthorpe Full-Size Cutaway Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar Package	Check on Amazon
2	Runner-Up	Yamaha APXT2 3/4-Size Acoustic-Electric Guitar	Check on Amazon
3	Also Great	Fender CD-60 Dreadnought V3 Acoustic Guitar	Check on Amazon
4	Also Great	Washburn Bella Tono Vite S9V Studio Cutaway	Check on Amazon
5	Also Great	YAMAHA FS800 Small Body Solid Top Acoustic	Check on Amazon

Which one should you buy?

Players who want a 3-inch thinline body: Ashthorpe Full-Size Cutaway Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar Package See pick 1
Players with smaller hands who want a 3/4-size guitar: Yamaha APXT2 3/4-Size Acoustic-Electric Guitar See pick 2
Beginners who want a slim neck and 20 frets: Fender CD-60 Dreadnought V3 Acoustic Guitar See pick 3More picks: Best Acoustic Electric Guitar for Beginners
Players who want a cutaway and a 25.5 scale: Washburn Bella Tono Vite S9V Studio Cutaway See pick 4
Players who want a solid top and a concert body: YAMAHA FS800 Small Body Solid Top Acoustic See pick 5

The 5 picks, ranked

1Best Overall

Ashthorpe Full-Size Cutaway Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar Package

Built-in pickup / EQ
Cutaway
Case or gig bag included
Body shape: Travel
Top wood: Spruce Wood
90-day warranty stated
4.2 lb, the lightest here

9.8Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Best Overall with a thinline 3-inch body, a cutaway at the neck and an onboard 4-band pickup.

Who it suits

Players who want a 3-inch thinline body
Buyers who want a cutaway and onboard EQ

Skip it if

You want a 3/4-size body; this is full-size
You want a 2-year warranty; this has 90 days

The kit includes a gig bag, three picks, a guitar cable, a shoulder strap, an extra set of strings and a manual. The 41-inch spruce and basswood body carries phosphor bronze strings, chrome tuning pegs and a 4.2 lb weight. It has a 90-day warranty.

2Runner-Up

Yamaha APXT2 3/4-Size Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Built-in pickup / EQ
Cutaway not stated in the listing
Case or gig bag included
Body shape: 3/4-Size
Top wood: Spruce Wood
1 year warranty stated

9.6Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Runner-Up with a 3/4-size body that suits smaller hands, plus a built-in tuner and gig bag.

Who it suits

Players with smaller hands who want a 3/4-size guitar
Travelers who want a padded gig bag in the box

Skip it if

You want a full dreadnought; this is 3/4-size
You want a 4.2 lb guitar; this is 5.3 lb

The 3/4-size body has a spruce top, meranti back and sides and a rosewood fretboard. The System68 A.R.T. preamp and contact pickup plug into an amp with less feedback, and a built-in tuner keeps tuning quick. The padded gig bag and 1-year warranty are included.

3Also Great

Fender CD-60 Dreadnought V3 Acoustic Guitar

Built-in pickup / EQ not stated in the listing
Cutaway not stated in the listing
Case or gig bag included
Body shape: Dreadnought
Top wood: Spruce
2-year warranty stated

9.1Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Also Great with a dreadnought body, a slim neck and a hardshell case in the box.

Who it suits

Beginners who want a slim neck and 20 frets
Players who want a dreadnought with a hardshell case

Skip it if

You want a 3/4-size body; this is full-size
You want a 4.2 lb guitar; this is 10 lb

The dreadnought has a spruce top, mahogany back and sides and a walnut fingerboard with 20 frets. The slim neck has rolled fingerboard edges, and the nut width is 1.69 inches. It includes a hardshell case and a 2-year warranty.

4Also Great

Washburn Bella Tono Vite S9V Studio Cutaway

Built-in pickup / EQ
Cutaway
Case or gig bag included not stated in the listing
Top wood: Spruce Wood
Lifetime warranty stated

9.1Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Also Great with a studio cutaway body, a Barcus Berry preamp and a lifetime warranty.

