Surfboard Size Guide: How to Choose Your First Board

Buying your first surfboard is exciting and it's also the easiest place to make a decision that leaves you frustrated instead of surfing. The single biggest mistake beginners make is buying a board that's too short and too narrow, because it looks like what the pros ride. Here's how to actually choose one that works for you.

Volume Matters More Than Length

Every surfboard has a volume, measured in litres, and it's the number that tells you how easily the board will float and catch waves. More volume means more stability and easier paddling, both of which matter far more than looking sleek when you're learning.

As a rough starting point:

Beginner (first 1–20 sessions): Aim for 40+ litres if you're an average adult build. This usually means a softboard or a longer, wider board.

Improving surfer, catching unbroken waves: You can start dropping volume as your paddling and pop-up improve, moving toward 30–35 litres.

Confident, regular surfer: Volume becomes more about performance preference than pure floatation.

Your weight, fitness, and paddling experience all shift these numbers, so treat it as a starting point rather than a rule.

Softboards: The Best Starting Point for Most People

Softboards get a bit of a bad reputation, but they're genuinely the best tool for learning. The soft deck is far more forgiving if the board hits you, they float brilliantly, and their width and volume make catching waves, the hardest part of learning, much easier. Most surf schools use softboards for exactly this reason. If you're just starting out, don't be too proud to start here.

Longboards and Mid-lengths: More Range Than You'd Think

Once you're comfortable standing and want a board of your own for regular sessions, longboards and mid-lengths are worth a serious look, not just for beginners but for intermediate surfers too. They paddle faster, catch waves earlier, and are more stable underfoot, all of which means more time riding waves and less time sat out the back watching them pass. A lot of experienced surfers keep a mid-length in the quiver specifically for smaller, weaker days.

Shortboards: Not Yet, and That's Fine

Shortboards need more power in the wave and more skill from the surfer to catch anything at all. Buying one too early is the number one reason people give up on surfing in their first year, not because surfing isn't for them, but because the board was working against them. There's no rush; the shortboard will still be there once your paddling and wave judgement catch up.

A Quick Way to Think About It

If you're unsure, ask yourself: am I trying to catch more waves, or am I trying to do more with the waves I catch? Beginners and improvers almost always want the former, which points toward more volume, softboard, longboard, or mid-length, not less.

Shop the Range

Have a browse of our softboards, longboards, mid-lengths, and shortboards online, or come in and talk it through with us in store — we'll ask about your weight, fitness, and experience and point you toward a board that'll actually get you standing up, not just one that looks good leant against the wall.

Not ready to commit to buying? Hire a board from us first and see what suits you before you invest.