Surfboard size chart by height and weight
This is the general chart most people are looking for. Find your weight, read across to your ability. Length assumes an average build for that weight; volume is the figure that matters most.
| Rider weight | Height guide | Never surfed | Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 kg / 110 lb | under 5'4" | 7'0" · 30 L | 6'6" · 25 L | 5'6" · 20 L | 5'4" · 18 L |
| 60 kg / 132 lb | 5'4"–5'7" | 7'6" · 36 L | 7'0" · 30 L | 5'10" · 23 L | 5'8" · 22 L |
| 70 kg / 154 lb | 5'7"–5'10" | 8'0" · 42 L | 7'2" · 35 L | 6'0" · 27 L | 5'10" · 25 L |
| 80 kg / 176 lb | 5'10"–6'0" | 8'0" · 48 L | 7'6" · 40 L | 6'2" · 31 L | 6'0" · 29 L |
| 90 kg / 198 lb | 6'0"–6'3" | 8'6" · 54 L | 8'0" · 45 L | 6'4" · 35 L | 6'2" · 32 L |
| 100 kg / 220 lb | 6'3"+ | 9'0" · 60 L | 8'0" · 50 L | 6'6" · 39 L | 6'4" · 36 L |
The height column is a guide to build, not a rule. If you are unusually tall or short for your weight, follow the weight row — volume tracks weight, not height. For your exact figure, use the surfboard volume calculator.
Surfboard size chart by height
This is the chart people look for by name, so here it is — with one caveat worth reading first. Height is a reasonable proxy for build, and it is genuinely the right input for a longboard, where you need deck length to walk on. For everything else, weight is what decides the volume you need, because volume is flotation and flotation supports mass. A 6'0" surfer at 65 kg and a 6'0" surfer at 95 kg need very different boards.
Use this to get in the right area, then check the weight rows above.
| Rider height | Beginner length | Intermediate length | Advanced length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5'2" (157 cm) | 6'8" – 7'2" | 5'6" – 5'10" | 5'4" – 5'8" |
| 5'2" – 5'6" (157–168 cm) | 7'0" – 7'6" | 5'8" – 6'0" | 5'6" – 5'10" |
| 5'6" – 5'10" (168–178 cm) | 7'6" – 8'0" | 5'10" – 6'2" | 5'8" – 6'0" |
| 5'10" – 6'2" (178–188 cm) | 8'0" – 8'6" | 6'0" – 6'4" | 5'10" – 6'2" |
| Over 6'2" (188 cm) | 8'6" – 9'0" | 6'2" – 6'6" | 6'0" – 6'4" |
If your build is not average for your height, follow weight instead. A tall, light surfer sized by height ends up on too much board, and a short, heavy one ends up on too little. The volume calculator uses both and shows you which is driving the answer.
Beginner surfboard size chart
Beginners get sized differently from everyone else, and the difference is not subtle. When you are learning, the board's job is to float you well enough that you catch waves and get to your feet. Manoeuvrability is irrelevant until you can stand up reliably, so almost everyone starts too small and makes learning far harder than it needs to be.
| Rider weight | Length | Width | Volume | Board type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 45 kg / 100 lb | 6'6" – 7'0" | 21" | 40–46 L | Soft-top |
| 45–60 kg / 100–132 lb | 7'0" – 7'6" | 22" | 46–55 L | Soft-top |
| 60–75 kg / 132–165 lb | 7'6" – 8'0" | 22.5" | 55–65 L | Soft-top or foam funboard |
| 75–90 kg / 165–198 lb | 8'0" – 8'6" | 23" | 65–75 L | Soft-top or foam funboard |
| Over 90 kg / 198 lb | 8'6" – 9'0" | 23.5" | 75–85 L | Soft-top longboard |
Those volumes look enormous next to the performance figures higher up the page, and they should. A beginner wants roughly double the litres an intermediate of the same weight would ride. You will drop down quickly once you are standing consistently, and there is no shame in it — plenty of very good surfers keep a big foamie for small days.
