Buying Guide
Best Longboards for Kids: A Parent’s Buying Guide
Choosing children’s longboards comes down to four things: your kid’s height, their weight, where they will ride, and what safety gear sits between them and the pavement. This guide covers all four so you can pick the right board the first time — and skip the ones that will sit in the garage after two rides.
What age is right for a kid’s first longboard?
Most parents ask me the age question first, which makes sense — but it is the wrong place to stop. In our experience, ages 9–12 is the most common window for a first longboard. Kids younger than that can start around ages 6–8 if they already have basic balance from riding a bike or scooter without training wheels. But a 7-year-old and a 14-year-old need completely different board sizes, flex levels, and setups.
The better question is not “how old is my kid?” but “can my kid ride a bike on flat ground without wobbling?” If yes, they probably have enough balance and coordination to start on a longboard. If they are still shaky on a bike, give it a few more months.
Body weight matters more than most parents realize. A longboard’s deck flex is designed around a rider weight range. A 55-pound child on a stiff adult board will feel every crack in the sidewalk. A heavier teenager on a too-soft board will bottom out and lose control. Check the manufacturer’s recommended weight range before you buy.
I once talked to a parent whose twelve-year-old son had six months of skateboarding experience and wanted to switch to longboarding for commuting. The kid did not need the most forgiving beginner board — he needed something a step up. But his dad kept pointing at the softest, widest entry-level option because it “looked safe.” We ended up in a 36–38 inch range with medium-soft wheels, which matched both the kid’s skill and his weight. The three questions I asked were: where does he ride, how far, and does he already know how to stop. Those three questions will narrow your options faster than any spec sheet. For a deeper look at how board selection works for new riders in general, our beginner longboard guide covers the full framework.
Choosing a board by where your kid will ride
This is the section most parents skip, and it is the one that matters most. Children’s longboards are not a single category — the right board depends on the riding surface your kid will actually use most days.
Neighborhood sidewalks and driveways
A 34–38 inch deck with soft wheels (78A–80A) and a drop-through or drop-deck shape is the most forgiving setup for young riders. The lower ride height makes pushing less tiring, and the soft wheels absorb the bumps in residential pavement. This is where most kids start.
School campus and paved paths
If your kid will ride longer stretches on smoother pavement, a 36–40 inch deck gives more stability over distance. You can go slightly firmer on wheels (80A–83A) if the paths are well-maintained. The extra length helps with balance when fatigue sets in after the first half-mile.
Rough pavement, brick, and cracked sidewalks
This is the scenario parents underestimate most. If your neighborhood has brick sidewalks, old concrete, or lots of surface cracks, prioritize 70mm or larger soft wheels and a deck with some flex. Hard wheels on rough pavement will shake a kid off the board in ten minutes, and then they will not want to ride again. For a fuller breakdown of deck shapes and how they handle different surfaces, see our types of longboards guide.
Kids who want to go fast or ride hills
Do not upgrade speed gear for a child. If your kid wants to ride gentle hills, the focus should be on practicing foot braking — dragging the back foot on the ground to slow down — before anything else. Once they can stop reliably, you can consider a slightly longer, stiffer deck. Speed comes last.
Portable — for parents to carry
If you know you will be carrying the board half the time (car pickup, grocery store, public transit), a cruiser skateboard in the 28–32 inch range is more realistic than a full longboard. It is lighter, fits in a backpack, and is still rideable for short distances. You can compare the tradeoffs directly in our best longboards selection guide.
One thing to keep in mind: kids’ riding goals change fast. I had a buyer named Marcus who told me he was a “flat-ground commuter.” Three months later he wanted to ride steeper hills and faster terrain. Kids do this even faster — a child who starts on the sidewalk may want to ride the park loop by month two. That is normal. Just know that the first board is not usually the last board, and that is fine. If you want to compare different longboard types side by side, the types of longboards page breaks down shape, truck mount, and deck style in plain language.
Deck size, wheel setup, and stability: what to look for
Specs on a product page mean nothing until you translate them into what they actually do for your kid. Here is the short version.
| Spec | What to choose for kids | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Deck length | Under 5’0″ child → 34–38 inches; taller teen → 38–42 inches | Shorter decks are easier to control; longer decks are more stable at speed |
| Deck width | 9 inches or wider | Kids have smaller feet but weaker stance control — wider boards give them room to balance |
| Wheel softness | 78A–80A for most surfaces | Softer wheels absorb road vibration so kids keep riding instead of quitting after one rough block |
| Wheel size | 65–70mm | Rolls over small debris without making the board too heavy for a small rider to carry |
| Trucks | RKP (reverse kingpin) | Turns more fluidly and is more forgiving than the TKP trucks found on standard skateboards |
| Board weight | Under 6 lbs if possible | A 7.5 lb board is a lot for a 60 lb child to carry from the car to the park |
| Deck flex | Medium flex | Absorbs impact better for lighter riders; very stiff decks feel harsh under a child’s weight |
The mistake I see most often from parents is ignoring body weight. One of the six beginner buying mistakes I wrote about early on was skipping the weight rating — and it hits kids hardest. A deck designed for a 160-pound adult will not flex properly under a 55-pound child. The board will feel dead, unresponsive, and rough. If the product page lists a weight range, check it. If it does not, ask the seller.
