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Short answer: size by weight, not height. Find your weight band on the chart below, then adjust 2 to 4cm for riding style. Height is a rough sanity check, nothing more.
Getting the size right is the most important decision you'll make buying a board. Too long and you'll fight it all day. Too short and it gets unstable the moment you carry any speed.
Why the chin-to-nose rule is wrong
Stand a board on its tail, see if it reaches your chin. It's been passed around for decades and it's not completely wrong, just incomplete enough to get you on the wrong board.
That rule comes from an era of stiffer, heavier boards without modern rocker and camber profiles. A 160 today rides nothing like a 160 from fifteen years ago.
More to the point, height tells you nothing about how hard you press the board into the snow. Two riders both 175cm, one 65kg and one 95kg, will have completely different days on the same board. The board doesn't know how tall you are. It only knows how hard it's being pressed.
Weight is what actually matters
Every board is engineered to flex properly within a weight range. Stand on it and press through a turn, and it bends in a way designed to give you the right edge contact.
Too light for the board and you never engage it — it feels stiff and dead. Too heavy and you over-flex it, losing pop and precision.
When the chart and the chin rule disagree, go with weight every time.
Snowboard size chart by weight
| Rider weight | Beginner | All-mountain | Freestyle | Freeride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50–60kg | 138–145cm | 140–150cm | 136–144cm | 144–152cm |
| 60–70kg | 144–150cm | 145–155cm | 142–150cm | 150–157cm |
| 70–80kg | 149–155cm | 150–160cm | 147–155cm | 155–162cm |
| 80–90kg | 153–159cm | 155–165cm | 151–158cm | 159–165cm |
| 90kg+ | 158cm+ | 160–170cm | 155cm+ | 163cm+ |
How riding style changes your size
Once you have your weight-based starting point, style moves you 2 to 4cm either way.
All-mountain — ride the middle of your range. This is what the chart is built around.
Freestyle and park — go 2 to 4cm shorter. Shorter boards spin easier and press more naturally.
Freeride — go 2 to 4cm longer. More board means more float and more edge at speed.
Beginner — go 2 to 3cm shorter. More forgiving, more catch-free, easier to start a turn.
Powder — different rules entirely. See the volume shift section below.
Don't forget width
Waist width has to match your boot size. Too narrow and your toes and heels hang over, causing drag when you carve properly.
| Boot size (US) | Minimum waist width | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| US 7–8 | 245–250mm | Standard width is fine |
| US 9–9.5 | 250–255mm | Standard, check the specs |
| US 10–10.5 | 255–262mm | Mid-wide or Wide |
| US 11+ | 260mm+ | Wide is essential |
Sizing for Australian resorts
This is where most overseas sizing advice steers Australians wrong.
Buller, Falls Creek, Hotham, Perisher and Thredbo have shorter, tighter runs than the Rockies, the Alps or Japan. Buller's longest run is 2.5km, Falls Creek's is 3km. You don't need to size up for speed and stability the way an overseas freerider does.
Our recommendation: sit at the middle to shorter end of your weight range unless you're specifically chasing freeride terrain or planning a trip overseas.
When to go shorter, when to go longer
Shorter if you're a beginner, ride mostly park, ride mostly Australian resorts, or stick to groomed runs.
Longer if you ride powder and off-piste, sit at the top of a weight band, carve hard at speed, or you're planning an overseas trip.
What if you're between sizes?
Go shorter if you're still progressing or ride park. Go longer if you're intermediate to advanced on variable terrain.
If both are in stock, come in and stand on them. Five minutes in the shop beats an hour of reading.
Volume shift boards size differently
Volume shift boards ride 3 to 7cm shorter than your standard size. The wider nose and increased surface area give you the float of a longer board in a shorter, more nimble package.
This is the single most common sizing mistake we see — someone buys their usual length in a volume shift shape, ends up on something enormous, and wonders why it feels like a barge. Our powder snowboard guide covers the whole family of shapes.
Sizing for kids
| Child's weight | Recommended length |
|---|---|
| 15–20kg | 90–100cm |
| 20–27kg | 100–110cm |
| 27–36kg | 110–120cm |
| 36–45kg | 120–130cm |
| 45–55kg | 128–138cm |
How the boards we stock actually size up
Charts are a starting point. These are the quirks we've noticed fitting these boards to real riders.
YES Basic — true to length. Beginners stay at the shorter end.
Nitro Team — rides slightly short. Between sizes, go longer.
Jones Mountain Twin and Twin Sister — true to length.
Burton Custom — rides long. Size to the middle of your range.
K2 Passport — true to length. Don't size down.
Salomon Abstract — rides slightly short. Size to chart or slightly longer.
Frequently asked questions
What size snowboard should I ride? Size by weight, not height. Find your weight band on the chart, take the all-mountain figure as your baseline, then go 2 to 4cm shorter for park or 2 to 4cm longer for freeride.
Should I size a snowboard by height or weight? Weight. Height tells you nothing about how hard you press the board. Two riders the same height with 30kg between them need different boards.
Is the chin-to-nose rule accurate? Only roughly, and it comes from an era of very different board construction. Use it as a sanity check, never as your decision.
What size snowboard for a beginner? Two to three centimetres shorter than your weight-based all-mountain size. Shorter boards are more forgiving and easier to turn while you're learning.
How do I size a powder or volume shift board? Three to seven centimetres shorter than your normal length. The extra width carries the float, so the usual length would make it unwieldy.
What waist width do I need for size 11 boots? 260mm or wider. Anything narrower and your toes and heels will drag when you carve.
Should I size differently for Australian resorts? Yes. Australian runs are shorter and tighter than overseas, so sit at the middle to shorter end of your range unless you're riding freeride terrain or heading overseas.
Still not sure?
Come in and talk to us at 435A Bridge Rd, Richmond. We fit hundreds of Victorian riders every season and we'll give you a straight answer based on your weight, your ability and where you actually ride.
Shop all snowboards · Women's boards · Size guide page
Complete snowboard buying guide · Powder snowboard guide · Buying boots online · Mt Buller guide
435A Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121. 03 9421 2293.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find your weight in the chart above, then adjust for riding style. For most Australian riders heading to Buller or Falls Creek, the middle of your weight range is the right starting point.
All-mountain sizing sits around 155 to 165cm. Don't size down significantly — at 90kg you need enough board to flex properly and hold your edge. Beginners aim for 153 to 159cm; advanced riders can push toward 162 to 165cm.
Use the same weight-based sizing chart — women's boards use identical logic but are built with women-specific flex patterns and lighter construction. Look at women's specific shapes like Jones Twin Sister, Salomon Abstract or YES Women's Basic rather than sizing down a men's board.
