If possible, perform auscultation in a quiet environment. Littmann Classic III Stethoscopes use proprietary tunable diaphragm technology that lets you hear different frequency sounds by simply adjusting the pressure on the chestpiece. Hold the chestpiece with light pressure on the patient’s chest to hear low frequency sounds; press a little more firmly to hear higher frequency sounds.
Littmann Classic III Stethoscopes
Superior sound with style
The stethoscope that has helped millions of medical professionals perform at their best
Experience the precision and comfort of Littmann Classic III Stethoscopes. With high acoustic sensitivity for exceptional performance, the Classic III stethoscope is used by students and medical professionals alike to identify, listen to and study heart, lung and other body sounds for physical assessment, patient monitoring and diagnosis.
Buy with confidence by purchasing from a Littmann Authorized Dealer
Patient safety is our top priority.
Counterfeit Littmann Stethoscopes pose a real threat to you and your patients. For the best-in-class Littmann Stethoscope acoustics, only buy from authorized dealers. Protect your patient with authentic, high-quality stethoscopes and safeguard your practice by avoiding unauthorized distributors.
Shop with confidence by purchasing your authentic, high-quality Littmann Classic III Stethoscope from a Authorized Littmann Dealer.
"As a nursing student, I have relied on my Littmann Stethoscope daily, using it to learn and practice vital skills that are essential to my future career. The quality and reliability of your stethoscopes have been instrumental in my education, allowing me to hear subtle sounds with clarity and precision."
Lisseth Hernandez
Nursing student
Find your style
Choose from over 25 styles to make it yours
Choose from a variety of colors and finishes to personalize your practice, reflecting your unique style while helping deliver exceptional care to your patients.
Related products
Hear the sounds that matter
Compared to other leading stethoscopes, Littmann stethoscopes excel at allowing you to hear sounds at lower frequencies.*
*Based on tests of the Littmann Cardiology IV Stethoscope and Littmann Classic III Stethoscope against globally-available comparable stethoscopes in an equivalent class using recorded heart sounds with diaphragm.
Auscultatory Sounds
Discover a broader range of auscultatory sounds with the Littmann Cardiology IV Stethoscope and see how it excels at helping you hear sounds at lower frequencies compared to other leading stethoscopes. To learn more, download our brochure.
Resources to help you get started with your Littmann Classic III Stethoscope
Classic III Stethoscope FAQs
- Before buying
- Pricing and where to buy
- Getting Started
- Service and Support
- Warranty information
- Product specifications
- Cleaning and care
There’s a reason doctors, nurses, clinicians and healthcare students just embarking on their careers know that Littmann Stethoscopes are synonymous with professionalism, excellent acoustics and dependability. It’s because quality is at the core of what we do, and when it comes to choosing a stethoscope, there’s no comparison. There’s a name in auscultation you can count on—just look for the L.
Hear the Hard Stuff: Littmann Classic III Stethoscopes are more than twice as loud as the next leading stethoscope, allowing you to more reliably and consistently hear heart sounds at lower frequencies (below 120Hz) like Korotkoff sounds, Mitral Stenosis and S3 and S4 Gallops when compared to other leading stethoscopes.*
Handcrafted Quality: Littmann Classic III Stethoscopes are designed and manufactured in the United States with globally sourced materials following rigorous processes and strict controls. The result? Littmann Classic III Stethoscopes are reliably louder than other stethoscopes.*
Confidence and Comfort: Littmann Classic III stethoscopes let you confidently assess, monitor and diagnose patients with outstanding acoustics that help you hear subtle sounds other stethoscopes may miss. They are also lighter than other stethoscopes**, providing enhanced all-day comfort.
* Based on tests of the 3M™ Littmann® Classic III™ Stethoscope and the 3M™ Littmann® Cardiology IV™ Stethoscope against globally-available comparable stethoscopes in an equivalent class using recorded heart sounds with diaphragm.
** Based on published weights of globally-available comparable stethoscopes in an equivalent class.
No, the Littmann Classic III Stethoscope uses Next Generation Tubing that does not contain natural rubber latex or phthalate plasticizers. This includes select models featuring innovative satin finish tubing that is less likely to stick to hair and clothing.
Littmann Classic III Stethoscopes are sold through authorized dealers who set their own pricing and may occasionally have special promotions and offers.
We encourage you to stay in touch by signing up for Littmann email newsletters and following Littmann on social media to be among the first to know about special offers and promotions.
Please refer to the Quick Start Guide included in your product box. You may also refer to your owner’s manual for detailed instructions on removing and cleaning parts, and reassembly.
Below are five essential tips for using your Littmann Classic III Stethoscope properly and ensuring optimal audio quality.