Shortboard size chart
Performance shortboards for surfers who are already turning confidently. Width and thickness matter as much as length here — an inch of width changes how a board paddles more than two inches of length.
| Weight | Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 kg / 121 lb | 5'6" | 18.50" | 2.13" | 21 L |
| 65 kg / 143 lb | 5'9" | 18.88" | 2.25" | 25 L |
| 75 kg / 165 lb | 6'0" | 19.25" | 2.44" | 29 L |
| 85 kg / 187 lb | 6'2" | 19.75" | 2.56" | 33 L |
| 95 kg / 209 lb | 6'4" | 20.25" | 2.69" | 37 L |
Fish, mid-length and longboard sizing
Different outlines carry volume differently, so the same rider rides very different lengths depending on shape.
| Shape | Length | Width | Volume | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance shortboard | 6'1" | 19.5" | 30 L | Clean waves, chest high and up |
| Fish / groveller | 5'8" | 20.75" | 32 L | Small, weak, summer surf |
| Mid-length | 7'2" | 21.5" | 45 L | Everything; the most forgiving all-rounder |
| Longboard | 9'2" | 22.75" | 70 L | Small clean waves, nose riding |
| Step-up | 6'6" | 19.0" | 31 L | Overhead, powerful surf |
Look at the step-up row. It is five inches longer than the shortboard but carries almost the same volume — length there buys hold on a steep face, not float. This is why sizing by length alone misleads people.
Hybrid and funboard size chart
A hybrid borrows the width and volume of a fish and the outline of a shortboard, which makes it the most useful single board most intermediate surfers can own. A funboard sits a step further up in length again — usually 7'0" to 8'0" — and is the natural next board after a soft-top.
Because both carry volume more efficiently than a performance shortboard, you ride them shorter than the length you would expect for your weight.
| Rider weight | Hybrid length | Hybrid volume | Funboard length | Funboard volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 kg / 121 lb | 5'6" – 5'8" | 26–29 L | 6'8" – 7'0" | 36–42 L |
| 65 kg / 143 lb | 5'8" – 5'10" | 30–33 L | 7'0" – 7'4" | 42–48 L |
| 75 kg / 165 lb | 5'10" – 6'0" | 34–37 L | 7'4" – 7'8" | 48–55 L |
| 85 kg / 187 lb | 6'0" – 6'2" | 38–42 L | 7'8" – 8'0" | 55–62 L |
| 95 kg / 209 lb | 6'2" – 6'4" | 43–47 L | 8'0" – 8'4" | 62–70 L |
If you are coming off a soft-top and unsure which to take, the honest answer is usually the funboard first. It keeps enough length to catch waves easily while you learn to turn, and a hybrid will still be waiting in a year.
Longboard size chart
Longboards are the one category genuinely sized by height, because you need deck length to walk on.
| Rider height | Length | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5'4" | 8'0" – 8'6" | 55–62 L |
| 5'4" – 5'8" | 8'6" – 9'0" | 62–68 L |
| 5'8" – 6'0" | 9'0" – 9'4" | 68–75 L |
| 6'0" and over | 9'4" – 9'8" | 75–82 L |
Kids' surfboard size chart
Children weigh far less than adults, so they need much less volume — but they still need length for stability, and a soft-top for everyone's safety, including the people around them in the water.
| Age | Weight | Length | Volume | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5–7 | 18–25 kg | 5'6" – 6'0" | 30–38 L | Soft-top |
| 8–10 | 25–35 kg | 6'0" – 6'8" | 38–48 L | Soft-top |
| 11–13 | 35–50 kg | 6'8" – 7'2" | 48–56 L | Soft-top or foam-hybrid |
| 14+ | 50 kg+ | Size as an adult — use the main chart above | ||
Age is only a shortcut for weight, and children vary enormously at the same age. If the two columns disagree, follow the weight.
Getting a child's first board right
- Soft-top, without exception, at the start. A hard rail or an exposed fin at head height is the difference between a bad day and a hospital visit — for your child and for whoever is next to them.
- Weight of the board matters more than for adults. A child who cannot carry their own board down the beach will not want to go back. An 8'0" foamie weighs about as much as a 9'0" longboard, so check the weight before you buy.
