tl;dr: Selecting the right snowboard size is more complex than just using a size chart. The most crucial factor is the rider's weight, but boot size, height, skill level, and preferred terrain also influence the decision. It’s important to consider all these factors when choosing a board as having a properly sized board is going to make a world of difference in your snowboarding progression and enjoyment

With 16 years of snowboarding experience and 8 years in the industry, I’ve found that the size of the board I’m riding is what makes or breaks my experience. Proper sizing significantly impacts snowboarding progression and enjoyment. Snowboard sizing can be a confusing topic and it’s a bit more complex than picking a perfect size based on a snowboard size chart, but understanding these factors will help you choose the best snowboard size for your needs.

Understanding ‘Snowboard Size’

Your “snowboard size” is the size of snowboard you should typically shop for when purchasing a new board. While there is no way to find your “perfect” snowboard size based on a graph or a simple snowboard size chart, there is a general size range (typically 5cms) each rider should follow when picking out the size of their next snowboard. Choosing this correct board size range can be a complex dynamic that involves a number of important factors, complemented by a touch of personal preference. Our goal as Experts here on Curated is to provide you with the advice and guidance necessary for you to begin carving your own path through the mountains. So let’s break down all of the factors and tech to determine what snowboard size is best for you!

The Main Factors in Determining Snowboard Sizing

What Is My Weight?

If you’ve ever rented a board or snagged a hand-me-down from your older brother, you’ve probably fallen victim to the quick “make sure it’s near your chin” method of sizing. Or you've stumbled upon various snowboard sizing calculators that have spit out a random number for you. If this is the case, the snowboard size you’re currently used to may not be the one that’s gonna give you confidence and longevity as you progress. This method of sizing neglects the most important aspect of choosing a board: your weight. Fortunately, we’ve abandoned that way of thinking for a much more personal fit!

Your snowboard won’t know your favorite movie or remember your aunt’s birthday, much like it won’t know how tall you are. But, it will know exactly how much you weigh. The flex scale that determines how soft or rigid your board is? Completely dependent on weight! Refer to this snowboard size chart for a general basis on what snowboard length is best for you. We even have more information on a kids' snowboard size chart and a women's snowboard size chart. While these snowboard size charts are a good rule of thumb, remember they are not a comprehensive guide.

Expert Tip: Read through each manufacturer’s recommendations for the proper length-to-weight ratio! Each snowboard brand and model will have a set of personalized guidelines to follow. This ratio is further dependent on a few technicalities like flex, waist width, and sidecut radius, but don’t worry about that for now! Sometimes taller riders at an average weight or BMI (body mass index) may fit best on the same snowboard as somebody shorter with a higher BMI. Be sure to leverage your Snowboard Expert here on Curated if you have any questions on what would work best for you!

If you want to learn more about sidecut, effective edge, taper, and waist-width, this deep dive is for you!

What Is My Height?

With rider weight and the most important factor in determining board sizing, don’t get too hung up on worrying about your height. However, if your body weight is high or low for your height, you’ll want to size up or down 1-3 cm accordingly. You can determine if your body weight is high or low for your height by finding your BMI.

For a quick reference, you can use a simple formula to establish the length of the snowboard right for you. Given that I’m 5’7” (170cm) tall and my snowboard range could be 150-156 cm for my body weight of 165 lbs, my snowboard is 88-93% of my height. I’d recommend using 90% as a baseline measure. Feel free to break out your calculator: (your height in inches) x (2.54) x (0.90) = (estimated board length in cm).

Expert Tip: Establish a stance width setup that is comfortable for you. Your stance width is typically a little wider than your shoulder width and can be found by measuring from your ankles to your knees (specifically your kneecap). Once you’ve figured out your stance width, you’ll want to figure out your binding angles. This isn’t directly related to choosing a proper board size, but it’s worth mentioning as it's information you’ll need upon purchasing your first board. Binding stance angles are personal preference but it’s typical to have both your front foot and your back foot are a bit of an angle. Typically your front foot will be at a positive angle somewhere around +9 to +15 and your back foot at a negative angle of -6 to -15. Play around with this and see what feels best!

