Finding your ideal SUP paddle length might feel like a waste of good paddleboarding time, but it shouldn’t. The benefits of a properly sized paddle to your paddleboarding AND your health are numerous, and it only takes a little time and effort to enjoy them. We know, because we did it. And if we can do it, so can you.
So, go grab your paddleboard paddle now. Because, with our help, you’re going to finally show that thing who’s boss and bring it down to its correct size once and for all.
If you’re interested in discovering more about your SUP paddle than just how to find the right length, check out our comprehensive
You might be surprised at just how much more there is to learn about your new best friend.
SUP Paddle Length Chart – Scrollable & Mobile Friendly

The SUP paddle length chart / calculator below is for informational purposes only and is based on the most common recommendations provided by SUP board manufacturers & SUP paddle manufacturers.
They’re the experts. We’re not going to argue with them.
However, they are RECOMMENDATIONS ONLY.
Like ours, YOUR ideal SUP paddle length may vary by several inches or more from the suggested figures.
** Why?- Because once you’ve established the correct SUP paddle length for your height, there are a number of ADDITIONAL FACTORS you should consider that will affect your own individual paddle length further.
We created a simple step-by-step guide to help us take each of these extra factors into account. You can find it further down in this post. Every time we go stand up paddleboarding we use it. We highly recommend you do too **
** How to Use our SUP Paddle Length Chart / Calculator **
Scroll along the TOP HORIZONTAL ROW until you find the column containing your physical height. Height is shown in feet & inches, inches and centimetres.
The numbers in the column cells below it show the recommended SUP paddle lengths for touring, racing and surfing for that height. e.g. If I, or one of my children, was 4 ft 4 inches tall (52 inches/132cm) and we were SUP surfing today, our recommended SUP paddle length for surfing would be approx 56 inches or 142 cm.
Adjust your SUP paddle to that length and then follow the step-by-step guide later on in this post to make further ESSENTIAL fine-tuning.
SUP Leisure / Touring
SUP Racing
SUP Surfing
4′
48 inches
122 cm
54 inches
137 cm
53 inches
134.5 cm
52 inches
132 cm
4′ 1″
49 inches
124.5 cm
55 inches
139.5 cm
54 inches
137 cm
53 inches
134.5 cm
4′ 2″
50 inches
127 cm
57 inches
144.5 cm
55 inches
139.5 cm
54 inches
137 cm
4′ 3″
51 inches
129.5 cm
58 inches
147 cm
56 inches
142 cm
55 inches
139.5 cm
4′ 4″
52 inches
132 cm
59 inches
150 cm
57 inches
144.5 cm
56 inches
142 cm
4′ 5″
53 inches
134.5 cm
60 inches
152.5 cm
58 inches
147 cm
57 inches
144.5 cm
4′ 6″
54 inches
137 cm
61 inches
155 cm
59 inches
150 cm
58 inches
147 cm
4′ 7″
55 inches
139.5 cm
62 inches
157.5 cm
61 inches
155 cm
59 inches
150 cm
4′ 8″
56 inches
142 cm
63 inches
160 cm
62 inches
157.5 cm
60 inches
152.5 cm
4′ 9″
57 inches
144.5 cm
64 inches
162.5 cm
63 inches
160 cm
62 inches
157.5 cm
4′ 10″
58 inches
147 cm
66 inches
167.5 cm
64 inches
162.5 cm
63 inches
160 cm
4′ 11″
59 inches
150 cm
67 inches
170 cm
65 inches
165 cm
64 inches
162.5 cm
5′
60 inches
152.5 cm
68 inches
172.5 cm
66 inches
167.5 cm
65 inches
165 cm
5′ 1″
61 inches
155 cm
69 inches
175 cm
67 inches
170 cm
66 inches
167.5 cm
5′ 2″
62 inches
157.5 cm
70 inches
178 cm
68 inches
172.5 cm
67 inches
170 cm
5′ 3″
63 inches
160 cm
71 inches
180 cm
69 inches
175 cm
68 inches
172.5 cm
5′ 4″
64 inches
162.5 cm
72 inches
183 cm
70 inches
178 cm
69 inches
175 cm
5′ 5″
65 inches
165 cm
73 inches
185.5 cm
72 inches
183 cm
70 inches
178 cm
5′ 6″
66 inches
167.5 cm
75 inches
190.5 cm
73 inches
185.5 cm
71 inches
180 cm
5′ 7″
67 inches
170 cm
76 inches
193 cm
74 inches
188 cm
72 inches
183 cm
5′ 8″
68 inches
172.5 cm
77 inches