- Do not size up "to grow into". It works for school shoes and fails for surfboards. A board too big to turn or carry teaches nothing, and children outgrow boards more slowly than parents expect because they gain skill faster than weight.
- Width helps more than length. A wider board is far more stable underfoot, and stability is the whole game when someone is learning to stand.
How to read surfboard dimensions
Boards are written as length × width × thickness, for example 6'0" × 19.50" × 2.44" · 29.1 L. Each number does a different job.
| Dimension | Measured | What more of it does |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Nose to tail, in feet and inches | More paddle speed and hold; less manoeuvrability in tight sections |
| Width | At the widest point, in inches | More stability and float in weak waves; slower rail-to-rail |
| Thickness | At the thickest point, in inches | More float and paddle power; thicker rails are harder to sink and grip |
| Volume | Total litres of foam | The single best predictor of whether the board suits you |
If a second-hand board lists only dimensions, you can estimate volume: multiply length × width × thickness in inches by roughly 0.54, then by 0.0164. A 6'0" × 19.5" × 2.5" comes out near 31 litres, which is about right.
What is the average surfboard size?
For adult recreational surfers the most common board sold is between 6'0" and 6'6" at 30 to 36 litres, and the most common first board is a 7'6" to 8'0" soft-top at 45 to 55 litres. Professional shortboards cluster around 5'10" to 6'1" at 24 to 28 litres, which is well under what almost any recreational surfer should ride — worth remembering when you see the dimensions on a pro model.
Frequently asked questions
What size surfboard do I need?
Size from your weight and ability rather than your height. As a rough guide, a complete beginner wants around 0.7 to 0.9 litres of volume per kilogram of body weight, an intermediate around 0.4, and an advanced surfer around 0.35. An 80 kg beginner is therefore looking at roughly 55 to 70 litres, while an 80 kg intermediate is nearer 31. The charts above translate that into lengths, and the volume calculator gives you a figure for your exact details.
What are standard surfboard dimensions?
Surfboards are quoted as length, width and thickness, in that order — a 6'2" x 19.5" x 2.5" board is six foot two long, nineteen and a half inches wide and two and a half inches thick. Most performance shortboards fall between 5'6" and 6'6" long, 18.5" and 20.5" wide and 2.1" to 2.7" thick. Width and thickness matter more than people expect: an extra half inch of width adds noticeably more paddle speed than an extra two inches of length.
What length surfboard should I get?
Length is the least important of the three dimensions, which is why sizing by length alone misleads people. Get the volume right first, then choose the length that suits the waves you surf — shorter for steep, hollow waves you need to turn tightly in, longer for small or weak surf where you need to generate speed. Two boards of the same volume can be a foot apart in length and both be correct.
What size surfboard should a beginner get?
Bigger than feels sensible. A soft-top between 7'0" and 8'6" suits most adult beginners, which is roughly 55 to 75 litres depending on your weight. The extra float is what lets you catch enough waves to actually learn. Starting on a shortboard because it looks better is the single most common reason people give up surfing.
Does surfboard size depend on height or weight?
Weight, almost entirely. Volume is a measure of flotation and flotation has to support your mass, so two surfers of the same weight need similar volume whether they are 5'6" or 6'2". Height matters in one place only: longboards, where you need enough deck length to walk on. The height column in the chart above is a guide to build, not a rule.
What is the average surfboard size?
There is no single average, because the honest answer depends on what you ride. The most common all-round board sold is around 6'0" to 6'4" for an adult of average build, and the most common beginner board is a 7'6" to 8'0" soft-top. Longboards cluster around 9'0" to 9'6".
How heavy is a surfboard?
A performance shortboard usually weighs about 2.5 to 3.5 kg, a mid-length around 4 to 6 kg, and a longboard between 7 and 12 kg. Soft-tops are heavier than they look because of the foam deck. Our surfboard weight guide breaks it down by type and construction.
Next steps
- Surfboard volume calculator — your exact litres, adjusted for age, fitness and wave type.
- What size surfboard do I need? — worked examples and the beginner sizes that actually work.
- Wetsuit size chart — the other half of the gear fit problem if you are sizing for a full setup.
- How to choose a surfboard — outline, tail, rocker and fins.