What size snowboard do I need: length and width

How to size a snowboard

Snowboard size comes from your weight first: Jones calls it the single most important number, and Burton says a board only knows the weight and boot size of whoever rides it. The calculator starts from Jones's weight chart. Its weight bands overlap, and Jones says to pick the middle size; when your weight sits in two rows, the calculator takes the shorter one. With that rule, all six worked examples Jones publishes land inside the range.

Level and riding style come next. Jones suggests beginners go 1 to 2 cm shorter (2 cm here) and experts one size up, which is 2 cm longer in its examples. Freestyle and park boards go 3 cm shorter, freeride and powder boards 3 cm longer: Jones gives 2 to 3 cm, K2 2 to 4.

Height is the cross-check. K2 publishes a chart that starts from height, with three weight columns (under 130 lb, 130-180 lb, over 180 lb), and the calculator shows it next to the result with the same adjustments. The two charts can be a few centimeters apart, and Burton points out that sizing varies from brand to brand.

Width depends on boot size. Up to men's US 9.5 a regular board works, with K2's waist width (the width at the middle of the board): 235-245 mm under men's US 8, 245-255 mm from 8 to 9.5. From men's US 10 (women's US 11.5, UK 9, EU 44) Jones recommends a wide board, with a waist of at least 259 mm and 2 mm more for every half size. You can change the adjustments and the wide threshold in the advanced options.

A worked example

In feet and inches (US). The calculator opens on a 5'10", 175 lb intermediate all-mountain rider in men's US 9 boots.

• 175 lb (79.4 kg) falls in Jones's 74-81 kg row (154-159 cm) and 79-86 kg row (156-161 cm); the shorter one is used
• Board: 154-159 cm (boards are sold in centimeters in the US too)
• K2 check for 5'10" and 130-180 lb: 157-163 cm
• Men's US 9 is under the wide threshold: regular width, waist 245-255 mm

The same rider on a freeride board moves up to 157-162 cm. A 6'0", 200 lb rider in men's US 11 boots gets 158-163 cm and a wide board with a waist of at least 263 mm.

In metres (UK). At 1.80 m and 80 kg, intermediate, all-mountain: 154-159 cm, with 158-164 cm from K2. In UK 9 boots (men's US 10) you are right at Jones's wide threshold: waist at least 259 mm.

Snowboard size chart by weight and riding style

Intermediate level, board lengths in cm.

Weight	All-mountain	Freestyle	Freeride
100 lb	137-143	134-140	140-146
120 lb	142-147	139-144	145-150
140 lb	146-151	143-148	149-154
160 lb	150-155	147-152	153-158
180 lb	154-159	151-156	157-162
200 lb	158-163	155-160	161-166
220 lb	162-167	159-164	165-170

Width by men's US boot size: waist 235-245 mm up to 7.5, 245-255 mm from 8 to 9.5. From 10 a wide board: at least 259 mm at 10, 263 mm at 11, 267 mm at 12, 271 mm at 13, 275 mm at 14. For women's US sizes take off 1.5 (women's 10.5 = men's 9).

Kids (Jones youth chart, by weight): 70-80 cm at 20-45 lb, 95-105 cm at 37-63 lb, 105-119 cm at 50-77 lb, 115-129 cm at 66-92 lb, 125-135 cm at 77-103 lb. Jones says to size for your child's current weight: a board that ends up slightly small is still better than one that is too big.

Board sizes, wide boards and boots in the shops

Each model comes in a handful of lengths a couple of centimeters apart: in Jones's examples, the sizes next to a 156 are 154 and 158. Wide versions carry a W after the length, as in 161W. Every board lists a weight range on its spec sheet. Burton treats it as a suggestion: under it the board feels stiffer, over it softer. If you fall between two sizes, Burton suggests listing both and comparing their waist widths.

For width, what counts is your snowboard boot size. Burton says it is usually close to your shoe size but not always the same, so try the boots on before you pick the board. In men's US 11 or 12, Burton leaves the wide choice to personal preference, because longer boards are already wider: a 160 cm all-mountain board may have enough width, a 151 cm park board probably not.

Common mistakes

• Sizing by height alone. The board between chin and nose is a rough rule of thumb from K2; Jones and Burton start from weight.
• Ignoring boot size. On a board that is too narrow, toes and heels hang over the edges and drag in turns, as Jones and Burton both warn.
• Going wide when you don't need to. Burton notes that a board that is too wide is hard to flex across the waist and can feel sluggish and heavy.
• Buying a kid's board to grow into. Jones: a board that is too big makes first turns harder.
• Using one length for park and powder. The same rider wants a shorter board for freestyle and a longer one for freeride.