After buying and testing many kids skateboards, it’s time to show you a couple of kids’ skateboards that are safe. Even though me and my kid aren’t exceptional skaters, we love to ride and we know a thing or two about what works and what doesn’t.
Since I can’t tell how old your kid is, I selected a few boards for different ages. I covered many skateboards ages 6 to 12, and I urge you not to buy a skateboard for kids under 5-years-old.
From the age of 12 and up I recommend assembling a skateboard yourself. A skateboard is an awesome gift and you could change the course of a kids’ life, however at this age you really need some quality stuff. All the board listed here are fine, but almost all completes have some issues. Please check my buyers guide at the bottom of this page.
We tested all the skateboards here to the extreme just to make sure they are safe. Use this chart to pick the right size skateboard. If a kid is in between sizes, pick a wider size.
| Age | Kid height | Skateboard width |
|---|---|---|
| 5 or under | 3’4 or under | 6.5″ to 7.0″ |
| 6 to 8 | 3’5 to 4’4 | 7.0″ to 7.5″ |
| 9-12 | 4’5 to 5’2 | 7.5″ to 8.0″ |
| 13 and over | 5’3 or over | 8.0″+ |
SkateXS Complete (Safest skateboard)
Let’s start with the winner, because SkateXS offers the best skateboards for kids. You get high-quality trucks, great Mini Logo bearings, and colorful SkateXS branded wheels. This skateboard offers a smooth ride on asphalt, pavements, and skate parks.
The deck is made of strong maple wood combined with bamboo. Anything between 7.5″ and 8.0″ will be fine for kids but SkateXS helps you to pick the right size. Check SkateXS for availability or read more about the fun we had riding this board.
- Best Quality skateboard
- Durable trucks
- High quality wheels
- Bearings roll smooth
- Great graphics
- Comes in different sizes and colors
- Safest board out of 20 tested.
A safe skateboard suitable for all ages, SkateXS also offers protective gear so be sure to check that out.
Available at SkateXS!
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Magneto Mini Cruiser
Not a trick skateboard but a great cruiser for kids at a very reasonable price. It performed way better than I expected even though it isn’t the best quality board you can buy.
My kid needed some time to get used to the loose trucks, but we fixed this after adjusting the trucks a bit. This is a great board for kids to learn how to ride without having to worry about cracks, pebbles, or anything blocking the wheels.
The wheels and bearings aren’t the best, but not an issue for kids. Adults should avoid this board but kids under 13 will have a blast. It’s pretty decently priced (link to Amazon).
- Very light deck
- The trucks turn well but require some tweaking
- Great cruiser on a budget
- Not the best bearings but the large 60mm wheels compensate for that
- Wheels are okay, they roll smooth and provide enough grip
- Not meant for tricks
- Great for kids up to 13 years old
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Santa Cruz Classic Dot
This is the 4th Santa Cruz board in 2 years that I bought, not because they don’t last very long. I just want more boards to test and not a single one has let us (me and my son) down so far.
Santa Cruz was the first official skateboard brand in the world and produces high-quality skateboards for all ages. This skateboard, however, is great for kids from 8 to 14. It’s 7.8 wide and comes with 52mm quality OJ wheels at 92A (softer wheels offer a smoother ride).
The Bullet trucks can handle abuse and can even handle the weight of adults. They are budget trucks and not top of the line.
We tested this board in our local skatepark and on a bike lane. This isn’t the fastest board when riding rougher surfaces but it can deal with tiny objects and cracks.
It’s a trick skateboard but also a decent starter skateboard that checks most of the boxes. The bearings aren’t that great but you’ll notice this less on smoother surfaces like you can find in concrete skateparks.
One of the better boards on this list and they come in various sizes and graphics but the hardware is always the same. Just make sure you pick one with OJ wheels!
I do think it’s a bit overpriced and if you’re willing to spend this much, you’re much better off with the SkateXS beginner board.
- Great all around skateboard
- Quality wheels that aren’t too soft or too hard
- Rides well on rougher streets and skateparks
- Works for kids aged 8 to 14
- Small pebbles won’t block the wheels, making it a safe ride
- Deck is made of birch
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Powell Peralta Golden Dragon
I expected the Golden Dragon to be underwhelming. You often see this board promoted, so I bought one and tested it. To my surprise, it’s actually a pretty decent skateboard. The trucks carve well and wheels are pretty forgiving and it feels like a solid skateboard overall.
This board is 7.6″ wide and suitable for kids aged 7 to 12. It can even deal with impacts without falling apart.
The board turns well and the bushings aren’t too soft but depending on your kid’s weight you might want to tweak them a little.
You get decent wheels, sturdy trucks, mediocre bearings, and a reasonable deck. This is a decent quality board (for its price) that will last for a couple of years. Available on Amazon.
- Heavy but birch deck
- Trucks hold up fine even after testing them to the extreme
- Reasonably soft wheels that work well in parks and concrete, less on rougher surfaces
- The bearings aren’t great, use some silicon lube to improve their performance
- Great for kids under the age of 12 that want to learn tricks or just learn to ride
- Might feel too loose straight out of the box so tweak the trucks
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Enjoi Skateboards
If there is one brand that offers awesome skateboards for kids, it’s Enjoi. This particular board might not be available when you read this because the graphics change often.
This one is great for kids between 5 and 11.
My son it used to wider boards so he had trouble getting used to its small size but at 7.75″ kid will be able to ride them for years..
- Smallest board on this list, not for kids over 8-years-old.
- Trucks turn well but you might want to tighten them a bit
- Great wheels, can deal well with pebbles and cracks
- Mediocre bearings, use silicon lube to improve performance
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What To Look for When buying a Kids Skateboard
There are many unsafe skateboards out there and if you don’t know anything about skateboards you, end with an inferior product. Consider the following:
- Protective gear and shoes
- Terrain where to board is going to be used.
- Proper size skateboard for children.
- Get familiar with the parts of a skateboard
- Cool graphics are highly motivating.
- Type of skateboard: popsicle or cruiser?
- Custom and standard skateboard.
- Quality and brand.
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Skateboard Parts Explained
- Deck: The flat, typically wooden board that you stand on.
- Trucks: Metal components that attach to the deck and hold the wheels.
- Wheels: The round, often polyurethane components that enable movement.
- Bearings: Small, circular devices inside the wheels for smooth rolling.
- Grip Tape: A gritty surface on top of the deck for traction.
- Hardware: Nuts and bolts used to assemble the skateboard.
- Bushings: Rubber or urethane parts in the trucks for turning control.
- Riser Pads: Optional cushioning between the deck and trucks for added height.
- Nose and Tail: The front and rear ends of the deck, which may vary in shape.
