Board Comparison
Penny Board vs Longboard: Which One Actually Fits How You Ride?
A penny board prioritizes portability. A longboard prioritizes riding comfort and stability. The penny board vs longboard decision comes down to three things: how far you ride, what your pavement looks like, and how often you need to carry the board indoors. Everything else is secondary.
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The short answer: these boards solve different problems
Most first-time buyers choose between a penny board and a longboard based on how the board looks in a photo. That is the wrong filter. The smarter question is: what problem are you actually trying to solve?
A penny board is a 22–27 inch plastic cruiser built for short trips and carrying convenience. A longboard is a 36–46 inch deck built for distance, stability, and comfort over varied pavement. If you need something to toss in a backpack between classes on smooth sidewalks, a penny board might work. If you need to ride a mile or more on real-world pavement with cracks and texture, a longboard will make you want to keep riding.
For a broader look at how longboards compare to standard skateboards, see our longboard vs skateboard comparison. This article stays focused on the penny board vs longboard question specifically.
What a penny board and a longboard actually are
Before comparing, let me define both clearly. Not with jargon — with what you physically feel when you stand on each one.
Penny board
A penny board has a plastic deck, typically 22–27 inches long. The wheels are smaller — usually around 59–62mm — and harder than longboard wheels. The trucks are narrower. The entire setup is lightweight, often under four pounds, and fits inside a standard backpack.
What this means for you: your feet will hang off the edges if you wear a men’s size 9 or larger. The short wheelbase makes the board twitchier at any speed above a slow push. On smooth concrete, it rolls fine. On anything rougher, you will feel every crack through your feet.
Longboard
A longboard has a maple or composite deck, typically 36–46 inches long. The wheels are larger (65–75mm) and softer (78A–82A on the durometer scale), which absorbs road vibration. Most longboards use reverse kingpin (RKP) trucks that carve more fluidly and feel calmer at speed. The deck is wide enough for a full stance with room to adjust your feet.
What this means for you: pushing a longboard over cracked pavement or brick paths feels smoother. You have more platform to balance on while learning. The tradeoff is size — you cannot stuff a 40-inch board into a locker. For a full breakdown of longboard shapes and what each one is built for, check the types of longboards guide.
The five differences that actually matter
This is not a generic pros-and-cons list. These are the differences that change how the board feels under your feet on a real ride.
| Difference | Penny Board | Longboard |
|---|---|---|
| Foot room | Most adult feet hang off the edges | Full stance width, room to adjust |
| Wheel comfort | Smaller, harder wheels — more vibration on rough pavement | Larger, softer wheels — absorbs road texture |
| Stability | Short wheelbase, twitchier at speed | Longer wheelbase, calmer ride for learning |
| Portability | Fits in a backpack or under a desk | Carry by hand or strap to a bag |
| Distance comfort | Fine under half a mile; tiring beyond that | Comfortable for 1–2 mile commutes with less pushing fatigue |
Here is the translation the spec sheet will not give you: pushing a longboard one mile on average city pavement is noticeably less tiring than pushing a penny board the same distance. Deck height, wheel roll efficiency, and truck stability all contribute. In my urban planning work, we talked about the “last-mile problem” — the distance between a transit stop and a destination that is too far to walk comfortably and too short to justify a car. Longboards solve that problem naturally. Penny boards solve it only when the distance is very short and the pavement is very smooth.
For first-time riders specifically, the stability difference matters most. A longer, wider platform gives you more room to make mistakes without falling. A penny board does not forgive wobbly balance the same way. If you are new to boards, our beginner longboard guide covers exactly what to look for in a first board.
Who a penny board actually fits (and who should skip it)
A penny board works if:
- You are under 5’6″ with smaller feet
- Your ride is under half a mile on flat, smooth pavement
- You need to carry the board inside a backpack, locker, or under a desk every day
- You already have some board experience and want something ultraportable
A penny board does not work if:
- You are over 5’10” with average or larger feet — your stance will feel cramped
- Your pavement is cracked, textured, or brick — the ride will be rough enough to make you stop
- You are a first-time rider who needs stability to build confidence
- Your commute is over one mile
The honest trade-off: portability costs you comfort, stability, and learning ease. If you will ride more than you carry, a longboard is almost always the better choice. If you carry more than you ride — and the ride itself is short and smooth — a penny board earns its place.
