Complete Skateboard Hardware Guide

What Is Skateboard Hardware?

Skateboard hardware is the set of bolts and locknuts used to attach your trucks to your deck. That's it — the term sounds more complicated than the actual parts. A full set contains 8 bolts and 8 locknuts (4 per truck), and the whole job takes about 10 minutes with the right tools.

What makes hardware selection less obvious is that there's no single "standard" bolt length. The correct length depends on three things: the thickness of your deck, whether you're running riser pads, and whether you're using shock pads. Get the length wrong and your bolts will either stick out past the nuts (looks bad, snags griptape) or won't thread fully (dangerous).

Bolt Length: The Only Number That Matters

The most common question is: what length bolts do I need? The answer depends on your stack height — the total thickness of everything between the board and the truck baseplate.

The formula: bolt length = 7/8" + riser thickness. If you're between sizes, go slightly longer rather than shorter. A bolt that threads 5+ turns is secure; one that threads only 2–3 turns is not.

Bolt Thread Standards: #10-32 vs #10-24

All standard skateboard hardware uses #10 bolts, but there are two thread pitches:

• #10-32 — 32 threads per inch (finer thread, more common in modern hardware)
• #10-24 — 24 threads per inch (coarser thread, some older brands)

The outer diameter is identical — both #10 bolts fit through standard deck holes and truck baseplates. But the locknuts are not interchangeable between the two thread pitches. If you mix a #10-32 bolt with a #10-24 locknut, it will cross-thread and strip. Always match bolts and nuts from the same hardware set, or verify thread pitch when buying replacements.

Modern hardware is almost universally #10-32. When in doubt, buy a matched set.

Phillips Head vs Allen Key (Hex) Bolts

Hardware bolts come in two head styles:

• Phillips head — requires a Phillips screwdriver. More traditional, tools are available everywhere, easier to find replacements.
• Allen key (hex) head — requires a hex key (usually 3/16" or 5mm). Less likely to strip under torque, preferred by many experienced skaters.

One head might be colored differently to mark the nose (front) truck — a common trick to orient your board without looking at the graphics.

For most riders, the choice is personal preference. If you already have a skate tool with a screwdriver tip, Phillips is convenient. If you run tight trucks and retighten often, Allen key bolts will last longer before the heads strip.

Locknuts: Why They Matter

Skateboard hardware uses locknuts (also called nylock nuts or nylon insert lock nuts) rather than standard hex nuts. A locknut has a nylon ring inside that grips the bolt threads and prevents the nut from backing off due to vibration. This is critical — regular nuts will loosen and fall off within minutes of riding.

Locknuts are designed for single use ideally, but in practice you can reuse them a few times before the nylon insert loses grip. If a locknut spins freely all the way on without any resistance near the end, replace it.

Standard locknut size for skateboard hardware: #10-32, 3/8" wrench size.

Riser Pads and Shock Pads

Two types of pads sit between your deck and trucks:

Riser Pads

Hard plastic pads, typically 1/8" to 1" thick. Their purpose is to increase wheel clearance to prevent wheel bite. They're rigid and don't compress — if you install a 1/4" riser, your truck sits exactly 1/4" higher than without it.

Use risers when your wheels touch the deck during turns. The most common riser heights:

• 1/8" (3mm) — small wheels on standard decks, light cruising
• 1/4" (6mm) — 56–60mm wheels, everyday cruising
• 3/8"–1/2" (10–13mm) — large soft wheels, longboard-style setups

Shock Pads

Thin rubber or urethane pads, typically 1/8" or less. They're not primarily for wheel clearance — they absorb vibration and reduce the harsh feel of skating rough concrete. Many street skaters skip them entirely; cruiser riders often use them alongside risers for a smoother ride.

Shock pads compress slightly under load, so their installed thickness is less than their nominal thickness. Account for roughly 1/16" of compression when calculating bolt length.

Custom 3D-Printed Risers

Standard risers come in fixed heights. Custom 3D-printed risers let you dial in any height between 1mm and 50mm, with exact hole spacing, angled profiles (wedge shapes), and custom cutouts to reduce weight. If you're running an unusual wheel-truck combination or building a surfskate setup that needs a specific wedge angle, custom risers are worth printing.

