If your kid wants to learn how to skateboard, one thing that can go a long way toward success is putting them on the right board.
When people think about (and shop for) youth skateboards, they often put them in a completely different category than adult boards, but this simply isn’t necessary.
Smaller boards may look more size appropriate (and for the smallest children, they are), but smaller skateboards are harder to ride, with the smallest boards, like pennyboards, being the hardest to skate of all.
It may actually be easier for your kid to learn on a standard-sized skateboard. Buying a standard board will also give them plenty of room to grow.
If your kid is old enough to skate on their own, they’re old enough to do it on a full-size board, and these are the full-sized skateboards we really like for kids.
Full-Size Kids Skateboards
(Note: These are relatively good-quality boards at reasonable entry prices, perfect for learning. They should have a year or two in them, but are not meant to be “forever” boards.)
1. Blind Checkered Reaper Soft
What we like about it: It’s a full-sized skateboard, but the deck is a little narrow at 7.375 inches, making it easier for kids with smaller shoe sizes to lower their feet to the ground to push or stop.
The bearings are also middling, which brings the speed down a bit.
And it has a cool design kids will like.
2. Creature Logo Micro
What we like about it: Just a little bit wider than our first rec, this board has decent quality trucks for the price point. And better trucks means better steering.
Again, the bearings fall right in the middle between speed and control.
And, though the design is a bit more basic, it should still appeal to young skaters.
3. Tony Hawk Signature Series
What we like about it: These boards are cheap and decent enough for learning.
They have Tony Hawk’s name on them and cool designs kids will love.
What they don’t have is good wheels and bearings.
If this board won’t roll, loosen the wheels a notch on the axles. If it still won’t roll, you may have to replace the bearings.
But even if you replace both the wheels and bearings, you’ll still save a little money.
4. Our Favorite Beginner Boards
If a kid is old enough to skate a standard board, any board from our Basic Skateboard: Best Skateboard for Beginners or Complete Skateboards Buying Guide: How to Select a Pre-Built Skateboard lists are good first board options.
Just pay attention to board width.
If your kid wears smaller than a woman’s size 8 or men’s size 6.5 shoe, they’ll need a skateboard with a somewhat narrower width, like the Blind Checkered Reaper or Creature Logo Micro.
Kids Longboards
If your kid is looking for a skateboard solely to ride, and has no interest in learning tricks, not only is it probably a load off your mind, but their learning could benefit from a different style of skateboard.
Popsicle double-kicks like the boards above are considered freestyle skateboards, meant for street and park riding.
When your kid just wants to roll about town or down the boardwalk, a longboard or cruiser is the more suitable choice.
Better yet, they’re bigger with sturdier bases, which makes them easier to learn on.
Here are our top picks for kids longboards –
1. Sector 9 Chamber Vortex
What we like about it: Barely a longboard at 33.75 inches long, it’s got all the usual longboard properties of a smooth ride, but with a narrower, kid-friendly 8.25 deck.
This board is a super high-quality learner your kids won’t have to give up as they grow.
Seriously. Well-maintained, the major components of this board will last for years, taking a little sting out of its $200+ price tag.
2. Landyachtz Dipper Watercolor
What we like about it: Cheaper than the Chamber Vortex, this board still has a lot of quality materials in its build.
Coming in at 8.65 inches, its base is still narrower than many skateboards of the same class, making it easier for smaller feet to learn on.
The Dipper’s surfboard design is ideal for kids who surf. And a slight rise at either end still leaves some room for trick-riding.
Just a good sturdy board that can withstand a lot of abuse.
3. Slendor Longboard
What we like about it: The Slendor longboard is a lot cheaper than the two longboards listed above. That’s the selling point.
It’s a little wider than the others at 9 inches, but still small enough for many kids to learn to cruise.
As for the quality, it’s decent for the price point, but don’t expect it to last.
It does have unnecessarily fast bearings, which could get your kid in some trouble if they pick the wrong hill to ride down. Faster bearings will also cause more wear to the wheels and axles.
So, if you buy this board, do yourself a favor, take some of that money you save on the board and replace the bearings with ABEC 5 or lower bearings to slow things down a bit until your kid gets better at control and stopping.
4. Summit Board Co Short Longboard
What we like about it: This is a learning board, that’s all it is.
It’s almost as wide as it is long, which makes it stable and easy to balance on.
If you want to give your kid a head start on learning to balance on a skateboard before transitioning them to a full-size board, this is a good option.
It’s not a standard size board, though. It’s a pass-through, not a stopping point.
Still, it can be helpful during the learning process.
Penny Boards for Kids
When it comes to penny boards, we don’t love them for kids, especially when they are first learning to skate, and here’s why –
Bigger skateboards are easier to ride. They have larger bases, which give them more stability and make balancing easier.
Penny decks are too narrow, making learning to balance on a skateboard unnecessarily difficult.
Unless your kid is very young or very small, a penny board is almost never a good option. They can even lead to adopting improper skating techniques due to the limited space.
We get why some people like pennies. They are lightweight and small, making them convenient for transportation.
But they are simply harder to ride.
If your kid wants a penny, put it off as a future purchase and get them a wider board to learn on.
And if your kid is very small and a penny board looks like a more accurate fit, there are better options available.
Boys and Girls Junior Skateboards (Beginner Skateboards for Kids)
When it comes to buying a skateboard for the younger set, the word to focus on is “temporary.” No kid-sized skateboard is going to be a good fit for long.
