Top 8 Best Ukuleles For Kids 2023 Reviews

A ukulele makes an ideal instrument for kids to learn. Parents who are looking for an engaging hobby for their kids would find a rewarding one in the ukulele. Also, kids who want to learn a stringed instrument that’s not a guitar would especially love the ukulele.

Now, one reason a ukulele makes a great choice for children is its size. Because ukuleles are much smaller than guitars, children find it easier to hold and play them. Plus, they are also not as pricey as the guitar. So, even if your child gets disinterested along the way, you wouldn’t have invested so much.

There are all kinds of ukuleles for kids in the market. And if one is not careful, it’s possible to end up with something that leaves them with buyers’ remorse. To solve that, we’ve compiled this review article on 8 of our best ukuleles for kids as well as other accessories we think you might find necessary.

Come with us!

Top 8 Best Ukuleles For Kids On The Market 2023 Reviews

Name	Size	Body	Fingerboard	Frets	Finish	Strings
Best Choice Kala KA-15S Mahogany Soprano Ukulele View Price	Size Soprano	Body Mahogany	Fingerboard Rosewood	Frets 12	Finish Satin	Strings Aquila Nylgut
Also Great Not Home 21 Inch Soprano Ukulele View Price	Size Soprano	Body Basewood	Fingerboard Not specified	Frets Not specified	Finish Pink	Strings 4 Nylon stringst
Alo Great Barcelona Soprano Ukulele View Price	Size Soprano	Body Basewood	Fingerboard Rosewood	Frets 12	Finish Glossy/Green	Strings Not specified
Also Great Mahalo Rainbow Series Soprano Ukulele View Price	Size Soprano	Body Not specified	Fingerboard Not specified	Frets 12	Finish Purple	Strings 4 Aquila Nylgut strings
Also Great Kala KA-15S Mahogany Soprano Ukulele with Gig Bag View Price	Size Soprano	Body Mahogany	Fingerboard Rosewood	Frets 12	Finish Satin	Strings 4 Aquila Nylgut
Also Great Luna Tattoo Concert Mahogany Ukulele View Price	Size Concert	Body Mahogany	Fingerboard Rosewood	Frets 12	Finish Satin natural	Strings Not specified
Also Great Kala KA-T Mahogany Tenor Ukulele View Price	Size Tenor	Body Mahogany	Fingerboard Rosewood	Frets 20	Finish Natural	Strings Not specified
Also Great Honsing Soprano Hawaii Kids Ukulele View Price	Size Soprano	Body Basswood	Fingerboard Not specified	Frets 12	Finish Matte/Multicolor	Strings 4

1 Kala KA-15S Mahogany Soprano Ukulele

Our first ukulele on review today is the decently priced Kala KA-15S mahogany Soprano Ukulele. It’s a soprano uke which is a popular choice for kids due to its size and tone. If you didn’t know, the sound we’ve all come to associate with the ukulele is produced by the soprano uke.

The neck and body are made from mahogany which might not be the best choice for a tonewood. Nonetheless, it still serves as an excellent substitute for the more expensive and rarer Koa wood. Plus, it’s light which makes the uke easier to hold and play.

In looks, this comes with a nice satin finish making the uke look quite refined. The details, though, are minimalistic with just a simple rosette. But that’s to be expected at this price point

The construction of this uke shows a decent level of quality. There’s no sloppy work to complain about and quality control is also obviously a big deal over at Kala.

Sometimes there’s a small ish with factory setup, though. Customers might not always receive a perfect instrument, other times, they might. But generally though, we’d say this shows good construction. And anyway, perfect or not, it’s still advised that you take your uke to a shop to get it properly setup.

The hardware here is okay, in our opinion. From the rosewood bridge and fretboard, to the tuners, everything is pretty much standard. And although the tuners could be better, they serve their purpose well. As for the strings though, those are on point and we wouldn’t change them.

Now, the Kala KA-15S isn’t the best-sounding uke but the balance it brings is worth commending. Trebles are clear and lows are clean too. Plus, let’s not forget that it still maintains its beautiful soprano uke tone.

2 Not Home 21 Inch Soprano Ukulele

You know how kids love their colors. Well, that’s why we’re so sure your child would love this uke. It comes in a variety of beautiful and interesting colors. Trust us, your kids are going to be really proud to own this and they’d hardly ever want to drop this for anything.

If you’re worried about the paint, which is understandable, you need not. Not Home assures you that the paint is eco-friendly. So, it is safe for your kids, and it is also safe for our planet.