RISER 3D generates print-ready STL files for custom risers directly in the browser. You choose height, shape, hole pattern, and angle — no CAD experience needed.

Tools You Need

To mount trucks and install hardware, you need:

• Skate tool — the all-in-one tool most skaters use. Has a 3/8" socket for locknuts, a screwdriver or allen key for bolt heads, and usually a 9/16" socket for axle nuts. Get one. It fits in your pocket.
• Alternately: a #2 Phillips screwdriver (or 3/16" hex key) for bolt heads, plus a 3/8" wrench or socket for the locknuts.

Torque tip: tighten each bolt until snug, then give it another quarter turn. The locknut should be firmly seated against the baseplate with no play, but you shouldn't need to force it. Over-tightening can crack the deck around the holes.

How to Mount Trucks: Step by Step

1. Position the riser pad (if using) on the deck, holes aligned with the deck holes. Some risers have a raised center ridge — face this toward the center of the board.
2. Place the truck baseplate on top of the riser (or directly on the deck). The kingpin faces inward, toward the board's center.
3. Insert bolts through the griptape side, pushing them through the deck and riser into the baseplate holes.
4. Thread locknuts onto each bolt by hand — don't tighten yet.
5. Tighten bolts in a cross pattern (front-left, back-right, front-right, back-left) to seat the baseplate evenly against the riser.
6. Repeat for the second truck.
7. Check for wobble: grip the truck and try to shift it laterally. Any side-to-side movement means a bolt needs tightening.

Common Hardware Problems and Fixes

Bolts spinning without tightening

The bolt head is spinning in the deck hole. Hold the bolt head still with a screwdriver while turning the nut with a skate tool. If the deck hole is stripped (the bolt can't grip anything), use a slightly longer bolt with a larger washer under the head, or fill the hole with wood glue and a toothpick, let dry, then re-drill.

Rattle while riding

Check that all 8 locknuts are tight. Also check the baseplate mounting — sometimes the riser pad shifts slightly and a gap opens up. Retighten all hardware after your first few sessions on a new setup; parts settle in and locknuts often need one more snug.

Bolt too long — sticks out past the locknut

Minor overhang (1–2 threads) is normal and fine. If bolts stick out 3+ threads, they can catch on griptape or rough surfaces. Swap to the next shorter length.

Locknut cross-threaded

If a locknut goes on crooked and you can't straighten it, stop and replace it. Cross-threaded nuts can strip the bolt and won't hold securely. Replace both the bolt and the nut.

Hardware Brands Worth Knowing

Hardware is a commodity — most brands use the same steel and thread specs. Price differences are mostly cosmetic. A few brands with consistent quality:

• Independent — the truck company also makes hardware; reliable quality, easy to find
• Ace — same: truck company hardware, solid
• Shorty's — hardware-focused brand, been around for decades
• Bones — primarily bearings, but their hardware is well-regarded
• Generic / no-brand — bulk packs for $3 work fine; just verify the thread pitch matches

Don't spend more than $5–8 on a set of 8 bolts and nuts. The parts are simple steel fasteners — the premium is mostly branding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size bolts do I need for skateboard trucks?

Without risers: 7/8" bolts. With 1/8" risers: 1". With 1/4" risers: 1-1/8". With 1/2" risers: 1-1/2". The rule is simple: add your riser thickness to 7/8".

Are skateboard hardware bolts universal?

All standard truck baseplates use the same 4-hole mounting pattern with the same hole spacing. #10 hardware bolts fit all standard decks and baseplates. The thread pitch (#10-32 vs #10-24) differs by brand, but matching sets are always sold together.

How tight should skateboard hardware be?

Snug plus a quarter turn. The truck should not wobble when you grip it and push sideways. Don't crank the locknuts — over-tightening can crack the deck. If you can wiggle the truck with your hands, tighten more.

Do I need special hardware for 1/2" risers?

Yes — you need 1-1/2" bolts for 1/2" risers. Standard 7/8" bolts won't thread far enough to be secure. Always match bolt length to your riser height using the formula above.