What Is My Ability Level?

Now that we’ve established a range of snowboard sizes and have navigated the complexities of rider height, boot size, and weight, let's get personal! To understand the connection between your skill level and board size in simple terms, consider a shorter board versus a longer board. For example, I’m 5’7” (170cm) with a size 9 foot and could ride anything from a 150-156cm board.

The 150cm snowboard will be much more maneuverable, playful, and fun at slower speeds. Less volume and density underfoot naturally allow you to move more fluidly. The emphasis with shorter boards is control. Oppositely, the 156cm board will be more difficult to maneuver at slower speeds but will offer greater stability and confidence with high speeds, take-offs, and landings. The emphasis with longer boards is stability. With these polarities in mind, I personally find myself most comfortable on a 154cm snowboard.

• If you’re a beginner, have a more playful and laid-back riding style, or prefer jibbing rails and spinning quickly, you’ll progress and learn quicker by choosing a board on the shorter end.
• If you’re an experienced shredder hitting Mach-One speeds and sending the biggest jump lines at your mountain, you’ll want a longer board. The additional length will offer more stability and confidence through aggressive, high-speed maneuvers.
• If you’re like me and enjoy a good balance of both control and speed, you’ll benefit from a board in the middle of your personal range.

Snowboard Type Matters

Not all snowboards are equal; each is designed for a specific rider and purpose. Snowboard sizes vary based on style, which can be categorized into All Mountain/Freeride, Freestyle, Powder/Backcountry, and Volume Shifted. These categories represent different riding styles, but many boards within them are versatile for various conditions, catering to those who don't want to be confined to a single category.

All Mountain / Freeride

An all-mountain snowboard will cater to bunny-slope beginners, confident intermediate riders, and hard-charging experts. They allow for the most versatility as a one-trick pony for everything from relaxing on groomers and poppin’ side hits to dropping cliffs and clippin’ through trees. Directional boards are a defining example of this category. They typically feature a setback stance and a longer nose for some help in powder and anything off-piste. A directional twin is also a fantastic shape, combining the best of freestyle/freeride boards for maximum versatility! Follow traditional sizing guidelines for these boards!

Benefits:

• Rider can use this type of board in any condition and any terrain
• Best option for riders who just want one board to cover the whole mountain

Be Aware:

• Good at everything, but not the BEST at anything.

Freestyle / Terrain Park

The choice for freestyle riders who enjoy boxes, rails, jumps, half-pipe, and making the whole mountain their terrain park with tricks and creativity. These boards are defined by a true twin shape, meaning the nose and tail are completely even. Combined with a centered stance, freestyle boards are perfect for riding switch. If your park preference is jibbin’ rails and boxes, consider sizing down slightly for control and quick spins. If you’re a pipe ripper and big-air addict, stick with a more traditional length for stability on landings. Freestyle snowboards are kid-friendly and a great choice for the up-and-coming grom!

Benefits:

• Excel at jumps, rails, and boxes and make freestyle progression easier
• Typically have more pop than other types of boards

Be Aware:

• Typically unstable at higher speeds
• Should be used almost exclusively in a freestyle setting

Powder

Deep snow dreamers and powder snowboarders, you’ve found your calling! Once you’ve gotten the hang of snowboarding and ride comfortably on an all-mountain or freestyle board, consider diving into the world of powder boards! These boards typically have a set-back stance and riders should consider purchasing a slightly longer board than they would normally ride as it’ll provide extra float in fresh snow. These boards have taken the industry by storm (pun intended) in the past decade to become the perfect sidekick for untracked runs and flotation through the deepest conditions. These boards don’t excel with the majority of resort riding when the snow isn’t deep and steep so you’ll want to keep one of these bad boys as a secondary option to your daily driver.

