Beginner Surfboards: 5 Tips to Buy the Best Board in 2026
Listen. I get it, buying a beginner surfboard can be a difficult and daunting process. You want to buy the best surfboard at the best price and actually catch waves.
Don’t sweat it, all surfers go through it at some stage or another (or parents of surfers too). In this guide, we’ll walk you through the five major tips and considerations for buying a beginner surfboard so you can be confident that you are making the right choice from a multitude of perspectives.
What is a beginner surfboard?
Fiist and foremost, let’s define what a beginner surfboard is so we’re all on the same page. A beginner surfboard board is a surfboard that is forgiving in many areas of surfing mechanics. Its characteristics include high buoyancy, increased width and thickness to traditional boards, and a soft top construction to minimize injuries.
These characteristics make it easier to learn how to catch waves, stand up, and enjoy surfing in smaller, rolling waves. Today, many experienced surfers will have what might be considered a beginner surfboard in their collection, because these boards are still fun to use for intermediate to advanced surfers when the waves are smaller.
What size should a beginner surfboard be?
The size of a beginner surfboard depends on the size of the surfer. Check out this handy surfboard size calculator to figure out general dimensions for a surfboard.
As a general rule of thumb, most adults who are beginner surfers would do well on a 7’ soft top surfboard due to its user-friendly characteristics. Kids under 12 might be better suited on a soft top under 6’ as they will be easier to maneuver and will have less width than a 7’+ surfboard, making them easier to paddle.
What are the types of beginner surfboards?
There are not actually predefined beginner surfboards in surfing, just boards that are better suited to beginners. It would the equivalent of saying there are beginner driver cars, which there are not, just cars that go slower and are easier to operate.
That said, the boards that are best for beginners are soft tops. They are generally the easiest to learn on, the least expensive, and the most durable.
Where can you buy the best beginner surfboards?
Beginner surfboards can be purchased online, at your local surf shop, and even at big box stores. You can also buy beginner surfboards on the SwellSpy store, check out our selection of soft top surfboards that are ideal for beginners!
Local surf shops are good options if you want some customer service and want more of a tactile experience.
Finally, if you want to get a really cheap surfboard and insult the entire surf industry as a whole, you can go to a big box store and show the world that you don’t support cool surf brands.
How much are beginner surfboards?
It’s possible to get a beginner soft top surfboard for around $200. Compared to a traditional polyurethane or epoxy construction surfboard coming in north of $600, these are much cheaper options that usually come with accessories like fin and leashes.