195.5 cm
75 inches
190.5 cm
73 inches
185.5 cm
5′ 9″
69 inches
175 cm
78 inches
198 cm
76 inches
193 cm
75 inches
190.5 cm
5′ 10″
70 inches
178 cm
79 inches
200.5 cm
77 inches
195.5 cm
76 inches
193 cm
5′ 11″
71 inches
180 cm
80 inches
203 cm
78 inches
198 cm
77 inches
195.5 cm
6′
72 inches
183 cm
81 inches
205.5 cm
79 inches
200.5 cm
78 inches
198 cm
6′ 1″
73 inches
185.5 cm
82 inches
208 cm
80 inches
203 cm
79 inches
200.5 cm
6′ 2″
74 inches
188 cm
84 inches
213.5 cm
81 inches
205.5 cm
80 inches
203 cm
6′ 3″
75 inches
190.5 cm
85 inches
216 cm
83 inches
211 cm
81 inches
205.5 cm
6′ 4″
76 inches
193 cm
86 inches
218.5 cm
84 inches
213.5 cm
82 inches
208 cm
6′ 5″
77 inches
195.5 cm
87 inches
221 cm
85 inches
216 cm
83 inches
211 cm
6′ 6″
78 inches
198 cm
88 inches
223.5 cm
86 inches
218.5 cm
84 inches
213.5 cm
6′ 7″
79 inches
200.5 cm
89 inches
226 cm
87 inches
221 cm
85 inches
216 cm
6′ 8″
80 inches
203 cm
90 inches
228.5 cm
88 inches
223.5 cm
86 inches
218.5 cm
6′ 9″
81 inches
205.5 cm
92 inches
233.5 cm
89 inches
226 cm
87 inches
221 cm
6′ 10″
82 inches
208 cm
93 inches
236 cm
90 inches
228.5 cm
89 inches
226 cm
6′ 11″
83 inches
211 cm
94 inches
239 cm
91 inches
231 cm
90 inches
228.5 cm
Your Ideal SUP Paddle Length
There’s an ideal SUP paddle length that’s perfect for me? Really? Surely all I need to do is what every other beginner SUP paddle boarder does? GUESS!
Well, that’s exactly what we used to do until we discovered, there IS a science to sizing a SUP paddle. And, once we discovered what it was and how to apply it to our own paddles we have to admit, just like finding the right psi for your paddle board, it does make a REAL difference.
Now, every time we head out for some stand up paddleboarding, all we do is run through a few quick and easy steps and swoosh, our SUP paddles fit us like watery gloves.
We’re not fighting with our paddles anymore. We’re not straining and stretching to control them. We’re not tickling or completely missing the water. And, we’re not loudly cursing the person who used our paddle before us.
In fact, you could almost say we feel more at one with our SUP paddles than ever.
And, as some wise paddle boarder somewhere must have said…
When you’re at one with your paddle you’re at one with your paddleboarding.
Recommended SUP Paddle Length – Beginner’s Advice FROM Absolute Beginners

Look online and you’ll find loads of websites hinting that they know the best SUP paddle length. You’ll get advice from:
- SUP paddle manufacturers
- SUP paddle board suppliers
- SUP paddleboarding champions
- SUP instructors
- SUPposed experts
- SUP forums
Plus, advice from blogs like this.
If you look at that advice carefully, however, you’ll also find that nobody ever agrees on a specific number. Every SUP expert has their own opinion. Every paddleboarder has their own ideas. Every paddler does it their own way. Which is a little disappointing.
Because, as a SUP beginner, you just want the BEST information that gives you an EXACT answer so you can ACT ON IT quickly. And, when it comes to the perfect paddle length, you just won’t find it.
Sorry!
There is, however, broad agreement around the best METHODS to use to find your ideal SUP paddle length. And that’s what we’ll attempt to lay out here, just to save you the trouble of paddling through that measuring minefield yourself.
Fortunately for us, the methods and techniques we found are not overly complicated, nor are they particularly time consuming. Which means you can have your SUP paddle correctly adjusted and ready for action in no time. Believe us, if we can do it…so can you.
More importantly, though, you’ll begin to appreciate why paddle length recommendations are only broad guidelines, why they’re not super-specific and why absolutely nobody anywhere can give you that “best”, “exact”, “ideal” or “perfect” SUP paddle length answer you’re looking for.