Benefits:

• Provide exceptional float in fresh snow and stability at speed
• Best option when riding in 8+ inches of snow

Be Aware:

• Typically more expensive than other types of snowboards
• Poor freestyle performance
• Directional shape makes them difficult to ride switch

Volume Shifted

The term “volume shift” means that the overall length of the board is decreased while the overall width is increased. Typically a board with a waist width (waist width= narrowest point of the board) of 260mm or over can be considered volume shifted and sized down 3-6cm). A wider snowboard will always make it a better floater in the deep snow and a great pick for a rider with big feet. Volume-shifted boards and powder boards are often synonymous but are not exclusive to each other. The Ride Warpig is a great example of a volume-shifted all-mountain board, while the Jones Mind Expander is an example of a volume-shifted powder board. If you’re interested in learning more about volume-shifted boards, shoot one of our experts a message!

Benefits:

• Extra nimbleness for tight spaces such as tree runs
• Can accommodate riders with larger boot sizes

Be Aware:

• Will feel very awkward and too large if not sized down properly (3-6cms)

Other Features to Consider When Sizing a Snowboard

Width

Figuring out the correct width of a snowboard is just as important as length, and it all begins with your snowboard boot size. Remember growing up and being excited about your feet growing just for the sake of...what? Saying you had big feet? If you were one of those people (like myself) who always wore smaller sizes, no worries! Small-foot-club, you’ll have an easier time choosing a snowboard!

Let me first say that if you haven’t been fitted for boots, get fitted for free by one of our Experts from the comfort of your own home! Our Experts find themselves downsizing by a half to a full shoe size for snowboard boots. The bigger your boots, the wider your board needs to be. A wider board means additional weight and headaches that could be avoided by getting the right size boot!

If you’ve done your own research into boards, you’ve probably noticed that some boards are described with a “W” after the length (Ex. 157W). This “W” indicates that the particular snowboard model is a wider version of the original with an increased waist width. These wide boards are built with more surface area to accommodate bigger feet. They also cater well to the heavier rider looking to send at a higher speed!

Why Should I Go With a Wider Waist? Choosing a wider waist will prevent a lot of falling and frustration from the heel and toe drag that occurs when your boots are too large for your snowboard. As a general guideline, you want to avoid a wide (W) snowboard if you wear a size 10.5 boot (U.S. Men) or below. Too much boot overhang will cause toe and heel drag but too little will make your board difficult to lift up edge to edge. For the lady-shredders, if you wear a size 9.5 (U.S. Women) or above, you'll want to consider the width of your snowboard. I'd personally recommend looking for a width of at least 244mm / 24.4cm at a size 9.5 women's boot. As it's far less common for manufacturers to produce wide (W) Women's snowboards, be sure to chat with a Curated Expert to dial this in.

If you’re a dude with a size 11 boot or bigger, give your snowboard a hug and show that waist some lovin’! Not only should you make sure that you’re buying a wide-waisted version of the board you’re diggin’, but you should pay close attention to the width as it’s indicated in centimeters/millimeters.

As a general consensus among the big-footed Experts here, men should stick to a waist width above 258mm/25.8cm if you’re rockin’ size 11 or 11.5 boots. For a size 12 and up, you’ll probably feel most comfortable on a waist width minimum of 260-265mm/26.0-26.5cm.

Pro Tip: You can further alleviate the chances of your heel and toes holding you back by angling your stance outwards slightly and choosing a binding that has a slight rise in the footbed at your toes. This technology will point your toes towards the sky so you can get low enough to drag those knuckles proudly!

Flex Rating

The flex rating of your snowboard is a major factor of how your board rides. All brands have a way of presenting their flex ratings. For the majority, it’s indicated simply by a 1 to 10 scale with 1 being an extremely soft flex with a forgiving attitude and 10 being the stiffest and most aggressive board possible.

If you’re unsure of where to begin, it’s best to start at the lower end of the scale. For your first snowboard, stick with a softer flex - maybe bumping to the medium flex range, typically represented by 2-5 on the flex scale. For intermediate to advanced riders, a stiffer flex will provide you with precision, control, and response at high speeds.

