A standard complete skateboard is the most versatile board you can buy: one deck that handles tricks, transition, sidewalk cruising, and the daily push to class or work. If you’re new here, that’s exactly what you want. A complete skateboard ships fully assembled, so you skate it out of the box instead of guessing at parts. The catch is that “complete” covers everything from a $35 toy-store board that falls apart in a month to a properly built setup from a real skate brand that lasts for years.
We test these the boring, honest way: we ride them, drop them off curbs, let kids and grown adults push around on them, and see what holds up. The picks below are all from legitimate skate companies (Powell Peralta, Element, Enjoi, Almost, Birdhouse, Magneto and friends), all currently available, and every one is matched to a specific rider rather than crowned “best overall.” Because honestly, the best skateboard for a 7-year-old is a terrible skateboard for a 200-pound street skater, and vice versa.
Not sure a standard popsicle-shape board is even what you want? It’s worth two minutes to read the different types of skateboards before you buy, and if you’re brand new, our guide to choosing the proper skateboard walks through deck width, trucks, and wheels in plain English. Now, the picks.
Top picks at a glance
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Skateboards by use case
Best for kids
For young riders, go smaller and softer, not cheaper. The Magneto Kids Mini Complete uses a narrower deck that fits small feet, so a child can actually push and balance instead of wrestling a full-size adult board. Resist the toy-store impulse buy, a real complete is safer and lasts. If you want a deeper breakdown of sizing by age, see how to choose the proper skateboard.
Best for beginners
New skaters should start on a forgiving, affordable real-brand board, the Element Section Complete nails this. It comes assembled, balances stability and pop, and won’t punish you for sloppy footing while you learn to push, turn, and ride switch. No need to spend pro money on day one. For more on what actually matters at the start, read what skateboard is good for beginners.
Best for street / tricks
Once you’re popping ollies and hitting ledges, you want stiffness and response. The Almost Spectrum Complete delivers crisp pop and parts built to survive curbs, stairs, and rails. A proper street setup makes flip tricks click in a way a soft beginner board never will. Curious which shape suits your style? Compare the different types of skateboards first.
Best for cruising
If you mostly want to get around town, prioritize soft wheels over trick-ability. The Magneto Cruiser Complete rolls on grippy 78A wheels that absorb cracks and rough pavement for a smooth, quiet ride. It’s a commuter and carver, not a stair-jumper, and that’s the point. Weighing a cruiser against a longboard or electric board? Start with the types of skateboards guide.
What to look for
- Deck width by age and foot size. Width matters more than length. Young kids do best around 7.0-7.5 inches, most teens and adults land at 7.75-8.25 inches, and bigger feet or taller riders want 8.25 inches and up. Skate the width that fits your foot, not the graphic you like best.
- Complete vs. building your own. A complete ships assembled and is almost always the smarter, cheaper first buy. Building a custom setup only pays off once you know your preferences, don’t overthink it on board one.
- Trucks. These are the metal axles that let you turn and grind. Look for real cast-aluminum trucks roughly matched to your deck width. Cheap stamped or plastic-heavy trucks bend and are the first thing to fail on toy boards.
- Wheels: hard vs. soft. Harder wheels (around 99A and up) slide and pop better for street and skatepark tricks. Softer wheels (around 78A-87A) grip and roll smoothly over rough ground, which is what you want for cruising and commuting.
- Bearings. Bearings determine how fast and freely the wheels spin. You don’t need anything exotic to start, mid-grade bearings from a real brand are plenty and easy to upgrade later.
- Durability and construction. Look for 7-ply North American or Canadian maple, the proven standard for strength and pop. Heavier and harder-skating riders should favor brands known for tougher deck construction.
- Grip tape. Good grip keeps your feet locked in for tricks and balance. Most real completes come pre-gripped with quality tape, it should feel like coarse sandpaper, not smooth or peeling.
A closer look at each pick
Magneto Kids Mini Complete Skateboard
Kids (ages 5-9)
A narrower, shorter deck and softer setup that fits small feet so kids can actually push and balance instead of fighting an oversized adult board. Genuinely good first board at a fair price.
Element Section Complete Skateboard
Beginners
A real skate-brand complete at a budget-friendly price, assembled and ready to ride. Forgiving enough to learn pushing and ollies on without dropping pro-board money before you know you’ll stick with it.
Enjoi Whitey Panda Complete Skateboard
All-around / everyday
Medium concave and a balanced width make this a do-everything board for cruising, ledges, and learning flip tricks. The kind of setup you don’t outgrow in a season.
Almost Spectrum Complete Skateboard
Street / tricks
Built for the skater who’s past the basics and wants pop, a crisp shape, and parts that survive stairs and rails. Stiffer, more responsive, and ready to actually session a spot.
Magneto Cruiser Complete Skateboard
Cruising / commuting
Soft 78A wheels and a mellow shape soak up rough pavement so you can carve sidewalks and roll to class without rattling your teeth out. Not a trick board, a pure get-around board.
Powell Peralta Mini Logo Complete Skateboard
Budget (without buying a toy)
The cheapest board on this list that we’d still call a real skateboard. Honest parts from a legendary company, priced for people who don’t want to gamble on garbage.
Birdhouse Stage 3 Complete Skateboard
Mid-tier upgrade
7-ply North American maple and better trucks and bearings than entry completes, at a price that still makes sense. The move once you’ve outgrown your first beginner board.
Powell Peralta Flight Deck Complete (8.5 inch)
Taller and heavier riders
A wider 8.5-inch deck gives bigger feet a stable platform, and Powell’s tougher deck construction holds up to more weight and harder landings. If standard 8.0 boards feel cramped, size up here.
Guides & related reads
Why trust ScooterMcGoo?
We ride this stuff before we rank it, and we tell you the truth — including when something isn’t worth your money.
Frequently asked questions
What size skateboard should I get?
Go by deck width, not length. Kids ages 5-9 do best around 7.0-7.5 inches, most teens and adults are happy at 7.75-8.25 inches, and taller or heavier riders with bigger feet should look at 8.25 inches and up. The right width feels stable under your foot without feeling sluggish.
Are complete skateboards good, or should I build my own?
For almost everyone starting out, a complete from a real skate brand is the better buy: it’s assembled, dialed in, and cheaper than buying every part separately. Building your own only makes sense once you’ve skated enough to know exactly which deck, trucks, and wheels you prefer.
What’s the difference between a skateboard and a cruiser?
A standard skateboard has a symmetrical popsicle shape with two kicktails and harder wheels, built for tricks and skateparks. A cruiser usually has softer wheels and a shape tuned for smooth riding over rough pavement. If you mainly want to get around, lean cruiser; if you want to learn tricks, get a standard complete.
How much should a beginner spend on a skateboard?
A genuinely good beginner complete from a real brand typically runs a reasonable mid-double-digit price, enough to get honest parts, not so much that you’re buying a pro setup before you know you’ll stick with it. Avoid the cheapest big-box boards; their soft trucks and weak decks make learning harder.
Can adults ride standard skateboards, or do they need a bigger board?
Adults can absolutely ride standard completes, most pros skate decks in the 8.0-8.5 inch range. If you have bigger feet, are on the taller side, or want more stability, size up to 8.25 inches or wider and pick a brand known for tougher deck construction. There’s nothing kid-specific about a real skateboard.