Many beginners get a paddleboard with a size of within plus or minus 10% of 10’6” x 31.5” x 6” (3.2 meters x 80 cm x 15 cm). This size is the standard size for all-round paddleboards.
Paddleboarding is getting more and more popular. With new people entering this sport, a question we get often is what size of paddleboard should a beginner get?
Nowadays, there are so many brands and models of paddleboards to choose from that it can be difficult for beginners to decide what size of board to get.
If you’re curious, we’ve compiled a list of the best paddleboards for beginners.
Table of Contents
Not Every Size of Paddleboard Is Great for Beginners
It’s important for first-time buyers not to rush into buying the first affordable SUP they see just because it says “beginner” on it, but rather take some time and learn about the different sizes of paddle boards, so you know exactly what you need!
In this article, we go over the different options for a beginner and what size of SUP they should get.
To find some recommendation about which models are great for those starting out, check out our best beginner paddleboards article.
Most Common Size for Beginner Paddleboards
The most common type of beginner paddleboards are all-rounders.
In general, we think that inflatable paddleboards are better than epoxy paddleboards for beginners.
Typically, they come with a length of 10’6. It’s a great length because it’s not too short that you can’t have some tracking and build up speed, and not too long that it becomes hard to maneuver.
In terms of width and thickness, most beginner boards are in the range of 31.5” x 6” (80 cm x 15 cm).
As you become more experienced, you can look at SUPs with a more narrow. But there is a reason why most beginner paddleboards are around this width.
When Should You Get a Different Size of Beginner Paddleboards?
For most beginners, it’s best to keep it simple by riding a board that provides a lot of stability, is easy to paddle on and maneuver.
However, if you are into fitness, see paddleboarding mainly as another way to exercise and already got some paddle tours in mind, you might want to opt for a touring board.
Touring boards are a bit more pricey, but provide much better tracking, and you can paddle fasting with them. Typically, touring boards start at a length of about over 12’6” (over 381 cm) and are a bit more narrow (and, therefore, less stable) than all-rounders.
Check out our post about the best touring paddleboards here
Final Verdict
It’s not that simple to choose a beginner paddle board.
However, sticking to the standard all-rounder paddleboard size of 10’6” x 31.5” x 6” (3.2 meters x 80 cm x 15 cm) is a good idea for most beginners.
Also, you should definitely make sure to spend an appropriate amount of money on your beginner paddleboard.
For our blog, we’ve reviewed 50+ paddleboards and compiled the very best beginner paddleboards here.
