Picking your first or your tenth surfboard comes down to three numbers: length, volume, and rocker. Length sets how the board paddles and trims through flat sections. Volume sets how easily you catch waves and how stable the board feels under your feet. Rocker (the curve from nose to tail) sets how steep a wave the board can drop into without nosediving. Shortboards, longboards, and funboards each push those three numbers in different directions to favor different conditions. The right shape depends on your skill level, your weight, and the size of the waves you actually surf on a typical day. Here is how the three categories compare across the things that matter.
Shortboards, the high-performance choice
Shortboards run 5 foot 6 to 6 foot 8 in length, carry 24 to 32 liters of volume for advanced surfers, and use deep rocker that lets the nose pierce steep wave faces without diving under. The narrow outline (typically 18 to 19.5 inches wide) and pulled-in tail let the board pivot off small rail engagements, which is what makes hard turns and aerial maneuvers possible.
The cost is paddle speed and wave catching. A 6 foot 2 shortboard with 28 liters of volume requires fitness, paddle technique, and timing to catch an unbroken wave. Most surfers cannot paddle a true shortboard until they have surfed regularly for 2 to 4 years. Below that experience level, the board floats too little, paddles too slow, and pearls (noses under) on takeoff.
Best wave range: 3 to 12 feet, depending on rocker and tail shape. A “groveler” shortboard with flatter rocker and wider outline (6 foot 2 by 20 inches, 32 liters) handles 2 to 6 foot waves. A “step-up” shortboard with deep rocker and narrow outline (6 foot 6 by 18.5 inches, 30 liters) handles 6 to 12 foot waves.
Price range: 500 to 900 dollars new, 250 to 500 dollars used in good shape.
Longboards, the all-day glide
Longboards run 8 foot 6 to 10 foot in length, carry 60 to 90 liters of volume, and use minimal rocker (often nearly flat through the middle). The wide outline (typically 22 to 24 inches) and full nose let the board paddle fast, catch waves early, and trim across flat sections that would stop a shorter board.
This is the shape that adult beginners learn on for good reason. The 9 foot Wavestorm, the Catch Surf Heritage 9 foot, and the BIC Sport DURA-TEC 9 foot 0 are the three most popular adult learner boards in the United States, and all three sell on volume that lets a 200 pound adult paddle into a small wave on the first session.
The longboard limits are turning and steep waves. A 9 foot board cannot pivot the way a shortboard does. Cross-stepping (walking the board to shift weight) replaces rail-to-rail turning as the main control method, and that takes practice to develop. On waves steeper than 5 feet, the long nose pearls easily because the flat rocker does not match the wave face curve.
Best wave range: 0.5 to 5 feet. A clean 2 foot longboard wave is one of the most enjoyable rides in surfing. A 6 foot wave on a longboard is dangerous for the surfer and everyone around them.
Price range: 600 to 1200 dollars new for a hard board, 200 to 350 dollars for a soft top, 250 to 600 dollars used.
Funboards (mid-lengths), the in-between answer
Funboards run 6 foot 8 to 8 foot 6 in length, carry 45 to 65 liters of volume, and use moderate rocker. The category includes mini-mals (7 foot to 8 foot wider boards aimed at beginners), eggs (rounder outlines, 6 foot 8 to 7 foot 6, more performance focused), and mid-length single fins (7 foot to 8 foot 6 with classic glide aesthetics).
This is the most versatile category in surfing. A 7 foot 6 funboard with 55 liters of volume paddles fast enough for a moderately fit adult to catch waves at any local break, turns sharper than a longboard, and handles a wider wave size range than a shortboard. Most surfers who own one board own a funboard.
The cost is specialization. A funboard does not turn as hard as a shortboard, does not glide as far as a longboard, and does not cross-step well because the nose is too short. If you want to perform any one of those tricks at a high level, you eventually need a board built for it.
Best wave range: 1 to 6 feet, with the sweet spot at 2 to 4 feet. A funboard in head-high surf is fun but starts to feel slow and corky compared to a properly sized shortboard.
Price range: 550 to 1000 dollars new, 250 to 500 dollars used.
Volume and the weight equation
Volume is the single most important number for choosing a surfboard. Length and outline matter for turning and style, but volume determines whether you catch waves at all.
The current consensus formula across shapers like Channel Islands, Lost, and Firewire is volume in liters equals body weight in pounds times a multiplier:
- Beginner (less than 1 year): 0.40 to 0.45
- Early intermediate (1 to 2 years): 0.35 to 0.40
- Intermediate (3 to 5 years): 0.32 to 0.38
- Advanced (5 plus years): 0.26 to 0.32
- Expert competitive: 0.22 to 0.28
A 170 pound surfer at each stage needs roughly 70 liters as a beginner, 60 liters as an early intermediate, 55 liters as an intermediate, and 45 liters as advanced. That progression matches the natural shape progression from longboard to funboard to shortboard.
