{"id":344,"date":"2021-06-13T09:47:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-13T09:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/?p=344"},"modified":"2023-07-27T03:44:21","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T03:44:21","slug":"paddle-board-size-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/paddle-board-size-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"What Size Paddle Board do I Need?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you have chosen to get into paddleboarding, you definitely need the right-sized board that will hold up your weight and help you maintain buoyancy throughout the entire session. Most beginners may not know what size to purchase, better yet, where to even begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> There is no particular size that will work for everyone. The right size of a SUP will depend on some factors such as your physique, your weight, paddling level; beginner intermediate or advanced and much more. Following is a guide on how to select a board size best suited for your weight and height, plus more other size-related ideas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Size Paddle Board is for My Weight and\nHeight?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The size you need for paddleboarding depends on way more\nvariables than just your weight and height. You may need a different size\ndepending on your skill level or the purpose for which you are\npurchasing the board. Either way, for this section, we shall only look at two\nvital factors;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Weight <\/li><li>Height <\/li><li>Thickness <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The\nWeight Variable <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While selecting a board, you will find that they weigh\ndifferently and they also support different levels of body weight. Probably due\nto its construction, the board can only maintain stability if the weight\nexerting on it is manageable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides stability, your weight can also affect the volume,\nand ability to maneuver in the water. The volume, usually expressed in\nliters,&nbsp; indicates the board&#8217;s ability to\nremain buoyant even with weight is exerted over it. If the board can&#8217;t\/ doesn&#8217;t\ndisplace the right volume then you will also find it hard to paddle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out this <strong>SUP Volume Chart <\/strong>below <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>   <strong>SUP VOLUME CHART<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  <strong>Level of\n  Skill<\/strong>\n  <\/td><td>\n  <strong>Volume\n  Calculator <\/strong>\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Beginner\/ Novice\/ Balance Challenged \n  <\/td><td>\n  Body weight \u00d7 (1 &#8211; 1.4) = approximate vol( L)\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Advanced\/ Intermediate \n  <\/td><td>\n  Body weight \u00d7 (0.8 &#8211; 1) = approximate vol (L)\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Expert\/ Professional\n  <\/td><td>\n  Body weight \u00d7 (0.5 -0.8) = approximate vol (L)\n  <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The same goes for maneuverability, if your weight capacity\nis heavier than the expected amount,&nbsp; the\nboard will be lower in the water causing you to strain to paddle. It will also\ndrag behind and in some extreme scenarios, you can experience sinking\u2026which can result to drowning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, your weight is used to determine the perfect length of board you should use. Take a look at this chart below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"449\" src=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sup-length-weight-size-chart.jpg\" alt=\"Sup Size: weight and length chart\" class=\"wp-image-346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sup-length-weight-size-chart.jpg 700w, https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sup-length-weight-size-chart-655x420.jpg 655w, https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sup-length-weight-size-chart-341x220.jpg 341w, https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sup-length-weight-size-chart-640x411.jpg 640w, https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sup-length-weight-size-chart-681x437.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>What you can see is that for every weight group the inches\nin length differ since the board will need a much bigger space to provide a\nsweet spot in the middle to balance out the weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SUP Height<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are claims that your height can also affect the size of the board you\nshould use. The theory behind it is that taller people have a higher point of gravity, meaning\nthey might have difficulties maintaining balance on the same board a short person would.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there are cases where some taller\nindividuals have more bone mass meaning they are heavier, which brings us back\nto the original point above that weight is a huge determinant on the size of\nthe paddleboard is right for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SUP Thickness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Last but not least, the thickness of the board. The\ndimensions will fall between four to five inches thick. This is considered the\nleast important factor after the weight, length, and width since it&#8217;s more of a\nthird stage factor that depends on the volume and weight capacity of the\nindividual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Given an option of the same length and width of a board bit\ndifferent thicknesses, the thicker option is a better option. This is because\nit&#8217;s better optimized to handle more weight capacity than the former. In lay man&#8217;s\nterms, the thicker it is the more volume it has, hence, the more weight it can\nsupport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Factors will Determine the Size?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Following are some of\nthe factors will determine the size in terms of volume, width and length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Body Weight &amp; Type<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Volume, as explained above, is the amount in liters that\nshould be replaced by water once you get on your\nboard. If the liters surpass the expected weight, then the board can no longer\nsupport your buoyancy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most brands will highlight for you how many liters of volume\nthey support from 150L to over 300L, depending on the construction of the\nboard, among other variables. If you&#8217;re unsure about tour volume, you can use\nthese formulas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginners &#8211;&nbsp; your\nweight in kg x 2 (for example, 100kg x 2 = 200 litres)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Intermediates &#8211; your weight in kg x 1.7<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Advanced &#8211; your weight in kg x 1.3<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of body type, smaller people tend to yo for narrower paddleboards since it\nwill be much easier to gain balance from a sustainable smaller board than\notherwise. Smaller boards are also a better choice for smaller people since\nthey can easily hold on to the board by its edges, they can steer the board,\namong other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Skill Level<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Racers, surfers and professional\nriders will prefer longer and narrower boards because they are much faster, glide better,\nand offer excellent performance in comparison. This means that anything below\n30 inches is their cup of tea. Beginners will, however, require a board size\nthat&#8217;s even 34 inches wide so they can learn the basic techniques plus they\nwill have the ability to perform a stroke efficiently<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Type of Surfing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The type of surfing can dictate the\nsize of a paddleboard. In terms of length, you\nhave the choice to select different styles of paddleboards from the all rounded\nkind, surfing option, and even racing. This is because this factor\nsignificantly affects the speed, glide, and maneuverability of your board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Longer boards will be faster than shorter ones, however,\nshorter ones have better maneuverability, turning, and navigation. Which is why\nthe length size of your board goes hand in hand with the intended purpose.