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Quick answer: Get a complete skateboard in the right deck width for your age and height (7.75"–8.0" for most adult beginners, 7.25"–7.5" for children under 10). The sweet spot is around £60–£70. Proper quality, no brand-name premium. Enuff, Venom, and Fracture all hit this price well. Budget options from Rocket and Tony Hawk start from £25 if spend is tight. Avoid unbranded boards from supermarkets and toy shops. They make learning harder.
Everything else on this page explains why those choices matter and how to pick the right specific setup for you.
There are several types of skateboard, and the differences matter for learning.
Standard skateboards (popsicle shape) are what you see in skate parks and videos. Two kicks, symmetrical shape. This is what to get if you want to learn tricks or skate at a skatepark. It's the most versatile option and what most people mean when they say "skateboard".
Cruiser skateboards are wider, often with a kicktail but softer wheels. Good for riding between places, commuting, or just rolling around. Not ideal for learning tricks or park skating.
Longboards are longer, lower, and built for speed and stability. Great for downhill or commuting, not for tricks.
For most beginners learning to skate: get a standard complete. If you're mainly interested in getting around or gentle riding, a cruiser makes sense. If you're not sure, the standard popsicle setup gives you the most options later.
Deck width is the most important size decision. Get this right and everything else follows.
| Age / height | Board type | Deck width |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 3–10 / under 5ft | Junior | 7.25"–7.5" |
| Ages 10–13 (transition) | Full-size | 7.75" |
| Teenagers | Full-size | 8.0" |
| Adults / taller riders | Full-size | 8.25" |
Junior boards (7.25"–7.5", ~29" long) suit riders under 5ft or up to around age 10. At this stage, kids are learning to balance and move, not doing tricks, so a proportionally smaller board just feels right underfoot. We don't recommend boards narrower than 7.25": they're rare, hard to find, and make minimal practical difference for young learners.
Transition phase (ages 10–13): too big for a junior, still growing into full-size. We push this group toward full-size boards. They'll adapt and won't outgrow it in three months. If they're on the smaller end of this range, a 7.75" deck is a good shout: slightly lighter, easier to learn tricks.
Teenagers start at 8.0". Once you've ridden an 8.0" board, you'll know whether you want to go wider or narrower.
Adults and taller riders start at 8.25". If you're more interested in cruising a skatepark than learning flip tricks, 8.25"–8.5" gives better stability underfoot.
The core trade-off: wider boards are more stable but heavier and harder to flip. Narrower boards are lighter and flip easier, but you have less deck room and slightly less stability. For beginners, getting the age/height bracket right matters far more than fine-tuning width by an eighth of an inch.
Deck length is less important at beginner level and usually comes with the complete. Wheelbase and concave depth will vary between brands but make a minimal difference until you're skating regularly.
For kids specifically, see our kids skateboard guide. For a full breakdown of adult beginner setups, our beginner guide for adults goes into more detail.
A complete skateboard comes pre-built with deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, and grip tape. Ready to skate. This is the right choice for most beginners. You don't need to spec individual parts until you know what you like.
Enuff is the most popular beginner brand we stock. Their completes run from £59.95 to £69.95, use proper 7-ply Canadian maple, and come pre-built with functional trucks and wheels. Wide range of graphics, available in all standard widths. This is where we'd point most beginners first.
Venom Skateboards is Devon-based (like us), and their Core Custom completes at £59.95 are well-spec'd boards. Lightweight aluminium trucks, 99a wheels, ABEC 9 bearings. Everything to ride properly from day one. Popular in schools and skate clubs.
Fracture is a UK skate brand with a strong beginners' range. Their full-size completes sit from £37.95 to £74.95 depending on the collab. The lower-priced options are excellent value for anyone wanting a proper board without stretching the budget.
Birdhouse is Tony Hawk's actual skate brand, starting at £69.95–£85.95. The Stage 1 at £69.95 is a solid mid-range choice. The higher-priced models pair pro decks with Venom Core truck kits, which is a noticeably better hardware setup.
If budget is the main constraint, Rocket completes start at £29.95. They use real 7-ply maple and functional trucks. They work. They won't last quite as long as the £60 range, but they'll get you skating properly and are a fair starting point.
Browse our full range of complete skateboards for beginners, beginner skateboards for adults, or junior complete skateboards for younger riders.
If you're building your own or want to understand what you're buying, here's what matters:
Deck: Full Canadian maple is the standard. 7-ply construction. Avoid boards described as "hardwood" or "composite" without specifying maple. These are usually lower quality. Deck width as above.
Trucks: The metal axles your wheels attach to. At beginner level, branded trucks (even basic ones) are significantly better than unbranded hardware. Width should match your deck. See our truck size guide for the chart.
Wheels: 52–54mm diameter, 99–101a hardness for street and park skating. Softer wheels (78–87a) for rough outdoor surfaces. Beginner completes often come with serviceable wheels. They won't be Spitfire, but they'll roll.