In price, this is way affordable. It’s almost a giveaway in fact. But even at such a decent price, it’s really commendable how this uke still boasts such an impressive playability, sound, and quality.

The tuning pegs are strong and stable. They aren’t exactly the easiest to use but they try. With time, you should be able to work with it.

Plus, once you get this uke tuned, you’ll find that it remains in tune for a bit. Bear in mind though, that this might not stay in tune for such a long time at a time, though.

This is a 4 string ukulele and they are made from nylon. So, they feel quite comfortable to the fingers. Plus, the strings are decent quality so you won’t have to change them out in no time.

Being just 21 inches in size, this uke can go anywhere with your kids conveniently. And then again, there’s the carrying bag which also increases convenience for those road trips, camping, and other such travels.

As additional accessories, you get a carry bag like we mentioned. The uke also comes with a tuner, a spare string as well as a triangular plectrum.

3 Barcelona Soprano Ukulele

Here’s another colorful ukulele choice. The Barcelona Soprano Ukulele comes in a beautiful, glossy finish in green. This makes the uke so attractive for the kids. It’s something they would love to show off to their friends.

Plus, there are several other color options to check out if the green doesn’t appeal to you or your kid much.

It is made from basswood which is to be expected from a ukulele at this price point. Of course, basswood isn’t exactly the best sounding tonewood around. But then again, it’s part of the reasons this is so affordable. Plus, it suffices, at least for a kid ukulele.

As for build quality, Barcelona did a pretty decent job constructing this. It shows in the looks of the uke. And you’ll find this a really durable instrument that will last long periods of use, especially in the hands of a kid.

The hardware on this ukulele is also quite good. The tuning pegs are decent, the fretboard and bridge are rosewood, and the hardware is chrome. So, altogether, pretty decent as you can see.

It’s easy to learn playing the ukulele using the Barcelona Soprano. It is nicely sized and weighted which makes it easy and convenient to hold without tiring the young player. Also, there’s an instructional video that helps the player through the first stages of learning the uke.

Besides instructions, other accessories you get with the Barcelona soprano Ukulele include a gig bag, a clip-on tuner, as well as a polishing cloth.

Unlike other ukes within this category, this is one of the few instruments that sound really great, especially for the price. Plus, it’s also easy to tune and has a great tone too.

4 Mahalo Rainbow Series Soprano Ukulele

This is a ukulele in a size that’s usable by even younger kids. The name “Mahalo Rainbow Series Soprano Ukulele” already suggests something to us. This comes in an assortment of beautiful colors. With 10 vibrant colors in the offing, there’s definitely something in a color that your kid would love.

Like we mentioned earlier, this is really easy to play. As you know this is super important when we discuss kid ukuleles.

The Aquila nylgut strings on here are high quality yet easy on kid fingers. Young beginners would find them very comfortable to use even if they have to practice for long periods at a time.

Also, for tuning, the uke comes with machine heads in a Dolphin shape. The tuners are quite easy to use which helps with tuning especially during the first few weeks while you’re still breaking your strings in.

Let’s not forget that these cute tuners also add a whimsical touch to the ukulele. And then finishing with gloss and attractive colors, this uke looks good!

Furthermore, the Mahalo Rainbow Series Soprano Ukulele is quite decently priced. And the fact that it comes with several accessories makes the value from this purchase even higher.

Among the accessories you get here, there’s also a 45 minute lesson as well to get your kid started. The lesson covers everything from playing techniques, to tuning, to several other aspects of playing the ukulele.

Altogether, this might be a kid instrument, but it hardly sounds like a toy. Plus, it is also affordable with quality features that are impressive especially for the price.

5 Kala KA-15S Mahogany Soprano Ukulele with Gig Bag

The Kala-15S is a popular choice for beginner players. This uke makes a great choice for many reasons and is a slight variation from our first product on review.

Firstly, if the first Kala we reviewed was a bit out of reach for you, then this is a better option. The Kala KA-15S is about two times less expensive than the first Kala. So, it’s a lot more affordable but still with a considerable level of quality.

Just like our first Kala uke, this come with a mahogany body. The mahogany tonewood makes a great choice for a uke for several reasons. It gives a pretty good sound. Plus, it also makes the ukulele a lot lighter for younger kids to hold and play.

The tone is also pretty great too. The trebles and the lower notes come out quite balanced which makes the uke sound as great as it is playable. Plus, the sound is also quite crisp too.

For a ukulele with an all mahogany construction, we’ve got to say this sounds pretty warm. Its volume is also pretty impressive too.

In construction, we expected good quality and Kala delivered. This comes clean in every aspect of its construction. Its hardware is also good quality and adds to the playability of the uke as well.

