Instructor-backed snowboard guidance
Find Your Snowboard Size and Ideal Setup
Get a practical size range plus board characteristics chosen around your ability, goals and current challenges.
More Than Just a Snowboard Size Calculator
Most snowboard size charts are useful for getting you into the right ballpark, but they don’t always tell you much about how a board is actually going to feel under your feet.
That’s where this calculator is a little different.
As well as looking at your height and weight, it also takes into account your ability, riding goals and what you want from your next board. From there, it gives you a recommendation for snowboard length, width, flex, profile and shape.
You’ll also get a few instructor-backed notes to help explain why those recommendations make sense.
The idea isn’t to tell you there’s one perfect snowboard out there. It’s to give you a clearer idea of what to look for when you start comparing boards.
How the Instructor Recommendations Work
The calculator was built with input from experienced snowboard instructors, with a focus on the sorts of things that actually come up when teaching beginner and intermediate riders.
That means it doesn’t just look at body size.
It also considers things like:
Two riders can be the same height and weight but need quite different boards depending on how they ride. That’s what the extra questions are there to help with.
Your result is still a starting point, so it’s always worth checking the manufacturer’s recommended rider-weight range before buying a specific board.
Reviewed by Graham Sinclair
Graham is a seasoned snowboarding instructor with over 20 years experience teaching people of all abilities how to shred on the slopes.
How to Use Our Snowboard Size Calculator
1. Add your height, weight and boot size
These give us the basic sizing information we need. Weight is especially useful because most snowboard brands size their boards around recommended rider-weight ranges.
2. Tell us a bit about your riding
Pick the option that best matches where you’re at now. Don’t overthink it. Just choose the description that sounds closest to your current ability and riding style.
3. Tell us what matters most
This helps fine-tune the recommendation.
You might be looking for easier control, more stability, better progression, carving performance, freestyle capability or something that works better in powder.
4. Get your recommendation
You’ll get a suggested snowboard length range, width, board type, flex, profile and shape.
You may also get an instructor tip based on the riding challenge or goal you selected.
Snowboard size is only one part of choosing the right board. Before getting too caught up in centimeters, it’s worth thinking about shape, flex and profile first, because those characteristics have a big influence on how the board will feel and whether it suits your ability and riding style. Once those pieces are right, size becomes the next step.
Check out some of our other helpful guides before you start:
What Size Snowboard Should I Get?
There isn’t one snowboard size that works perfectly for everyone.
A good starting point is your height, then use your weight, ability and riding goals to fine-tune the final length.
As a rough guide, I recommend looking for a board that comes somewhere between your shoulders and nose when stood upright. From there, whether you go shorter or longer depends on how you ride and what you want the board to do.
If you want something more agile and easy to move around, the shorter end of the range can make sense. If you want more stability at speed, more support in rough snow, or better float in powder, moving toward the longer end is usually the better call.
The key is to treat board size as a range rather than one exact number.
Want to dig deeper into the height-versus-weight debate? Check out our article “What Size Snowboard Do I Need? (Height vs. Weight Explained).”
Is Snowboard Size Based on Height or Weight?
Both matter, but they do slightly different jobs.
For riders who are average or light for their height, I prefer to use height as the main starting point. That helps avoid ending up on a board that feels too short, unstable or underpowered simply because a strict weight chart points you toward a smaller size.
Weight still matters though, and it becomes more important if you’re on the heavier end of the range.
Most snowboard manufacturers list a recommended rider-weight range for each board size, and it’s worth paying attention to. If you’re too heavy for a particular size, the board may feel under-supported and won’t float as well in softer snow.
So the simple version is:
- Use height to get into the right general size range
- Use weight to make sure that range still makes sense for your body
- Use riding style and ability to decide whether to go shorter or longer within that range
Riders who are taller/heavier should choose a longer snowboard, riders who are shorter/lighter should choose a shorter snowboard.