\nHere&#8217;s a guide on different lengths of boards and their functions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Long &#8211; these measure over 12.6\ninches and above. Great for recreational paddling and long-distance touring.\nLongboards such as these fall within the displacement hull and tend to be\nfaster than either short or medium-sized boards. <\/li><li>Medium &#8211; ranging between 10 to 12\ninches, these boards are perfect for all-rounded use and widely spaced yoga\nSUPs. There are no specifications as to whether they must have planning or hull\ndisplacements. <\/li><li>Short &#8211; these ones measure 10 inches\nand below. They re excellent for surfing and a great size for young children as\nwell. They also have the best maneuverability compared to the other board\nkinds. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The length by a long short is affected by volume and weight\ncapacity. If your volume is bigger, a longer paddleboard can be your best\noption and vice versa. The longboard will offer stability, as well as space to\ncarry extras with you on board without having to feel squeezed or needing\nspace.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The width of paddleboards ranges between 25 inches to 35\ninches, to accommodate various needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginner paddleboarders will need a wider board because they need the extra space\nto be able to build on their stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The width can also affect the speed of your board. If it&#8217;s\ntoo wide, you will be much slower in water, plus you will also take longer to\nchange course or direction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The width of your board can also be affected by other\nfactors, therefore, affecting your size options. For example;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accompaniments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you know you will be needing extra space on board then a wider, thicker and longer board\nis best for you. This offers you the\nbest stability and space\nwithout affecting the board\u2019s performance<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is true\nfor those who carry a lot of things\nlike, pets, fishing equipment or those who want to use\nthe deck area for yoga or exercise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Right Size for Various SUP Board Types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even with the different factors in play, there are certain\ndimensions that should change depending on the type of SUPs you need. Here&#8217;s a\nrundown of the right sized board for each paddleboard kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>SUP surfing<\/strong> &#8211; the boards have a short length of about 10 inches only. They are also narrower and have pointed nose and tail. This also fits the classification for a racing SUP &#8211; they&#8217;re short, sharp edges, and narrow.<\/li><li>All-around SUP &#8211; the most versatile option there is and that can be used for a variety of other functions like fishing, exercising and cruising. The board&#8217;s perfect size is a length of between 10 to 13 inches and a width of 29 to 32 inches. They are beginner-friendly as well.<\/li><li>Touring SUPs &#8211; these ones are also versatile to offer the best long-distance support. They have a similar shape to the all-round but are longer to about 14 inches. The width also ranges between 30 and 33 inches. Some touring SUPs may however have a more pointed nose giving an even longer impression.<\/li><li>Yoga and fitness SUP &#8211; with all the posing and exercising, these boards are very wide measuring up to 36 inches. The length, however, is medium ranging between 1p to 12 inches. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Further SUP Ideas &amp; How-tos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The following is a collection of more Stand up paddleboarding ideas and board guides<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SUP Equipment &amp; Accessories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/best-sups-for-big-guys\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Best Large SUPs for Bigs Guys &amp; Multi-person(2-6)<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\"Best Bamboo Paddle Boards (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/bamboo-paddle-boards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Best Bamboo Paddle Boards<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\"Best SUP-Kayak Hybrid Boards (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/paddleboard-kayak-hybrid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Best SUP-Kayak Hybrid Boards<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\"Best Fishing SUPs (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/stand-up-fishing-paddleboards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Best Fishing SUPs<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/sup-pumps\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Best Pumps for Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboards(ISUPS)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/sup-types\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Types of Stand Up Paddleboards<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/inflatable-vs-solid-paddleboards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Inflatable vs Solid\/Rigid Paddleboards<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/durability-inflatable-paddle-boards\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"rank-math-link\">How Long Do Inflatable Paddle Boards Last?<\/a><\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/sup-storage-indoor-outdoor\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"rank-math-link\">How to Store SUPs-Storage Ideas &amp; DIY Option<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\"Best Paddle Board Roof Racks for Cars, SUVs &amp; Trucks (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/paddle-board-roof-racks-vehicles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Best Paddle Board Roof Racks for Cars, SUVs &amp; Trucks<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Paddleboarding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/what-wear-paddle-boarding\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"rank-math-link\">What to Wear for Stand Up Paddleboarding?<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/how-to-paddleboard\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"rank-math-link\">How to Paddle Board-Is it Hard? SUP Beginner Techniques &amp; Tricks<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\"SUP Paddleboarding Tips Every Paddleboarder should know (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/paddleboarding-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"rank-math-link\">SUP Paddleboarding Tips &amp; Tricks Every Paddleboarder should know<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/get-on-paddle-board\/\" target=\"_blank\">How to Get on a Paddle Board, After Falling &amp; from a Dock<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/calories-paddleboarding-burn\/\">How many Calories does Paddleboarding Burn?<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/sup-workouts\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Best Paddle Board Workouts\/Exercises to Improve Your Fitness<\/a><\/li><li><a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/benefits-paddleboarding\/\" target=\"_blank\">Benefits of Paddleboarding(SUP)<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you have chosen to get into paddleboarding, you definitely need the right-sized board that&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":347,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":6,"label":"Paddleboarding"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/what-size-paddle-board-do-i-need.jpg",700,449,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Jenne SParks","author_link":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/author\/j_sparks\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":6,"name":"Paddleboarding","slug":"paddleboarding","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":26,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":6,"category_count":26,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Paddleboarding","category_nicename":"paddleboarding","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=344"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}