The most common acoustic guitar body styles are the dreadnought, jumbo, orchestra, concert, parlor, classical, and flamenco, along with travel guitars and 3/4 models. The dimensions of an acoustic guitar take into account the upper and lower bouts, waist, and depth of the sides which vary along the length of the guitar.
| Jumbo | Dreadnought | Orchestra | Concert | Parlor |
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| Modern Classical | Flamenco | Travel Guitars | Mini | |
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When first starting on guitar, it’s easy to miss the finer details. At first, all acoustic guitars sound much the same. But over time as you develop your musical tastes and improve your playing, the body shape, style, and size of your acoustic guitar will become more important.
As with electric guitars, there are many different body styles and sizes to choose from.
But, unlike electric guitars which rely heavily on the guitar’s electronics for tone, response, and volume acoustic guitars rely almost completely on the construction of the guitar, most notably the overall size/dimensions, and materials used for the construction and body style.
You will find the 9 most common below and additional information about the history, and genres they are most associated with. So, if you don’t know the difference between a dreadnought and a concert guitar, stay tuned this article is for you.
Acoustic Guitar Dimensions / Sizes Explained
Acoustic guitar bodies are measured in length by depth.
e.g. the length of an acoustic guitar = the distance from the neck joint to the strap button on the bottom of the guitar.
The width of the guitar takes into account the upper and lower body curves (aka bouts) e.g. upper bout width and lower bout width.
The waist refers to the section of the guitar between the lower and upper bouts.
Depth refers to the sides of the body and can vary between the upper and lower bouts depending on the guitar and may look something like 3 3/4″ – 4 3/4″
*Keep in mind there are no absolute standards when it comes to the size and shape of acoustic guitar bodies and some manufacturers use terms such as ‘parlor’ and ‘concert’ styles interchangeably or use different terms completely.
Cutaways
Cutaways are not listed separately in our list below because the vast majority of acoustic guitars can also be found in a cutaway version with the exception of many classical and flamenco models.
A cutaway simply refers to the section removed from the upper bout on the bottom half of the guitar. Guitar bodies are purposely designed in this way to improve access to the upper frets that are otherwise difficult to reach on an acoustic guitar.
Guitar Body Thickness
The thickness of the materials used for the back, sides, and top will vary due to the different characteristics of the tonewoods used.
As a general rule sides need to be thin enough to be shaped e.g. 080″ to . 085″. Backs are usually around .11″ and the top is a shade thinner (.10″) as the top moves more than the back of the guitar and as a result should be lighter and more resonant.
Dreadnought Acoustic Guitars
The dreadnought guitar was first produced in 1916 by the Martin Guitar Company for the Oliver Ditson Company, the Ditson 111. It wasn’t until 1931 that Martin released the Dreadnought under the Martin name, intended for country musicians.
Initial sales were poor, most likely due to the blockier, larger body shape of the guitar. But, over time the dreadnought became a staple and is now easily the most recognizable style of acoustic guitar available.
The dreadnought is synonymous with the steel-string acoustic guitar and being the most common body shape, makes a good starting point for comparing the guitars to follow.
* Also referred to as the ‘D size’ model e.g. Martin D-18, Martin D-36.
Dreadnought guitar size
*Dimensions are based on the Martin D-18
| Total length | 40.5″ |
| Body Length | 19 7/8″ |
| Upper bout width | 11 3/8″ |
| Lower bout width | 15 5/8″ |
| Depth | 3 3/4″ – 4 3/4″ |
| Fingerboard width at the nut | 1 3/4” |
Body Style and Size
Named after the HMS Dreadnought, the iconic battleship of the early 20th century (due to its large, square body shape) the dreadnought was first produced in 1916 by Martin & Co. and has since been copied by almost all acoustic guitar manufacturers.
Generally speaking, the larger the body the more volume the acoustic guitar produces. The dreadnought was designed with volume in mind thanks to its large soundboard in comparison to earlier models.
The defining features of the dreadnought are the shallow waist (the area between the upper and low body bouts) making the dreadnought appear considerably squarer but providing the guitar with a more expansive internal cavity and soundboard and the square shoulder profile.