Bearings: The things that make your wheels spin. ABEC 5 or ABEC 7 rated bearings are standard in most beginner completes. They work fine. Bones Reds are the step-up if you replace them later.
Grip tape: The sandpaper-like surface on top. Comes pre-applied on most completes. MOB, Grizzly, or Jessup are the standard brands if you're buying separately.
This is one of the most searched questions. Here is the honest answer.
Budget option: £25–£35 (Rocket, Tony Hawk from a skate shop): These use real maple and functional trucks. They get you rolling and will last, though not as long as the £60 range. The components are more basic. Expect to replace wheels and bearings sooner. If budget is genuinely tight, they're a proper starting point. Not to be confused with unbranded toy-shop boards.
The sweet spot: £55–£70 (Enuff, Venom, Fracture): This is the best value for money. Proper 7-ply Canadian maple, matched trucks, correct wheel hardness. A board in this range will last a year of regular riding and teach you on the right kit. This is where we'd point most beginners.
Above £80, you're paying for the brand: At £80–£90 you'll often find the same core setup as the £60 range with a more recognised deck graphic. Nothing wrong with that, but a beginner won't skate any better on an £85 board than a £65 one. Save the extra for once you know what you want.
Ready to step up: pro deck + Venom truck kit (~£120): If you've been riding for a while and want a real upgrade, pick a pro deck you like and pair it with a Venom Core truck kit. You get the deck of your choice with better-quality hardware than most beginner completes. A noticeably different setup for the money once you're past the absolute beginner stage.
This list saves money and frustration.
Supermarket and toy shop boards including anything from Argos, Sports Direct, or Amazon with no recognisable brand name are built to a price that makes decent components impossible. The wood delaminates, the trucks don't turn properly, and the wheels are often too hard to roll well on UK surfaces.
Tony Hawk boards from Argos, Sports Direct, or supermarkets are not the same product as Birdhouse (Tony Hawk's actual skate brand). Mass-market Tony Hawk boards use lower-grade components and aren't built for skating. Birdhouse boards from a proper skate shop are a different story entirely.
Anything under £25 on eBay or a marketplace. Real beginner skateboards from real brands don't exist at this price point.
Learning to skateboard means falling. The question is how hard.
For beginners and children especially:
Helmet: the most important piece of kit. A proper certified skate helmet (not a cycling helmet, which has different impact protection) covers the back of the head where skaters most commonly impact. Browse skateboard helmets.
Wrist guards: the most common beginner injury is wrist fractures from instinctive hand-catch falls. A decent pair of wrist guards prevents this almost entirely.
Knee and elbow pads: useful for beginners, particularly when learning to fall properly. Browse our protection pad sets.
Most skaters wear pads less as their confidence grows, but for the first few months of learning, protection makes a real difference in how quickly you progress.
Start with age and height. Under 5ft or under 10 years old: junior board (7.25"–7.5"). Ages 10–13: full-size, 7.75" if on the smaller end. Teenagers: 8.0" as a starting point. Adults and taller riders: 8.25". If you're more interested in cruising than tricks, 8.25"–8.5" gives better stability. If you're between sizes, go wider rather than narrower.
Yes. A complete is the right choice for almost all beginners. It comes pre-built with matched components and removes the complexity of speccing individual parts. The only time to build your own from the start is if you already know your width, truck preference, and wheel hardness preferences, which most beginners don't.
The sweet spot is £55–£70, where you get the best value from a real skate brand. Budget brands like Rocket start at around £30 and will work, just won't last as long. Above £80 you're largely paying for the brand name. If you want a step up, a pro deck paired with a Venom truck kit comes to around £120 and is a noticeable improvement once you've outgrown a beginner complete.
Enuff, Venom Skateboards, and Fracture are the most consistent beginner brands we stock. All make proper Canadian maple decks with functional hardware. Enuff has the biggest range and most stock at this level.
Yes. The learning process takes longer for adults than for children. Balance and proprioception adapt more slowly, but adults absolutely learn to skate. The key differences: adults benefit from slightly wider decks (8.0"+) for stability, need to be more deliberate about protective gear, and progress fastest when sessions are shorter and more frequent rather than long and sporadic. Our adult beginner guide covers setups specifically.
At minimum: a helmet. Wrist guards are strongly recommended as the first fall on a hard surface with outstretched hands is the most common beginner injury. Knee and elbow pads are helpful while learning the basics. Check our protection pad sets for starter kits.
The main differences are deck construction (genuine Canadian maple vs lower-grade wood), truck quality (branded with consistent geometry vs unbranded), and wheel hardness (correctly specified vs whatever's cheapest). Cheap boards often have wheels that are too hard for most UK surfaces, trucks that don't turn properly, and decks that snap faster. A decent beginner complete costs £60–£70 and skates correctly from day one.