Who it suits

Players who want a cutaway and a 25.5 scale
Buyers who want an ebony fretboard and walnut back

Skip it if

You want a 3/4-size body; this is a studio body
You want a 4.2 lb guitar; this is 8 lb

The studio cutaway body has a spruce top, walnut back and sides and an ebony fretboard with vine inlays. The Barcus Berry LX4 preamp and pickup system plugs into an amp, and it ships with D'Addario EXP-16 light phosphor bronze strings. It carries a lifetime warranty.

5Also Great

YAMAHA FS800 Small Body Solid Top Acoustic

Solid top
Built-in pickup / EQ not stated in the listing
Cutaway not stated in the listing
Body shape: Concert
Top wood: Solid Sitka Spruce
1 year warranty stated

9.0Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Also Great with a solid sitka spruce top, a concert body and a 634 mm scale.

Who it suits

Players who want a solid top and a concert body
Buyers who want a rosewood fingerboard and bridge

Skip it if

You want a cutaway; this has a concert body
You want a 4.2 lb guitar; this is 5.8 lb

The concert body has a solid sitka spruce top, nato back and sides, a rosewood fingerboard and a rosewood bridge. Diecast tuners and an adjustable truss rod keep setup stable. It weighs 5.8 lb and carries a 1-year warranty.

Side by side

Product	Solid top	Built-in pickup / EQ	Cutaway	Case or gig bag included	Body shape	Top wood	Weight	Warranty
Ashthorpe Full-Size Cutaway Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar Package	Not stated	Yes	Yes	Yes	Travel	Spruce Wood	4.2 lb	90-day
Yamaha APXT2 3/4-Size Acoustic-Electric Guitar	Not stated	Yes	Not stated	Yes	3/4-Size	Spruce Wood	5.3 lb	1 year
Fender CD-60 Dreadnought V3 Acoustic Guitar	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Yes	Dreadnought	Spruce	10 lb	2-year
Washburn Bella Tono Vite S9V Studio Cutaway	Not stated	Yes	Yes	Not stated	Not stated	Spruce Wood	8 lb	lifetime
YAMAHA FS800 Small Body Solid Top Acoustic	Yes	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Concert	Solid Sitka Spruce	5.8 lb	1 year

How we ranked these acoustic guitars

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
Cutaway weight 1
Case or gig bag included weight 1

Buying advice: acoustic guitar for small hands

Body size comes first

A smaller body puts the frets closer and the guitar lighter in your lap. The Yamaha APXT2 is a 3/4-size guitar made for smaller hands, and the Yamaha FS800 concert body is a step down from a dreadnought. The Ashthorpe keeps a 41-inch length but thins the body to 3 inches with a cutaway. Match the body to your reach.

Cutaway and neck shape

A cutaway opens the top frets so your hand reaches them without stretching; the Ashthorpe and the Washburn both have one. A slim neck with rolled edges, like the Fender CD-60, fits a smaller grip. The Yamaha APXT2 pairs its 3/4-size body with a 58 cm scale, and the Washburn lists 25.5. Shorter scales mean less stretch between frets.

Solid top and setup

A solid top is one piece of wood instead of glued layers; the Yamaha FS800 has a solid sitka spruce top. The other four list spruce or spruce tops without the solid word. Phosphor bronze strings come on the Ashthorpe and the Washburn, and the FS800 adds an adjustable truss rod for setup. Budget for a setup if the action is high.

Frequently asked questions

What size guitar is best for small hands?

A 3/4-size guitar like the Yamaha APXT2 is made for smaller hands, and a concert body like the Yamaha FS800 is a step down from a dreadnought. The Ashthorpe keeps full length but thins the body to 3 inches with a cutaway. Try the body sizes in person if you can.

Does a cutaway help small hands?

Yes. A cutaway removes body wood at the neck joint so your hand reaches the top frets without stretching around the body. The Ashthorpe and the Washburn both have a cutaway for those high frets.

Is a solid top worth it for beginners?

A solid top is one piece of wood instead of glued layers; the Yamaha FS800 has a solid sitka spruce top. The other four picks list spruce tops without the solid word. If you want a solid top here, the FS800 is the pick.

Do any of these plug into an amp?

Yes. The Ashthorpe, the Yamaha APXT2 and the Washburn are acoustic-electric with onboard pickups: a 4-band EQ on the Ashthorpe, a System68 preamp on the APXT2 and a Barcus Berry LX4 on the Washburn.