Most electric guitars weigh about 8 lbs. A few weigh half that.
Take a guitar off after an hour and you feel the relief in your shoulder. The number on the scale is the reason.
This is a ranked list of the lightest electric guitars you can actually buy, with real weights rather than vague claims.
Key takeaways
- The lightest full size production electric guitar is the Strandberg Boden, at roughly 4.7 lbs.
- Travel guitars go lighter still, down to about 3 lbs, but they drop body and headstock to get there.
- Anything under 7 lbs counts as lightweight. Under 5 lbs is ultra light.
- Balance matters as much as weight. A 6 lb guitar that neck dives feels worse than a balanced 8 lb one.
- Published weights are averages. Wood density varies, so 2 guitars of the same model can differ by a pound.
Quick answer
The lightest electric guitar in normal production is the Strandberg Boden, at around 4.7 lbs. Among traditional shapes, the Gibson SG is the lightest at roughly 6 lbs to 7 lbs. Travel models such as the Traveler Ultra Light reach about 3 lbs, but they are not full size instruments.
The lightest electric guitars ranked by weight
Weights below are typical figures for each model. Treat them as a guide, not a guarantee.
| Guitar | Typical weight | Type | Why it is light |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traveler Ultra Light | 3.0 lbs (1.4 kg) | Travel | No body wings, no headstock |
| Yamaha SLG200 Silent | 4.2 lbs (1.9 kg) | Silent frame | Skeleton body, no soundbox |
| Parker Fly | 4.5 lbs (2.0 kg) | Solid body | Poplar with carbon fibre skin |
| Strandberg Boden | 4.7 lbs (2.1 kg) | Headless solid body | Headless, chambered, minimal body |
| Strandberg Essential 6 | 4.8 lbs (2.2 kg) | Headless solid body | Same design, simpler build |
| Taylor T5 | 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) | Semi hollow | Thin hollow body |
| Ibanez S series | 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) | Solid body | Very thin mahogany body |
| Gibson SG | 6.0 to 7.0 lbs (2.7 to 3.2 kg) | Solid body | Thin slab body, double cutaway |
| Epiphone Casino | 6.0 to 7.0 lbs (2.7 to 3.2 kg) | Hollow body | Fully hollow construction |
| Squier Tele Thinline | 6.6 lbs (3.0 kg) | Semi hollow | Chambered body with f hole |
What is the lightest electric guitar you can buy?
The honest answer depends on what counts as a guitar.
If you want a full size instrument you can gig with, the Strandberg Boden is the lightest at about 4.7 lbs. Reported figures range from 4.5 lbs to 5.3 lbs depending on the model and year.
If you only care about the number, travel guitars win. The Traveler Ultra Light lands near 3 lbs. It achieves that by removing most of the body, so it is a practice and travel tool rather than a stage guitar.
Pro tip
Weigh a guitar yourself before you commit. Stand on a bathroom scale, note the number, then stand on it holding the guitar. The difference is the true weight, and it is often half a pound off the spec sheet.
How light is lightweight?
There is no official standard, but players use a fairly consistent scale.
- Under 5 lbs: ultra light. A small group of headless and travel models.
- 5 lbs to 7 lbs: lightweight. Comfortable for long sessions.
- 7 lbs to 9 lbs: average. Most Strats and Teles sit here.
- 9 lbs and up: heavy. Many Les Pauls, and older ones can pass 11 lbs.
The average electric guitar weighs close to 8 lbs. Dropping to 6 lbs removes a quarter of the load from your shoulder, which you notice after 45 minutes standing.
The lightest traditional shapes
Not everyone wants a headless guitar. If you want a familiar shape, the options narrow.
Gibson SG, roughly 6 lbs to 7 lbs
The lightest mainstream solid body. The SG uses the same mahogany as a Les Paul but a much thinner slab body, around 1.5 inches against 2.5 inches.
Sources disagree here, and it is worth knowing why. Most list the SG at 6 lbs to 7 lbs, while a few quote 9 lbs to 10 lbs. Measured examples posted by owners cluster around 5.9 lbs to 6.4 lbs, so the lower figure is the reliable one.
Telecaster Thinline, roughly 6.6 lbs
The lightest Fender style guitar. The Thinline routes chambers into the body and adds an f hole, cutting close to a pound against a standard Tele.
A Squier Classic Vibe Thinline measures about 6.6 lbs. The American version runs slightly heavier at around 7 lbs.
Ibanez S series, roughly 5.5 lbs
The lightest superstrat. The S series body tapers to a very thin profile at the edges. It is the one to try if you want a modern playing feel without going headless.
