How to Choose a Skateboard Deck
The deck is the part everyone looks at and the part where the least of the decision actually matters. Width is the real choice. Almost everything else is preference, and graphics are free.
The short version
- Most adults: 8.0in to 8.25in. This is the default and it is right far more often than not.
- Technical street or smaller feet: 7.75in to 8.0in.
- Transition, bowls, bigger feet: 8.5in and up.
- Length: ignore it. Almost all popsicle decks are 31.5in to 32.5in.
- Concave: medium unless you have a reason. It is what most decks ship with.
- Construction: seven-ply maple is the standard and it is genuinely fine.
- Price: $90 to $180. Most pro decks sit at $120 to $160.
- Graphics: cost nothing extra and wear off anyway. Pick what you like.
What we cover
Width · Length and wheelbase · Concave · Shape · Construction · Brands · How long it lasts · FAQ
What width deck do you need?
Width is measured in inches across the middle of the board and it is the one number worth thinking about. It changes stability, how quickly the board flips, and whether your feet actually sit where they should.
| Width | Shoe size (AU/US men) | Feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5in to 7.75in | Up to 8 | Light, flips fast, less stable | Technical street, smaller riders |
| 7.75in to 8.0in | 8 to 9 | Quick but planted | Street, ledges, flip tricks |
| 8.0in to 8.25in | 9 to 11 | The all-round balance | Most adults. Start here |
| 8.25in to 8.5in | 11 to 12 | More stable, slightly slower to flip | Street and park crossover |
| 8.5in and up | 12 and up | Very stable, lands solid | Transition, bowls, ramps, cruising |
Shoe size is a guide, not a rule. Plenty of people with size 12 feet ride 8.25in decks by preference. What matters is that your feet can reach the edges to control the board.
Match your trucks to the width once you have chosen. That pairing matters more than the deck alone.
Does length matter?
Much less than people expect. Almost every standard popsicle deck lands between 31.5in and 32.5in no matter how wide it is, so it is rarely a decision you make.
Wheelbase, the distance between the two sets of truck holes, has more influence on how a board turns and pops. A longer wheelbase feels more stable, a shorter one turns tighter. It also varies very little, typically 14in to 14.5in, so unless you are chasing something specific you can leave it alone.
Where length genuinely changes is on shaped and cruiser decks, which is a different decision covered below.
What is concave and which should you pick?
Concave is the curve running across the width of the deck, the reason the middle sits lower than the edges. It is what gives your feet something to push against.
- Low or mellow concave. Flatter underfoot, more comfortable over distance, easier to move your feet around on. Suits cruising and transition.
- Medium concave. The middle ground and what most decks come with. Enough shape to lock your feet in without dictating where they go.
- Steep or deep concave. Locks your feet firmly, gives more leverage for flip tricks, and can feel restrictive if you like moving around.
If nobody has told you that you need something specific, medium. This is a genuine preference, and it is one you can only really form by riding a few boards.
Popsicle or shaped?
Popsicle is the standard modern shape: symmetrical, with a nose and tail that are nearly identical. It is what almost every street and park deck is, and it is what you want if you intend to do tricks in both directions.
Shaped decks cover everything else. Wider noses, directional shapes, old school pool shapes, cruiser shapes. They are more comfortable to stand on, roll better with soft wheels, and are generally not designed for technical flip tricks.
If you want to learn tricks, popsicle. If you want to get places, look at shaped decks and cruisers instead.
Does construction actually matter?
Seven-ply maple is the industry standard and has been for decades. Seven thin layers of maple cross-laminated and pressed. It is strong, it pops well, and it is what the vast majority of decks are.
Premium constructions use different bonding, fibre reinforcement or fewer, thinner plies to make a deck that keeps its pop far longer. Powell Peralta's Flight construction is the best known example we carry, at around $180 against $120 to $160 for standard.
Is it worth it? Genuinely depends on how much you skate. If you are going through a deck every month or two, a construction that lasts three times as long is straightforward maths. If your deck lasts a year, you are paying for durability you will never use.
A new standard maple deck and a new premium deck feel very similar. The difference is how they feel in month three.
Which brands do we carry?
Deck brands are mostly about who you want to support and what you like looking at, which is a completely legitimate way to choose. That said:
Anti Hero for straightforward, well-made pro decks, from $90 for the Budgetcuts line up to $160. Powell Peralta for premium Flight construction and the deepest catalogue of shaped and old school decks. Element, Globe and DGK across the range. Toy Machine, Enjoi, Zero, Blind and Darkstar across decks and completes. Z-Flex and OBFive for cruiser and shaped decks.
Buying a blank deck saves you $20 or $30 and you lose nothing structural. You also lose the graphic, which for a lot of people is most of the point.
How long should a deck last?
Anywhere from a month to well over a year, entirely depending on what you do on it. Someone learning flip tricks daily on concrete will get through decks. Someone cruising to the station will not.
Three ways they end:
- Razor tail. The tail wears to a sharp edge against the ground. Most common, and it changes the pop long before it looks bad.
- Stress cracks. Radiating from the truck bolt holes, usually from overtightened hardware or hard landings.
- Dead pop. The maple compresses and stops springing. Looks fine, feels finished.
When it goes, replace only the deck. Trucks, wheels, bearings and hardware all move across. Budget $90 to $180 and about fifteen minutes.
Skateboard deck FAQ
What width skateboard deck should I get?
For most adults, 8.0in to 8.25in is the right range and the safest starting point. Go narrower at 7.75in for technical street and smaller feet, wider at 8.5in and up for transition, bowls and larger feet. Width matters far more than length.
Does skateboard deck length matter?
Barely. Almost every standard popsicle deck falls between 31.5in and 32.5in regardless of width, so it is not a decision you usually make. Wheelbase, the distance between the truck holes, has more effect on feel and it also varies very little.
What is concave on a skateboard deck?
Concave is the curve across the width of the deck. Deeper concave locks your feet in and helps flip tricks, shallower feels flatter and more comfortable for cruising and transition. Medium concave suits most people and is what most decks ship with.
Are expensive skateboard decks worth it?
Sometimes. Premium constructions like Powell Peralta Flight last considerably longer and keep their pop, which suits people skating several times a week. For everyone else a standard seven-ply maple deck at $120 to $160 performs the same when new.
Does the graphic on a skateboard deck affect anything?
No. Graphics cost the same either way and wear off the bottom within weeks of skating anyway. Buy the shape, width and construction you want, then pick whichever graphic you like looking at, because you will see a lot of it.
How long does a skateboard deck last?
Anywhere from a month of heavy street skating to well over a year of casual cruising. Decks die three ways: razor tail from wearing the tail down, stress cracks around the truck bolts, and dead pop from the maple compressing over time.
Stand on a few
Come to 435A Bridge Road, Richmond and stand on a few widths. Two minutes settles a decision that charts only get close to. We will grip it for you and set it up while you are here.
Free shipping Australia wide on orders over $90. Call 03 9421 2293.
Keep reading: What Size Skateboard Do You Need? · How to Choose Skateboard Trucks · How to Choose Skateboard Wheels · How to Set Up a Skateboard · How Much Does a Skateboard Cost?
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