Who a longboard actually fits (and who should skip it)
A longboard works if:
- You are a campus commuter riding 0.5–2 miles between classes or to work
- Your pavement is average or rough — cracked sidewalks, brick paths, textured asphalt
- You are 5’4″ or taller and want a stable platform to learn on
- You are a weekend cruiser who wants comfort over longer rides
A longboard does not work if:
- You need to carry the board on a crowded bus or subway every single ride
- Your storage space is genuinely limited — dorm rooms can be tight
- Your only ride is 200 feet across a smooth campus quad
What a longboard gives you that a penny board cannot: lower pushing fatigue, smoother roll over imperfect pavement, and more room to adjust your stance as you learn. When I helped my sister Casey pick her first board, the question was not “which brand is best.” It was “how far do you ride, and on what surface.” The answer pointed to a 38-inch board with soft wheels. Most buyers who get this question right the first time keep riding. Those who choose based on looks alone tend to stop. You can find the right longboard for your riding style here.
One thing worth knowing: most riders outgrow their first board within 6–18 months. If you start on a longboard, you will likely upgrade within that window — maybe to a different shape, stiffer trucks, or larger wheels. That is normal and fine. Starting on the right platform makes the upgrade path clearer.
Common mistakes when choosing between them
These come up in buyer conversations regularly. Avoiding them will save you money and frustration.
- Buying based on looks. Penny boards photograph well — bright colors, compact shape, Instagram-ready. But ride experience beats aesthetic every time. A board that looks good and rides badly becomes wall art within two months.
- Assuming smaller means easier. This is the most persistent myth. A shorter board is less stable, not more stable. Beginners almost always learn faster on a longer, wider platform because there is more room for error.
- Ignoring your route surface. I once had a buyer email me saying his board felt like it was “vibrating apart” on his commute. He was riding a small cruiser on cracked city sidewalks. The board was not the problem — the match was. A penny board on rough pavement will make you quit riding within a week. Surface matters more than almost any other variable.
- Forgetting to factor in carrying. If you ride a bus twice a day or sit in small lecture halls, measure the space before you buy. A 40-inch longboard does not fit under a standard desk. This is a real constraint, and it is the one area where penny boards genuinely win.
- Overpaying for the brand name. Some branded penny boards cost $120–$150 when a basic cruiser skateboard at a similar price rides better and lasts longer. Look at the actual specs — wheel size, deck material, truck type — not just the logo.
If you are completely new to riding and want to learn the basics of pushing, balancing, and stopping, the how to longboard guide covers beginner riding steps on flat pavement before you commit to a specific board.
So which one should you get?
Here is the framework I use when someone asks me directly:
- Ride under half a mile, smooth pavement, need to carry the board indoors: a penny board or small cruiser makes sense.
- Ride over half a mile, average or rough pavement, want to actually learn: start with a longboard.
- Not sure: the longboard is the safer first buy. It handles short rides too, but a penny board cannot stretch to cover long or rough commutes.
In our experience, most riders who start on a longboard keep riding into their second season. A meaningful number of penny board buyers stop within a few months. That is not a brand issue — it is a comfort and confidence issue. The board that feels stable and smooth on your actual route is the one you will keep using.
If a longboard sounds like the better fit for your ride, start with boards matched to beginners and commuters. All complete boards ship fully assembled, and free US shipping is included.
Common questions, answered straight
Is a penny board easier to ride than a longboard?
No. Shorter boards are less stable, not easier. A longboard gives beginners more room for error because the deck is longer and wider. Penny boards are easier to carry, but that is not the same thing as easier to ride.
Can I commute on a penny board?
Yes, but only for very short, flat commutes under half a mile on smooth pavement. For longer or rougher routes, a longboard is more comfortable and more practical over distance.
Are penny boards good for beginners?
Generally not the best first board. The short deck and small wheels make balance harder for someone still learning to push and stop. A 36–42 inch longboard with soft wheels (78A–82A) is a more forgiving starting point for most first-time riders.
What is the main difference between a penny board and a longboard?
Size, wheel setup, and purpose. Penny boards are 22–27 inch portable plastic cruisers designed for short trips and easy carrying. Longboards are 36–46 inch stable platforms built for distance, comfort, and smoother riding over real-world pavement.