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Building your own skateboard is one of the best ways to end up with a setup that actually fits how you ride. You choose the deck, the trucks, the wheels, the bearings, and how it all looks. No compromises, no guessing what’s inside a boxed complete you’ve never ridden.
The tricky part is knowing what goes with what. Deck width affects truck size. Truck size affects stability. Wheel size affects how it rides on rough ground or at the skatepark. Get one part wrong and the board can feel off, even if every individual piece is good quality.
This guide walks through exactly what you need, how the sizing fits together, and how to put it all together properly, whether you’re going for a graphic deck or a blank one you plan to paint yourself.
Every skateboard, no matter who builds it, comes down to five main components:
You’ll also need hardware (nuts and bolts), riser pads if you want them, and a skate tool to actually put it together. Nothing on this list is optional. Skip grip tape and your feet will slide straight off. Skip proper bolts and your trucks won’t sit right.
If you’d rather not source every part separately, our custom skateboard builder kits bundle everything into one order, with the sizing already matched up for you.
Deck width is the first decision, because it decides almost everything else in your build.
As a rough guide:
Shoe size can play a small part, but it’s not the deciding factor — any deck width is technically rideable in any shoe size. Riding style matters more. Street skaters building for flip tricks often go narrower (7.75–8.25 inch) because it’s lighter and easier to flip. Riders building for transition, park or cruising tend to go 8.25 inch and up for extra stability underfoot.
Wider decks feel more stable but are heavier and harder to ollie. Thinner decks flip more easily but give you less foot room and stability. There’s no wrong answer, just a trade-off worth knowing before you buy.
Browse the full range of skateboard decks once you’ve settled on a width.
Once you’ve picked a deck width, truck size follows directly from it:
| Deck width | Truck size |
|---|---|
| 7.75 inch | 5.0 inch |
| 8.0 inch | 5.25 inch |
| 8.25 inch | 5.5 inch |
| 8.5 inch | 5.75 inch |
| 8.8 inch | 6.0 inch |
| 9.0 inch | 6.5 inch |
Different truck brands use different naming systems for the same axle width, so don’t assume two brands’ “5.25 inch” trucks are labelled the same way. Use the “For Deck Size” filter when browsing skateboard trucks to match your specific deck without the guesswork. Our skateboard trucks size guide goes into more depth if you want the full picture.
Wheels are more about how and where you ride than deck width:
If you’re building mainly for pavements or rough estate roads rather than smooth skatepark concrete, look at skateboard wheels in the softer range rather than a hard park-focused set.
Once you’ve got all your parts, assembly is straightforward if you follow the order:
A skateboard needs 8 bearings in total — two per wheel. If you’re buying an 8-pack of skateboard bearings, that’s exactly enough for one board.
Bolt length depends on whether you’re using risers:
| Riser | Bolt length |
|---|---|
| No riser | 7/8 inch or 1 inch |
| 1/8 inch riser | 1 inch |
| 1/4 inch riser | 1.25 inch |
| 1/2 inch riser | 1.5 inch or longer |
Check the full range of skateboard hardware (nuts and bolts) if you’re not sure which length you need.
Grip tape needs to go on before the trucks, not after. Peel the backing, lay the sheet over the deck, and press from the centre outwards to avoid air bubbles. Use a screwdriver handle or the edge of a skate tool to run along the deck’s edge, marking the outline, then cut away the excess with a sharp blade at a slight inward angle so the edge doesn’t lift over time.
If this is your first time doing it, our full guide on how to apply grip tape walks through it step by step with more detail on getting a clean edge.
A blank skateboard deck is exactly what it sounds like — a deck with no graphic, ready for you to paint, stencil or sticker however you like. It’s a popular choice for riders who want a board that’s genuinely one of a kind, and it’s usually a bit cheaper than a graphic deck too.
If you’re planning to paint your own board, acrylic paint or paint pens work well on raw wood, and a coat of clear varnish afterwards helps protect the design from scuffs. Keep grip tape off the areas you plan to paint until the design is finished and fully dry.
Browse our full range of blank skateboard decks if you want to start from a completely clean slate.
If sourcing every part individually feels like a lot to manage, our custom skateboard builder kits let you pick a deck, trucks, wheels, bearings and grip tape as one build, with compatible sizing already worked out. It’s a good middle ground between a boxed complete and sourcing every single part separately yourself.
Honestly, it depends what you’re after.
Complete skateboards are the fastest, easiest way to start. They arrive built, gripped, and ready to ride, and they’re usually better value if you just want a reliable board without thinking about parts. Our complete skateboards collection is the obvious starting point for beginners.
Building your own usually costs a little more than an equivalent complete, because you’re buying each part separately rather than as a bundled set. But you get to choose exactly what goes into it, upgrade individual parts as they wear out, and end up with something that’s genuinely set up the way you want it. It also means you understand your own board properly, which makes future maintenance much easier.
If you’re completely new to skateboarding, a complete is usually the sensible starting point. If you’ve ridden before and know what you like, building your own is where you get to fine-tune everything.
What do I need to build a skateboard from scratch? You need a deck (blank or graphic), trucks sized to match your deck width, wheels, 8 bearings, grip tape, and mounting hardware (nuts and bolts, plus risers if you’re using them). A skate tool makes assembly much easier.
How do I know which truck size fits my deck? Truck size is based on your deck’s width, not its length. As a rough guide, an 8.0 inch deck suits 5.25 inch trucks, and an 8.25 inch deck suits 5.5 inch trucks. Truck brands label sizes differently, so use the “For Deck Size” filter when shopping rather than relying on the inch measurement alone.
Can I paint or design my own skateboard deck? Yes. A blank skateboard deck has no factory graphic, so it’s ready for paint, pens, or stickers straight away. Apply your design to raw wood before adding grip tape, and consider a clear varnish coat to help protect it once it’s dry.
Is it cheaper to build your own skateboard or buy a complete? Usually a complete works out cheaper, since the parts are bundled together at a set price. Building your own tends to cost a bit more overall, but you get full control over every part and can upgrade individual pieces later rather than replacing the whole board.
What bolt length do I need for my setup? It depends on your risers. No riser needs 7/8 or 1 inch bolts, a 1/8 inch riser needs 1 inch, a 1/4 inch riser needs 1.25 inch, and a 1/2 inch riser needs 1.5 inch or longer.
How many bearings does a skateboard need? Eight — two per wheel. A standard 8-pack of skateboard bearings is exactly enough for one full build.
If you’re not sure which parts to pick, give the shop a call on 01837 55778 or drop us an email at info@skatewarehouse.co.uk. We build boards every day and we’re happy to help you get the sizing right before you order.
