How Much Does An Acoustic Guitar Weigh? With 7 Examples

Maybe you’re looking to fulfill guitar shipments.

Or perhaps you’re about to travel and need to know how much your guitar weighs.

Whatever the case, an acoustic guitar’s weight can vary based on its size, shape, and design. And that can certainly affect your plans, depending on what you’re trying to accomplish.

In this guide, we look at how much an acoustic guitar weighs.

How Much Does An Acoustic Guitar Weigh? – Quick Answer

Most acoustic guitars weigh somewhere between 2 and 6 lbs. (or 0.9 to 2.7 kg), although jumbo and grand jumbo designs can weigh more.

A standard, regular size acoustic guitar usually falls between 2.5 and 5 lbs. (or 1.1 to 2.2 kg).

Different Types Of Acoustic Guitars And How Much They Weigh

Although it’s difficult to account for every possibility, here are some of the most common guitar designs and their ballpark weight:

• Parlor or tenor guitar: About 2 lbs. (or 0.9 kg).
• Concert and grand concert guitars: About 3 to 5 lbs. (or 1.3 to 2.2 kg).
• Auditorium and grand auditorium guitars: Approximately 4 to 5 lbs. (1.8 to 2.2 kg).
• Dreadnought guitars: 5 to 6 lbs. (2.2 to 2.7 kg).
• Jumbo and grand jumbo guitars: Over 6 lbs. (2.7 kg and up).
• Full-scale travel guitars: 5 to 10 lbs. (2.25 to 4.45 kg).
• Mini acoustic guitars: 2 to 5 lbs. or less (0.9 – 2.2 kg).

What Impacts The Weight Of A Guitar?

Here are the main factors affecting the weight of a guitar:

• Size and shape
• Wood
• Pickups
• Hardware
• Finish

We’ll take a closer look at each.

Size & Shape

It’s obvious, but you can’t forget that the size of the guitar does affect its weight.

As noted earlier, some of the more common guitar designs include:

• Parlor and tenor
• Concert and grand concert
• Auditorium and grand auditorium
• Dreadnought
• Jumbo and grand jumbo
• Travel
• Mini

And we’ve already looked at the weight difference between these models as well. Very simply, the bigger the guitar, the more it weighs. And that difference can be as much as 4 lbs. if not more!

There can be other factors to be sure, but the design of the guitar is going to be a major deciding factor as it pertains to its weight.

Wood

In general, all materials are going to impact a guitar’s weight.

But more specifically, the woods it’s been made of can be a significant factor.

Some guitars feature a full laminate design. And this has certain advantages. Laminate guitars tend to be quite sturdy, and in many cases, don’t sound half bad.

Then you have solid top guitars. This is probably the most common type of acoustic guitar to find at the midrange or intermediate level.

With these guitars, although the sides and back are still laminate, the tops are made of solid wood, which tends to sound better with age (where laminate doesn’t change a whole lot).

With solid top guitars, the focus is obviously on the top, and since the top is generally pointed in the listener’s direction, a good case could be made that it has the greatest impact on the guitar’s tone (versus the back and sides).

All-solid guitars also exist. These are more expensive and could be considered “advanced” instruments with great tone, though you will find that some professional players still utilize solid top but not all-solid guitars.

All-solid acoustic guitars have the greatest potential in terms of tone, which will age like a fine wine. But it’s also the least sturdy and most vulnerable type of guitar because it’s made of wood.

Wood tends to contract and expand based on temperatures and humidity levels, so if you’re not careful, your guitar could end up cracking. In some cases, humidification can solve the problem entirely, but in other cases, you would need a professional tech to repair your axe.

Of course, there can also be times when cracks are not repairable.

But as you can imagine, the more “solid” a guitar is, the more it can ultimately weigh.

Not to mention, acoustic guitars are made of different types of wood, which aren’t created equal. The most common materials include:

• Mahogany
• Maple
• Sitka spruce
• Red spruce
• Brazilian rosewood
• Indian rosewood
• Koa

Pickups

Some acoustic guitars come with built-in electronics, including pickups, microphones, tuners, and the like. It’s quite common for acoustic guitars in the intermediate price range and up to come with electronics, as it makes them more versatile for recording and performance.