Nobody that is except YOU.
Paddle Long… or Paddle Short? That IS the question.

Get this. Your ideal SUP paddle length will differ from mine even if we are THE EXACT SAME HEIGHT.
What? How can that be?
It’s because correct SUP paddle length doesn’t just depend on height alone. It depends on a number of factors unique to you and me. Factors such as:
- the type of stand up paddle boarding you’re doing
- the type of SUP board you’re on
- the type of paddle you own
- your arm length
- your mobility & physique
- your overall fitness & paddling technique
- water & wind conditions
- what you feel most comfortable with
All this might seem daunting at first, but it’s really not. The paddle boarding payoff is more than worth the time spent prepping and setting up your SUP paddle itself. Believe us. We know. And you can too.
But first you’ve got to try it.
To make it easier for US to understand, we worked out a simple step-by-step paddle-sizing process to follow.
It’s a mash-up of all the online SUP paddle length recommendations and guides we found useful.
Every time we go paddle boarding we run through it quickly just to help us get in the right paddle length ball park.
After that, it’s up to each of us to make more specific adjustments and carry out some fine-tuning based on our own unique paddleboarding style and physical makeup.
Then it’s all about practice, fine-tuning, more practice and more fine-tuning.
That’s the stage we’re at right now and we’re only a few months into our SUP journey. We know we’ve a long way to go before we reach our own perfect paddle length paradise.
But we’ll get there.
Still, because it’s not always practical to spend time going through a detailed checklist (and because we’re lazy and eager to just get on with some stand up paddleboarding) we also took a look at what other methods we could use to get to a super-quick SUP paddle length approximation.
We pretended we needed answers FAST without charts, tape measures, laser surveying equipment or 20/20 vision.
Let’s see if any of those paddle-sizing shortcuts work too.
How to Set SUP Paddle Length Correctly First Time, Every Time

A Simple Guide to Sizing a SUP Paddle - First Steps
Step 1 - Measuring
Measure your height in inches/centimetres –
The first step in finding out what length SUP paddle you need is to find/measure your own height.
If you have no idea how tall you or a fellow paddleboarder is, or if you have nothing available to accurately measure yourself, just find and use something of known length.
What do you have around you you can use?
Well, an adjustable SUP paddle with measurements marked out on the handle section for one.
- Grab your paddle and extend the T-handle section until your paddle is taller than you. Find some flat ground and hold your paddle vertically in front of you, with your paddle blade lightly touching the floor. Look your SUP paddle lovingly in the eye whilst placing the palm of your other hand on your head. Slide your hand across until it meets your paddle handle. Keeping that hand in place, step back. Make a note of the height where the bottom of your hand meets the handle. Easy.
Door frames and doors are also of known standard heights. The average door in the UK is 78 inches tall, which is approx 198cm.
- As you would do with a paddle, stand against the door frame, feet flat, eyes forward and mark where the top of your head meets the frame. Keep halving the door frame by eye to get a rough approximation of your height.
Or, you could just cut out all of that palaver and ask around.
- Find somebody nearby who knows exactly how tall they are and stand back to back with them.
TIP: For smaller measurements, the distance between your thumb knuckle and thumb tip can be used to roughly estimate one inch.
Step 2 - Calculating
Using the SUP paddle length chart/calculator at the top of this page, find the recommended sup paddle length for your height.
If you’re not SUP Racing or Paddle Surfing, choose the SUP Leisure/Touring option.
Step 3 - Adjusting
Adjust your SUP paddle to that recommended length. Then continue reading for additional fine-tuning adjustments.
So, there you go, your SUP paddle is now a reasonable fit/length for someone of your height. Simple!
It would be awesome if you could just stop there and, if you’re not too fussed about getting your paddleboard paddle length spot on, you probably could.
However, if you’re like us and you really want to be at one with your paddle, you’ll want to consider some important additional fine-tuning.
Making these extra adjustments will bring you ever closer to your own elusive “ideal paddle length”. Let’s see what they are.
SUP Paddle Length - Additional Sizing / Adjustment Factors
Step 4 - SUP paddle board's depth/thickness/height above the water
The higher above the water your SUP paddle board deck is, the longer your SUP paddle needs to be to work effectively.