If you are deciding between a longboard and a skateboard for your child, the differences in trucks, wheel size, and deck length are significant. Our longboard vs skateboard comparison walks through the tradeoffs directly.
Longboard safety gear every kid rider needs
This is not optional. Helmets and safe, flat pavement are the baseline for any child learning to ride. Here is the gear list, in order of importance.
- Helmet: CPSC-certified is the minimum. A standard bike helmet works if it fits properly. Skate-specific helmets cover more of the back of the head, which matters for the backward falls common in longboarding.
- Wrist guards: Kids instinctively put their hands out when they fall. Wrist fractures are one of the most common longboard injuries in young riders. A $25 pair of wrist guards is worth more than any board upgrade.
- Knee pads and elbow pads: Recommended for the first 2–3 months. Some kids drop them later once they have more control, but skipping them at the start is a false economy.
- Closed-toe shoes with flat soles: Sneakers or skate shoes. Sandals, flip-flops, and Crocs give zero grip on grip tape. I have had parents ask me if their kid can ride in Crocs. The answer is no.
I once had a buyer message me saying she had fallen on her first ride and scraped her knee, and she wanted to know if the board was too advanced for her. The board was fine. She had not practiced any braking or balance drills before hopping on. First falls are normal — for kids and adults. The difference between a kid who keeps riding and a kid who quits is usually not the board. It is whether the fall felt like a normal part of learning or a scary accident. Gear makes the first one feel normal. Practice on flat ground with a helmet, and learn to stop before you learn to go fast. That is the order that works.
Mistakes parents make when buying a kid’s first longboard
These come up in buyer conversations almost every week. Avoiding them will save you money and save your kid from a bad first experience.
Buying the cheapest board under $60
At that price point, bearings seize within weeks, wheels are often hard plastic disguised as “soft,” and the deck has no flex. The kid rides once, hates the vibration, and decides longboarding is not for them. In most cases, the problem was not the kid — it was the board. A solid beginner setup starts around $100–$150. I had this exact conversation with a parent on a tight budget, and the answer was not “buy the cheapest thing.” It was “find the board that does not make your kid hate riding, even if it costs $40 more.”
Buying too big “so they grow into it”
A 42-inch board under a 9-year-old is unwieldy and intimidating. The child cannot turn it, cannot carry it, and never builds confidence. Buy for the size they are now, not the size they will be in two years.
Skipping safety gear to save $30
A helmet and wrist guard set costs less than a single urgent care copay. This is not the place to cut the budget.
Assuming a skateboard works the same as a longboard
Shorter decks, harder wheels, and TKP trucks make standard skateboards less stable for young cruising riders. If your kid wants to commute or cruise, a longboard or cruiser is the right category. If they want to do tricks at a skate park, that is a skateboard — and that is a different article.
Buying based on graphics instead of specs
Kids want the cool graphic. That is fair. But parents should check wheel hardness, deck flex, and weight capacity first — then let the kid pick from the boards that actually fit. The order matters: filter by specs, then choose the look.
When you are ready to look at specific boards, browse our complete longboards — every board ships fully assembled with deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, and grip tape already installed. Filter by size and riding style to find the ones that match your kid’s setup needs.
Common questions, answered straight
What size longboard should I get for my child?
Match the deck length to your child’s height. Under 5’0″ usually means 34–38 inches. Taller teens can ride 38–42 inches. Shorter kids need shorter boards — not a smaller version of an adult board. A board that is too long will feel unmanageable and slow their learning.
Is a longboard safer than a skateboard for kids?
For cruising and commuting, yes — generally. Longboards have longer decks, wider trucks, and softer wheels, which all contribute to stability. But neither is “safe” without a helmet and flat-pavement practice. Safety depends more on gear and riding environment than board type. For a full comparison, see our longboard vs skateboard breakdown.
Do kids need special longboard wheels?
Not special, but softer. Wheels in the 78A–80A range and 65–70mm size work well for kids on most surfaces. Wheel softness matters more than brand for young riders — softer wheels absorb road vibration so kids do not get shaken off the board on rougher pavement.
How do I teach my kid to stop on a longboard?
Start with foot braking: the rider drags their back foot on the ground to slow the board down. It is the simplest and most reliable stopping method for beginners. Teach it on flat ground before your kid goes anywhere near a slope. Learning to stop before learning to go fast is the most important safety step, and it is the one most people skip.
At what age can a child start riding a longboard?
Ages 6–8 if they have balance experience from bikes or scooters. Ages 9–12 is the most common first-longboard window in our buyer conversations. Readiness depends more on coordination and willingness to practice than age alone — if your kid can ride a bike without training wheels, they can probably start learning on a longboard with a helmet and flat pavement.
Ready to find the right board for your kid?
Browse complete longboards sized for younger riders and first-time setups — every board ships assembled and ready to ride, with free US shipping and a 30-day return window if the fit is not right.