Even at the minimum age for skating (5 years, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics), most kids can handle (and even benefit from) a 7 or 7.5-inch board.
However, if you do have a smaller young’un that needs a smaller deck width, we prefer these skateboards to traditional pennies.
1. KO-ON Mini Cruiser
What we like about it: This is a true cruiser skateboard in a reduced size.
At 22 inches long with a 6-inch deck, it has the same dimensions as a lot of pennyboards, but is built like a standard skateboard with a wooden deck and griptape.
Other than size, there is very little difference between this board and a full-size cruiser, making it easy to transition as your kid grows.
2. Kryptonics Mini Cutaway Cruiser Skateboard
What we like about it: A mini version of a longboard, the Kryptonics Mini Cutaway keeps the ratio of the dimensions just about perfect.
The bearings are slow, perfect for a very young learner. (They can be replaced if things feel a little too slow.)
This board is recommended for ages 8 and up, but is actually better for younger kids who don’t need as much space for their stances.
Youth Skateboards by Age
Whatever skateboard design you choose, the best skateboard for any kid is a skateboard that properly fits their size and feet.
Full-size skateboards start out just below 7.5 inches in width, so by the time your kid is wearing a size 1Y shoe, which runs just over 7 ½ inches long, your kid is big enough for a full-size skateboard.
That means the vast majority of kids who should be riding skateboards (ages 5+) will do perfectly well on a standard-sized board.
But here is some additional guidance by age:
Skateboard for 5 Year Old
Many 5-year-olds are not yet in a 1Y shoe, and will need slightly smaller skateboards to accommodate their smaller feet.
We recommend the skateboards from our Boys and Girls Junior Skateboards (Beginner Skateboards for Kids) section.
Skateboard for 6 Year Old
Many 6 year olds are not yet in a 1Y shoe, but some of them are. Six is one of the most likely ages for a kid to transition to a 1Y shoe size.
A smaller skateboard will benefit those who have not yet reached a 1Y shoe, but it won’t last for long.
We recommend choosing a skateboard depending on your kid’s current shoe size and past growth.
If your kid has a year or more to go before they reach a size 1Y, we recommend a smaller board from our Boys and Girls Junior Skateboards (Beginner Skateboards for Kids) section.
If your kid is only months away from a size 1Y, you’ll be better off just getting a full-size board from our Full-Size Kids Skateboards or Kids Longboards sections.
Skateboard for 7 Year Old
By seven, most kids are in a 1Y shoe.
The best skateboard for a 7-year-old is one your kid can grow into.
We recommend a full-size board from our Full-Size Kids Skateboards or Kids Longboards sections.
Skateboard for 8 Year Old
By age 8, most kids are in a size 2Y or 3Y shoe.
The best skateboard for an 8-year-old is one your kid can grow into.
We recommend a full-size board from our Full-Size Kids Skateboards or Kids Longboards sections.
Skateboard for 9 Year Old
By age 9, most kids are in a size 3Y or 4Y shoe.
A 4Y shoe runs around 8.75 inches in length.
The best skateboard for an 8-year-old is a full-size skateboard or longboard.
We recommend a full-size board from our Full-Size Kids Skateboards or Kids Longboards sections.
Skateboard for 10 Year Old
By age 10, most kids are in youth sizes big enough to require a full-size skateboard.
We recommend a full-size board from our Full-Size Kids Skateboards or Kids Longboards sections.
Skateboard for 11 Year Old
By age 11, most kids are in youth sizes big enough to require a full-size skateboard.
We recommend a full-size board from our Full-Size Kids Skateboards or Kids Longboards sections.
Skateboard for 12 Year Old
By age 12, most kids are in youth sizes big enough to require a full-size skateboard.
We recommend a full-size board from our Full-Size Kids Skateboards or Kids Longboards sections.
Skateboards for Teens
By the time your kid is a teenager, they should be treated as full-grown adults when it comes to choosing a skateboard size.
However, you may want to make some accommodation for continued growth.
In this age group, we highly recommend paying attention to the weight capacities of skateboards.
A small 13-year-old can grow into a large 16-year-old, so make sure you’re buying a board that can handle 75 to 100 pounds of additional weight.
Keep in mind, higher weight capacity typically means a higher price point.
In the Tony Hawk Signature series, the more expensive skateboard models hold up to 220 pounds, while the lower-priced models only hold up to 175 pounds.
For more teenager skateboard options, see our articles Basic Skateboard:Best Skateboard for Beginners and Complete Skateboards Buying Guide: How to Select a Pre-Built Skateboard.
Toddler and Baby Skateboards
Babies and toddlers should not be on skateboards.
Two-year-olds, 3-year-olds, and 4-year-olds may be able to toddle their way to a lot of places, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready to learn how to skate.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends kids stay off of skateboards until at least age five due to the potential for serious injury.
For this reason, we do not recommend any toddler or baby skateboards.
We do not recommend putting a toddler or baby on a skateboard.
Give them a little time to learn to walk first.
Getting Kids Skateboarding
If you’ve got a kid who is ready (and old enough) to learn how to skate, a properly-fitted skateboard is the first step.
Getting familiar with that board is the second step.
If you’ve been tasked with teaching your kid to ride, you can find advice and information on the safety of skateboarding and tips for helping a kid learn how to skate in our companion article Skateboarding for Kids.