Some companies make and use their own electronics. Some utilize well-known brands like Fishman (Fishman pickups are certainly among the most known acoustic guitar electronics brands).

Naturally, the type of electronics included in your acoustic guitar can affect its overall weight. Generally, electronics aren’t especially heavy, and a hole is cut in the side of the guitar to install the electronics.

Having said that, if you had two of the same guitars, one with electronics, one without, you’d probably notice a bit of a weight difference.

So, this is a factor worth keeping in mind.

Hardware

Again, anything attached to a guitar can affect its weight and that includes hardware – truss rod, machine heads, strap pins, and so on.

Finish

Although it might seem a little “out there,” it has long been held that a guitar’s finish can affect its weight.

Most production acoustic guitars come with a shellac, lacquer, or catalyzed polymer finish. We don’t know how these might differ in terms of weight.

Examples

Although we’ll look at several examples here, note that the exact weight of the guitar could vary based on the year it was produced!

Yes, production techniques can change over time, and the way a guitar is put together can certainly affect its weight.

Either way, here are some examples that will give you a better idea of the different styles of acoustic guitars and how much they weigh.

Gibson Hummingbird

Weight: 4.8 lbs. (2.18 kg)

The Hummingbird, of course, is iconic and beautiful. Some of the most famous Hummingbird players include Sheryl Crow, The Edge, Bono, Keith Richards, Chris Cornell, and Lenny Kravitz.

It features a dreadnought style body, which is what most people think of instantly when they think of acoustic guitars.

The Hummingbird steals the show in photographs and videos, and it’s quite likely you remember seeing one somewhere – even if you can’t quite place where that might have been.

At 4.8 lbs., it’s a relatively lightweight for a dreadnought style guitar.

Gibson SJ-200

Weight: 4.8 lbs. (2.18 kg)

The Gibson SJ-200 is another iconic premium acoustic guitar with a “super” jumbo style body.

This legendary axe has been seen in the hands of the likes of Jimmy Page, Chris Isaak, Bob Dylan, The Everly Brothers, Jeff Tweedy, Greg Lake, George Harrison, Aaron Lewis, Emmylou Harris, Pete Townshend, and others.

In Gibson’s own estimation, it’s the “most famous acoustic guitar,” and it earned its place as the “King of the Flat-Tops.”

At 4.8 lbs., it might seem lightweight, but we suspect it’s going to depend a lot on the year the guitar was made.

Guild D-55

Weight: 5.2 lbs. (2.36 kg)

The Guild D-55 was originally created as a special-order top-of-the-line acoustic guitar. Within six years of it first being built, though, Guild added it to their production line because of its popularity.

The “D,” as you might expect, stands for “dreadnought,” and so here we have another acoustic guitar that most would consider “standard” in its design. That said, like Gibson acoustics, Guild acoustic guitars feature a beautiful design, especially with the unique headstock and fret inlays.

This guitar could be seen in the hands of artists like Waylon Jennings, Billie Joe Armstrong, and David Nail, among others.

No surprise that it should weigh 5.2 lbs.

Ovation Applause

Weight: 4.6 lbs. (2.09 kg)

Ovation is known for their unconventional acoustic guitar designs, with curved backs.

The Applause is one of their trademark models, featuring a cutaway, unique soundholes, headstock, and even fretboard design.

Ovation guitars are often thought to be great for live performance, and to be fair, they’ve been built for it. Although their acoustic sound is audible and is okay, these guitars come alive when they’ve been plugged into a powerful PA system or your favorite amp.

With the unconventional design, you might assume its weight to be a little “out there” as well, but basically it weighs a little less than the average dreadnought, which is what you’d expect.

Larrivée SD-40

Weight: 4.33 lbs. (2 kg)

The Larrivée SD-40 is a slope-shoulder dreadnought with a 12-fret neck, and clearly, it’s been designed to be a rhythm guitarist’s dream.

