How Much Does It Cost To Build A Skateboard?

One of the most exciting parts of skateboarding happens to be building your board. Of course you can always buy a prebuilt skateboard that comes with all of its components. But where is the fun in that? Prebuilts generally have a lackluster setup and you’re going to want to invest more money into better bearings, wheels, and trucks anyways.

With that in mind, how much does it cost to build a skateboard?

On average, it cost $100 to $150 to build a professional-grade skateboard. Of course, you can really start increasing those prices by buying the best of the best of each component. Not to mention, you’ll want to get new skateboard shoes, a helmet, protective pads, and apparel. 

To get a better idea, this is the average base price for professional-quality skateboard components:

• Deck – $40 to $80
• Trucks – $40 to $80
• Wheels – $20 to $50
• Bearings – $10 to $50
• Grip tape – $7 to $10
• Hardware – $5 to $10

As you can see above, the cost of building your own skateboard can range anywhere from about $100 (if you find sales) to $280 or more! It might sound expensive but it’s pretty cheap when you compare it to other sports. What makes it even better is that you fully customize your skateboard, making it original and true to your style and liking.

As we get deeper into this article, we will break down some of the average costs of decks, trucks, wheels etc., and show some good deals to get you ready to build your very own pro board.

How Much Does a Skateboard Deck Cost?

A skateboard deck costs between $40 to $80, on average. You can sometimes get lucky and get them in a sale for a little bit cheaper too. Try finding sales when you can.

What to Look for When Buying a Skateboard Deck

If you’re in the market for a new skateboard deck you need to consider the type of wood, width, and concave. For a durable and long-lasting skateboard, look for a deck that is made from 7-ply North American Maple. If possible, get a deck that has a ply of carbon fiber or reinforced truck mounts.

The best skateboard deck width depends on your height, weight and shoe size. Here is a full guide on finding the best skateboard deck width.

Concave is measured as being mellow or steep. Mellow concave is flatter whereas a steep concave adds more flare on the edges, nose and tail. Steep concave creates more leverage that can help with learning and mastering flip tricks.

Best Decks For Your Skateboard

The best skateboard decks are made from 7-ply North American Maple. Some use Resin7, a glue or adhesive that increases the integrity of the skateboard design. Resin7 quite literally makes each bond stronger than if it were to be made with regular wood glues.

Deck	Size	Purchase
Element Skateboards Section	7.75	Get it here
Baker Brand Logo	8.00	Get it here
Santa Cruz Classic Dot	8.25	Get it here
Madness Stressed White	8.375	Get it here

How Much Do Skateboard Trucks Cost?

A decent set of skateboard trucks cost around $40 to $70 for the pair. The most important part though is making sure that they match up to the width of your board. Aside from that, just make sure your trucks are made from quality materials. The materials that your trucks are made will help determine how long your skateboard trucks last.

What to Look for When Buying Skateboard Trucks

Trucks’ size will be completely dependent on the size of your skateboard. Let’s take a deeper dive into this before we discuss the best trucks for your board. They will vary slightly from brand to brand, but this is an amazing start.

The size of trucks that you need depend on the width of your skateboard. Trucks are either measured from axle nut to axle nut (mm) or by their hangar (in). It all depends on the company. The best trucks are made from stainless steel, titanium, or carbon fiber. The price is a bit higher but it is worth it.

Best Trucks For Your Skateboard

Brand	Truck Size	Deck Width	Purchase
Tensor Alloys	5.00	7.75	Get it here
Venture	5.25	8.00	Get it here
Tensor Alloys	5.25	8.00	Get it here
Industrial IV	5.50	8.25	Get it here
Tensor Alloys	5.50	8.375	Get it here

How Much Do Skateboard Wheels Cost?

Skateboard wheels cost between $20 and $45 for a set. You might be able to find them slightly cheaper or for a bit more money. However, if you need wheels, expect to pay between $20 and $45 for a set.

What to Look for When Buying Skateboard Wheels

The best wheels for your skateboard depend on what you plan on doing with your board. It all depends on whether you want to ride downhill, street, or in skateparks.

Essentially, the softer the wheel the faster and more grip it can get on whatever surface you’re riding. However, hard wheels are much better for skateparks.

When Do You Need to Buy New Skateboard Wheels?

Skateboard wheels are quite durable. However, as the polyurethane ages and weathers, it can degrade. The best thing to do to care for your wheels is to wipe them off after they’ve gotten wet.

Aside from that, you will need to replace your wheels whenever they wear down too much or begin to get flat spots. You’ll notice flat spots a lot sooner if you powerslide and revert a lot. Both tricks can be pretty bad for causing flat spots.

