How much does a surfboard weigh
A shortboard weighs 6 to 7 lbs (2.7-3.2 kg) and a longboard 14 to 15 lbs (6.4-6.8 kg). In between, fish and hybrids sit around 7-8 lbs and mid-lengths 8-9.5 lbs. A beginner soft-top weighs 10 to 13 lbs, which is more than a hard board of the same length.
Board weight comes down to three things, in this order: length, construction and the type of foam. Length dominates because a board is mostly foam volume and layers of cloth, so a 9-foot longboard weighs twice what a 6-foot shortboard does even when both are built well.
And here is the confusion that brings most people to this question: the weight of the board does not decide whether it floats you. Volume does, measured in litres. A board can be heavy and float you easily, or light and sink under you. Weight matters for paddling and for carrying it down to the water, not for flotation.
Weight by board type
| Type | Pounds | Kilos |
|---|---|---|
| Shortboard | 6 – 7 | 2.7 – 3.2 |
| Fish | 7 – 8 | 3.2 – 3.6 |
| Hybrid | 7 – 8 | 3.2 – 3.6 |
| Mid-length / funboard | 8 – 9.5 | 3.6 – 4.3 |
| Softboard | 10 – 13 | 4.5 – 5.9 |
| Longboard | 14 – 15 | 6.4 – 6.8 |
Ranges built from the published weights of commercial models in each family (see sources). There is no published weight data for guns; given their length and thickness they land between a hybrid and a longboard.
The quick rule: from volume to weight
If you know your board's litres, you have an estimate of its weight: a hard board weighs roughly 9 to 10 % of its volume, in kilos. A 35-litre board lands around 3.2 kg; a 60-litre one around 5.5. The rule comes from crossing the ranges above with the usual volume of each family, so treat it as an approximation and not a spec sheet.
With soft-tops the ratio drops to 6 or 7 % because they carry much more volume for the same length. And if your board sits between two ranges, go by volume rather than length: it is the figure that actually describes a board.
A soft-top weighs more, not less
Almost everyone starting out assumes a foam board is light because it is soft. The numbers say otherwise: an 8-foot Wavestorm weighs 11 lbs and a Catch Surf Odysea Log 12, while a hard funboard of the same length stays around 8 or 9.1Published weights for specific models, collected by Surfer's Footprint. These do not come from the engine: they are catalogue figures. The outer foam and the internal stringer add weight, and soft-tops usually carry more volume on top of that.
None of that argues against a soft-top to learn on. The huge volume and the safety are worth far more than those two pounds. It does explain why the first time you carry one to the beach it feels heavier than you expected.
Epoxy or polyurethane
At the same dimensions, a polyurethane board — the classic fibreglass build — weighs roughly 10 to 15 % more than an epoxy board with an EPS core.2Build comparison from Degree 33 Surfboards. On a shortboard that is the difference between about 3.2 kg and 2.8 kg: noticeable when you carry it and paddle, less so when you surf.
Construction also changes how the board flexes and how well it takes dings, and there the choice stops being about weight. Epoxy floats slightly better for the same volume and survives pressure dents better; polyurethane has the flex most people are used to.
Where these figures come from
- Surfer's Footprint — Published weights for 25 specific models, by family.
- Wetsuit Wearhouse — Ranges by board type and the effect of construction.
- Degree 33 Surfboards — Polyurethane against epoxy, compared.