In appearance, this does not come in all the fun colors we’ve been seeing for a while now. Its natural, satin finish makes it a uke that will suit older kids who might not want to sport the really colorful models.

Lastly, this comes with a deluxe gig bag with which your kid would be able to transport this around. Plus, it also helps to protect your uke from scratches, dents and whatnot.

6 Luna Tattoo Concert Mahogany Ukulele

When we saw this concert uke, we instantly fell in love with it for its attractiveness. The style, the details, everything about the looks of this ukulele immediately places it on the league of the big kids. This is something your older kids would be proud to have thanks to its more mature look.

Coming in at a price in between luxury product and the lower end product, this ukulele is somewhat affordable. It effortlessly bridges the gap between these two categories. So, it’s not just great for kids and beginners. It could also work for intermediate players if it comes down to it.

This also means that your kid would keep using this for a while. Even as their skills advance, they won’t need to change out this ukulele just yet.

This is a ukulele with a solid spruce top, and mahogany for the back and sides. So, this churns out warm, beautiful tones that everyone would enjoy. The construction here is also high quality. This makes the uke durable and also impacts on playability as well.

What strikes us even more than the construction is the detailing on the ukulele. The design of the ukulele is inspired by traditional Hawaiian art. And all the patterns and layouts are obviously reflective of the beauty of the natural world.

The frets look like shark teeth and the then there’s a beautiful rosette around the sound hole. These add up to make this ukulele a truly stunning instrument.

From appearance, to playability, to sound quality, this makes an excellent ukulele.

7 Kala KA-T Mahogany Tenor Ukulele

At a slightly bigger size, we have the Kala KA-T Mahogany Ukulele. It’s our first tenor uke today and we’re excited it’s from Kala. We’ve come to know and trust Kala to deliver on quality and performance. So, when we saw the Kala KA-T Mahogany Tenor Ukulele, naturally, we knew we had to have it here.

The ukulele is quite decently priced for a tenor uke.  In looks, this is truly stunning. The construction is well beyond average as usual. And seeing this, you immediately notice the beauty of the ukulele in its natural finish.

Also thanks to the construction, this ukulele is sure to last. It’s a ukulele that will see years and years of use. And now to sound…

This might not be Hawaiian Koa, it’s mahogany, but still this uke comes out sounding warm and lovely. The sound is also quite balanced with the trebles and lower notes coming out clean, mellow, and nice. Just like a good ukulele should sound.

The strings on here are Aquila Nylgut. They are high quality strings usually found on professional ukes. Plus, they are comfy and also play nicely. With the tuner, you’ll find the Kala KA-T easy to tune. And once you completely break this in, the strings actually hold their tune for a decent amount of time.

Like we mentioned, the sound here is clean, crisp and balanced. The volume is also quite a delight too.

Well, there are no accessories here and we found this to be a little confusing. But then we found that there’s the bundle version which comes at a price slightly above the price of this one. If that’s something you can afford, then by all means check it out. Otherwise, this serves too.

8 Honsing Soprano Hawaii Kids Ukulele

Lastly, what better way to end this review than review this amazing, colorful ukulele that reminds us of a rainbow? The Honsing Soprano Hawaii Kids Ukulele is aesthetically pleasing. It’s something we’re certain your younger kids would love. In fact, it would motivate them to learn!

It’s also quite decently priced despite its excellent function. Now, keeping in mind that this is decently priced, you can expect a few tradeoffs. But like you should do for all low end instruments, you must keep your expectations realistic.

That said, this is made from basswood. Bass wood isn’t the best tonewood of choice of course. it’s not even as good as mahogany. But then again, this is just for kids to learn the ropes with. So, it will serve. Plus, the choice of tonewood adds to the affordability of this uke.

In construction, this uke is well made. Plus, with its exciting colors, it also looks good. It’s quite durable also which is super important considering that this is for kids.

Altogether, we think this is a decent, not to mention beautiful, choice for your kids. It makes a fab gift idea too for any child that you know.

Yeah, we forgot to add that this comes with a gig bag too. It does feel quite cheap, though. So, get ready, you might change it out soon.

Best Ukuleles For Kids Buying Guide

The market is packed full with a lot of different kinds of ukuleles. So, understandably, it can be quite tricky trying to find a suitable ukulele for your kid. Our guide though will be able to help.

Now, there are four different types of ukuleles.

Of the following sizes, the soprano and concert ukuleles are the most common ukuleles recommended for kids. Kids can also use the tenor ukulele provided they’ve been playing for a while.

