Nickel skateboards are just a little more than penny boards.
It sounds like a joke, but it’s actually a spot-on definition.
Nickels are exactly like pennies in a lot of ways.
In the case of a nickel, though, you get a bit more deck, bringing nickels closer to standard skateboard size without quite getting there.
What is a nickel board?
The standard definition of a nickel board is a small, plastic skateboard bigger than a penny board, but smaller than a standard skateboard.
Nickel Board Dimensions
The standard length of a nickel board is 27”.
But the width of nickel boards can vary within a small range.
Nickel board decks starts at around 6” wide (the same width as standard penny boards) and go up to 7.5” wide (the starting width for standard skateboards).
Though the width of the deck matters a lot for rider comfort, it doesn’t matter as much in the definition of a nickel board.
A 27” plastic board is almost always considered a nickel board.
Penny vs Nickel Board Size
What really distinguishes a nickel board from a penny board is length.
A nickel board is always 27” (or very close to it) to a penny board’s 22” length.
You can think of it like this:
A standard nickel board is 5” longer than a standard penny board, so you get a nickel more board.
Penny & Ridge Nickel Board Dimensions
While there is no standard width to nickel boards – any board with a plastic deck between about 6” and about 7.5” fits the definition of a nickel – there is a standard developing amongst big brands.
Two of the most prominent names in the nickel board game, Penny Skateboards (AUS) and Ridge Skateboards (UK), sell the same size nickel boards – 27”(L) x 7.5”(W).
Nickel Board FAQs
Now that we’ve gotten the basics out of the way, let’s go into a little more depth on nickel boards.
Here, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about nickels to help you determine if a nickel board is the right skateboard for you.
How much does a nickel board cost (prices in 2021)?
Just as they have a little more deck, nickel boards have a little more price than penny boards.
At Penny, their 27” nickel boards run about $10 (USD) more than their 22” penny boards at $119 (USD).
At Ridge, their 27” nickel boards run about £5 (GBP) more than their 22” penny boards at £54.99 (GBP).
On general retailers (like Amazon and Wal-mart), you can find a handful of nickel boards for under $30 (USD), but quality nickels start at around $40 (USD).
How much does a nickel board hold?
The weight limit on most nickel boards is the same as on most penny boards.
Nickel boards support around 200 to 225 pounds.
Their molded plastic decks can typically hold as much as 8- or 9-ply wooden skateboards.
What about wooden nickel boards?
By definition, a nickel board is a plastic skateboard.
You may find wooden skateboards being marketed as nickels, but nickel skateboards are never made of wood.
Nickel-sized skateboards with wooden decks are actually considered mini or youth skateboards.
What is better, a penny or nickel board?
Whether a penny or nickel board is a better skateboard option is really a matter of opinion.
Both boards have their pros and cons.
Penny boards are smaller, which makes them more portable and better for cruising through crowds, but their reduced decks also make them harder to ride and less comfortable.
Nickel boards are bigger, which makes them more stable and easier to balance on, but they are heavier and less portable.
If you’re going to be carrying your board around a lot (like onto public transport), you’ll probably prefer a penny board.
If you’ve got a longer commute and your board will be on the ground most of the time, you’ll probably prefer a nickel.
What about a penny or nickel board for beginners?
Though pennies and nickels both have their merits, there is no question a nickel board is better for beginners.
The bigger a board is, the easier it is to ride, and a nickel board comes very close to standard skateboard size (especially the nickel boards with 7.5” deck widths).
This larger size makes a nickel board considerably easier to balance and learn on than a penny board.
Our Nickel Board Recs
So, we’ve been through the most common curiosities about nickel boards, and hope we’ve helped you determine if a nickel board is the right board for you.
If you’re ready to try out a nickel, here are the nickel boards we put faith in:
Penny Nickel Board Complete (27” Skateboard)
What we like about it: Sturdy deck. Super high-quality trucks and wheels.
What we don’t like about it: It’s the most expensive board on our list.
Who we like it for: Kids and adults up to 220 pounds.
Ridge Nickel Board Complete (27” Mini Cruiser)
What we like about it: Sturdy deck. Good wheels. Pretty decent trucks.
What we don’t like about it: Trucks aren’t as good as Penny trucks, so neither is the handling. Prices are all over the place in the US market.
Who we like it for: Kids and adults up to 200 pounds.
Nickel Boards Cheap
Nickel boards have yet to reach the mass production/overrun market level penny boards have reached. And that’s not a bad thing.
Fewer boards means less chaff to get through to find the wheat. (Though, you will find plenty of penny boards and wooden boards incorrectly labeled as nickels.)
Since the market’s not quite as overrun, prices tend to be higher for nickel boards than for comparable pennies. And it’s not all about the extra board length.
Still, you can find a few nickels out there that are good value for their money.
Here are a few we like:
Retrospec Quip Nickel Board Skateboard 27″
What we like about it: Sturdy deck. Good wheels. Decent trucks.
What we don’t like about it: Deck is just a little narrower than the Penny and Ridge boards.
Who we like it for: Kids and adults up to 200 pounds.
MoBoard 27-inch Vintage Skateboard Nickel Board
What we like about it: The price. Trucks are decent when tightened.
What we don’t like about it: Deck isn’t as sturdy as the other boards.
Who we like it for: Kids and adults up to 175 pounds.
LOVELY DECOR Skateboard Cruiser Complete Nickel Board
What we like about it: Deck is fairly sturdy. Kids will love the light-up wheels. Comes with skate tools.
What we don’t like about it: Wheels are a little tight as is. A quarter-turn with the skate tool will get them rolling better.
Who we like it for: Kids and adults up to 220 pounds.
Should I Get A Penny Board or Nickel Board?
Nickel boards are more similar in size to standard skateboards than to penny boards, but, due to their similarities, penny boards and nickel boards are the most often compared.
If you’re trying to decide between the smaller-sized penny board or more stable nickel board, it mostly comes down to two things:
- how comfortable you are on a skateboard
- how you plan to use it
For more information, see “What is better, a penny or nickel board?” above.
And, if you still can’t decide, check out the pros and cons of penny boards in our Guide to Penny Boards.
