How to Size a Snowboard
Thinking about buying a new snowboard, but not sure what size you need? The snowboard length you choose should generally be determined by your height. However, your weight and the type of riding you do the most are also factors. Follow the guidelines below on how to size a snowboard.
First, measure the distance from the floor to one of three facial features: 1) nose, 2) chin or 3) eyebrows. The feature you select will determine whether your snowboard is average, short or long.
- Nose (Average): If you’re an intermediate or advanced rider who likes a variety of terrain, measure to your nose. This length will provide the most versatility for all-mountain riding.
- Chin (Short): If you’re a beginner rider or if you’re lightweight for your size, measure to the bottom of your chin. Shorter board sizes are easier to turn but provide a little less stability at high speeds. Freestyle riders who spend a lot of time in the terrain park tend to prefer a shorter board size.
- Eyebrows (Long): If you’re a more advanced rider who likes to carve fast and hard, measure to your eyebrows. Longer board lengths provide more overall stability at high speeds but also require more effort to turn quickly. If you’re heavy for your height, you may also want to choose a slightly longer board size for additional flotation, especially if you ride on powder.
Once you have a measurement, you’re ready to buy a new board. Check out the conversion chart below to find your snowboard size in centimeters:
| Height of Eyebrows, Nose or Chin (Inches) | Best Board Length (Centimeters) |
|---|---|
| 40" | 102 cm |
| 42" | 107 cm |
| 44" | 112 cm |
| 46" | 117 cm |
| 48" | 122 cm |
| 50" | 127 cm |
| 52" | 132 cm |
| 54" | 137 cm |
| 56" | 142 cm |
| 58" | 147 cm |
| 60" | 152 cm |
| 62" | 157 cm |
| 64" | 163 cm |
| 66" | 168 cm |
| 68" | 173 cm |
| 70" | 178 cm |
About Snowboard Width
Snowboards generally fall into two width categories: regular and wide. If you have a larger boot size, such as men’s size 11 or larger, you might consider buying a wide snowboard. Otherwise the toes of your boots could protrude beyond the snowboard’s edge (not good for toe-side carving). Only some models will be available in wide sizes. Also keep in mind that there is no industry standard for what qualifies as a “regular” board and a “wide” board, so it’s possible that a regular board could be wide enough. If you’re worried that a snowboard might be too narrow, just compare the waist width of the board with your snowboard boot size.