How Riding Level Affects Snowboard Sizing
The next consideration should be your level of riding. Snowboards that are shorter tend to be easier to turn. This is because shorter snowboards have shorter edges that have less contact with the snow, so it is easier for the edges to release and let the board pivot at low speeds.
Snowboards that are longer have longer edges that have more contact with the snow and provide more grip and control when you are turning at higher speeds.
So, beginners who are just learning to turn should go for a snowboard on the shorter end of the spectrum and riders who are more experienced and need more control at higher speed should go for a longer snowboard.
This doesn’t mean every beginner should automatically buy the shortest recommended size. Your weight still needs to sit appropriately within the board manufacturer’s recommended range.
If you have large feet (greater than US 10 for both male or female riders) you might need to look at getting a wide snowboard.
How Riding Style Affects Snowboard Sizing
Where and how you like to ride can shift you toward different parts of your recommended size range.
All-mountain
Staying somewhere around the middle of your range usually gives a good mix of maneuverability and stability.
Freestyle
Park riders often prefer something slightly shorter for spins, side hits and quicker movement.
Carving and speed
A little more length can give you extra stability and edge hold, provided the board still suits your weight and ability.
Powder
Powder boards often use extra length, width or surface area to improve float.
Some modern volume-shifted boards are designed to be ridden shorter though, so always check the sizing advice for the specific model.
Snowboard Size Chart by Height and Weight
Use this chart as a general starting point. The calculator above provides a more personalized recommendation by considering additional factors such as ability, boot size and riding goals.
| Height (in) | Height (cm) | Weight (lbs) | Weight (kg) | Snowboard length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4’10” | 147 | 110 -120 | 50-54 | 128-136 |
| 5′ | 152 | 115-130 | 52-59 | 133-141 |
| 5’2” | 158 | 125-135 | 57-61 | 139-147 |
| 5’4” | 163 | 135-145 | 61-66 | 144-152 |
| 5’6” | 168 | 140-155 | 63-70 | 149-157 |
| 5’8” | 173 | 150-165 | 68-75 | 154-162 |
| 5’10” | 178 | 160-175 | 73-79 | 159-167 |
| 6’ | 183 | 170-185 | 77-84 | 160+ |
| 6’2” | 188 | 180-195 | 82-88 | 160+ |
| 6’4” | 192 | 190-205 | 86-93 | 160+ |
Snowboard Width Charts
When choosing a snowboard, it’s not just the length of the board that is important. If your boots are longer than your board is wide then that means either your toe or your heel will likely be overhanging the edge of the board. A consequence of this is that you’ll get either heel or toe drag. This happens during turning when the board is put on its edge and either the toe of your boots with a heel makes contact with the snow normally resulting in you hitting the deck.
The charts below show which board width you should choose for the corresponding shoe size:
Men’s snowboard widths
| Waste width (mm) | Men’s US boot size | Men’s EU boot size | |
| Narrow | 240-245 | 6-8 | 39-41 |
| Regular | 245-255 | 8-10.5 | 41-44 |
| Mid-wide | 255-265 | 10.5-12 | 44-46 |
| Wide | 265+ | 12+ | 46+ |
Women’s snowboard widths
| Waste width (mm) | Women’s US boot size | Women’s EU boot size | |
| Narrow | <235 | <6 | <39 |
| Regular | 235-245 | 6 – 8.5 | 39 – 41 |
| Wide | 245+ | 8.5+ | 41+ |
Understanding Your Snowboard Recommendation
Wrapping Up
This guide hopes to lay out and explain the factors that can influence which board you choose. All this may seem daunting, and like a whole lot of information to take on board, but, if you choose a board in the right ballpark, then you will probably be fine. In our experience, whenever we get on a new board 9 times out of 10, we love it! After all, it’s new, with nice graphics, a clean base, and edges, and loads of pop.
It’s only really when you swap boards on the same day of riding that you really start to get a feel for how these differences affect the ride.
Whatever board you’re on make sure you have fun!