The dreadnought is ideal for flat-picking and strumming but is also often used for percussive fingerstyle guitar. A versatile instrument, it’s well suited to a wide array of musical styles due to its balanced output and prominent bass and mid-range response, largely thanks to the guitar’s wider-than-average waist.
Being a large-bodied guitar, from a tonal perspective, the dreadnought tends to produce a boomier low-end tone with good clarity in the upper mid ranges.
Body style variations:
Slope shouldered Dreadnought
As the name suggests the slope-shouldered dreadnought features a more rounded shoulder profile, similar to that of a classical guitar.
First designed by the Gibson guitar company and named the ‘Jumbo’. The slope-shouldered dreadnought was Gibson’s first dreadnought guitar, closely followed by the better-known Gibson J-45.
Parlor Acoustic Guitars
Parlor guitars (the smallest full-sized guitars) were named after the ‘parlor’ or sitting room of the home.
The parlor was used to entertain guests, before the days of radio and TV. Parlor guitars are enjoying somewhat of a resurgence, thanks in part to being the first acoustic guitar played on the international space station.
Body Style and Size
Popular around the turn of the century, parlor guitars, given their small stature were one of the first affordable production guitars available. The name ‘parlor’ is typically associated with any guitar smaller than a ‘concert size – O’ guitar, although some ‘O’ model Martin guitars are also referred to as parlor guitars.
Considered an ideal ‘fingerpickers’ guitar due to its compact and comfortable size. The lack of overarching bass tones provides more clarity for the guitar’s mid and upper ranges, making it less suited to strumming but highly responsive to fingerstyle playing. While the dreadnought projects greater volume when played with a lighter touch the parlor is typically more responsive.
Compared to the standard dreadnought acoustic a parlor guitar’s body shape appears elongated. The guitar is designed this way to increase the size of the soundboard, in an attempt to produce more volume from the guitar. With the advent of amplification, this is less of an issue and may be one of the reasons the parlor guitar is becoming more popular again.
Parlor Guitar Dimensions
*Dimensions are based on the Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey Acoustic/Electric
| Body Length | 17.87″ |
| Depth | 3.75″ |
| Width | 13″ |
Concert Acoustic Guitars
Designed primarily as a louder, brighter version of the parlor guitar. Concert guitars are similar in size and body shape to a standard classical guitar.
Body Size/Dimensions
*Dimensions are based on the Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat
| Body Length | 18″ |
| Lower Bout | 13.5″ |
| Upper Bout | 10″ |
| Depth | 4.25″ |
Body Style and Size
While still a long way from the more full-bodied jumbo and dreadnought, from around the mid-19th century concert guitars were considered the standard body style and size of acoustic guitars. Martin’s ’00’ series is perhaps the best-known example.
Featuring a far more rounded body shape than both the dreadnought and parlor, concert guitars feature a narrower waist and contrasting upper and lower bouts. The upper bout is about 3-4 inches narrower than the bottom bout providing a more contrasting appearance between the two.
The depth of the guitar is also narrower than a dreadnought which provides a more comfortable playing experience when seated however results in a less spacious internal cavity, affecting the volume and projection of the guitar.
As a result, the guitar produces less volume overall than a larger-bodied guitar but offers a balanced tone and higher degree of response, making it more ideally suited to fingerpicking and melodic playing, as opposed to strumming.
Smaller body guitars such as the concert body style tend to also suit folk music and singer-songwriters due to their less prominent mid-range which provides much-needed space for the vocalist. John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, and Bob Dylan are three names that spring to mind.
Body style variations:
Depending on the manufacturer. The grand concert is typically wider at the bottom bout but may also be shallower than the standard concert acoustic body.
Orchestra/Auditorium Acoustic Guitars
Coming to prominence around the 1920s, Orchestra acoustic guitars are only second to the dreadnought in popularity.
* The name ‘orchestra’ and ‘auditorium’ is often used interchangeably, however, some manufacturers produce a slightly larger orchestra model. Martin guitars also use ‘000’ and ‘0m’ to define this body style and size.
