What size paddle board do I need? (2023)

paddle board size chart

I love SUP, but I'm amazed by the different shapes and sizes.Pranchas de stand up paddle? Friend, we are here to help you! The first step isChoose the right table- and doHe, you need to find out what size paddle board you need. How to choose the perfect SUP size for you.

Key Factors When Sizing a Paddleboard

To find the right SUP size, you need to know four key dimensions:

• Volume:The buoyancy of your SUP, measured in litres.
• Largo:The dimensions of your SUP from top to bottom.
• Ancho:The dimensions of your SUP from side to side.
• Thickness:The distance between the top of your SUP and the bottom of your SUP.

What size paddle board do I need for my weight?

The most important factor in SUP size is its weight. (And don't forget to take into account the weight of SUP partners -dogs, humans or others- that you have on the board).In addition to your weight, your skill will also help you determine your SUP volume.

To know the load capacity of a SUP, you need to know the volume of your board. Volume is the measurement in liters that determines the buoyancy of your SUP based on its length, width and thickness. (Volume is listed in liters on all GILI panels, so you never have to guess.) This might sound like a bunch of facts and figures, but it's easier than it looks!

You can't be underweight for a SUP, but if you go over your SUP's load capacity, the board will drag, become unstable, and you'll have a bad experience!

The greater the volume of a board, the more weight it can support.If you choose a board that's too light to carry, you'll experience a long, bumpy ride that feels more like a drag than a windswept paddle.

SUP inflatable volume:

• People under 200 pounds:They work well on any standard paddle board.
• Individuals weighing between 200 and 235 pounds:Minimum volume of 175 liters
• People from 235 to 300 pounds:Minimum volume of 242 l
• People over 300 pounds:Minimum volume of 272 l

SUP Hard/Epoxy Volume:

• People under 200 pounds:Any standard SUP will float you
• Individuals weighing between 200 and 235 pounds:Minimum volume of 175 liters
• People from 235 to 275 pounds:Minimum volume of 181 l
• People over 300 pounds:Minimum volume of 230 l

Is there a weight limit for paddle boards?

Regardless of your height or weight, you'll be able to have fun on a SUP! Seriously, there is a chart for almost every weight range.The important thing is to ensure that the chosen board has a load capacity greater than its weight.

Determine not only the weight capacity guidelines, but also the capabilities of your board's hull type. If the board has a rounded nose (called a flat hull), it can support weight more flexibly. Displacement hulls, on the other hand, will not perform as well when the rower exceeds their weight capacity.

Remember that you can't be too light for a stand up paddle board! However, exceeding your SUP's carrying capacity will result in a poor paddling experience.

What size paddle board do I need for my height?

When it comes to the functionality of a SUP, your height is far less important than your weight and the weight of your equipment. In fact, your height influences the size of your oars (oars should be eight to ten inches above your head), but most oars are adjustable to almost any height. Choose the size of your board according to your weight, the weight of all the people you want to take on board and the equipment you want to take with you. Save height calculations for later when you set up your racquet.

What is the best stand up paddle board for beginners?

If you're just starting out at SUP, look for a board that's 31 inches wide or larger and has volume that will support your weight. (The following are common SUP beginner volumes.) An inflatable board is great for any skill level, but its stability makes it a particularly good beginner board.

Ideal SUP size for beginners.

• Inflatable SUPs:220-280 L, 10'6 to 11' long and 31' to 35' wide
• SUP hard/epoxy:170-190 L, 10'6-11' long and 32-35 inches wide

The best SUPs for advanced paddlers

Once you've mastered your basic SUP skills, choosing a board size depends more on the activities you want to do on your SUP than stability. More advanced paddlers will thrive on boards with less volume. While any width is workable for an experienced paddler, many prefer narrow boards due to their speed.

Ideal intermediate/intermediate SUP size

• Inflatable SUPs:200-250 L, 10'-12'6 long and 30" to 33" wide
• SUP hard/epoxy:165-195 L, 10'-12'6 long and 29" to 32" wide

What volume should my paddle surfboard have?

As we mentioned earlier, the volume of your SUP will determine your board's buoyancy (measured in liters). This is calculated by multiplying the length, width and thickness of the board. The greater the volume of your SUP, the greater its carrying capacity. A larger plate volume also means greater overall stability.

Generally speaking, if you weigh less than 200 pounds, any standard paddle board can float easily. If you weigh more than 110 kg, you need a board with at least 175 liters of volume to increase stability. For more than 275 kilos, opt for a board with a volume of more than 240 liters. If you weigh more than 300 kilos, choose a board that is at least 270 liters in volume for proper stability and control.

