How to Pick a Skateboard for Complete Beginners

The three decisions that matter

For a beginner, all the complexity of skateboard selection reduces to three choices:

1. What type of skating do you want to do? — tricks and skatepark vs. cruising and commuting. This determines the board type.
2. What size? — determined by your shoe size, not your height.
3. Complete or build from parts? — for most beginners, complete is the right answer.

Everything else — brand graphics, pro models, specific truck models — doesn't matter yet.

Step 1: Decide what you want to do

If you're unsure — and most beginners are — start with a standard trick setup. It's the most versatile starting point and the platform for learning the widest range of skills. You can always buy a second board for cruising later.

→ More help: Street Skating vs Park Skating | Skateboard vs Longboard

Step 2: Pick the right size

Deck width is the critical measurement. It should match your shoe size.

On a complete skateboard, the trucks are sized to match the deck — you don't need to think about truck width separately. On a custom build, axle width should match deck width within about 1/4\".

→ More detail: Skateboard Deck Size Guide | Kids Skateboard Size Guide

Step 3: Complete vs. building from parts

Buy a complete for your first board.

Building from parts is the better choice eventually — you get to optimize each component. But for a first board, you don't yet know your preferences, and getting every decision right requires experience you haven't had yet. A complete removes that complexity.

The exception: if you specifically want to learn the setup process, or if you have a skateboarder helping you choose components.

→ If you do want to build: How to Build a Skateboard from Scratch

Where to buy — and where not to

Buy here

• Local skate shop — best option. Staff can size you, answer questions, and the products are guaranteed to be real skate brands. Support your local shop.
• Online skate retailers — Tactics, Skate Warehouse, CCS, Zumiez, Evo. Carry real skate brands at fair prices.
• Brand websites — buying directly from Element, Santa Cruz, Powell-Peralta etc. is fine.

Avoid

• Walmart, Target, Amazon house brands — products from non-skate brands at these retailers use inferior components. The price savings come with poor bearings, weak decks, and difficult ride feel that actively hurts learning.
• Unbranded Amazon completes — even if they look similar, unverified brands use cut-rate components. Check that the brand is a known skate brand before buying.
• Toy departments in sports stores — same issue as Walmart/Target.

How much to spend

Recommended complete skateboards for beginners

What else you'll need

• Helmet — required, especially for beginners. CPSC or ASTM F1492 certified. Non-negotiable.
• Wrist guards — strongly recommended while learning. Wrist fractures from catching falls are the most common beginner injury.
• Knee pads — optional but useful while learning.
• Skate shoes — flat-soled shoes (Vans, Nike SB, DC, Emerica, Etnies) give significantly better board feel than running shoes. Not required to start, but makes a noticeable difference.
• Skate tool — for adjusting truck tightness (you'll want to do this) and tightening axle nuts. $10–$20.

→ Safety guide: How to Fall Safely on a Skateboard

First upgrades after a few months

Once you've been skating for a few months, these upgrades make a noticeable difference:

1. Better bearings — if the complete came with unknown bearings, swapping to Bones Reds ($18–22) is the best value upgrade on any board
2. Different wheels — once you know whether you prefer harder (for tricks) or softer (for rough pavement), swap accordingly
3. New deck — when the current deck feels dead (no pop), replace it. Decks from proper skate brands last 3–6 months of regular skating