Is it better to rent or buy a violin? If you’re thinking about learning to play violin, trying to decide between renting and buying is an important first step. Here are a few things to consider when trying to decide between renting and buying your first violin.

How do violin rentals work?

First let’s talk about the basics. How do rentals for violin even work? What is the standard policy? How much will you be paying in violin rentals? All string shops and music stores will have different rental policies so it’s important to understand what their rental fees include and what they don’t.

Usually violin shops that rent violins allow you to accrue credit towards the purchase of a violin from their shop. This is great if you’re not in a position to buy a violin quite yet, but make sure you also do the math (which we will here in a bit!) Here are some things to ask when renting a violin:

Questions to Ask When Renting a Violin

Will the shop rent violins to your state or area? Many shops only rent to their local area or state. Some online companies rent across the United States. Before you get into the nitty gritty details, make sure the company you are considering will rent to you in the first place.
How much of the rental costs are applied towards a future purchase? Some shops will apply a percentage of your payments to a future violin purchase. Some will only apply the first year’s rental towards a purchase. Some fees will not apply to a credit for a future purchase. Don’t assume that whatever you pay in rental fees equals future credit.
Does the monthly rental payment include insurance? Note: insurance payments are usually not applied towards the purchase of a future violin.
Does the rental plan include maintenance? Will the shop provide bow rehairs or string replacement or do you have to pay for that? The bow should be rehaired and the strings replaced at least once per year. If this is something you have to pay for, budget around $50-75 for a bow rehair and around $40-$60 for a new set of strings.
Does the violin you are renting come with new strings and new bow hair? If your rental violin has a few scratches and dings, that won’t necessarily affect the sound. But if the strings and bow hair are old, that will make it difficult, frustrating, and maybe impossible to produce a good sound.

Are rental violins any good?

It depends on the shop you are renting from. Keep in mind, a big market for rental violins is school-age children for use in school orchestras where violins may or may not receive the most tender of care and consideration. Your rental violin may have a few scratches and scuff marks. These issues don’t necessarily affect the playability of the violin. Just keep in mind that a rental violin probably won’t be brand new.

What is included with a rental violin?

A rental violin will usually come with everything you need to start playing. Rentals will always include: the violin, a bow, and a case. You will also need a shoulder rest and rosin. Rentals may or may not include the shoulder rest and rosin so check to make sure.

How much does it cost to rent a violin?

While costs will vary, renting a beginner violin will cost anywhere from $18-$30 a month. These payments may or may not include other fees like insurance or taxes. If you want to rent a better violin like an advanced beginner or intermediate violin, you will pay something along the lines of $40-$50 a month.

Is it Cheaper to Rent or Buy a Violin?

Let’s do a little math.

Let’s say you rent a beginner violin for $20 a month. In addition, you pay an extra $5 a month for taxes and insurance which do not apply to a future purchase.

Over the course of one year you will pay: $300.

If you have to pay for your own strings to have a new set halfway through the year, budget about $50 if you put the strings on yourself. Plan to pay more if you have the string shop put them on for you.

If your rental policy allows you to apply the entire rental amount towards a future purchase, you will have $240 to put towards a better violin at the end of the year.

For your basic, beginner rental you could probably buy the same quality violin for around $250-$300.

So back to the question: is it cheaper to rent or buy your first violin? Renting a violin will be cheaper up front, but even if you can apply part of the rental fees towards a future violin purchase, there will be some payments (taxes, insurance, etc.) that you will lose money on since they will not apply to a future violin purchase. For the price you pay to rent a violin for one year, you can buy a similar (or better) quality violin that is brand new for the same price or less.

Should I Rent a Violin?

Renting may be a good option for you if…

You plan to rent for a few months to try out the violin
You are renting from a shop that allows you to accrue credit towards a future violin purchase
You can’t afford to buy a violin
Want to save up to buy a really nice violin. *See note below
Are renting a violin for a young child who needs a fractional size violin. Renting a violin means you won’t have to continuously buy the next bigger size as your child grows. You can simply turn in the smaller violin for the bigger size when your child is ready. *See note below

*Note: If you are trying to save for a better violin or considering renting fractional size violins for a child, buying a violin could still be a better choice financially if the shop you are buying from has a buy-back policy, in which the shop will give you a percentage of your original purchase and apply that to a new violin from their shop.

Renting may NOT be a good option for you if…

Plan to rent for longer than 3-6 months.
Can afford to pay around $250-$300 for a good, standard beginner violin.
Want to have more options when it comes to buying a violin. If you are renting a violin and planning on using your credit towards the future purchase of a violin, make sure you are renting from a shop that has lots of options for upgrades. Otherwise you may have limited options for using all of that credit you’ve accrued. Keep in mind, your tastes and preferences for sound quality will change and mature as you progress on the violin. When you start to look at violins around $700 or more, the violins can have very different sound characteristics. Some may be warm, others bright. Choosing a violin around this price range can be very personal, which is why it’s great to have lots of options if you are buying a violin over $700.

Where do I find a place that rents violins?

While most general music stores that rent other instruments will also rent violins, I strongly suggest renting your violin from a string shop (a music store that specializes in violins, violas, and cellos) or from a luthier. These violins will usually be better quality than your standard run-of-the-mill general music store violins and you’ll probably receive a little bit more specialized care and advice.

There are many online violin companies that rent violins across the United States. Here is a link to each companies’ rental page

Kennedy Violins
Shar Music
Southwest Strings
Fiddlershop (Note: at the time of writing this article, Fiddlershop only provided rentals to South Florida. Check their website for any updates or changes to this policy.)

Should I rent my first violin?

To sum it up, should you rent your first violin? If you just want to try out the violin for a few months, renting can be a good option. If you are planning on renting for more than a year, buying a violin will probably be a better, more cost-efficient option.

Before renting a violin, make sure you are familiar with the policy including what’s included, what fees you will pay, and what can be applied to a future violin purchase. If you are planning on renting as a way to save up for a better violin, make sure the place you are renting from has lots of options for your future upgrade.

If you’re considering buying a violin as well, make sure to read my top 10 violins for beginner and intermediate players!

Happy Practicing!