What actually makes a guitar light
4 things decide the number, and wood is the biggest.
| Body wood | Density (lbs per cubic ft) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Paulownia | 18 | Ultra light budget bodies |
| Basswood | 25 | Ibanez, budget superstrats |
| Alder | 28 | Standard Stratocaster |
| Swamp ash | 30 | Lighter Telecasters |
| Mahogany | 40 | Les Paul, SG |
| Maple | 45 | Necks, Les Paul tops |
The other 3 factors are body thickness, chambering, and hardware. A chambered body removes wood from inside without changing the outline.
Removing the headstock saves weight twice. You lose the wood and the 6 tuning machines, which is why headless designs dominate the top of the list.
Why the lightest guitar is not always the most comfortable
This is the part spec sheets miss. Total weight is only half the story, and balance is the other half.
Neck dive happens when the headstock outweighs the body and the neck drops toward the floor. Your fretting hand then holds the neck up all night instead of playing freely.
SG style guitars are famous for it. The body is thin and light, so the neck wins the argument. A light guitar with poor balance can feel heavier than a well balanced one that weighs more.
I have played a 6 lb guitar that was more tiring than an 8 lb one, purely because of where the weight sat. If you can, try before buying. For a deeper look at fixing this, see the guide to lightweight electric guitars for back pain.
Do lighter guitars sound worse?
No, though the myth is stubborn. The idea that mass equals sustain does not hold up in practice.
Lighter bodies tend to resonate more freely, which many players hear as a livelier acoustic response. Chambered guitars often sound more open than solid ones.
Pickups, strings, amp and playing technique shape your sound far more than 2 lbs of wood. Once the signal reaches your DAW, the difference is small.
How to buy a light guitar without guessing
- Ask for the actual weight. Good dealers weigh individual instruments and will tell you.
- Check the balance on a strap, standing up, not seated in a shop chair.
- Look at body thickness before you look at the wood name.
- Consider a wider strap. A 3 inch strap spreads the load and can matter more than a pound saved.
- Do not trust the model average. 2 identical models can differ by a full pound.
Pro tip
Buying used is the cheapest way into a light guitar. Ask the seller to weigh it on a luggage scale and send a photo. Weight varies enough between individual instruments that this one question can save a return.
Who should skip the ultra light guitars
Ultra light is not automatically better.
- Players who want vintage feel. Headless guitars play well but feel nothing like a Strat. A Thinline or SG is the better route.
- Anyone on a tight budget. The sub 5 lb models are mostly premium. A used SG gets you most of the benefit for far less.
- Heavy handed players. Some very light bodies move under aggressive picking.
- Anyone whose problem is balance, not mass. Fix the strap and strap button position first.
How these weights were gathered
Figures come from manufacturer specifications cross checked against weights posted by owners who measured their own instruments.
Where sources disagreed, as with the Gibson SG, I favoured measured owner figures over published averages. Ranges are given rather than single numbers when the variation is genuine.
Frequently asked questions
What is the lightest electric guitar?
The Strandberg Boden is the lightest full size production electric guitar at about 4.7 lbs. Travel models such as the Traveler Ultra Light go down to roughly 3 lbs, but they remove most of the body to do it.
What is considered a lightweight electric guitar?
Anything under 7 lbs is generally called lightweight. Under 5 lbs is ultra light. The average electric guitar weighs about 8 lbs, so 7 lbs is already a noticeable saving.
Is 7 lbs light for an electric guitar?
Yes, 7 lbs sits at the light end of normal. It is a pound under the 8 lb average and about 3 lbs under a typical Les Paul.
What is the lightest type of electric guitar?
Headless solid bodies are the lightest overall. Removing the headstock drops both the wood and the tuning machines, and most headless designs also chamber the body.
Are hollow body guitars lighter than solid body guitars?
Usually, but not always. A hollow Epiphone Casino runs about 6 lbs to 7 lbs. A well designed solid body such as the Strandberg still beats it at 4.7 lbs.
What is the lightest Telecaster, Stratocaster or Les Paul?
The Telecaster Thinline is the lightest Fender style at roughly 6.6 lbs. For Les Paul shapes, a chambered model such as the Epiphone Les Paul Muse is lightest at about 7 lbs.
How much does the average electric guitar weigh?
About 8 lbs, with most instruments falling between 6 lbs and 10 lbs. Les Pauls sit at the top of that range and SGs near the bottom.
Where to go next
The lightest electric guitar you can realistically gig with is the Strandberg Boden. The Gibson SG is the best traditional option. Check the balance before the number on the scale.
- See the full picks: 8 lightweight electric guitars worth buying
- If playing hurts: lightweight electric guitars for back pain
- Record it without a rig: how to record electric guitar without an amp
- Capture your playing: how to record yourself playing guitar
- Set up your input: best audio interfaces under $200
- Shape the tone: best reverb plugins and EQ plugins the pros use
- Build the room: essential home studio hardware