Body Size/Dimensions
*Dimensions are based on the Martin OM-28E
| Body Length | 18-7/8″ |
| Upper Bout Width | 10 7/8″ |
| Lower Bout Width | 14 5/15″ |
| Depth | 3 11/32″ – 4 1/8″ |
Body Style and Size
With greater width and depth than the concert body style, auditorium-style bodies feature a lower bout similar in width but with a tighter waist giving the guitar a far less ‘blocky’ appearance than the dreadnought. As a result orchestra/auditorium bodies contain a larger soundboard than smaller models resulting in greater volume.
As a result, the auditorium body style is just as comfortable being strummed as a larger guitar. However, the tighter waist accentuates the mid and upper tones resulting in a tonal quality situated somewhere between the Dreadnought and the concert and considered more of an ‘all-rounder’ than a specialist guitar. The orchestra body style was famously used by Eric Clapton during his unplugged sessions.
Body style variations:
Grand Auditorium
Developed by Taylor Guitars and first introduced in the early ’90s. The grand auditorium is Taylor’s most popular body style.
Jumbo Acoustic Guitars
No surprises for guessing that the jumbo acoustic guitar is on the larger side. Born out of increasing demand for volume as guitars started replacing banjos in popular music, they are often used in country and rock.
Jumbo guitars were first introduced by Gibson guitars (J-200) in 1937.
Jumbo Body Size/Dimensions
*Dimensions are based on the Guild F55
| Body Length | 20 5/8″ |
| Lower Bout | 17 1/4″ |
| Upper Bout | 12.5″ |
| Depth | 4.75″ |
Body Style and Size
The most obvious feature of the jumbo is the body size. Considerably larger than mid-range size acoustic guitars such as the OM, jumbo guitars feature a rounded body and narrow waist compared to the dreadnought.
The jumbo, due to the size of the soundboard and spacious internal cavity produces a very strong bass response and is ideally suited to be played with a moderate to high-intensity attack. Taylor, Martin, and Guild are popular brands within this body style.
Popular Models
- Martin J40
- Washburn EA15
Modern Classical Acoustic Guitars
Influenced by earlier stringed instruments such as the Lute, Gittern, and Baroque guitar, the modern classical guitar (developed in the mid-19th century) began to make its mark during the early 1920s thanks largely to the efforts of Andrés Segovia.
Preceding steel-string acoustic and electric guitars, classical guitars played an important role in the evolution of guitar design.
Body Size/Dimensions
*Dimensions are based on the Cordoba C5
| Body Length | 19 1/4″ |
| Lower Bout | 14 5/8″ |
| Upper Bout | 11 1/2″ |
| Depth | 3 3/4″ – 4″ |
Body Style and Size
Many guitarists start on nylon string guitars before making the move over to the steel string. Nylon string guitars are in many cases more affordable due to their lightweight construction.
Steel-string guitars place considerably more tension on the guitar itself which in turn influences how the guitar is constructed (thinner soundboard and more flexible bracing) and how easily it is played, hence being a good starting point for beginner guitarists. Steel-string guitars are often played with a plectrum, whereas classical guitars are typically played with fingers.
While classical guitars can be found in many styles the predominant body shape is similar to that of a concert body style. Classical guitars are designed to be played while seated. As a result, classical guitars feature a narrower waist than the standard steel-string dreadnought for instance.
While once rarely seen, classical guitars like the Cordoba C5 CE also feature a cutaway for easier access to the higher frets. While not related to the body itself, the other noticeable difference between classical and steel string guitars is the neck and headstock.
The headstock is often of the slotted variety, while the neck is wider and typically does not feature fret markers.
Flamenco Acoustic Guitars
While often referred to as classical and vice versa, there are key differences between flamenco and classical guitars based mostly on the way each is played. Classical guitar emphasizes the clarity of the notes while a flamenco guitar emphasizes the attack on the strings.
Body Size/Dimensions
*Dimensions are based on the Cordoba F7
| Body Length | 19 1/4″ |
| Lower Bout | 14 1/2″ |
| Upper Bout | 11 1/4″ |
| Depth | 3 1/2″ – 31/3″ |
Body Style and Size
The flamenco’s body is often shallower than the standard classical guitar while still featuring the narrow waist typically seen on concert-body style guitars.
