The best cello case is the Crossrock 4/4 Cello Case. It’s practical and sturdy and will provide you with all the support and protection you need for both your instrument and accessories.
Your instrument is an extension of who you are. So, like you’d armor-up when heading off to battle, you need to do the same for your cello.
The best cello cases on the market are:
Reviews of the Best Cello Cases
Crossrock 4/4 Cello Case
Best Overall and Most Practical
This Crossrock cello case has a carbon fiber exterior that’s scratch-resistant, so it’ll stay looking good no matter what you put it through—just like your cello inside, protected by the cushy velvet interior.
The padding on the interior is shaped to cradle your cello for the best hold possible. It’s also completely removable for easy cleaning.
Your cello remains snug in here, along with several compartments for accessories. There are bow holders, a pouch for sheet music, and a smaller pouch you could keep rosin in—or earplugs, since orchestras are loud!
One everything is packed inside, it’s easy to transport. The case has handles, wheels, and padded straps, giving you three options for your travels, from home to stage and beyond. This is especially useful if your back or arms get tired since you can swap to another way to carry.
PROS
- A wide range of colors.
- Removable interior for easy cleaning.
- Soft interior to protect your instrument.
- Plenty of space.
CONS
- Carrying it may be uncomfortable.
- Tips over easily.
Protec 4/4 Cello Gig Bag
Best Budget Case
This soft cello case is made of weather and spill-resistant nylon, with 0.79 inches of padding inside. The interior is made of non-abrasive Nylex lining.
The backpack straps on the case are thickly padded and can also be tucked away when you’re not using them. Along with the backpack straps, there are handles for easy grabbing and carrying.
There’s a luggage ID tag for you to use when traveling, and plenty of space for accessories and bows, inside and out.
This is an excellent case for someone on a budget, where the budget isn’t as tightly strung as your instrument.
PROS
- Thickly padded interior.
- Padded backpack straps.
- Luggage ID tag.
- Tons of storage room.
CONS
- No wheels.
- It’s heavy for a soft case.
Bobelock 2000W Fiberglass Cello Case
Easy Carry
The chic Bobelock cello case is made of a durable, shiny, heat-resistant fiberglass. This is an example of one of the top materials for the best cello cases, which we’ll talk about more later.
It’s velour on the inside, which is a satiny, soft-cushioned material to grip your cello safely. There’ll be no friction or bumping, and on top of it, the interior is a classy wine-red. Great for the high-class look and feel!
You can cart your cello around in this fantastic case all the usual ways but has wheels, to avoid you dragging it. To pull it, you can either hold the upper handle or the two lower down. There’s also a handle on the side. Lastly, there’s a strap to sling across your body, if you want to carry the case on your back.
PROS
- Interior and exterior colors match well.
- Soft interior for protection.
- Space for bows and rosin.
- Elegant design.
CONS
- Heavy—it may weigh more than some cellos.
- Lining the case up when closing it can be difficult.
What to Look for in a Cello Case
Most cello cases appear the same on the surface, which is something you should be wary of. What looks like a line of quality cases could be a line of disasters hidden in plain sight.
Let’s break down what you need in a cello case, and what to avoid:
- Hard or soft?
- Portability.
- Material.
- Weight.
Hard or Soft?
A hard case may seem like it offers the most protection, but a soft case with plenty of padding can do the same job.
Soft cases offer flexibility for transportation and can prevent the instrument from getting scratched.
ProTec’s case is an outstanding example of everything a soft case should offer. Alternatively, hard cases are more durable, and their rigid material offers immense protection from accidental drops.
Portability
Cellos are bulky instruments to carry without a case. A case makes it harder by widening the area over the neck, making it difficult to grasp what would’ve been your gripping point.
So, if your case comes with attachments to help you transport it, take it as a good sign.
Some people may find certain methods of carrying a cello uncomfortable or difficult. However, there are easy ways to carry your cello—you just have to experiment and find what works for you.
Handle
A handle on the side of the case lets you carry your cello like a briefcase. You’ll need a strong arm and room ahead and behind you, but it’s better than nothing!
Other ways to hold the case are on your hip or upright next to you. For the latter, you need handles that make it easy to hold the case vertically—so a basic one on the side won’t suffice. Luckily, most cases have a few handles scattered around it—like the Bobelock, for example.
