What’s The Correct Surfboard Volume for Beginner Surfer?

What is Surfboard Volume?

Volume is how much foam a surfboard has and it affects how well it floats. A surfboard with more buoyancy paddles faster and catches waves more easily because it keeps the rider and board higher on the water, cutting down on drag.

Different surfboard makers have their ways of figuring out the volume, but they usually do it from the percentage of the surfer’s weight.

Here are some recommended volume ranges in litres for beginners based on weight categories. For exact recommendations for your weight, check out the manufacturer’s website.

Surfer’s weight	Firewire	Lost	Pyzel	JS industry
50kg / 110 lbs	39L	25L	30.8L	34.2L
55kg / 121 lbs	41.45L	26.8L	32.5L	35.8L
60kg / 132 lbs	42.55L	30L	34L	37.5L
65kg / 143 lbs	46.14L	32.5L	36L	39.2L
70kg / 154 lbs	49.32L	35L	38.4L	40.8L
75kg / 165 lbs	52.5L	37L	41L	42.5L
80kg / 176 lbs	56L	40L	43.8L	44.2L
85kg / 187 lbs	59L	43L	46.8L	46.3L
90kg / 198 lbs	63L	45L	49.2L	48L
95kg / 209 lbs	66L	47L	52L	49.7L
100kg / 220 lbs	72L	50L	55.5L	51.3L

As you can see, the recommended volume differs significantly between brands. The biggest difference between the smallest and largest is more than 14 litres, a significant variance that even beginner surfers can notice.

There are several reasons for these differing volume recommendations.

Firstly, defining beginner surfers is challenging. While some consider beginner surfers as those who can catch unbroken waves and stand up, others define them as those who only ride the whitewash. The disparity between these two types of surfers is significant.

Secondly, the volume recommendation for a surfboard depends on other dimensions and characteristics.

For instance, consider two boards with the same volume but one with an exaggerated rocker and the other with a flat rocker.

A flatter rocker surfboard will sit higher in the water, creating less drag, whereas a rockered board will sink deeper. Consequently, the flatter rocker will paddle much faster and catch waves better. Therefore, even the same brand will recommend different volumes for different boards.

If you want to dive into the different aspects of a surfboard’s dimensions like rocker, length, width, and thickness, and how they impact performance, I’ve covered that extensively in this resource.

Lastly, the recommended volume can vary for different purposes. If you aim to maximize wave catching and trimming on a small wave, merely opting for a larger volume will achieve that. However, if you desire the board to turn and generate speed, opting for a larger volume will be counterproductive.

Furthermore, the volume calculator does not account for the types of waves you seek, your fitness level, crowd conditions, or your wetsuit weight. Therefore, the volume calculator serves only as a starting guide.

The most cost-effective way to determine your suitable volume is to purchase a second-hand surfboard with a known volume. If you would like useful tips on purchasing second-hand surfboards, read here.

Can you tell the difference in volume in the water?

This depends on the surfer and their sensitivity. Some experienced surfers report they can detect as little as 0.2 litres of volume. Rusty Surfboard’s founder stated that professionals may be able to detect half a litre.

Detecting volume is tricky because of other variables. Here are some reasons:

1. Glassing: Thicker glassing increases weight and sinks more.
2. Foam Materials: EPS (Epoxy) floats better than a PU board.
3. Your weight fluctuates during the day. Eating a large meal affects flotation.
4. Different oceans have varying saltiness levels: The saltier the ocean, the more the body floats. Think of the Dead Sea where people can read a newspaper while floating. The open ocean’s saltiness varies depending on rainfall and evaporation.

Detecting differences also depends on the volume’s size. For Minimal or longboards, 1-2 liters of volume are less influential compared to shortboards.

This concept is known as the minimum detectable difference. For example, when someone picks up a 50kg weight, the difference between 49kg and 50kg won’t be much. However, in the 2-3kg range, a 1kg difference is noticeable.

Therefore, don’t fixate too much on volume when purchasing a beginner surfboard like a minimal or longboard. If interested, I’ve written a detailed article on what kinds of longboards beginners should get here.

An important factor about volume when purchasing shortboards: Don’t expect the board to perform if you buy an oversized surfboard to compensate for your lack of skill. The board is designed for rail-to-rail surfing.