Another thing to note is that softer wheels (with lower durometer) break, chip, and flat spot a lot sooner than hard wheels.

Best Wheels For Your Skateboard

Brand	Diameter	Durometer	Ideal Conditions	Purchase
Cloud Ride! Slusheez	62mm	78A	Downhill	Get it here
Spitfire Formula Four	52mm	99A	Concrete/ Street	Get it here
Bones Mummy Skulls	52mm	100A	Outdoor Skatepark	Get it here
Bone STF	54mm	99A	Indoor Skatepark	Get it here

How Much Do Skateboard Bearings Cost?

Bearings will usually run you around $10 to $20, but you could also upgrade to Bones Super Swiss 6 Bearings if you’re willing to dish out about $65. However, I don’t suggest spending that much for beginners.

If they aren’t as fast as when you bought them or don’t seem to be working as well, I suggest trying to clean and lubricate your skateboard bearings.

What to Look for When Buying Skateboard Bearings

Every kind of skateboard bearings will fit into any skateboard wheel. But it’s so important to get tried and trusted bearings such as Bones, Bronson’s, or Andale.

They have a unique design with six larger ball bearings that increase speed, acceleration, and strength. With many features, including a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects, they are worth the money. But other bearings are much cheaper.

Best Skateboard Bearings?

Bearings	Purchase
Bones Reds	Get it on Amazon
Bones Swiss	Get it on Amazon
Bronson Speed Co G2	Get it on Amazon
Bronson Speed Co G3	Get it on Amazon

Odd’s And Ends (Grip Tape and Hardware)

Grip tape is usually pretty standard pricing (around $10) unless you’re purchasing grip with patterns or designs on them. Whatever you do, just make sure you purchase a reliable brand like Grizzly, Jessup, MOB Grip, etc.

Suppose it’s a brand you know, perfect! If not, I suggest getting this Jessup grip tape. Same as grip tape, your hardware should always be bought from a trusted brand. I suggest Independent, Bones, Shorty’s, or Mini Logo. This Bones 7/8″ hardware is probably the best bang for your buck.

One last thing you might need is a skate tool. It’s the only tool that you really need when assembling your skateboard. In my opinion, buy a cheap one. This BONA skate tool is cheap and will do the trick.

Is It Cheaper To Build Or Buy Your Skateboard?

It’s almost always cheaper to buy a complete skateboard. And if you’re a beginner, I highly recommend that you purchase a professional-grade complete. Pre-assembled boards are cheaper and usually the better option for new skaters.

As you get better at the sport and discover what you like and dislike, it is much better to build your own skateboard. Keep upgrading your board, and find out exactly what kinds of wheels, trucks, bushings, and bearings you like to ride on.

So if you already own a skateboard, check if your bearings, wheels, trucks, and bushings are in good condition. If they are, then you’ll only need to get a new deck and some grip tape. 

If you need a tutorial to learn how to put your new board together, go check out this article by Red Bull. They’ve done a great job at teaching how to assemble a skateboard.

Added Costs to Consider

• Helmet
• Protective pads
• Skateboard shoes
• Skatepark entry fees
• Bearing lubricant
• And much more 

There are some other potential costs to consider with skateboarding. Such as protective gear, skatepark entry fees, and shoes. Skaters tend to go through a lot of shoes once they start ollieing and doing flip tricks!

Tip of the day: If you shop at discount stores or buy during sales you might be able to get shoes for as cheap as $30.

You will only ever need to buy one good helmet and pads (if you’re lucky) so make sure to get something that’s really good and fits well. Here are some of the best skateboard helmets, complete with certifications.

You also need to set aside some money to get into indoor skateparks (if you’re interested in that) and you may need to purchase shoes two to three times per year. The price to enter a skate park can be free or cost up to $10. Sometimes skate parks will create loyalty programs or memberships, so make sure to ask about that.

Conclusion

Now if you’re asked “how much does it cost to build a skateboard?” You know that it can range anywhere from $100 to $280 or more. The price depends heavily on the components that you buy.

If you plan on building your own skateboard from scratch, remember that you need to purchase a deck, grip tape, hardware, wheels, trucks, and bearings. You also might want to buy skateboard shoes, a helmet, pads, and a skate tool.

Always keep in mind, these prices can really add up if you’re not careful. I always suggest shopping around and trying to find sales or the best deals possible.

If you’re just starting out, I recommend that you purchase a complete board. It’s cheaper and you’ll be able to get started skating right away. Once you get more experience, you can start building your own skateboards piece by piece.