Ski & Snowboard Size Calculator
Your height, weight and how you ski or ride. You get the length from two published size charts side by side, plus poles, boots and board width.
Ski length · intermediate
170 cmevo’s chart for 5′ 8″. OnTheSnow’s chart: 160–180 cm.
- evo · intermediate
- 170 cm (67 in)
- OnTheSnow · any ability
- 160–180 cm
- Poles · Faction
- 120 cm
- Shorter skis turn more easily; longer skis are steadier at speed. Beginners go shorter, experts longer.
- Add your foot length for your ski boot size.
Charts checked 2026-09-19: evo, OnTheSnow, Skiis & Biikes, Faction. Every chart is a starting point: try the length in the shop.
Quick answer: an intermediate skier who is 5′ 8″ (173 cm) rides skis of about 170 cm on evo’s chart, inside OnTheSnow’s 160–180 cm. Beginners go about 10 cm shorter, experts about 8 cm longer. A 5′ 8″ snowboarder of 150–170 lb rides a board of 148–162 cm. The calculator reads the published charts for your exact height and weight.
How to use it
Pick skis or a snowboard, then enter your height and weight. For skis, say how you ski: the length moves with ability, not only with height. For a snowboard, your weight matters as much as your height, and your shoe size sets how wide the board must be so your toes and heels do not drag in a turn. Add your foot length for your ski boot size.
The answer quotes each chart on its own, side by side. Charts from different shops do not agree to the centimeter, and a number halfway between them would be one nobody published. Use them as the range to try in the rental shop or the store.
The rules behind the numbers
- Ski length comes from your height and ability. On evo’s chart a beginner’s ski reaches about the chin, an intermediate’s the nose, an expert’s the forehead or above. OnTheSnow gives one range per height that covers all three.
- Snowboard length comes from height, then weight. When your weight is outside the range for your height, the calculator also shows the row for your weight. As evo puts it, if you are above average weight, consider a longer board.
- Board width comes from your US boot size, from evo’s chart. The ranges overlap on purpose: a size 9.5 fits boards from 246 to 259 mm wide.
- Poles come from Faction’s chart by height, in 5 cm steps.
- Ski boots are sized in Mondopoint, which is simply the length of your foot in centimeters. evo’s guidance on fit: beginners take their Mondopoint or half a size larger, intermediates their Mondopoint or half a size smaller, and experts half to one size smaller.
Ski length chart
From evo (by ability) and OnTheSnow (one range), both in cm.
| Height | Beginner | Intermediate | Expert | OnTheSnow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4′ 4″ (132 cm) | 120 | 130 | 138 | 115–130 |
| 4′ 6″ (137 cm) | 125 | 135 | 143 | 125–140 |
| 4′ 8″ (142 cm) | 130 | 140 | 148 | 130–145 |
| 4′ 10″ (147 cm) | 135 | 145 | 153 | 135–150 |
| 5′ 0″ (152 cm) | 140 | 150 | 158 | 135–155 |
| 5′ 2″ (158 cm) | 145 | 155 | 163 | 145–165 |
| 5′ 4″ (163 cm) | 150 | 160 | 168 | 150–170 |
| 5′ 6″ (168 cm) | 155 | 165 | 173 | 155–175 |
| 5′ 8″ (173 cm) | 160 | 170 | 178 | 160–180 |
| 5′ 10″ (178 cm) | 165 | 175 | 183 | 165–185 |
| 6′ 0″ (183 cm) | 170 | 180 | 188 | 170–190 |
| 6′ 2″ (188 cm) | 175 | 185 | 190+ | 175–195 |
| 6′ 4″ (193 cm) | 180 | 190 | 190+ | 180–200 |
Snowboard size chart
From evo, in cm. Skiis & Biikes publishes a second chart; the calculator shows both.
| Height | Weight | Board length |
|---|---|---|
| 4′ 10″ (147 cm) | 100–120 lb | 132–148 |
| 5′ 0″ (152 cm) | 110–130 lb | 138–152 |
| 5′ 2″ (158 cm) | 120–140 lb | 140–155 |
| 5′ 4″ (163 cm) | 130–150 lb | 142–158 |
| 5′ 6″ (168 cm) | 140–160 lb | 145–160 |
| 5′ 8″ (173 cm) | 150–170 lb | 148–162 |
| 5′ 10″ (178 cm) | 160–185 lb | 150–162 |
| 6′ 0″ (183 cm) | 170–195 lb | 152–164 |
| 6′ 2″ (188 cm) | 180–210 lb | 155–166 |
| 6′ 4″ (193 cm) | 190+ lb | 158+ |
Worked examples
A 5′ 4″ beginner skier
evo says 150 cm; OnTheSnow’s range is 150–170 cm. Start at 150 cm: short skis are easier to turn while you learn.
A 6′ expert skier
evo says 188 cm, at the top of OnTheSnow’s 170–190 cm. Past 6′ 2″, evo’s expert column is “190+”: the chart gives a floor there, not a length.
A 5′ 10″, 200 lb snowboarder in US size 11 boots
By height, evo says 150–162 cm, but 200 lb is above that row’s weight range, and evo’s row for 200 lb says 155–166 cm. Take the longer board. Size 11 boots need a waist of 255 mm or wider, which means a wide board.
Common mistakes
- Sizing a snowboard by height alone. Weight bends the board. A heavy rider on a short board sinks and washes out.
- Riding a regular-width board with big feet. Toes and heels hang over the edge and catch the snow in a carve. From a US men’s 11, evo’s chart points to mid-wide and wide boards (255 mm and up).
- Buying boots by shoe size. Shoe sizes vary by brand. Measure your foot in centimeters: that is the boot size.
- Going long too soon. A longer ski is more stable fast, but harder to turn. Size for how you ski now.
Planning the trip
Before you go, run through the ski packing checklist. For where to go, see the best cold-season destinations, things to do in Whistler and the Alps on a budget. Driving to the mountains? Read the winter road trip gear list.
FAQ
What size skis do I need for my height?
Roughly chin height for a beginner, nose height for an intermediate and forehead height or above for an expert. On evo’s chart that is 160, 170 and 178 cm for someone 5′ 8″ (173 cm) tall.
What size snowboard do I need?
Start from your height, then check your weight. At 5′ 8″ evo’s chart says 148–162 cm for a rider of 150–170 lb. If you weigh more than the range for your height, take the longer board your weight points to.
How do I find my ski boot size?
Measure your foot from heel to longest toe in centimeters. Ski boots are sized in Mondopoint, which is that length: a 27.3 cm foot is a Mondopoint 27.5.
How long should ski poles be?
By Faction’s chart, 120 cm for 169–175 cm tall and 125 cm for 176–183 cm, in 5 cm steps.
How wide should my snowboard be?
Wide enough that your boots barely hang over the edges. On evo’s chart a US men’s size 9.5 rides a waist of 246–259 mm, and a men’s 10.5 or larger needs 251 mm or more.
Should beginners use shorter skis?
Yes. A shorter ski turns more easily at low speed. On evo’s chart a beginner’s ski is about 10 cm shorter than an intermediate’s at the same height.