Wave size and rocker
Rocker is the curve from nose to tail measured along the bottom of the board. Flat rocker (less than 4 inches of nose lift) paddles fast and catches waves early but pearls on steep takeoffs. Deep rocker (more than 6 inches of nose lift) handles steep waves but paddles slower and catches waves later.
Longboards have the flattest rocker. Shortboards have the deepest. Funboards sit in the middle. Match rocker to your local wave shape, not just to your skill level. A funboard with flat rocker (like a mini-mal) suits soft mushy beach breaks. A funboard with deeper rocker (like an egg or a mid-length single fin) suits steeper point breaks.
Soft top versus hard board
For the first 6 to 12 months, a soft top is the right tool. The foam construction forgives the falls, the dropped boards, and the inevitable contact with other surfers. The Wavestorm 8 foot, the Catch Surf Odysea 8 foot, and the Costco Tower 8 foot 6 are the three benchmark adult soft tops at the 200 to 350 dollar range.
After the first year, most surfers move to a hard board of similar length to get more paddle speed, sharper turns, and a longer performance ceiling. A 7 foot 6 hard funboard responds to weight shifts that a soft top simply absorbs.
What we recommend
For a complete beginner adult: start on a 9 foot soft top longboard. Wavestorm 8 foot or 9 foot for cost, Catch Surf Heritage 9 foot for build quality.
For an early intermediate surfer riding 2 to 4 foot waves: a 7 foot 6 mini-mal hard board around 60 liters. The Torq TEC mod fun 7 foot 6 is the benchmark.
For an intermediate to advanced surfer at a typical California or East Coast break: a 6 foot 8 to 7 foot 0 egg or mid-length around 45 to 55 liters. Channel Islands Mid 6 or Lost RNF 96 versions are common picks.
For an advanced surfer at a clean steeper break: a 6 foot 2 to 6 foot 4 high-performance shortboard around 28 to 32 liters. Channel Islands Happy or Lost Driver 3.0 are benchmarks.
For more on board sizing and wave selection see our wetsuit thickness guide and our paddleboarding types guide. Methodology at /methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Is a longboard or a funboard easier for a complete beginner?+
A longboard is easier on most days. Longboards in the 9 to 9 foot 6 range carry 70 to 90 liters of volume, which means almost any adult can paddle into a small wave and stand up on the first or second session. Funboards in the 7 foot to 8 foot range carry 50 to 65 liters, which is enough for a fit adult under 180 pounds but marginal for heavier surfers. If you weigh more than 200 pounds, start on a 9 foot soft top. If you weigh 150 to 180 pounds and have decent fitness, a 7 foot 6 funboard works.
Can a funboard surf the same waves as a shortboard?+
Up to a point. Funboards handle 1 to 5 foot waves comfortably and turn well enough for trim and basic cutbacks. Above 5 feet they become harder to duck dive because the volume floats them back to the surface, and they are too straight rockered for steep takeoffs. A 6 foot 4 shortboard with proper rocker drops into a 6 foot wave that a 7 foot 6 funboard cannot handle. Match the shape to the wave size you actually surf 80 percent of the time.
How much volume should my surfboard have?+
The rule of thumb is liters equal to 40 to 45 percent of your body weight in pounds for beginners, 32 to 38 percent for intermediates, and 26 to 32 percent for advanced surfers. A 170 pound beginner needs 68 to 76 liters, which puts them on an 8 foot mini-mal or a 9 foot longboard. The same surfer at intermediate level moves down to 55 to 65 liters (a 7 foot funboard or 6 foot 8 mid-length), and at advanced level drops to 45 to 55 liters (a 6 foot 2 to 6 foot 6 shortboard).
Are foam soft top surfboards good for adults?+
Yes, for the first 6 to 12 months. Soft tops like the Wavestorm 8 foot, Catch Surf Odysea, and Costco Tower forgive the bumps and falls that come with learning. The foam construction means the deck does not crack when you drop it, and the edges do not slice your shins. The downside is performance ceiling. Soft tops paddle slower than a hard board of the same length and do not respond to weight shifts the same way. Most surfers move to a hard funboard or mid-length once they can consistently catch and ride unbroken waves.
Should my first surfboard be new or used?+
Used is fine if you know what to look for. Check the bottom for delamination (soft spots where the fiberglass has separated from the foam), look at the rails for pressure cracks that go all the way through, and inspect the fin boxes for hairline fractures. A clean used 8 foot mini-mal in good shape costs 200 to 350 dollars versus 500 to 800 dollars new. Avoid boards with repaired snaps unless you can see the repair quality up close, snapped boards rarely surf the same again even with professional ding repair.
Riley Cooper
Riley Cooper writes for The Tested Hub.