Snowboard Profile

The specific amount of flex in your board is determined by a combination of factors, most notably the board materials and camber profile. Determining a board profile can be complicated, let’s break it down!

Traditional Camber The center point of a cambered board is elevated slightly in the air for increased pressure at the four corners of your nose and tail. This results in negative tension as your weight pushes the board downward for increased edge hold, pop, and responsiveness as the shape rebounds to its natural curve. These boards are preferred by intermediate-advanced level riders as they can be catchy if you’re not comfortable on your edges.

Also, don't sweat the mega-marketing tactics about the wildly-shaped edges of your board. While most manufacturers offer a form of "edge-tech" designed to help keep you vertical on icy slopes, I'll let you in on a secret: traditional Camber will hold the most precise edge every time! Edge-tech can be great, but if you're riding reverse camber, it's tough to dig those edges in regardless!

Rocker aka Reverse Camber The center point is flat while the nose and tail have an upward curvature. A rocker profile will offer a catch-free feel, forgiving edge control, easy presses, and improved powder float, and is well suited for beginners and terrain park riders who are focused primarily on jibbing. On a true powder day, a full-rocker, pow-centric board can be so much fun!

Flat / Zero Camber As you can imagine, these boards feature a flat base. Flat profiles provide more effective edge contact when compared to rocker snowboards for more precise turn initiation and edge hold. For the cautious snowboarder looking for the next step, flat boards can provide a forgiving platform that's slightly more "efficient" than reverse camber.

Hybrid Rocker These boards are various combinations of camber, rocker, and flat profiles. They offer a balance between the precise control of camber with more forgiving edges, highly suitable for Beginners to Intermediates who prefer a relaxed feel. Often, hybrids will blend camber, rocker, and flat profiles, sometimes all in one snowboard! While this typically looks like a board simply having rocker in the tips and camber underfoot (rocker/camber/rocker), there are extreme cases of hybrid profiles like the “flying V” profile from Burton which is rocker/camber/rocker/camber/rocker!

Choosing the Correct Snowboard Size for You

Persona One: Brad

Brad is a beginner snowboarder who is 5 '10 " and around 150 lbs. He’s interested in all-mountain riding but doesn’t foresee himself doing a lot of park or powder riding.

• Since Brad is 150 lbs, his baseline board size is 149-154cm

(baseline refers to the right board range if no other factors were taken into account)

• Since Brad’s BMI is normal, he’ll want to select a board close to the middle of that range
• Since Brad isn’t interested in a specialized type of riding, he doesn’t need to size up or down for that.
• Since Brad is a beginner, he should consider a board on the shorter size.

Brad’s optimal board size: 151-152cm

Persona Two: Katherine

Katherine is an advanced snowboarder who is 5’ 6” and around 110lbs. She’s shopping for a freestyle board to ride almost exclusively in the terrain park.

• Since Katherine is in around 110lbs, her baseline board size is 142-146cm.
• Since Katherine is small for her weight she’d want to select a board on the lower end of that size range.
• Since Katherine is interested in park, she should consider sizing down.

Katherine’s optimal board size: 142-143cm

Persona Three: Julian

Julisn is an intermediate snowboarder who is 6’ 1”, around 180lbs, and has a size 12 boot. He’s interested in powder and nothing but powder.

• Since Julian is around 180lbs, his baseline snowboard size is 154-159cms.
• Since Julian’s BMI is average, he’ll want to select a board in the middle of that range.
• Since Julian is interested in powder, he should consider sizing up.
• Since Julian has a size 12 boot, he’ll need a wide (W) board.

Julian’s optimal board size: 158W-159W Note: All these sizing examples are approximations, as mentioned earlier in this article, there is no formula for determining a rider’s perfect board size, these are simply exemplifying how one might go about calculating their rough board size based on a variety of factors.

I hope this snowboard size guide has shown you that there’s more to picking a board size than simply following the first snowboard size chart you find on google and that there are many factors involved! Now that you know all the basics of choosing a snowboard, feel free to reach out to any Snowboard Expert here on Curated to take the next step and find that board that’s right for you!