Skateboard Size Calculator: Learn What Deck Width & Truck Size is Right for You.

Trying to figure out which size skateboard deck is right for you is one of the most challenging parts of learning to skateboard. The truth is that every skater’s body and every skateboard deck are a little different, so you will need to try a few and learn which one feels the most comfortable for your body type and preference. 

This skate deck size calculator tool is intended to help you as a starting point to learn which size skateboard you should get first. Ultimately, you will have to try a few decks to learn which feels best for you. This tool will help you narrow down your options.  

Skateboard Size Calculator and Deck Finder Tool

Use our Truck Size Calculator to see the right size trucks to match your deck, too.

These are the primary guiding principles to help you choose the right skateboard deck size.

• The deck’s width is the most important measurement for sizing a skateboard deck.
  
• For Kids – If you are sizing a deck for a kid or teen who is under 5 feet tall, you should choose a deck that is less than 8.0″ wide.
  
  The smaller the child, the skinnier the board. This chart below will help you find the right size skateboard for your child.
  
• For Adults – Most adult skaters will feel most comfortable on a skateboard deck that is:
  • Between 8.0″ to 8.5″ wide
  • At least 31.5″ long
  • Has a wheelbase that is either 14″ or 14.25″.
    
    • What the Pros Use – As of April 2024, most professional skateboarders use a deck in this range that is between 8.0″ and 8.5″ wide.
      
    • For Street or Park Skating – The standard skateboard deck size is between 7.75 inches to 8.5 inches wide and 31 inches to 33 inches long. This size will work well if you are going to be street skating or skating at your local skatepark.
      
    • For Vert Skating – A new trend is emerging where skaters are riding 8.5 to 10.0 wide decks. These wider boards are better for stability when riding bowls or vert ramps.
      

Width vs Length: Which Skate Deck Dimension Matters More?

The width of the deck will matter more. 

When a skateboarder refers to the size of their deck, they are referring to the width rather than the length most of the time. 

Picking a skate deck width based on your age.

Guiding principle: 

If you or your child is six years old or younger, you are probably going to want to start with a micro skateboard deck.

If you or your child is between the ages of 6 and 10 years old, you should get a skate deck size that is between 7.0 inches and 7.75 inches. You should start with a mini skateboard deck.

If you’re between the ages of 10 to 13, then you are going to want a deck width that is 7.5 inches to 7.75 inches wide. You are probably going to want a mid-size skate deck. 

If you’re a teenager older than 14 years old, you are going to want a wider deck that is 7.75 inches or wider. You are going to want what we will call a “normal” skateboard deck. Check out the shoe size section below to get a better idea of the type of deck you will need. 

Does a Skateboard’s Wheelbase Length Matter?

Yes.

A skateboard’s wheelbase is the distance the trucks sit away from each other on your skateboard. While this dimension also comes down to the skater’s personal preference, it does make a difference in the feel of how a skateboard deck rides.

My recommendation is to gauge your wheelbase like this: 

• If you’re above 6′ tall, look for a deck with a wheelbase that is 14.25″ or longer.
• If you’re between 5′ and 6′ tall, try a wheelbase that is either 14″ and 14.25″ wheelbase deck to see which one feels most natural to you. 
• If you’re between 4′ and 5′ tall, then try a wheelbase that is between 13.5″ to 14″ long to see which one feels most natural to you.

What’s the benefit of a shorter wheelbase? 

A shorter or tighter wheelbase offers a more responsive, quicker feeling turn. This allows you to more easily set up for your tricks and get to the object you’re skating. 

A shorter wheelbase is beneficial for turning, flip tricks, and park skating.

What’s the benefit of a longer wheelbase? 

A longer wheelbase offers more stability as you ride and land your tricks with your feet a little further apart. 

A longer wheelbase is beneficial for stability while skating and has a higher impact on street skating (like skating stairs).  

Deck Size Categories and Who These Would be Good For

Normal Skate Deck Dimensions Start Here if You Are Above 5 Foot Tall

Typical Deck for Skating Street

Will you be skating mostly flat ground, ledges, or rails? If so, go with a deck like this. 

If you’re a skateboarder who is taller than 5’’ with a men’s shoe size larger than a 7.0 in the usa, then you’re most likely going to like skating a “normal” full-size skate deck size. I would consider a normal skateboard deck to fall within these dimensions currently. It is between 7.75” to 8.5” wide and 31” to 33” long. 

If you aren’t sure what size to go with, a common deck for street skating would be a 8.0” x 31.6”. (The width is usually listed before the length.) 

If those dimensions sound good to you, then I would go with a deck like this one or search specifically for “skateboard 8.0” to see other decks with those dimensions too.

Typical Deck for Skating Ramps

Will you be skating mostly ramps or bowls? If so, go with a slightly wider deck like this. 

If you plan to ride transitions like bowls, vert ramps, or mini ramps, then you might want to go wider with an 8.3” x 32” deck like any of these.

If You Are Smaller than 5 Foot Tall, Start Here

There are smaller skateboard deck sizes for kids and younger teenagers.

These fall into categories names of their own.

A Micro Skate Deck

This is an option for skaters under 3’5”. 

A micro skate deck has a width of 6.5 inches to 6.75 inches with a deck length that I’ve seen go as low as 27.2 inches. 

A Mini Skate Deck

This is an option for skaters between 3’5”- 4’5” tall. 

A mini skate deck will usually have dimensions near 7.0 inches wide by 28 inches long. These are good for new skateboarders between the ages of 6 to 8. They look close to what they will see the older skateboarders riding. 

A Mid-size Skate Deck

This is an option for skaters between 4’5”- 5’ tall. 