How to calculate the ideal volume of your paddle surfboard

If you use a SUP board that doesn't have enough volume for your weight, the board will drag in the water, the paddling will be slow and too unstable for comfortable riding.

Note: The volume and load capacity of a SUP must always be listed on the technical sheet.

How long should your paddle board be?

The most popular length range for a stand up paddle board is between 10 and 11 feet and this range is suitable for a full SUP.. Length recommendations are not always directly related to your SUP skill level or weight; It depends on what you plan to do with your SUP. while the weighthe canIt matters how the length of your desk affects you.SUP activitiesYou prefer them to be much more important.

If you plan on SUP surfing or have a smaller body type, a shorter board (10 feet or less) is your best bet. Shorter boards are more maneuverable and move quickly in choppy water. They are also a great choice for kids. If your primary goal is long-distance paddling or touring SUP, look for a longer board (11 feet or more) for smooth, efficient paddling.

When determining the length, consider where you will store your board and how far you will take it.Inflatable stand up paddle boardsThey pose less storage issues than hardboards and generally a shorter SUP is easier to store.. Also note: longer boards can be more difficult to carry, especially on windy days. When you have a long way to go to the water, you will get tired of carrying a longer board.

If this is your first SUP, aim for a length of at least 10'6 or 11 feet - you'll thank us later!

The length of your paddle board doesn't just affect the quality of your ride. It can also make or break the situation of your SUP camp on land. When purchasing a hardboard, remember that you will need to transport it to and from the water and store it in a cool, dry place.

Paddle tennis with less than 10 peso

• Given bySUP surf
• Excellent maneuverability for surf and cross country turns.
• Ideal for children up to 13 years old.
• Do you have planning helmets?
• Good for advanced paddlers and SUP surfers.

Pranchas de paddle surf de corn from 10' to 11'6

• Most popular SUP size
• A fantastic choice for one.all terrain SUP
• Typically 31 to 35 inches wide
• Ideal for all paddlers, from beginners to advanced levels.
• Ideal for recreational paddling,paddle fishing, SSUP-Yoga
• With few exceptions, most have flat hulls.
• Our most popular fishing SUPs (ideally 32" wide or larger)

Paddle boards 12 feet or longer

• More suitable for advanced practitioners
• Good choice for long distance paddling, racing, etc.excursion, tour
• Fast and efficient SUPs that cut through the water
• Most have displacement hulls.
• For SUP racing, choose one that is less than 31 inches wide
• For SUP rides, choose one that is 32 inches wide
• Forpaddle fishingChoose a table that is at least 32 inches wide or larger.

How wide should your paddle board be?

Weight capacity is just the tip of the iceberg. Here you can find out what influences your SUP sizing the most.

SUP Width

Paddle board width or side length should be between 29 and 35 inches. A wider board is more stable in the water, while a narrower board moves faster.When choosing your SUP width, think about your skill level and the type of SUP activities you are interested in.A wider board (32 inches or more) is easier for beginners who still need to find their balance, while experienced paddlers will be fine with almost any board width.

If you intend to use your board for SUP yoga, SUP fishing, or general recreational paddling, choose a board that is at least 31 inches wide. In affirmative caseSUP surf or a speed-oriented activity.As with racing, choose a narrower board: 29 to 31 inches wide.

When choosing the width, also consider your body type. If you are taller or weigh more, it will be easier for you to balance on a wider width. If you have a small frame and some paddling experience, maneuvering a narrower board will be more fun.

SUP width for beginners:31 to 35 inches

Extended SUP Width:29 to 33 inches

How thick should my stand up paddle board be?

The thickness of a paddle board is the distance between the top and bottom of the board.Inflatable paddle boards must be at least six inches thick.(This applies to all GILI charts.) Thinner gauge inflatable boards lack the stability and performance quality you need.

There are many poorly made iSUPs on the market that aren't thick enough to work properly. If you see an iSUP that is 4-5 inches wide, stay far, far away! A 5-inch plate canto appearIt works for a short time, but will eventually give way under a lot of weight. And 4-inch boards are so dysfunctional that they become absolutely obsolete. The last thing you want is for your board to stop supporting you when you're in the middle of the water. Not worth it!

Hard paddle boards are usually between 4 and 4.5 inches thick. If you choose a rigid SUP, be aware that thinner boards tend to be faster than thicker ones.With a rigid/epoxy SUP, the thickness is more application specific and you need to look at volume more than thickness.

