Penny boards have some advantages in skateboarding.
They are small and lightweight, making them highly portable, and have good weight capacities for their size.
Penny boards are also cheaper than many comparable wooden skateboards.
If one of the most important factors for you in choosing a penny board is its lower price point, these value penny boards give you reasonable bang for your buck.
Penny Board Under $20
Finding a decent penny board for under $20 is a difficult feat, but there are a small number of boards that do meet this criteria.
Here are a couple of boards we don’t hate that commonly sell in this price range:
1. RIMABLE Complete 22 Inches Skateboard
What we like about it: It’s reasonably sturdy for the price. Wheels and trucks are decent for a cheap board.
What we don’t like about it: It’s got way too much give to support the nearly 200 pounds it claims it supports.
Who we like it for: Kids under 125 pounds
2. PlayWheels Ultimate Spider-Man 21″ Wood Cruiser Skateboard
What we like about it: It has top grip more like a standard skateboard than a penny board. Kids will love the design.
What we don’t like about it: The wheels and trucks are not great.
Who we like it for: Young kids under 60 pounds
Penny Board Under $30 – $40
Once you top $20, penny boards start to look a whole lot better.
You can find some relatively decent (well… decent enough) penny boards in the $20-30 price range.
Here are a couple of highly-rideable penny boards that commonly sell in this range:
1. RoomyRoc Skateboard Complete 22” Mini Cruiser Retro Skateboard
What we like about it: Pretty sturdy for a cheap board. Kids and kids at heart will love the light-up wheels.
What we don’t like about it: The slightly narrower 5-inch deck can be pretty uncomfortable for even average-sized feet.
Who we like it for: Kids and adults with smaller feet
2. Retrospec Quip Skateboard 22.5″ Classic Retro Plastic Cruiser Complete Skateboard
What we like about it: Pretty sturdy for a cheap board. Surprisingly decent trucks.
What we don’t like about it: It’s hard to find much. For the price point, it’s a pretty good penny board.
Who we like it for: Kids and adults under 200 pounds
Penny Board Under $40 – $50
Another $10 jump in price and you get another big jump in penny board quality.
You can find several fairly good penny boards in the $30-$50 price range.
Here are a couple of boards we like that commonly sell at this price point:
1. Playshion Complete 22 Inch Mini Cruiser Skateboard
What we like about it: It’s thick, thicker than most cheap penny boards, and sturdier as a result. Pretty good trucks.
What we don’t like about it: The company sells multiple widths of board on the same product page. Make sure you’re getting a 6-inch board or it will be uncomfortably small.
Who we like it for: Kids and adults under 220 pounds
2. Meketec Complete 22 Inch Mini Cruiser Retro Skateboard
What we like about it: Pretty thick. Pretty sturdy. Several cool designs.
What we don’t like about it: The trucks can be tight. Some of the designs are over $40.
Who we like it for: Kids and adults under 180 pounds
Penny Board Under $50 – $100
Again, a $10 price jump and you’re in a whole new world of penny boards.
There are a fair number of quality penny boards in the $40-50 price range.
There are also a fair number of penny boards in this price range for no particular reason.
Here are a couple of boards that are worth the money:
1. Ridge Retro Mini Cruiser Board 22″
What we like about it: Perhaps the Penny company’s most quality competitor, Ridge boards are ultra-sturdy. The trucks really impress us for the price point.
What we don’t like about it: The prices are all over the place in the U.S. market. You’ll find some Ridge boards for $80+.
Who we like it for: Kids and adults under 175 pounds
2. Skatro Mini Cruiser Skateboard
What we like about it: We’re hedging a little on price, but the extra $5 gets you a skate tool, which lets you start customizing your ride right out of the box. Plus, the deck is really sturdy.
What we don’t like about it: The trucks are a little flimsy for the price point.
Who we like it for: Kids and adults under 200 pounds
Best vs Cheapest Penny Boards
When it comes to choosing a penny board, it’s always going to be a battle of price vs quality.
Where those two meet is what we call value, and we like to think the above boards offer good value for the money.
If you’re still not sure about a penny board, or are looking for something a little different, here are a few things to keep in mind during your penny board search.
Penny Board 22
When it comes to penny boards, we like to keep things standard.
That means sticking to a board as close to 22”(L) x 6”(W) as possible (even for younger kids).
Smaller skate decks simply don’t have enough space for a comfortable ride.
22” is still small, but at least you’ve got some room to maneuver.
So, pay close attention to deck size. Not everything marketed as a penny board is a true penny.
Penny Boards for Kids
Only the very smallest kids need anything smaller than a 22” penny board, and most kids old enough to ride a skateboard (5+) don’t really need a smaller board.
If you’re buying a penny board for a kid, we still recommend a 21-22” board with a 5-6” deck.
They are both sturdier and give your kid some room to grow.
Custom Pennyboards
Since few skate shops sell penny board decks and penny boards come already complete, it can be hard to customize a penny board.
For a while, the Penny Company offered a board customizer that allowed you to choose your deck, trucks, and wheels.
Ridge Skateboards still has a board customizer.
So, if you’re in the UK, you can get a (somewhat) customized penny board through them.
However, most penny boards come as they come, all parts included.
If you’re hungry for a custom penny board, focus on the deck when buying.
Once you have the deck you want, you can switch out your trucks and wheels just like on a wooden skateboard.
Buying a Cheap Penny (Branded) Penny Board
There are plenty of cheap penny boards for under $50 on the market, but not all penny boards are made the same.
When it comes to quality penny boards, we still hold original Penny Skateboards in highest regard.
Their trucks and wheels are a force to be reckoned with.
We also very much like Ridge Skateboards out of the UK. They’ve got good trucks too.
If you would like an original (branded) Penny board, we recommend watching the Penny website for sales.
When Penny discontinues colors, they discount their 22” boards .
With an original Penny board, not only will you be getting the highest quality penny board available (mostly in trucks and wheels), but you have four other size options if you discover you really love the brand.
(With Ridge Skateboards, you only get one additional plastic skateboard option. The rest of their boards have wooden decks.)
What we like even more about Penny right now is their recognition that their plastic skateboards are hard on the environment and the fact they are actively working to make their boards more eco-friendly.
That makes them a company worth supporting in our opinion.
Should I get a penny board?
If you’re thinking about buying a penny board for transportation or recreation, don’t fear the naysayers.
Penny boards have their places in skateboarding and can be boons for people who want lightweight, portable boards that can cut through city streets.
Not sure if a penny board is the right choice for you? Check out our Guide to Penny Boards to get you rolling.