- Rotate to the correct side – when using the double-sided Littmann Classic III Stethoscope, you need to open (or index) the side you want to use—bell or diaphragm—by rotating the chestpiece. If the diaphragm is open, the bell will be closed, preventing sound from coming in through the bell, and vice versa.
- Point eartips forward - before placing the eartips in your ears, make sure they point forward, toward your nose. This ensures that the eartubes will align with your ear canals for comfort and maximum sound transmission.
- Choose your eartip size - for optimal acoustic performance, it’s important to use the eartip size that best fits comfortably in your ear to achieve a proper seal. Small and large size eartips are provided in the Littmann Classic III Stethoscope box. You may also perform a headset adjustment (as shown below) to suit your personal preference for comfort.
- Remove potential obstructions - if you usually carry your Littmann Classic III Stethoscope in a pocket, or don’t clean it often, lint or dirt may accumulate and obstruct the sound pathway. To prevent debris from accumulating, give your stethoscope routine cleaning and care, and keep the open bell free of debris by covering it with the removable diaphragm. This is also true for models featuring satin finish tubing.
- Check the seal – Littmann Classic III Stethoscopes rely on an airtight seal in order to transmit body sounds from the patient to the practitioner’s ears. Loose parts in the chestpiece, loose or cracked tubing, or improperly seated eartips can prevent an airtight seal.
Yes, the Littmann Classic III Stethoscope can be laser engraved, and many of our authorized dealers offer this service. We do not recommend scratch engraving as this can increase frictional noise during auscultation. Do not disassemble the stethoscope in any way (e.g., pulling the tubing apart, unscrewing the tubing stems).
To connect with service and support in the USA for the Littmann Classic III Stethoscope, please visit Littmann.com/service or call 1-800-228-3957.
For all other countries, please visit the Littmann website in your country for local contact information.
The Littmann Classic III includes a 5-year warranty. Learn more at Littmann.com/warranty.
The Littmann Classic III Stethoscope is assembled in the USA with globally sourced materials.
Our satin finish tubing formula used on select Littmann Classic III Stethoscope models provides a more comfortable, flexible feel that is less likely to stick to hair or clothing.
The satin finish also offers a more flexible feel for easier folding and stowing of your stethoscope, so you can keep it with you between patients. Its specially formulated coating is easy to clean, with debris- and scratch-resistance to preserve the look and life of your stethoscope.
Littmann Classic III Stethoscopes with satin finish tubing are available in two colors, Champagne Rose and Marine Blue.
Please sign up to receive Littmann emails or follow us on social media to be one of the first to know when we launch new styles.
No, the Littmann Classic III Stethoscope cannot be used during an MRI because it contains metal.
The tunable diaphragm is a 3M invention that allows you to listen to both low and high frequency sounds without the need to remove the chestpiece from the patient, turn it over, and reposition it.
By varying the pressure placed on the patient, a tunable diaphragm will adjust, or tune, the sounds to allow you to hear either low or high frequencies. When holding the tunable diaphragm on a patient and pressing lightly, low frequency sounds will be transmitted. When using the tunable diaphragm and pressing firmly, higher frequency sounds will be emphasized.
No, we only recommend using the Littmann Classic II Infant Stethoscope on neonatal patients. However, some neonatal specialists report that the diameter of the bell and diaphragm on that model is still too large to get good surface contact on neonates.
We recommend cleaning external parts between patient exams using 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, and do not use hand sanitizer as a cleaning agent as there are additives that may damage parts of the stethoscope.
To prevent damage to your Littmann Classic III Stethoscope, do not immerse your stethoscope in any liquid, subject your stethoscope to any sterilization process (e.g., autoclaving, liquid chemical sterilization), or store in extreme heat.
The diaphragms, non-chill bell sleeve, and eartips may be removed, if necessary, for thorough cleaning. Ensure all parts and surfaces are dry before reassembly. To remove an eartip, grasp the eartip firmly using the thumb and forefinger of one hand and pull sharply away from the eartube while holding the eartube in the other hand. To attach the eartips, push the small side firmly onto the eartube until it snaps fully into place. To prevent ear canal injury, be sure eartips are firmly attached to the headset before inserting them into your ears.
Yes, Littmann Classic III Stethoscope eartips snap firmly onto the ends of the eartubes and can be removed for cleaning, but may require significant effort to remove. This design is intentional for safety purposes.
The tubing used on the Littmann Classic III Stethoscope is made of PVC (polyvinylchloride), which becomes hard when exposed for long periods of time to the lipids found in human skin. If worn around the neck, we recommend wearing the stethoscope over a collar away from contact with your skin.
Models featuring satin finish tubing are unlikely to encounter these problems, but please contact us with any questions or concerns.
Yes, we list available Littmann Classic III Stethoscope parts and accessories in our full product catalog. They are available to purchase from our authorized retailers. If you are in need of stethoscope service information, please visit our Littmann Warranty and Repairs page.