When riding an iSUP you will find that the thickness is the same throughout the board, while hard boards have a slight curvature at the bottom (rocker) to reduce weight. Thanks to this, iSUPs are more stable.

Stand up paddle board size by activity

Do you already have a favorite SUP hobby in mind? Here you will know the size you need.

full paddling

For general recreational SUP, get an all-purpose board that is versatile yet stable and maneuverable. The most common sizes of general purpose SUP boards are 10 to 12 feet long and 31 to 35 inches wide. The multi-purpose stand up paddle boards are ideal as an entry-level SUP.

SUP-Yoga

If you love SUP Yoga (or SUP Pilates!), find a board wide enough to keep your balance while working on your warrior pose. Choose a width between 31 and 35 inches and a length between 10 and 11 feet.

paddle fishing

You'll need extra room for gear, so it's best to SUP fish on a board that's 10 to 12 feet long and 32 to 36 inches wide. Make sure your SUP is ready to grab extrasbungee cords, D-rings and Scotty mounts.

SUP Excursions

If you plan on traveling primarily on your SUP, look for a longer board (11-12.6ft) for easier planning. An offset hull and a width of between 30 and 33 inches ensure smooth sailing. Touring SUPs are also excellent adventure SUPs.

SUP surf

For SUP surfing, choose a shorter board, 10 feet or less. Choose a narrow board (29 to 32 inches wide) so you can easily paddle through the waves. This is best for advanced paddlers!

hybrid SUPs

Hybrid SUP boards are wider than a typical SUP and often have a pointy nose. These paddle boards are extra stable for doing exercise, SUP yoga, walking your dog and/or kids. These boards are super versatile and are gaining in popularity.

rowing in rapids

Tackle white water with an extra small board – a length of 6 to 8 feet is ideal. You need a super wide 34-36 inch SUP to navigate all those rapids!

Quick tips on sizing stand up paddle boards

Take this data into account when choosing your SUP.

Choosing your board size is just the beginning of your SUP journey. Don't buy a board without understanding hull types, fin systems, differences between rigid/epoxy and inflatable SUPs, SUP construction and other unique details. See our articleHow to choose a stand up paddle boardfor more info.

Most popular SUP size

The most popular SUP sizes for versatile paddling are 10'6 to 11' in length and 31 to 35'' in width.

SUP special sizes

Special SUP sizes are ideal for special activities like surfing, running or whitewater SUP. Being shorter than an all-terrain board, you can maneuver these boards deftly. yes, your favoriteSUP activityWhen it comes to speed (e.g. surfing or running), the best boards are shorter.

Inflatable SUPs are ideal

Inflatable SUPs are much easier to store and transport than rigid boards. iSUPs have uniform thickness, while rigid SUPs have a curve in the middle where the thickness changes. The aim is to reduce the total weight of the hardboards and make boarding faster, but the downside for beginners is the loss of stability. If you want a steady ride, iSUPs are often the go-to choice!

The thickness of a SUP is just as important as the shape, length and width.

Board thickness doesn't get as much attention as other factors, but it's crucial for your SUP adventures. Choose iSUPs that are at least 15 centimeters thick like everyone elseGILI platesotherwise, you'll have trouble staying afloat.

For rigid SUPs, look for a thickness around 4-4.5 inches, but this depends on the application and use of the board.

Check your storage and transport options

Inflatables are much easier to store and transport than hardboards. Inflatables fit in the trunk of your car, but an epoxy SUP requires a roof rack and a garage to store it!

It's all about the details

When choosing a SUP, size is important, but other details such as construction, hull type and fin systems are also important.The construction of your board (whether it's inflatable, soft top or hard/epoxy) makes all the difference in how smooth and how you want to ride it.

Also pay attention to the fin system of your board. An SUP needs at least one main fin to achieve a straight line. The most popular fin configurations are a single fin or a 2+1 configuration where you have twofinsbeyond yourcentral fin. For special activities such as surfing, there are also more complex structures, such as four-fin systems. For most paddlers, 2+1 is ideal.

Bottom line: if SUP suits you, use it

Once you know which SUP size is right for you, you will have a board that will last for many years and bring you many adventures. If you know what SUP size you need, come and visit usSUP size and weight chart.

At the end of the day, your skill level, weight and anticipated SUP activities will guide you to the right board.. Do you have more questions about choosing the right size stand up paddle board? Ask us in the comments.