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Are you looking for the best ukuleles in 2025? There are so many different options on the market. Fortunately, we have selected 10 of the very elite models out there in a variety of different sizes, and with different options to suit different players.
Not all ukes are created equal and different prices, designs, tonewoods and even electronics come into play. In this guide, we’ve selected 10 models with a lot of variation. All great in their own right, these ukuleles all offer something a bit different for the player.
Here are the best ukuleles in 2025:
- Kala KOA-CT-T Tenor
- Lanikai OA-CEC Concert
- Cordoba 20TM-CE Tenor
- Kala Learn To Play Soprano Kit
- Luna Uke VMP Soprano
- Fender Grace VanderWaal Concert
- Kala MK-B Makala Baritone
- Lanikai ACST-8CET Tenor
- Martin 1T IZ Tenor
- Kala MK-S Makala Soprano
1. Kala KOA-CT-T Tenor
The overall best ukulele for quality and feel
Kala manufactures a huge number of ukuleles and this koa model has a really beautiful finish and a crisp tone, with incredible aesthetic appeal, too. A lot of Kala models are aimed at the beginner side of the market, but not the CT-T Port Orford model, as it has a professional feel and bright, traditional tone.
Build-quality is maybe one of the most impressive aspects of this uke. The tight-grained Port Orford cedar is strong, lightweight, and projects beautifully. This uke also boasts black body binding and a UV-cured satin finish, to go with a bone saddle and NuBone nut.
The Honduran mahogany neck is really comfortable and easy-to-play, completing the package. On top of this, you can protect your uke as it comes with a hardshell case as standard.
Image credit: Kala
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Though this is certainly not a cheap ukulele, especially when compared to a lot of the other models on the market, it rivals models from Martin for quality and professional feel, and for serious musicians it is worth the extra cash.
2. Lanikai OA-CEC Concert
The best acoustic-electric ukulele
There are so many benefits to getting a model with electronics included, especially if you are going to play live a lot and hook up to PA systems or amplifiers. The Lanikai OA-CEC is one of the best ukuleles to buy if you want this added convenience.
It looks great, too, and manages to be cool-looking in spite of its modern features. It’s a concert uke with a wide neck which is easy to use. It also has a cutaway design that is ideal for soloing.
Other high-quality features of the instrument include a GraphTech nut and saddle, and Lanikai’s own Quick-Tie bridge. The electronics are a Fishman Kula pickup system which replicates the sound perfectly and captures all the brightness of a ukulele even as it is amplified.
Image credit: Lanikai
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Convenience is high on the agenda if you buy this ukulele. It’s easy to tune and connect to an amplifier or hook up to a gig venue’s PA system for live performance. Plus, it’s well-made and comfortable to play.
3. Cordoba 20TM-CE Tenor
The best ukulele for bigger hands
If you are looking for the best ukulele for big hands to play then you will probably opt for a tenor ukulele. Concert ukuleles and soprano ukes are a bit smaller, so this means that it is hard for you to properly get purchase and play things clearly with bigger hands.
Cordoba’s range is full of some of the best-sounding ukuleles, and the 20TM-CE keeps a nice ukulele shine to it even though it is a larger model. It is well-built out of quality mahogany. This tonewood is preferred by a lot of value ukuleles. It has inbuilt electronics for amplifying the sound easily. It has handmade quality and there are certainly no qualms about how it is built.
The Cordoba’s sound is a little bit too warm for some people, but if you are amplifying you can combat this as you have a 2-band EQ inbuilt. The pickup inbuilt is made by piezo, which gives a great clarity.
Image credit: Cordoba
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This is a fantastic model for anyone looking for flexibility and a tenor ukulele that can give them a bit more room to maneuver around the frets and neck. The sound is not as traditional as soprano ukuleles, but it plays exactly the same.
4. Kala Learn To Play Soprano Kit
The best starter kit for absolute beginners
As you can see from this model, Kala manufactures a huge range of different ukuleles, from cheap soprano ukuleles under $100, to performance-ready, $1,000 options.
If you are just getting started with playing, or buying a model for a child to play, this could be ideal for you. It also saves money on some of the accessories you may need as a beginner. It comes with a tote bag, and most importantly, it comes with access to some Kala lessons for getting started playing your new instrument.
Considering the low price tag, the instrument is quite well-made. It has a GraphTech nut and saddle, and is made out of decent tonewoods including mahogany and walnut. It doesn’t necessarily sound like a cheap instrument.
As a smaller soprano model it does have some limitations and you are always aware you’re not playing a handmade instrument, but there are few better models to get started.
Image credit: Kala
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For a cheap option for beginners you can delve below the $50 mark but you probably won’t find an instrument anywhere near as good as this. Pay a little extra for this model from Kala and ensure quality.
5. Luna Uke VMP Soprano
The best pineapple ukulele
Pineapple ukuleles were among the first ukes ever made, and though they aren’t the most popular today there are plenty of people who still love to play this kind of ukulele. They are also affordable and look great, as proved by the Luna Vintage Mahogany option, one of the best-sounding soprano ukuleles out there.
The Luna Vintage Mahogany Pineapple (VMP) uke is comfortable to play. It has a C-shaped neck made of mahogany and the brilliant Aquila Super Nylgut strings which are basically industry-standard. The pineapple shape is good fun and cool-looking but also makes it easy to hold and projects pretty well.
