What volume surfboard should I ride?

Starting volume is your weight in kilograms times a Guild Factor. At 160 lb (72.6 kg), surfers in the absolute beginner band start at 58–72.5 liters, before wave, frequency, age, and board adjustments.

How much volume does a beginner need?

Absolute beginner surfers use Guild Factor 0.8–1, which is 58–72.5 liters at 160 lb (72.6 kg). Improver surfers use Guild Factor 0.5–0.65, which is 36.5–47 liters at the same weight.

How much volume should a fish have?

Fish sizing is on the fish surfboard volume page. The ranges on this chart are the starting point: your weight in kilograms times a Guild Factor.

How is surfboard volume calculated?

Volume in liters is body weight in kilograms multiplied by a Guild Factor, rounded to the nearest half liter. Absolute beginner surfers use 0.8–1, and the factor gets smaller as ability goes up.

What does the volume chart leave out?

The chart is the starting range only. The calculator still adjusts for wave conditions, surf frequency, age, what you want from the board, and board type.

Volume chart · Methodology v1

Surfboard volume chart by weight and ability

Quick answers

What volume surfboard should I ride?: Starting volume is your weight in kilograms times a Guild Factor. At 160 lb (72.6 kg), surfers in the absolute beginner band start at 58–72.5 liters, before wave, frequency, age, and board adjustments.
How much volume does a beginner need?: Absolute beginner surfers use Guild Factor 0.8–1, which is 58–72.5 liters at 160 lb (72.6 kg). Improver surfers use Guild Factor 0.5–0.65, which is 36.5–47 liters at the same weight.
How much volume should a fish have?: Fish sizing is on the fish surfboard volume page. The ranges on this chart are the starting point: your weight in kilograms times a Guild Factor.
How is surfboard volume calculated?: Volume in liters is body weight in kilograms multiplied by a Guild Factor, rounded to the nearest half liter. Absolute beginner surfers use 0.8–1, and the factor gets smaller as ability goes up.
What does the volume chart leave out?: The chart is the starting range only. The calculator still adjusts for wave conditions, surf frequency, age, what you want from the board, and board type.

Volume is the foam in a surfboard, measured in liters. This chart is a starting range by body weight and ability. It uses the Guild Factor formula: liters equal weight in kilograms times a factor for that ability. The factor gets smaller as ability goes up.

These are the calculator's starting ranges, before it adjusts for wave conditions, surf frequency, age, what you want from the board, and board type. The table does not include those adjustments.

What each ability level means

Absolute beginner. Never stood up, or only riding whitewater on a soft-top. Guild Factor 0.8–1. Highlighted in the chart.
Improver. Standing and turning, working toward a shortboard-style board. Guild Factor 0.5–0.65. Highlighted in the chart.
Intermediate. Linking turns, catching waves independently, some wave selection. Guild Factor 0.38–0.5.
Advanced. Consistent performance surfing, comfortable in varied conditions. Guild Factor 0.34–0.38.
Expert / competitive. High-performance or competitive surfing. Guild Factor 0.3–0.34.

Calculate my volume

The calculator uses this same starting formula, then applies the adjustments for how and where you surf.

Surfboard volume in liters by body weight and ability. Highlighted columns are the beginner bands, absolute beginner and improver.
Weight	Absolute beginnerBeginner band · liters	ImproverBeginner band · liters	IntermediateLiters	AdvancedLiters	Expert / competitiveLiters
100 lb45.4 kg	36.5–45.5	22.5–29.5	17–22.5	15.5–17	13.5–15.5
120 lb54.4 kg	43.5–54.5	27–35.5	20.5–27	18.5–20.5	16.5–18.5
140 lb63.5 kg	51–63.5	32–41.5	24–32	21.5–24	19–21.5
160 lb72.6 kg	58–72.5	36.5–47	27.5–36.5	24.5–27.5	22–24.5
180 lb81.6 kg	65.5–81.5	41–53	31–41	28–31	24.5–28
200 lb90.7 kg	72.5–90.5	45.5–59	34.5–45.5	31–34.5	27–31
220 lb99.8 kg	80–100	50–65	38–50	34–38	30–34
240 lb108.9 kg	87–109	54.5–71	41.5–54.5	37–41.5	32.5–37
260 lb117.9 kg	94.5–118	59–76.5	45–59	40–45	35.5–40

Highlighted columns are the beginner bands: absolute beginner and improver. Liters are rounded to the nearest 0.5 L. Kilograms in the weight column are shown to one decimal. The liter math uses the unrounded conversion, 1 lb = 0.453592 kg, the same factor as the calculator. Swipe sideways to see every ability.

Sources

The ability factors are the ones documented in the calculator configuration, drawn from published sizing guidance: Lost Surfboards, Surfex, SurfboardCalculator.com, and Surfer Today. Those sources disagree in places. Lost's novice band is not a first-time soft-top rider, so absolute beginner and improver stay separate. Coefficients, caps, and the notes on those disagreements are on the methodology page.