The flamenco guitar often also comes with a clear protective plate (golpeador) mounted on the soundboard to protect the surface due to the more aggressive nature of flamenco music e.g. fast strumming patterns (Rasgueado) and fast fingerpicking (Picado) and features lower action than the classical guitar.
Classical guitars are essentially used for finger-style playing whereas flamenco guitars are designed to accommodate the nuances of flamenco music. The higher action helps the classical guitar reduce the impact of string buzz which is less of a concern in flamenco music.
The lower action on the flamenco serves to enhance the brightness of the guitar’s tone, reducing the mid-tones in comparison.
Flamenco guitars are typically constructed from spruce. This is often the most recognizable difference between classical and flamenco guitars, with the flamenco appearing lighter in appearance although more classical guitars are being made with a spruce top nowadays also.
Popular Models
- Cordoba F7
- Cordoba F10
Travel Acoustic Guitars
Travel guitars come in a range of body styles and sizes but the predominant body style and the one we are going to focus on is that of the Martin backpacker steel-string acoustic guitar.
An affordable, ergonomically designed guitar which as the name implies is perfect for placing in a backpack for traveling when you would prefer not to travel with a more expensive acoustic steel-string guitar.
Body Size/Dimensions
*Dimensions are based on the Martin Steel-String Backpacker Travel Guitar
| Total Length | 33″ |
| Body Width | 7 1/4″ |
| Depth | 1 15/16″ |
Body Style and Size
The Martin backpacker is quite the departure from traditional acoustic guitars, featuring a paddle or oar-style contoured body. The main consideration here is portability and the Martin backpacker accommodates on all fronts with its thin, elongated body and relatively lightweight.
Comparing the backpacker to a classic Martin like the D-28 is not a fair matchup but despite the obvious design differences the Martin backpacker produces a surprisingly resonant sound and outperforms most other travel guitars.
Mini Acoustic Guitars
A more recent addition to the acoustic guitar lineup is mini acoustic guitars, also referred to as travel guitars much like the Martin Backpacker due to their portable size.
Brands such as Martin (LXM Little Martin and Dreadnought Junior), Taylor (GS Mini and Taylor Big Baby), and Fender (FA-15) all produce smaller than standard models as mini guitars increase in popularity thanks to artists such as Ed Sheeran.
Body Style and Size
Most often seen in a concert body style or auditorium. Dreadnoughts, while less common are also available from brands such as Fender and Taylor in the classic dreadnought body style.
The majority of mini guitars feature a 3/4 scale length and are scaled-down versions of their larger counterparts with regard to construction and materials used.
Popular Models
- Taylor BT1-E
- Mini Martin LX1
What is the size of a folk guitar?
Folk guitars are usually smaller body guitars, ranging between a parlor and orchestra model. However, it should be noted, that this isn’t a standard, and many folk musicians play larger guitars such as dreadnoughts.
What size guitar is best for a child?
It depends on the size of your child, particularly their hand span and ability to play open chords. Click here to read our in-depth article on kids’ guitar sizes.
How do I know what body style will suit me best?
Where possible it’s always best to try a guitar in person and get a feel for how the guitar sounds, and importantly how comfortable the guitar is to play. Larger guitars such as dreadnoughts are typically louder but also less comfortable to play when seated.
Smaller body guitars tend to be more comfortable but project less volume. Of course, the wood the guitar is made from will also play a major role.
What is a thin-body acoustic guitar?
Thinline guitars tend to produce less volume and projection as the depth of the guitar body is reduced, which reduces the area of the soundbox. However, they are more comfortable, for many, to play.
Final Thoughts
While the acoustic guitar is looked upon as more of a traditional instrument than the electric guitar, there’s a fair degree of complexity to its design, that is easily missed when first learning the instrument. Body style and size play a significant role in how the guitar sounds, plays, and feels and of course the aesthetics of the guitar. While your ideal guitar comes down to personal preference, I hope the information above has been informative and helps guide your decision-making when it comes time to add a new acoustic guitar to your collection.
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