Blank Skateboard Decks: Sizing, Painting and Building a Complete Board

par Skatewarehouse sur September 21, 2026

Blank skateboard decks strip everything back to plain wood, ready for you to decide what happens next. Maybe that's a full custom build with your own choice of trucks and wheels. Maybe it's a paint job that never touches concrete. Either way, a blank deck is the same solid maple construction as a graphic deck, just without the artwork already applied.

This guide covers sizing, what else you need to build a complete skateboard, ideas for customising the deck itself, and a straightforward build process from start to finish.

What is a blank skateboard deck?

A blank skateboard deck is a standard skateboard deck with no printed graphic on the base. It's made from the same construction most decks use, typically 7-ply maple pressed into the same shapes and concaves as branded decks from the same manufacturers. The only real difference is the base finish: plain wood, sometimes with a simple stain or clear coat, instead of a printed design.

Skaters buy blank decks for two main reasons. Some want a canvas: a flat, sturdy surface for painting, engraving or covering in stickers, whether that's going to end up on a wall or under someone's feet. Others just want a proper deck without paying for artwork they don't care about, especially useful when a deck snaps often and you're replacing them regularly.

Why choose a blank deck over a graphic deck?

A graphic deck gives you a brand's artwork baked in. A blank deck gives you a starting point instead of a finished look, which matters for a few different buyers:

  • Artists and creatives who want to paint, stencil or decorate their own design rather than skate over someone else's
  • Parents and schools buying several decks at once, where a uniform blank look is more practical than mixing graphics
  • Skaters who go through decks quickly and don't want to pay extra for a graphic they'll snap in a few weeks
  • Anyone building a display piece. Blank decks are a popular base for wall art, even without wheels ever going on

Neither option skates any differently. The graphic is cosmetic. What actually affects how a board rides is deck shape, concave and width, which brings us to sizing.

What size blank deck should you choose?

Deck width is the main decision, and it depends more on the rider than the trend of the moment.

Rider Suggested width
Junior rider, under 5ft 7.25-7.5 inch
Smaller full-size rider, roughly age 10-13 Around 7.75 inch
Teen beginner Around 8.0 inch
Adult beginner or taller child Around 8.25 inch
Adult cruising or skatepark stability 8.25-8.5 inch

Wider decks feel more stable underfoot but are heavier and harder to flip. Narrower decks are lighter and easier to pop, but you lose some stability and standing room. If you're not sure, an 8.0 inch blank is a solid middle ground for most teen and adult beginners, and you'll have a better idea of what you'd change next time once you've ridden it.

If the deck is purely for painting or wall display and will never be ridden, size matters less for performance, but it's still worth picking a size that suits the look you're going for. A junior-sized blank makes a neat small canvas; a full 8.0-8.5 inch blank gives you more surface area to work with.

What else do you need to build a complete skateboard?

A blank deck on its own is just the deck. To turn it into a rideable skateboard, you'll need:

  • Grip tape applied to the top of the deck for foot grip
  • Trucks sized to match your deck width (see our skateboard trucks size guide for matching truck size to deck width)
  • Wheels. Harder wheels for skateparks and street, softer wheels for cruising and rougher ground
  • Bearings. Standard 608 size, eight per board
  • Hardware (nuts and bolts) to attach the trucks, with bolt length depending on whether you're using risers
  • Riser pads (optional) used for extra clearance or a different feel

If you'd rather not source everything separately, our custom skateboard builder kits let you pick a blank deck and matching parts together. For guidance on putting it all together yourself, see our guide on how to assemble a skateboard and how to apply grip tape to a skateboard deck.

Ideas for painting or customising your blank deck

A blank deck is a genuinely good painting surface once it's prepped properly. Popular approaches include:

  • Acrylic paint. Affordable, widely available, and dries quickly. Works well for bold flat colour and simple designs
  • Spray paint. Good for gradients, stencilling and larger areas of colour, best done outdoors or somewhere well ventilated
  • Paint pens or markers. Ideal for fine linework, lettering or adding detail on top of a painted base
  • Decoupage or stickers. A simpler option for group projects or younger artists, layering paper or stickers under a sealant coat

Whatever you use, lightly sand the deck first so paint grips properly, and finish with a clear varnish or sealant if the board will be handled, displayed outdoors, or actually ridden.

How to build your skateboard step by step

  1. Choose your deck size based on the rider or the intended use, using the sizing guidance above
  2. Decorate the deck first, if you're painting it, and let it fully dry and seal before handling it further
  3. Apply grip tape to the top of the deck, trimming around the edges with a utility knife
  4. Attach the trucks using the correct bolt length for your setup, tightened through the pre-drilled holes
  5. Fit the bearings into the wheels, then slide the wheels onto the truck axles and secure with axle nuts
  6. Check everything is tight before the first ride, and give the trucks a test wiggle to make sure nothing's loose

If any of this feels fiddly the first time, our how-to-assemble guide walks through each stage in more detail.

Blank decks for schools, clubs and group projects

Blank decks come up a lot in school art projects, PE sessions and youth club activities. A few practical reasons why they work well for group use:

  • Consistent sizing across a class or group, rather than a mix of different graphics and shapes
  • A genuine art or design task, not just a bought product, which suits curriculum-based projects
  • Cost-effective for bulk orders, since you're not paying for artwork licensing on every deck
  • Durable enough for repeated handling by different students or members over a term

If you're ordering for a school, club or council programme, our skateboard equipment for schools, clubs and councils collection covers blank decks alongside the trucks, wheels and protective gear needed for group sessions.

Shop blank decks and building parts at Skatewarehouse

Whether you're painting a single deck for your bedroom wall or fitting out a class of twenty for an art project, Skatewarehouse stocks genuine blank skateboard decks alongside every part you need to finish the job. shop blank skateboard decks in the full range of sizes, browse custom skateboard builder kits if you want deck and parts together, or pick up skateboard hardware and tools separately if you're building from parts you already own.

If you're not sure which size or setup is right, get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction before you order.

FAQs

What is the difference between a blank deck and a normal skateboard deck? The only real difference is the base graphic. A blank deck has no printed design, while a standard deck carries a brand's artwork. The wood, shape and concave are typically the same.

Can you skate on a blank deck straight away? Not out of the box. A blank deck needs grip tape, trucks, wheels, bearings and hardware fitted before it's rideable, the same as any bare deck.

What paint or materials work best on a blank skateboard deck? Acrylic paint, spray paint and paint pens all work well on sanded, primed wood. Seal the finished design with a clear varnish, especially if the board will be handled or ridden.

Do blank decks come in different sizes? Yes. Blank decks are available in the same range of widths as graphic decks, from junior sizes around 7.25 inch up to wider adult sizes around 8.5 inch.

What do I need to buy alongside a blank deck to build a full skateboard? Grip tape, trucks sized to your deck width, wheels, bearings and mounting hardware. Riser pads are optional depending on the setup you want.

Are blank decks cheaper than branded decks? Often, yes, since you're not paying for licensed artwork. The saving varies by brand and deck quality, so it's worth comparing individual listings rather than assuming it's always cheaper.

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