GEAR THAT HELPS YOU SURF

Surfboard Size Calculator

Not sure what size surfboard to get? Explore a starting volume band and board types worth discussing, with a clear explanation of how shape and your usual waves affect the choice.

START WITH YOU

Find your starting point

Your weight

Choose the unit beside it. For adult surfers; children need individual guidance from their instructor.

Weight unit

The calculation converts pounds to kilograms.

Which skills are you practising?

Use the skill descriptions in How this calculator works. Pick the skills you are learning, rather than your best-ever wave.

What do you want from the board?

This changes the board guidance; the volume band follows your chosen practice level.

More context optional

Your usual waves

This adds context about board choice to your result.

Current board volume (litres)

Optional. Use the maker’s stated litres; length × width × thickness does not measure a shaped board’s true volume.

No account needed. These values are used for this calculation and are not saved to your profile.

How this calculator works

Choose the skills you are practising, then multiply your weight in kilograms by that row’s published litres-per-kilogram band. An 80 kg surfer practising whitewater foundations gets an 80–120 L reference band. Someone working on unbroken waves uses a different band.

These are Surf Simply’s coaching reference bands for practising skills. They describe minimum-volume guidance, rather than the full range of boards someone can enjoy. Bigger boards can remain useful at every level. BestSwell has not independently validated these as personal board fittings.

See the reference bands and skill descriptions

Surf Simply chart, checked 15 October 2026. Skill descriptions are brief BestSwell summaries; level 3.5 is the chart’s transition band.
Source level	Practice focus	Reference band
1	Whitewater foundations Standing and controlling the board in broken waves	1.0–1.5 L/kg
2	Unbroken waves and riding down the line Catching unbroken waves, angled take-offs and controlled trim	0.8–1.0 L/kg
3	Speed and turns Working on generating speed, bottom turns and re-entries	0.65–0.8 L/kg
3.5	Between the turn and advanced bands The intermediate 3.5 band on the published volume chart	0.5–0.65 L/kg
4	Advanced skills Developing performance, barrel, aerial or specialist longboard skills	0.4–0.5 L/kg

The goal and wave questions change the written guidance, without altering these ratios. We do not apply age, gender or fitness penalties. Pounds convert using 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg. The supported input range is 30–200 kg for this general adult guide; it is not a medical or ability boundary.

What do surfboard litres mean?

Litres describe how much space the board occupies. Two boards with the same volume can have different lengths, widths, rails and rocker, and feel different to paddle and ride. Use the maker’s published dimensions and volume together.

Choosing a first surfboard

A wide, stable foamboard is worth discussing with your instructor. The RNLI recommends considering height, weight and ability. A calculator cannot judge the handling of a particular board or the conditions at the beach. Plan a first session with local guidance.

When a smaller board makes sense

Change boards to solve a clear surfing need. If the change means you catch fewer waves and lose the practice you wanted, it may not be helping. Read our smaller-board guide or work on paddling and board balance.

Sources and scope

By BestSwell, using the linked coaching and equipment guidance. The calculations are a general reference; independent technical or coaching sign-off has not been completed. Suggest a correction.