Snowboard Size Chart: Length by Weight, Height and Riding Style
Pick a snowboard length from your weight first, check it against your height, then confirm the board is wide enough for your boots.
Choose snowboard length mainly by weight: a 150 to 170 lb (68 to 77 kg) rider typically needs a 150 to 157 cm board, and every 20 lb (9 kg) adds about 3 to 4 cm. By height, a board usually stands between your chin and nose, about 86 to 90% of your height. Then check the waist width suits your boot size.
- Length by height
- 86–90% of height
- 150–170 lb rider
- 150–157 cm
- Regular waist
- about 24–25.5 cm
- Wide boards
- boots US 11+
On this page
Snowboard size chart by weight
Snowboards are engineered to flex under a rider's weight, so weight is the primary sizing input. Every maker publishes a weight range for each length of each model; the chart below shows where those ranges usually fall for an all-mountain board.
| Rider weight (lb) | Rider weight (kg) | Board length (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 90–110 | 41–50 | 130–142 |
| 110–130 | 50–59 | 138–147 |
| 130–150 | 59–68 | 145–152 |
| 150–170 | 68–77 | 150–157 |
| 170–190 | 77–86 | 154–160 |
| 190–210 | 86–95 | 157–163 |
| 210–230 | 95–104 | 160–166 |
| 230+ | 104+ | 163 and up (often wide) |
Ranges overlap because a board's stiffness changes the answer. A stiff freeride board in 156 cm can carry a heavier rider than a soft park board of the same length, so always check the weight range printed for the exact model.
Snowboard size by height
Height is the quick check. Stood on its tail, a typical board reaches between the chin and the nose, which is about 86 to 90% of the rider's height.
| Rider height | Height (cm) | Board length (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 0 in | 152 | 131–137 |
| 5 ft 2 in | 157 | 135–141 |
| 5 ft 4 in | 163 | 140–147 |
| 5 ft 6 in | 168 | 144–151 |
| 5 ft 8 in | 173 | 149–156 |
| 5 ft 10 in | 178 | 153–160 |
| 6 ft 0 in | 183 | 157–165 |
| 6 ft 2 in | 188 | 162–169 |
| 6 ft 4 in | 193 | 166–174 |
For a rider of average build the two charts agree: a 5 ft 8 in, 160 lb rider lands on 150 to 156 cm either way. When they disagree by more than a few centimeters, use the weight figure.
How riding style changes snowboard length
Size down (−2 to −5 cm)
- Park, rails and jumps: a shorter board spins and presses more easily
- Beginners: easier to turn and to stop
- Tight trees and slow, playful riding
Size up (+3 to +5 cm)
- Powder: more surface for float
- High speed and big open turns: more stability
- Heavy riders at the top of a board's weight range
Shape changes the picture too. Volume-shifted boards, sold with a wide shape and a short length, are designed to be ridden several centimeters shorter than your usual board, often 3 to 5 cm, and the maker's chart accounts for it. Rockered boards also feel shorter than their printed length because less edge touches the snow.
Snowboard width and boot size
Length is only half the fit. The waist width, measured at the narrowest point, must suit your boots. Too narrow and your toes and heels drag in a hard turn; too wide and the board is slow to tip from edge to edge.
| Boot size | Board width | Typical waist width |
|---|---|---|
| US women's 5–9 | Women's | about 23–24.5 cm |
| US men's 7–10.5 | Regular | about 24–25.5 cm |
| US men's 10.5–11 | Regular or mid-wide | about 25.3–26 cm |
| US men's 11 and up | Wide | about 26 cm and up |
Binding angles matter here. Rotating the bindings away from 0° (for example +15° front, −6° rear) shortens the effective footprint across the board, which reduces overhang. A rider with US 11 boots at wide angles can sometimes ride a regular board; at 0° the same boots need a wide one.
Put your boots in the bindings at your normal angles and stand the board on carpet. Lay a straight edge along each side: 1 to 2 cm of toe and heel overhang is normal. If the boot clearly sticks out further, or a heel cup scrapes the floor when you tilt the board, size the width up.
Stance width and setup
- Stance width: start at about shoulder width, measured from the center of one binding to the other. Boards list a reference stance, usually 19 to 23 in (48 to 58 cm) on adult boards, and the insert pattern lets you adjust about 2 in either way.
- Regular or goofy: regular riders have the left foot forward, goofy riders the right. Most riders lead with the same foot they would put forward when sliding on ice in socks.
- Binding size: bindings come in S, M and L ranges by boot size. A US men's 9 typically falls in M; check the maker's chart, which overlaps at the edges.
Kids' snowboard sizes
Children's boards are sized the same way, with chest to chin height as the target. Light riders cannot flex adult boards, so youth models are much softer. Rough guides: about 90 to 100 cm for a 50 lb (23 kg) child, 110 to 120 cm at 70 lb (32 kg) and 120 to 130 cm at 90 lb (41 kg). As with skis, buying a size too big for growth makes learning harder.
Snowboard bags and transport
Board bags are sold by length, typically 146, 156, 166 and 175 cm. Pick one at least 5 cm longer than the board so the bindings can stay mounted. Most roof boxes and ski racks take a board flat; check the rack's maximum width, since a wide board with bindings can be 30 cm across. For roof boxes and racks, see the cargo carrier guide and the roof rack size guide. Skiers can compare with the ski size chart, and surfers moving to snow will find the length logic familiar from the surfboard size guide.
Frequently asked questions
Should a snowboard come to your chin or nose?
Between the two for most riders. Beginners and park riders go toward the chin; heavier riders, fast riders and powder riders go toward the nose or slightly above. Weight is a better guide than height when the two disagree.
What if my weight and height give different sizes?
Follow weight. The board's flex and camber are designed around the load it carries, not your height. A tall, light rider should take the shorter length; a short, heavy rider the longer one.
When do I need a wide snowboard?
When your boots hang too far over the edges. As a rule, men's boots of US size 11 and up need a wide board with a waist of roughly 26 cm or more. Boot overhang of about 1 to 2 cm on each side at your binding angles is normal; more than that catches the snow in hard turns.
What size snowboard for a child?
Children's boards usually reach between the chest and the chin. Kids' boards run from about 80 cm to 140 cm; a 50 lb (23 kg) child typically rides around 90 to 100 cm and a 90 lb (41 kg) child around 120 to 130 cm. Follow the maker's weight range for the specific board.