Bodyboard Size Calculator
Enter your height and weight and choose prone or drop knee riding. The calculator gives the board length in inches and centimetres, the range to try and the core and tail to look for.
- Bodyboard length
- Core type
- Tail shape
Go a little longer for small, weak waves and shorter for powerful waves.
Board length follows your height, with a nudge for weight. Stood on its tail, the board should reach between your belly button and chest. A rider 175 cm tall and 75 kg suits about a 42.5 in board. Heavier riders go up an inch or so, lighter ones down.
Bodyboard size chart
Average weight for height. Search for a height.
| Height (cm) | Height (ft) | Board (in) | Board (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 140 | 4 ft 7 in | 32 | 81 |
| 150 | 4 ft 11 in | 35 | 89 |
| 160 | 5 ft 3 in | 38 | 97 |
| 165 | 5 ft 5 in | 39.5 | 100 |
| 170 | 5 ft 7 in | 41 | 104 |
| 175 | 5 ft 9 in | 42.5 | 108 |
| 180 | 5 ft 11 in | 44.5 | 113 |
| 185 | 6 ft 1 in | 46 | 117 |
| 190 | 6 ft 3 in | 47 | 119 |
| 200 | 6 ft 7 in | 47 | 119 |
Board length in inches.
Height and board
70 kg rider. Slide the height.
The rider and board stand side by side to the same scale.
How to size a bodyboard
Height and weight. Step through it.
Height
Main guide.
Wear swim fins with a bodyboard. They give the kicking power to catch waves.
PE, PP or EPS core
Bodyboard cores. Compare them.
Flexible.
Stiff.
Budget.
Cheaper EPS foam boards are fine for a holiday but dent and wear out quickly.
Before you paddle out
Board checks. Tick each item.
Tick each item as you go.
Never ride alone in big surf, and stay between the flags on patrolled beaches.
What you get
Bodyboard sizing. Each tile explains one result.
Inches.
To try.
Type.
Shape.
Type.
A crescent tail holds a line in steep waves. A bat tail adds lift for drop knee.
Frequently Asked Questions
No question matches that search.
What size bodyboard do I need?
About sixty-two per cent of your height, adjusted by an inch for every fifteen kilograms above or below average.
How do I check bodyboard size?
Stand it on its tail. It should reach between your belly button and chest.
What size bodyboard for an adult?
Most adults ride boards between forty and forty-four inches.
What happens if my board is too big?
It is slow to turn and hard to control.
What is the best core for cold water?
PE, as it stays flexible and grippy.
Does weight matter more than height?
Height sets the length, weight fine-tunes it.
What size board for a child?
Usually thirty-two to thirty-eight inches depending on height.
Catch more waves
Ride a board sized for your height and weight, and you will paddle faster and turn more easily.
More size calculators
Each one has its own calculator, worked examples and answers to common questions.