It’s a good guitar to feature here, if only because it’s quite a bit different than modern dreadnoughts, and this is also reflected in its overall weight.

That said, the SD-40 does feature what some would consider a “standard” or “old school” design.

Martin D-28

Weight: 4.8 lbs. (2.18 kg)

Martin dreadnoughts are iconic to say the very least, and the D-28 certainly isn’t any exception.

The D-28 could be seen in the hands of The Beatles, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and countless others.

Martin has made some improvements to one of their top models over the years, but in many ways, what was great about the D-28 has stayed the same.

Its weight is about average or a little on the lighter side for a dreadnought.

Taylor 114ce

Weight: 4.6 lbs. (2.09 kg)

Taylor is another brand that’s hard to ignore when it comes to acoustic guitars. Those who don’t like them, simply don’t like them. But those who like them, tend to love them!

The discontinued 114ce features an attractive cutaway and grand auditorium design.

Although this specific model is a legacy guitar, Taylor still makes plenty of guitars just like it (how could they not – it’s what they’re known for!).

Does It Matter How Much An Acoustic Guitar Weighs?

Yes and no.

Firstly, the weight of the guitar would matter to you in the situations already described – shipping and fulfilling on orders or traveling (especially on a flight!).

Secondly, while the weight of the guitar doesn’t directly affect its tone, indirectly, it does. That goes back to things already described, tonewoods, hardware, manufacturing processes, and the like, which do affect the guitar’s tone and weight.

But the weight of the guitar probably won’t have much or any bearing on how much you enjoy it and whether you play it.

You would think that acoustic guitars would vary a lot in weight, but compared to electric guitars, that’s not the case at all. There’s a significant difference between a Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul, for example, and it can affect your stance and how you play because of that difference!

The acoustic guitar that’s right for you is the acoustic guitar that’s right for you, period.

So, if you’re just looking for the right guitar, then no, the weight of it doesn’t matter much. So long as it sounds and plays the way you want it to, what difference does it make?

For shipping and travel, of course the weight of the axe will make a difference, and it’s something you should figure out beforehand.

Do Acoustic Guitars Get Lighter As They Age?

So, you’re probably thinking to yourself…

“If I play my acoustic guitar and continue to use it over the years, there’s bound to be some wear and tear. Wouldn’t that ultimately make it lighter?”

And you would be right. Acoustic guitars do get lighter with age.

Since a guitar is made of wood, it wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration to say it’s a living, breathing thing.

It’s undeniable that acoustic guitars begin to sound different with age (especially if they’re made with solid woods).

The main reason for this is as the woods age, the instrument tends to become more responsive and resonant.

It could be why some players say guitars have a “break-in” period. But that could be over the course of many years, so don’t get too excited!

Some manufacturers have developed an aging process to give certain models that broken in sound in case you’re looking for a shortcut. These do sound a little more like vintage instruments.

But vintage isn’t always better, and some guitars aren’t necessarily going to sound better with age, even if they do sound different. A bad sounding guitar, for instance, isn’t suddenly going to become a great sounding guitar!

But if you plan to hold onto your guitar for a long time, don’t forget to take good care of it. Without proper maintenance, acoustic guitars can worsen or even become unplayable over time.

Don’t Forget About The Case!

If you’re shipping or traveling with a guitar, don’t forget that you should be measuring the weight of the guitar in the case, not just the guitar itself!

Otherwise, you could end up making some costly or embarrassing errors.

Gig bags weigh somewhere between 2 and 5 lbs., and hard-shell cases tend to add 10 lbs.

So, the average acoustic guitar, combined with a case often weighs around 15 lbs.

Acoustic Guitar Weight, Final Thoughts

We’re offering an answer to a funny but interesting question here. It’s not one that should concern you a whole lot unless you’re shipping or traveling with your acoustic guitars. But still good to know.

A good acoustic guitar is one you enjoy, plain and simple. So, explore and experiment plenty, and hold onto your favorite instruments. Take good care of them!