A standard complete skateboard typically costs between $80 and $150, with budget boards from $50 and premium setups well above $200.
Knowing what a skateboard should cost keeps you from overpaying at a mall store or gambling on a $30 board that falls apart in a month. The real answer depends on the type of board you need and the quality of its components. Whatever your budget, the market has a rideable option in it.
What Determines a Skateboard’s Price?
A “complete” skateboard—ready to ride straight out of the box—includes the deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, grip tape, and hardware. Each part carries its own cost, and the cheapest boards cut corners on every one of them.
Slam City’s skateboard pricing guide breaks the market down by style: traditional street boards run $30 to $200, longboards $80 to $300, cruisers $60 to $250, and electric skateboards $400 to $2,200. Where your board lands in that range depends mostly on two factors: the deck’s construction and the quality of the trucks and wheels.
How Much Should You Pay by Board Type?
Different riding styles demand different builds, and the price bands reflect that. A street deck, a cruiser, and a longboard are not interchangeable products—each has its own materials, shape, and purpose.
| Board Type | Typical Price Range | Notes |
|—|—|—|
| Budget complete | $50–$100 | Rideable but with lower-grade components |
| Standard street complete | $80–$150 | The practical “good quality” zone most guides cite |
| Premium street complete | $150–$200+ | Brand-name decks, better trucks, higher-end bearings |
| Cruiser | $60–$250 | Wider deck, softer wheels, often pricier than street boards |
| Longboard | $80–$300 | Longer deck, built for speed and distance |
| Electric skateboard | $300–$2,500 | Entry models start around $349–$400; premium boards exceed $1,000 |
| Mini / penny board | $50–$120 | Compact, plastic or wood, good for short trips |
Warehouse Skateboards, a long-running retailer, sells its complete skateboards across the full range, with most quality builds sitting in that same zone.
The cheapest boards often use what sources describe as toy-grade components. A $30 board might get you rolling, but its plastic bushings and soft wheels will wear out fast, and you’ll likely replace it within months.
How Much Does a Custom Skateboard Cost?
Building a skateboard part by part costs more than buying a complete, but it gives you control over every component. A custom setup typically runs $150 to $300+, and premium builds can go higher.
The main expense is the parts: decks run about $30 to $100 depending on brand and construction, while trucks add roughly $40 to $100. Tactics, a major skate shop, stocks decks across that full range—blank decks at the low end, premium branded decks at the top. Add wheels, bearings, and hardware, and the total climbs quickly.
Buying a custom build makes sense if you’re tall (you may need a wider deck), if you have a preferred wheel hardness for your local terrain, or if you’re replacing one worn part of an existing board. For a first board, though, a complete from a reputable shop is the smarter buy.
## What Is the Cheapest Safe Skateboard to Buy?
Below that, quality drops sharply. The $50–$100 band works well for young kids or casual riders who want to learn the basics without a big investment.
If you’re an adult planning to ride regularly, aim for the $90–$130 zone. Boards at this price use real maple or bamboo decks, better bushings, and wheels that actually grip the pavement. It’s enough to make skateboarding fun and durable enough to last years when you maintain it properly. When you’re ready to compare tested options in that sweet spot, our favored budget skateboard picks cover the best-value completes we’ve reviewed.
Electric skateboards are the outlier. Their motors, batteries, controllers, and braking systems drive costs well above any manual board. Entry models start around $349–$400, and the “sweet spot” for a reliable mid-range e-board sits at roughly $400–$700. Premium models with high-capacity batteries and powerful motors routinely exceed $1,000, with top-end boards reaching $2,200 or more.
FAQs
Are expensive skateboards worth it for a beginner?
Usually not. A mid-range complete in the $90–$130 range gives beginners everything they need: a maple deck, decent trucks, and proper wheels. Boards above $200 add performance refinements a new rider won’t notice yet. Spend the difference on pads and a helmet.
Why are electric skateboards so much more expensive?
Electric boards carry a motor, battery pack, electronic speed controller, and a wireless remote, all engineered to handle weight, torque, and braking safely. Batteries alone can cost $200 or more to replace. That hardware adds hundreds of dollars over a manual board, with performance and range driving the price to $1,000+.
How can you tell if a cheap skateboard is worth buying?
Check the components, not just the price. Look for a deck made of maple or bamboo (not pressed cardboard), trucks with replaceable bushings, and wheels that feel hard yet grippy.
References & Sources
- Slam City. “How Much Does a Skateboard Cost?” Breaks down price ranges by board type and component quality.
- Warehouse Skateboards. Complete Skateboards collection Retail pricing across budget and premium complete boards.
- Tactics. Skateboard Decks Deck price ranges from blank to premium branded options.
