How to Choose the Right Skateboard Size

Selecting the appropriate skateboard size is important to ensure a comfortable and well-controlled ride.

When I first started skating, I had no idea deck width and truck size made such a difference, and ended up feeling like I was riding a weird horse and couldn’t get my sushi to be delicious.)

But as not to frustrate you, here’s a breakdown of the most important aspects — deck width, deck length, truck size, and wheel size — to ensure you get a skateboard fitted solely to your needs.

Why Skateboard Size Matters

Hit play to find out why skateboard size matters, with everything from balance control—everything really. If your board is too small it can be really hard to balance, and if it is too large it can feel cumbersome. Especially as a beginner, you want to build confidence and therefore you have to be the right size.

Your height, shoe size, and even riding style are all going to have a say when it comes to finding out what the best skateboard size for you is going to be.

Deck Width: Whatever Your Shoe Size is

Deck Width This is the major factor in skateboard sizing. This is about how wide the board is and it affects your stability and trick performance.

Here’s a quick tip to help you adjust your deck width to your shoe size:

• 7.5 to 8.0 inch decks: Ideal for skaters with smaller feet (U.S. men’s shoe size 6-8) They are ideal for technical street skating that requires you to flip quick under and around things and move fast in tight spaces.
• An 8.0” to 8.25” deck will work well for average feet (U.S. Men’s Size 9 to 11) This is a nice compromise between stability and maneuverability, which makes it a good option for many skaters.
• 8.25” and up: For skaters with larger feet (U.S. men’s shoe size 12 and up) Aesthetically, these wider decks decks offer increased stability and are thus suitable for beginner riders or riders that seek better control while riding ramps or bowls.

Keep in mind that a wider deck means greater stability but can be more difficult for performing technical tricks. Narrower deck is great to move faster, flip better but it might feel less stable at first.

Deck Size and Wheelbase — The Right Size?

The width of your deck is the most important factor to consider but the length and wheelbase will also factor into how your board feels. Closest to home, decks are usually between 28 and 32 inches long.

• Street boards tend to be a bit shorter (28 to 31 inches) as this allows for rapid movement and sharp turn changes.
• Longer boards (31 to 32+/inch) are good for the cruiser or transition skating in bowls and ramps since they are more stable.

Another thing feel-wise is the distance between the front and back trucks, known as the wheelbase. An aggressive wheelbase is conducive to snappier, tighter turns, and a more stable, longer wheelbase is better for fast speeds, necessary when going downhill or long distance.

How Your Skating Style Affects Deck Size

The way you skate is also an important element to take into consideration when choosing the right size. What type of skating you intend to do with also determines the width: the wider the deck the better.

Street Skaters

Skaters who do most of their skating on the street typically like narrower decks (of 7.5 to 8.0 inches) because they feel that they can pop tricks like kickflips, ollies, and grinds that much better with a narrower deck. The board is smaller, which means that the technical movements are much quicker.

Park and Transition Skaters

When skating ramps, bowls, and half-pipes, you can benefit from the stability that a wider deck will provide (look for around 8.25 to 8.5 inches for this). This extra width also means a more stable launching pad for aerial exploits.

Cruisers

For cruising, comfort is key. Opt for wider decks (at least 8.5) together with soft wheels (78A to 85A) It allows you to ride longer distances, and helps absorb bumps and cracks in the road.

Truck Size: Finding the Right Trucks for Your Deck Width

Truck size is just as critical as deck size Make sure your trucks are the same width as your deck for stability and control.

• 7.5” to 8.0” decks: Use 129mm or 5.0” trucks.
• 8.0” to 8.5” decks: Use 139mm or 5.25” trucks.
• 8.5” and wider decks: Use 149mm or 6.0” trucks.

Your trucks need to match your deck to make your board feel locked in between the feet. If your trucks are too narrow there is a quite a bit of unsettling feeling when making turns, and if your trucks are too wide your adjusting your board weight will become more difficult.

Wheel diameter: What fits your deck right

Wheels – The Size of Your Wheels Affects the Performance of Your Skateboard Smaller wheels mean you can have more control over what you do, and they are very suitable when it comes to technical tricks, and larger wheels, well, larger wheels are just for going fast and cruising.

• 50mm – 53mm wheels: The sweet spot for small/smaller decks and techy street skating. These tiny wheels provide tons of control, and let you pump out tricks in a hurry.
• 54mm to 59mm Wheels: Ideal for mid-sized boards, especially if you’re park skating and some speed + some control does the trick.
• 60mm+ wheels: Not as nimble as smaller wheels, but good for cruisers and longboards, providing additional speed and a smoother ride, especially over bumpy ground.

Mistakes We All Make When Choosing Skateboard Size

If you are a beginner, choosing the wrong skateboard size can hinder your performance. Some typical errors to steer clear of can be,

• Deck that is Too Narrow: A deck that is too small, can make balance and control very difficult, especially when landing tricks.
• Choosing Mismatched Trucks: If you mismatched your trucks and decks, your board can become imbalanced, making it harder to turn smoothly.
• Overlooking Wheel Size: Having wheels that are oversized or undersized for your board can negatively impact your board’s performance and may cause discomfort while skating.

Skateboard Size: In Conclusion: What Board Size Is Right For You?

You need to know that the right skateboard size depends on your deck width, deck length, truck size and wheel size – basically, all of them working together to create a board feel.

Finding the right size gives you stability if you are a beginner and if you are an expert skater adjusting your setup, it will make your board feel exactly how you want it.