How to Measure a Skateboard

If you are planning to buy new parts for a skateboard, it is important to know the measurements of your board. This will help ensure that you get the right parts. The important measurements are the width and length of the deck, the width of the nose and tail, the length of the wheelbase and the width of the trucks. Your board's measurements may well not be labeled or published, but you can get these measurements yourself in a matter of minutes.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Ruler
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the length of the deck. Use the tape measure to measure the board's surface from end to end. You will need to bend the tape where the board slopes so it touches the board all the way across.The length will usually be around 32 inches.

    • 2

      Measure the width of the deck. With the measuring tape measure the width of the board at its center. The width will usually be between 7 and 8 inches.

    • 3

      Measure the wheelbase. Turn the board over so the bottom is facing up. Locate the two sets of inside truck holes. Pick one of the holes and measure the distance between that hole and the corresponding hole at the other end of the board.

    • 4

      Measure the nose and tail. Measure the distance from the plain of the front truck holes to the front tip of the board. This is the nose length. Measure the distance from the plain of the rear truck holes to the tip of the rear of the board. This is the tale length.

    • 5

      Measure the trucks. These mount the wheels to the skateboard. With the wheels removed, measure the trucks from end to end. The truck will usually be between 7 and 8 inches in length. If you are buying new trucks, you will want to make sure that the trucks are not too wide or narrow for the width of your board. When the wheels are on the ground, looking down, you should not be able to see the wheels under your board.

    • 6

      Measure the wheels. Lay one of the wheels down flat. Measure across the wheel at its widest part. You will want to use a ruler that has millimeter marks on it, as skateboard wheels are measured in millimeters.