How to pick a skateboard size
Pick the deck width, not the length. Most teens and adults ride a deck between 7.75″ and 8.5″ wide: narrower with smaller feet or for flip tricks, wider with bigger feet or for ramps and cruising. Kids under about 5′3″ (160 cm) ride smaller decks sized by height.
Width is what you feel under your feet. Too narrow and your heels and toes hang off, so the board feels twitchy. Too wide and it’s heavy to flip and slow to turn. Deck length mostly comes with the width, since wider decks are made a little longer.
Skateboard size chart by shoe size
These are the widths most skaters land on for a full-size deck. Shoe conversions are the usual rules of thumb.
| US men’s | US women’s | EU | UK | Deck width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 and under | 7.5 and under | 39 and under | 5 and under | 7.5″–7.75″ |
| 6.5 to 8 | 8 to 9.5 | 40 to 41 | 5.5 to 7 | 7.75″–8.0″ |
| 8.5 to 10 | 10 to 11.5 | 42 to 43 | 7.5 to 9 | 8.0″–8.25″ |
| 10.5 to 12 | 12 to 13.5 | 44 to 45 | 9.5 to 11 | 8.25″–8.5″ |
| 12.5 and up | 14 and up | 46 and up | 11.5 and up | 8.5″–9.0″ |
Skateboard sizes for kids
Kids go by height, not shoe size. A board that fits their body is easier to balance and push. Once they reach about 5′3″, use the shoe size chart above.
| Deck | Rider height | Age, roughly | Deck width |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid | 4′5″ to 5′2″ (135–159 cm) | About 9 to 12 | 7.3″–7.5″ |
| Mini | 3′5″ to 4′4″ (105–134 cm) | About 6 to 8 | 7.0″ |
| Micro | Under 3′5″ (105 cm) | About 5 and under | 6.5″–6.75″ |
| Full size | 5′3″ (160 cm) and up | About 13 and up | By shoe size |
Street, park or cruising: how style changes the size
- Street and flat ground: the narrower end of your range. A lighter, narrower deck flips faster for kickflips and shove-its.
- A bit of everything: the middle of your range. This is the right call if you’re not sure yet.
- Park, bowls and ramps: about a quarter inch wider. More board under your feet is steadier at speed and on coping.
- Cruising: wider again, with big soft wheels. If you only want to get around, look at a cruiser board too.
Between two sizes?
Go narrower if you mostly want to learn flip tricks, and wider if you want stability for ramps or you’re nervous at speed. An eighth of an inch is a small change, so neither choice will stop you learning. Most skaters settle on a favorite width after their first couple of boards.
What about wheels and trucks?
Match the trucks to the deck width, so the wheels sit roughly flush with the edges of the board. Truck brands list which deck widths each size fits. For wheels, around 52 to 54 mm suits street and learning tricks, 54 to 56 mm suits parks and ramps, and 56 mm or bigger soft wheels roll over cracks for cruising.
Once the board is sorted, check your stance with the goofy or regular test, then start with the ollie. The skateboard tricks list has every trick in order, easy to hard.
