What is the Weight of a Skateboard? (Deck, Truck, Wheels & Bearings)

Skateboarding is the adventure of maneuvering both feet on one board with 4 wheels, to wherever you want it to go. It can be exciting and dangerous.

You can kick it up high and practically fly through the air and you can do a beautiful landing and come to a gracious stop. Or you can have an abrupt, harsh landing that can end with the entire board snapping in two.

How much is the weight of this board that we entrust our entire body on? The average skateboard weighs around 11 pounds or 5 kilograms.

We’ll look at the parts of the skateboard and what makes up its weight. We’ll also take a look at how much weight a skateboard can support.

Skateboard Deck

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This is the board of the skateboard – the wooden platform that the wheels set under. This is the part of the skateboard that the rider stands on.

On either side of the deck there is a nose and a tail, raised slightly to offer a more functional kicktail for the rider.

The deck typically consists of 7 or 9 plies of wood laminated together. Fewer layers of wood bring the weight of the board down. The deck is usually in the range of 7.25 to 8.5 inches wide and between 29″ and 33″ long. An average skateboard deck weighs between 2 – 5 pounds or 1 – 2,2 kg.

Skateboard Truck

The truck is the part of the skateboard that attaches underneath and directly to the deck. It weighs approximately 350 g (.77 pounds). This is the most essential part of the skateboard because it bears the weight load of the board.

Trucks come in different sizes, shapes, and materials such as steel, titanium, aluminum, and magnesium. They are comprised of smaller parts, including axles, bushings and kingpins. They help to define the quality of the skateboard and how long it will last.

Skateboard Wheels

The wheels of a skateboard typically weigh 200-250 g (.44 to .55 pounds). They are plastic urethane and vary in hardness.

Wheels come in different sizes and vary depending on where the rider chooses to skate. For example, harder wheels perform better for street skating. Smaller wheels offer less resistance when maneuvering tricks, while larger wheels provide more stability.

Skateboard Bearings

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The bearings of a skateboard weigh 12-14 g (.02 to .03 pounds), so the total weight is 100g (8 bearings per skateboard).

The skateboard bearings allow for the rolling motion of a wheel on it’s axle. The bearing consists of 6 to 8 balls enclosed in races between two shields encased in a disc-like body.

Bearings usually come in sets of eight and are inserted into both sides of the wheel; two bearings for each of the four wheels.

Griptape

The griptape name implies its function. One side is adhesive-backed and sticks to the board. The other side feels like a medium-grade sandpaper and is applied to the top of the deck to help the rider’s feet maintain a secure grip of the board. The griptape is usually 9″ wide by 33″ long and weighs about .29 pounds. Griptape can come in different colors and graphics.

Weight and it’s Affect on Skateboarding

There’s no official skateboarding weight limit, but the quality of the board will affect how much weight it can bear. A highly-durable skateboard can hold up to 250 pounds or 115 kgs.

However, the true test is in the landing. During a proper landing, the bulk of the rider’s weight should be distributed on the trucks of the skateboard. If that is not done correctly, the board could still snap.

Yet, there are advantages of being a heavier skateboarder. A heavier skateboarder can build greater momentum going downhill. Lighter skateboarders will accelerate faster but will not generate the same amount of momentum as a heavier skateboarder when going down ramps.

The construction of the board deck determines the board’s strength. Materials used on skateboards range from laminated maplewood to carbon fiber, bamboo, and plastic, with the most common material being maple wood.

The maple-wood is a 7 -9 ply and can hold around 220 pounds or 100 kgs. The Lithe Slate 2 Deck is among the strongest skateboard decks on the market. It’s made of a composite of light woods, Canadian maple, and carbon fiber.

The durability of the skateboard trucks can be a reason for concern for heavier skateboarders. Some of the strongest trucks are made of 356.0 T6 aluminum, and can usually support weights of up to 250 pounds or 115 kgs.

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