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A complete skateboard arrives fully built and ready to ride: deck, trucks, wheels, bearings and grip tape all fitted. For kids, that matters more than it does for an adult buyer. You're not choosing individual parts and hoping they fit together. You get a proper setup, sized for a younger rider, that rolls straight out of the box.
That's usually the real question behind the search: is this an actual skateboard, or a toy? A kids complete from a proper brand uses the same construction as an adult board, just scaled down: maple decking, real trucks, urethane wheels, grip tape already applied. A toy-shop board tends to cut corners on all four. If your child is going to stand on it, push on it and fall off it repeatedly while learning, that difference shows up fast.
Our kids complete skateboards range and the dedicated junior and mini youth complete skateboards collection are both built around this idea: proper components, sized correctly for smaller riders.
Age is a useful starting point, but height is what actually decides whether a board feels right underfoot. A tall 6 year old and a small 9 year old won't want the same board. Use age as a rough guide, then check it against height.
| Rider | Typical height | Best starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Younger child | Under 5ft, usually ages 3-10 | Junior complete, around 29" long, 7.25-7.5" wide | Easier to carry, stand on, and turn |
| Transition age | Roughly 10-13 | Full-size complete, 7.75-8.0" wide | Often too big for junior boards but still growing into full-size |
| Teen beginner | Most teenagers | 8.0" complete | A solid middle ground to start from |
Shoe size gets mentioned a lot in sizing guides, but for a young beginner it's the least useful measurement. At this stage your child is learning to stand, push, roll and balance, not landing technical tricks that demand a precise deck width. Height and age tell you far more.
For a 5 year old, we'd almost always point you towards a junior complete. Junior boards are shorter (around 29 inches) and narrower (typically 7.25-7.5 inches wide), and that makes a real difference to a small child. A full-size board is heavier, wider, and harder to lift, carry and turn. That mismatch is often what puts young kids off skateboarding before they've really started.
At this age, don't overthink deck graphics or brand names. Focus on junior sizing, a lightweight setup, and softer wheels that roll smoothly over pavement cracks and driveways rather than gripping hard for tricks. Our junior complete range is built with exactly this rider in mind.
Most 7 year olds are still in junior board territory, particularly if they're under 5ft tall, which covers the majority of children this age. A 7.25-7.5 inch junior complete remains the sensible choice: manageable weight, easy turning, and a length that suits shorter legs and a smaller stance.
If your 7 year old is noticeably tall for their age, check their height against the transition-age guidance below rather than assuming age alone decides it. But for most families, a junior complete is the right call here, and it's usually the board they'll ride for a couple of years before needing to size up.
This is where sizing gets genuinely tricky, and it's the bit most generic guides skip. Age 10 sits right in the transition zone: some children are still comfortably under 5ft and better suited to a junior board, while others have had a growth spurt and are ready for a full-size complete.
If your 10 year old is on the smaller side, a 7.75 inch full-size complete is a good shout. It's lighter than a full 8.0 inch setup, which makes it easier to learn ollies and basic tricks on, while still giving them room to grow into it. If they're already close to 5ft or taller, moving straight to an 8.0 inch complete is usually the better long-term choice, since they won't outgrow it within a season.
When in doubt at this age, go with height over age.
The core difference isn't just length and width. It's how the board behaves under a young rider.
Junior boards are shorter, narrower and lighter. They're easier to carry to the skatepark, easier to control at low speed, and less intimidating for a first-time rider who is still working out their balance.
Full-size beginner boards are heavier and offer more standing room, which suits a rider who has outgrown a junior board or who is already tall enough that a junior deck would feel cramped underfoot.
A common mistake is buying full-size "because they'll grow into it." In practice, an oversized board makes learning harder, not easier, particularly for pushing, turning and getting back on after a fall. It's usually better to buy the size that fits now and size up later, rather than fight an awkward setup for a year.
A complete skateboard gets your child rolling, but a few extras make the first few months easier and safer.
If you'd rather sort it all in one go, our kids and junior skateboard bundle packs combine a complete board with protection, and they're a genuinely popular choice for exactly this reason. They're also worth a look if you're browsing gifts for skateboarders for a birthday or Christmas.
For general first-timer advice beyond sizing, our beginner's guide to buying your first skateboard covers the wider basics.
We've sold kids' skateboards out of Okehampton since 2002, and the sizing logic above is the same advice we give in the shop every week: start with height, check it against age, and don't oversize a board hoping a child will grow into it. If you're still unsure, our junior and mini youth complete skateboards collection is filtered by size, so you can browse by the measurements that actually matter rather than guessing from a photo. Or call the shop on 01837 55778 and we'll talk you through it.
What size skateboard should a 5 year old have? Most 5 year olds do best on a junior complete around 29 inches long and 7.25-7.5 inches wide. This size is easier to carry, stand on and turn than a full-size board, which usually feels oversized and heavy for a child this age.
Is a complete skateboard good for a beginner child? Yes. A complete skateboard arrives fully built with grip tape already applied, so your child can start riding straight away rather than you having to assemble parts. For a beginner, this is by far the simplest and most reliable way to start.
What is the difference between a junior and a regular complete skateboard? Junior completes are shorter and narrower, typically around 29 inches long and 7.25-7.5 inches wide, built for smaller riders under about 5ft. Regular (full-size) completes are longer and wider, usually starting around 7.75-8.0 inches, and suit taller children, teens and adults.
Do kids' skateboards come with grip tape already applied? Yes. A genuine complete skateboard, junior or full-size, comes with grip tape already fitted to the deck. You shouldn't need to apply anything before your child rides it for the first time.
How do I know when my child has outgrown their junior skateboard? The usual signs are their feet feeling cramped on the deck, standing noticeably wider than the board, or your child passing roughly 5ft in height. At that point, a full-size complete around 7.75-8.0 inches wide is the natural next step.
What safety gear does my child need alongside their first skateboard? A helmet is essential from day one. Knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards are also strongly recommended for beginners, since falls are a normal part of learning and protection helps kids keep practising with confidence.
