Skateboards are made up of numerous components that come in a variety of sizes, styles, and materials.
Since there is no standard skateboard build (even completes can be wildly different), there is no standard skateboard weight.
Instead, a skateboard’s weight is a total of all its parts.
A skateboard’s components also determine how much weight a skateboard can hold.
Stronger, sturdier trucks and decks tend to be made of harder (or more) material. But not always.
Some of the strongest skateboard decks are composites that weigh less than traditional wooden decks.
Like a skateboard’s weight, how much weight a skateboard can hold is entirely a matter of its build and components.
But there are a few generalized numbers when it comes to complete skateboard weights and weight limits.
How much does a skateboard weigh?
The average skateboard weighs 8-11 pounds and consists of the following:
- Standard skateboard deck (29-31”, 8- or 9-ply with griptape): 4-5.5 lbs
- Skateboard trucks: 0.75 to 1 pound each (1.5-2 lbs total)
- Skateboard wheels (with bearings): 0.5 pounds per wheel, .025 per bearing (2.25 -2.5 lbs total)
- Hardware: 0.1 to 0.25 lbs
Skateboards may also have additional components, such as shock pads, risers, or rails, that increase the weight.
But not by much. These components are plastic and weigh very little.
How much does a longboard weigh?
The average longboard weighs 11-14 pounds and consists of the following:
- Longboard deck with griptape: 6-10 pounds
- Longboard trucks: 0.75 to 1 pound each (1.5-2 lbs total)
- Longboard wheels (with bearings): 0.5 pounds per wheel, .025 per bearing (2.25 -2.5 lbs total)
- Hardware: 0.1 to 0.25 pounds
Like skateboards, longboards may also have additional components, such as shock pads or risers, that add to the weight.
But the majority of a longboard’s additional weight is due to its extended deck.
How much does a skateboard deck weigh?
Standard wood skateboard decks (29-31”) weigh 3-5 pounds, depending on length, build, and type of wood.
Smaller decks (like micros and minis) and carbon fiber decks come in a little lighter at around 2 pounds.
Longboard decks, unsurprisingly, weigh more than standard skateboard decks at around 6 pounds starting weight for the shortest cruisers.
Longboard decks go up to around 10 pounds for a 60” deck.
The very popular longboard deck sizes of 46-48” weigh around 7-8 pounds.
Wooden decks with more plies weigh more. But they also support more weight.
Skateboard Weight Limits
Skateboard weight limits are like skateboard weights – they cover a pretty wide range.
Small, cheaply-made skateboards hold very little weight. (There are bargain boards on Amazon that can support as little as 45 pounds!)
Well-crafted full-size skateboards hold 200+ pounds.
How much weight a skateboard can support depends on the skateboard’s build, but also on how you’re using it.
How much weight can a skateboard hold?
Most high-quality 9-ply skateboards and longboards can support up to 225-250 pounds safely.
The highest-quality, most durable skateboard trucks are rated about the same, at a maximum weight capacity of around 250 pounds.
But there are a variety of factors involved in the weight capacity of a skateboard.
The first, most important factor is the strength of a skateboard’s deck, which has everything to do with plies and materials.
9-ply wood decks are, obviously, stronger than 7- or 8-ply wood decks.
Bamboo has longer, stronger fibers than maple, meaning bamboo skateboard decks can typically support greater amounts of weight than maple skateboard decks.
Composite decks with carbon fiber or fiberglass layered in are even stronger.
But this is where usage comes in.
No matter what board you’re on, landing tricks on a skateboard puts a lot more stress on the deck than casual cruising.
The same board that will hold up on a commute may break in two if you try to slide it on a rail.
That’s why there is no standard weight capacity for skateboards and many skateboard manufacturers do not list weight limits for their boards.
Most high-quality skateboards and trucks can support far more than 250 pounds, but only for casual cruising.
It’s important to remember skateboards are made with freestyle riding in mind.
Manufacturers expect you to take their boards into the air, to carve down hills, and to dance on them.
So, those 220- to 250-pound weight capacities on decks and trucks are actually about landing tricks.
Skateboards can support a lot more weight when they are just rolling along.