A mid-size skateboard deck will have dimensions close to a 7.3 inch wide by 29 inch long deck. 

After that, you’re ready for what I wrote above as a “normal” skateboard deck size.  

Picking a skate deck based on your shoe size

For kids and smaller feet, here is a good chart to help guide you. 

If your shoe size is larger than a men’s 7.0 US, then you are probably going to want to go with a normal full sized deck.

I am a small guy at 5’ 6” with a men’s size 8.0. When I grew up skating in the 90’s it was common for everyone to skate a deck that had the 7” to 7.75”width. I remember the first time I skated a board over 8.0 inches, and it felt like I was skating a boat. It flipped slower. It was heavier, and it just took me longer to get used to than I wanted it to. Those days are gone now. It is actually strange for me to run into any skaters who skate a deck below 8 inches wide. Why is that? The truth is probably more around the trends, and what we see pros ride in videos. If a deck that is a little wider works for them, then it will work for you. 

So let this be your guiding principle. If you have a shoe size that is larger than mine (a men’s 8 / women’s 9.5), then get at least an 8 inch wide deck. 

The most common deck size I hear friends ride is 8.25. My friends tend to be average height with a shoe size between a men’s 9 – 11. 

Which Size Skateboard Deck is the Best for Learning Flip Tricks?

With practice, any skateboard deck width will work for learning flip tricks. However, something to consider is that the narrower the width of the deck, the less it will weigh. The less your deck weighs, the easier it will be to flip under your feet. Additionally, by having a narrower deck, your board will have less material to drag through the air as it rotates.

In other words, a smaller deck will be lighter and more aerodynamic, and that makes it easier to flip.

So why would anyone want a wide deck?

Well, because narrower decks don’t feel as stable underfoot.

The true goal is to find a skate deck that feels stable while also being agile enough for your preferred tricks and riding style.

One of the best things about skateboarding is that all the parts of your setup are relatively inexpensive and interchangeable, so you get the chance to experiment with new deck dimensions as you progress and ultimately learn what size works for you.

Truck Size Calculator: Learn What Size Skate Trucks Should You Get

What Size Skateboard Decks Do the Pros Ride?

Nearly all the pros are going to be riding a deck in the sweet spot, typical street deck, range size that I described above. The average pro skateboarder typically rides a board that will be in the range of 7.75″ to 8.5″ wide and 31″ to 33″ long.

You can search for the last name of the pro along with the brand of skateboard they ride for to see the exact dimensions they ride.

A pro model skateboard deck is a board that has the name of the pro written somewhere on it. These decks are not necessarily better or worse than another deck you would buy from that same company. Getting a pro model deck is a way that you can show support for your favorite skateboard pros as a portion of the deck sales will go to that rider.

What does a pro-level skateboard cost?

As of May 2024, the average pro-quality skateboard from a reputable skateboard brand costs between $50 to $72. 

So, what should you spend on your first skateboard deck? 

For the deck only (without grip tape or any other parts needed to build a complete skateboard), you should spend between $35 – $65 on your first skateboard deck.

The lower end of that price range will be for a deck that either doesn’t have a graphic on it (a blank deck) or a deck that is part of a clearance sale from a previous season.

As long as you buy the deck from a local skate shop or online skate shop (like Tactics), you will get a quality deck that will last you through your learning curve. The main tip is to avoid getting your first board from a major box store, as these skateboards are designed to hit a certain price point and are usually incredibly low quality to the point of being unsafe to skate.  

Lastly, look for a skate deck that is made with maple instead of birch or a softer type of wood. 

Do All Skateboard Decks Come With Griptape?

No. It ultimately depends where you buy your decks from. Some of the major retailers include a free sheet of griptape along with a board purchase. You will have to check with the website or skateshop that you purchase your skateboard from, though.

That said, griptape is relatively cheap. The typical sheet will fit a normal sized skate deck. If you are looking for a great, inexpensive, sheet of griptape, I’d recommend you with either this Mob sheet or Jessup sheet.

So what Do I Skate?

The size that feels most comfortable under my feet is an 8.0” x 31.6” deck. I typically like these.

I am a street skater. I like skating ledges, rails, and the occasional transition. I skate the typical street size that I mentioned above. I have a men’s size shoe size that is 8 – 8.5, and I am not very tall at a 5’ 6”. 

At the moment I am reviewing all of the strongest skateboard decks for another post, so you can follow my reviews there.

Try our other board size calculators here:

Snowboard Size Calculator

Wakeboard Size Calculator

Steve Weber

Steve Weber is the passionate snowboarder, skateboarder, and author behind Board of the World. He understands that most gear reviews focus on having the perfect snow conditions, but his testing methodology is different. Living in Pennsylvania, Steve describes exactly how a board performs when the conditions aren’t perfect. His reviews cover performance on ice, hardpack, and flat-out brick conditions. In other words, he reviews boards for the conditions that East Coast riders actually face.

Bringing 27 years of East Coast snowboarding and 21 years of skateboarding experience, Steve is a 42-year-old intermediate park rider. His recommendations are informed by decades of battling icy conditions, ensuring every review accounts for the board’s performance on the roughest of terrain.

For the last five years, Steve has poured his passion into writing in-depth, unbiased reviews that help riders make informed decisions about the gear they’ll use. He also works part-time at a snowboard shop in Northeastern Pennsylvania, which gives him a direct line to learning about the new gear tech months in advance. When he’s not writing reviews, Steve is often found riding at Montage Mountain and testing out new boards.

Steve’s goal with Board of the World is simple: to help every reader find the right gear so they can have fun outside from the first time they use it.