Because it’s simple to play and affordable, this is also a beginner-friendly uke. It’s not a very top-end model, but it’s a fun, portable soprano uke that works for all kinds of ukulele players.
Image credit: Luna Guitars
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Most people shopping for a small ukulele will have already decided if they want a pineapple model. If you love the look of a pineapple uke then be sure to consider this affordable but decent-quality uke.
6. Fender Grace VanderWaal Concert
The best concert ukulele with balanced sound
Some ukulele purists may not be certain about a Fender model being on a list of the best ukulele reviews. However, the Grace VanderWaal signature model is a fantastic concert ukulele and though it doesn’t have the traditional uke look, the sound cannot be argued with.
It’s incredibly easy to play, with a light sapele body and a walnut fingerboard, which comes with the Fender-style headstock! This is a quirky design, but by no means is it just a novelty. Fender also has a huge reputation of creating fantastic instruments.
The tone is very balanced and great for either playing on your own or as part of a band. As it comes with onboard Kula electronics, there is also the benefit of simple amplification and effects like EQ.
Image credit: Fender
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If you aren’t too worried about it looking like an old-fashioned uke (some people love the look of a Fender headstock) then this could be an ideal instrument, especially if you want a model that has lightweight playability.
7. Kala MK-B Makala Baritone
The best baritone ukulele on a budget
Yet another model from Kala. This time a baritone ukulele. When looking for a baritone ukulele, be warned that it is tuned differently to the other models, so it is worth checking whether this is what you actually want.
The Makala range from Kala has produced one of the best baritone ukes for a price tag that is truly excellent. The design is incredibly simple. So, whether you want something that has more character or not is up to you. A lot of people like the minimalist design and enjoy the quality of the wood.
This is made of mahogany and because it is larger (baritone is the biggest uke size) it has fantastic projection. It has a satin finish for protection and a walnut fingerboard which is comfortable and responds well to your playing, great for larger hands.
Image credit: Kala
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Baritone ukes are quite a specific model, and whether or not this is ideal for you is a matter of personal choice. You can get more expensive ukes of this design, with electronics included, but the Kala really outperforms its price tag.
8. Lanikai ACST-8CET Tenor
The best 8-string ukulele for professionals
This is a design that is growing in popularity, the 8-string ukulele. This model from Lanikai may be the most popular 8-string uke, and it has an amazing tone. For studio or live use, this can just give something a little extra to your playing, with a thicker tone.
Whether or not you plan to embrace the 8-string design is up to you, but we definitely recommend listening to it in action to decide for yourself whether this big, rich tone could be ideal for your playing.
In spite of having the extra strings, it is actually a very comfy, responsive ukulele and even has a cutaway section for reaching the higher frets. The materials used include an acacia body and excellent maple binding.
This isn’t cheap for beginner players, but it is recommended for a lot of studio use, so it can certainly do a great job for intermediate and even professional players. It is one of the best-sounding variations to the original uke sound.
Image credit: Lanikai
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Once again, it is a bit more of a specialist model of ukulele. If you are in the market for an 8-string then this could be the best-sounding option which is also comfortable to play.
9. Martin 1T IZ Tenor
A high-end uke with incredible, rich tone
Don’t mind paying a bit more money for an extremely high-quality ukulele? The Martin 1T IZ could be the ideal choice for you. If you want to benefit from the incredible craftsmanship of Martin, who have been making ukuleles for over 100 years, then it is inevitable that you will have to pay a bit more, but you will receive a fantastic instrument as a result.
The instrument is a tribute to Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. It doesn’t matter whether you are a big fan or not, the tonewoods and incredible look of this means that it is a truly high-end ukulele that any musician could play on stage or in the studio.
It has a custom headplate as a tribute to Kamakawiwo’ole, but also uses incredible quilted mahogany. The rich tones of this, combined with the good projection means that it is a fantastically playable instrument. It also offers an unusual, but responsive East Indian rosewood fingerboard.
Image credit: Martin
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If you don’t mind paying a little extra and want to take full advantage of the beauty of a Martin instrument, the 1T IZ tenor ukulele could be ideal for you.
10. Kala MK-S Makala Soprano
The best budget ukulele under $50
If you want the classic look of a ukulele, the smaller soprano size and the bright sound of a Makala uke then this might be the ideal option for you, all at a budget-friendly price tag.
We won’t pretend that this is the very best ukulele in the world, but it is one of the best-selling due to the affordability and the fact it has some very respectable features for the price.
It’s well-made for the price, and a mahogany body and walnut fingerboard makes a fantastic addition to such a cheap uke. It also has a satin finish and quality geared tuners.
It’s a lightweight instrument and small, being soprano in size, so many people use this as an additional travel ukulele to leave their best instrument at home.
Image credit: Kala
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If you are looking for a small and portable model for beginners, this can do your wallet a big favor by keeping your expenses minimal. It’s yet another model by the prolific Kala, a brand who offer loads of great ukes.
Conclusion
As you can see from our ukulele reviews, there is such a huge amount of variation. The different styles and designs play a big part in which ukulele you will probably want to buy. We’ve created a list of the best ukuleles based on all of these different factors, and the price range and designs as well as playability.