Generally it is better to have a FULL wave antenna.
A half wave is next best
A quarter wave is next
an eighth is next....etc.
That being said, there are a few instances where the antennas may have simbiotic frequencies, like a half wave of 12 meters is 6 meters, some bleeding may occur so you may want to run a fraction of the 12 to keep your neighbors 6 meter from sounding like Dizzy Gillespies Trumpet!
(That is not a good example, just and easy way to explain)
Antennas are a science all in it's own. You may also find that your dipole you meticously made for your house might need to have two feet cut off to use at your cabin. Hills, metal roofs, neighbors houses, mother-in-laws, anything big and hard to move can affect your radio. But don't dismay, you will actually find that part of the fun is tweeking to get out just a little further, of get Indernesier a little clearer.
Good GENERAL rule of thumb with antennas, the bigger the better and the higher the better.
HINT When you make an antenna, make it just a little long and trim it to tune, pretty hard to add to it to tune.