Straps
Carrying your cello on your back is an easier solution if you can handle the weight. That way, you only need room above you and not much behind. It also helps you avoid banging it into objects.
A pair of tight straps are a great portability feature on a cello case—adjustable is the best option for added comfort. It’s even better if they’re padded, like the ones on the ProTec case.
A cello will pull down, given its hefty body, and make the straps dig into your shoulders. Padding will help take the pain of this away.
Wheels
A wheeled case is a solid choice in cello transportation. This way, it’s just like a gigantic suitcase. It takes the strain off your arm or back and lets you reach your destination without hassle.
Most of the cases we’ve reviewed have wheels, just be careful when wheeling. Heavy objects can easily flip if you don’t keep them in check.
Material
Interior
A cello inside a hard case alone is like a rock in a glass. Two hard things rattling around together, and both will get damaged.
But, if the padding is scratchy, that’s no good either. It’ll scuff up your instrument, which can ruin both aesthetics and monetary value. Velvet is a good choice for the inner lining—it’s soft and silky, similar to a warm blanket.
Velour is a solid second or equal choice. Velour is a more synthetic version of velvet, and they’re both plush, soft, and cushioning. The main difference is that velvet feels fuller and softer than velour.
Your cello will be treated like royalty surrounded by soft material, cushioned to protect and harmless against the wood.
All but ProTec’s case uses velvet or velour for its interiors.
Exterior
What’s on the outside matters less, but it needs to be durable. You can rest easy knowing that’s the case for all the products reviewed.
Fiberglass, for example, is one to look for, which the Bobelock features. It’s durable, versatile, and it can handle the heat. The durability makes it great for withstanding bumpy travel, and handling heat means it can survive under strong stage lights.
Although fiberglass seems like the best choice, anything hard enough to knock on will suffice. Carbon fibers and similar materials are also excellent choices.
Weight
A cello can seem heavy enough with an average weight of 5–7 pounds. It may not seem like much when playing, but it’s a lot to carry around in a case that weighs the same.
If your case adds too much bulk, it’s a downer. Luckily, the cases we’ve reviewed are compact and lightweight, making them easier to transport. The lightest case is ProTec’s, with most of the others weighing more than cellos do.
Best Cello Case Brands
Three fabulous brands feature across three fantastic products we’ve reviewed—but can you trust them? Here’s a little bit about each of them, to prove why they’re great options for a top-notch case.
Crossrock
Crossrock is a company dedicated to making cases for big and small instruments. This is fantastic—a case-centric focus means a company crafts its cases to suit all cellos. Such a company will also keep your instrument safe, no matter what model or brand. This company has you covered across all cello cases and instruments.
Its multitude of cases proves that it knows what it’s doing. The company’s comfortable branching out beyond cellos, certain they can make the best cases for whatever instruments need them. This is what’s unique about them out of the three brands we’ve reviewed.
Bobelock
Another company dedicated to making cases, Bobelock’s focus is more centered on string instruments. They’ve got the whole string section of the orchestra covered in an array of bright, standout colors.
Bobelock also takes it a step further with cases for bows. From one bow per case, up to 24, depending on your instrument, of course.
The company also makes accessories, such as satin instrument bags and music stand covers. Bobelock is all classical, all the time, ready to fill any instrument player’s needs. So as you can see, Bobelock may be best for you if string-instrument-only experts are what you’re looking for.
ProTec
ProTec doesn’t just supply cases for a wide range of instruments, but for their parts, too. ProTec also sells sheet music stands, case parts, and electronics. It’s an accessory-focused company, as can be seen by the high-quality shoulder strap pads. You can add these to any case-straps that aren’t padded, so you’ll be more comfortable in your carry.
The Best Cello Case
The best of the products we’ve reviewed is the Crossrock Cello Case. It’s the lightest hard case while still being made of sturdy carbon fiber. It also comes with the most options available—the same model is available in three sizes, four materials, and comes in eight colors. It also has more accessory storage than most other cases, beaten only by ProTec.
The Crossrock is perfect for someone who likes options and likes to showcase personality via color. It’s also the most practical because of its carry-options and accessory bags. Only the Bobelock beats it on its ease-of-carrying.
However, if soft cases are more your bag, you’re in luck. The runner up is ProTec’s case. It’s hefty for a soft case but is well-padded with tons of storage for the busy cellist to utilize. This is ideal for a smaller budget.