Violin Rental in NYC

Five Borough Violins rents hand-crafted, fully adjusted violins to students and players across New York City. Every rental outfit is set up by hand, teacher-approved, and hand-delivered to your lesson or home anywhere in the five boroughs.

Two rental plans

  • Rental with Maintenance Waiver: $150 + tax every 3 months. Includes routine setup service, cosmetic touch-ups, soundpost and bridge adjustments, and up to two bow rehairs per school year (a rehair in NYC typically costs $100 or more). Strings are not included.

  • Rental Only: $100 + tax every 3 months. The same violin outfit, without the Maintenance Waiver.

Included with every violin rental

  • A hand-crafted violin outfit, fully adjusted and teacher-approved

  • Free size swaps anytime as the player grows

  • Rental credit toward buying a Five Borough Violins instrument

  • Hand delivery to your lesson or home anywhere in NYC, or pickup by appointment

Rent to own

On the Maintenance Waiver plan, $90 of each quarterly payment builds credit toward the purchase of any Five Borough Violins instrument, up to $720 per account (about two years of renting). Credit stays with your account through size swaps, and when you convert to a purchase we restring the instrument with Thomastik Vision strings at no charge. See the Rental Agreement (PDF) for full terms.

How to rent a violin in NYC

  1. Choose a plan in our store and check out online. Rentals check out separately from purchases.

  2. We email you to schedule delivery to your lesson or home, or a pickup time.

  3. Play. Swap sizes whenever you need to, or put your rental credit toward buying an instrument.

Not sure what size you need? Contact us with the player’s age or size and we’ll recommend one.

Violin rental FAQ

How much does it cost to rent a violin in NYC?

$100 or $150 per quarter plus NYC sales tax, depending on whether you choose the Maintenance Waiver. Rental fees are billed automatically at the start of each quarter.

Do you deliver?

Yes, anywhere in the five boroughs, by arrangement. We don’t ship outside New York City. See Delivery & Returns.

How do I end a rental?

Either side can end the rental at the end of a paid quarter with written notice. Return the instrument within 10 days after the paid quarter ends.

Who signs the rental agreement?

A financially responsible adult (18 or older), even when the instrument is for a child.

Do you also rent violas?

Yes. See viola rental in NYC, or browse violins and violas for sale.