Now here are some features you want to consider when getting your child a ukulele.

Material

Material determines quality. So, you need to be sure of what you’re getting. Plastic ukuleles are not very common pieces. However, plastic is easy to care for. Plus, it also produces a bright sound too. It’s a great ukulele choice for beginners, kids in particular.

But keep in mind, if you go for a plastic model, that plastic is brittle when compared to wooden ukes. So, you’ve got to be extra careful with them.

Wood is the more traditional material for ukes and the most ubiquitous in the market. You’d readily find spruce and mahogany ukes the most. They are high-quality, and durable. Plus, they are a whole lot less expensive than Hawaiian Koa.

Difficulty

Generally, it’s quite easy to learn to play the uke. In fact, it’s way simpler than many other instruments. since it’s small in size, kids are able to focus on learning to actually play rather than spending so much time learning to hold the instrument.

The best way to help your kid though, is to get a ukulele specially for beginners or kids. Such ukuleles usually come with an extended fingerboard. This gives your kid a lot more space to practice their fingering as they learn to play chords.

Sometimes, some manufacturers even mark the frets with stickers or markers. This also helps the learning process for your kid as well. Now, not all ukes come with fret markings. So, you should always check before you buy.

Shape

Ukuleles come in various shapes, three to be precise.

There’s the guitar which is the most traditional and most popular ukulele shape. It closely resembles a guitar with the famous dip or waist.

Then there’s the pineapple which was first produced in Hawaii. Just like a pineapple, such ukuleles have no waist and are instead completely rounded at the bottom.

The last shape is the boat paddle shape. It looks like a boat paddle. It is, however, the most uncommon of the three ukulele shapes.

As a recommendation, we will advise parents to go for the guitar shape. It will help your child hold their ukulele more naturally and thereby facilitate a faster learning.

Best Ukulele Song Books

Here are some great ukulele song books that could help with your kid’s learning.

1 Alfred’s Kid’s Ukulele Course Complete

This is a fun ukulele song book that teaches both levels 1 and 2 of ukulele learning. It comes with an online audio too so kids can hear what each note should sound like. Plus, there are also activity pages to enhance engagement and interaction with your kid.

2 Disney Songs For Ukulele

This is a compilation of Disney’s greatest classics specially put together for ukulele players. It includes all your kids’ favorite songs from Lion King to Beauty and the Beast. It’s available in paperback for a very decent price.

3 My First Ukulele For Kids

Rather than using sheet music that might be difficult to follow, these authors opt for simpler photos and diagrams. This makes it a lot easier for your kids to learn to play their first chords and gain confidence!

Helpful Ukulele Accessories

1 Tosnail 23 Inch Heavy Duty Ukulele Case

The Tosnail 23 Inch Heavy Duty Ukulele Case is a good quality carrying case for a concert size uke. It’s quite thick and well cushioned to protect your ukulele from impact. Plus, the top of the case is also reinforced to ensure that your headstock does not get damaged in transit.

It’s also quite decently priced too.

2 Dunlop 6500 System 65 Guitar Maintenance Kit

The Dunlop 6500 might be a guitar maintenance kit but it works great for ukuleles too. In this kit, you get 5 cleaners with which to maintain the neck, body, and strings of your uke. Plus, there are two polishing cloths (100% cotton) with care instructions as well.

With this kit, you can help your child keep their uke in mint condition by avoiding corrosion. This extends the playing life of your uke and protects your investment.

3 CloudMusic Ukulele Strap

Ukulele straps help your kids balance their ukuleles so that it’s more comfortable and convenient to play. Plus, it also helps your kid showcase his beautiful ukulele off to the world.

It looks good with its attractive “red white roses” color which would complement any uke. And though it requires drilling, it offers stability and balance for the uke in the hands of the player.

4 Wood Instrument Stand For Ukulele

This stand works for all sizes of ukuleles, and even for violins and mandolins too. It’s stable and easy to put together thanks to the simple instructions. Moreover, being made from Sapele, this stand scores excellently in stability and durability.

Its anti-scratch padding also ensures that this stand does not scratch your ukuele, thereby protecting your investment from defacement. This competitively priced stand comes in a 10 inch size. However, there’s the 16 inch size option as well.

Conclusion

The Kala KA-15S Mahogany Soprano Ukulele is our best ukulele for kids today. It’s quite pricey but it boasts the best features and performance of all the ukuleles on our review today.

And as a close second, we suggest the Luna Tattoo Concert Mahogany Ukulele. It comes with excellent features but best of all, it also looks absolutely stunning!