It might seem irrelevant at first, but SUP board thickness can vary by as much as 4 inches. You can get junior paddle boards that are a racy, slim and sleek 4 inches thick designed for kids. You can get monster paddle boards built for whole families that are a beefy, high-volume 8 inches thick. And, you can get paddleboards at varying thicknesses in between, including ones with recessed deck pads that bring your feet much closer to the water.
Whichever SUP paddle board you have, its thickness and, therefore, your standing height above the water will need adjusting for.
TIP: As the height of your SUP board above the water is also dependent on the weight it’s carrying, it’s probably best making these adjustments once you’re up on it and paddling.
Step 5 - SUP Paddle blade length
SUP paddle blade length can vary too.
This is more of an issue with one piece SUP paddles. SUP Paddle blade length can differ significantly depending on what type of stand up paddleboarding it’s designed for.
It’s not usually a problem with adjustable SUP paddles, as 2/3/4 piece paddle length calculations should already take into account the individual paddle sections (including the blade).
Step 6 - Arm length
The longer your arms are in proportion to your height, the longer the paddle you can comfortably handle. The shorter your arms, the shorter the paddle.
So, once you’ve adjusted for paddle board height, it’s also good practice to adjust for your arm length. A longer paddle for long arms. A shorter one for short.
Proper SUP paddling technique relies on creating a “power triangle” – a shape formed by your arms and your paddle. You can see it nicely demonstrated in this YouTube video by Redpaddleco. As you can see, it’s shape will change depending on how long your limbs are.
Step 7 - Type of Stand up Paddleboarding you're going to be doing
The type of SUP paddleboarding you’re doing determines the way your paddle is used.
In general, most paddle board suppliers and manufacturers recommend that SUP paddle length should be adjusted differently for:
Again, this is related to the differences in paddling technique required for each. As we’ve no real experience of the last two, yet…, we’ll just state what the commonly recommended paddle adjustments are and why they’re needed.
SUP Paddle Length For Racing / Touring
Adjustment: – (minus) 1 Inch or more for short SUP sprints. + (plus) 1 inch or more for longer SUP races & SUP Touring
- A shorter paddle allows for faster more powerful strokes.
- A shorter paddle allows for the change in body shape (hunched power triangle) required to make those strokes.
- For longer SUP races and long distance touring, greater reach and a more upright position is more efficient.
SUP Paddle Length For Surfing
Adjustment: – (minus) 2 inches or more
- In SUP surfing, your paddle is used both as a paddle and as a rudder. A shorter paddle provides greater maneuverability and control.
- A shorter paddle allows for the change in body shape, angle & foot positioning required to SUP surf
Step 8 - Water & Wind Conditions
Water & weather conditions vary day-to-day.
Choppy water with peaks and troughs forces you to lower your centre of gravity to maintain your balance. SUP paddling into a strong head wind may have the same effect.
In both cases, a shorter SUP paddle might help.
Up a little. Down a little. PADDLE!
Every technique can be seen in this SUP race above. It’s thrilling, fascinating and hilarious in equal measures. Look out for the moment (about 13 mins into the race) when 9 SUP racers are riding the same wave into a tight turn.
Awesome!
So, there you have it. That’s how to calculate your ideal SUP paddle length. That’s what we all, as stand up paddleboarders, should aim for. You’re now an expert. And now you know the tricky task ahead of you. To find your own paddle length sweet spot.
The sweet spot that enables you to, regardless of conditions, make your most energy efficient stroke, whilst generating the most forward thrust, whilst causing the least amount of physical discomfort.
And, to do that, the paddle blade when it enters the water, mustn’t be…
- too deep
- too shallow
- too far forward
- too close to your body
- too far off vertical
Which for beginner’s like us, who are already struggling to stay upright on what feels like an inflatable ironing board, is far easier said than done.
Still, now you know all that, it should hopefully explain why there isn’t a perfect one-size-fits-all ideal SUP paddle length for every height. Every paddleboarder is physically unique. Every paddler is technically different. Which is why every SUP paddle length ends up being bespoke.
Because of this, all that stand up paddleboard suppliers and SUP paddle manufacturers can do is recommend a broad paddle length range for every height.
It’s up to us, as novice/beginner paddleboarders, to adjust within and around that recommended range, rather than force our paddling technique to fit.
And, when you’ve got better at paddling and once you’ve begun to develop a more permanent long-term technique, what then?
Fine-tune your SUP paddle length further. That’s what we’re hoping to do, anyway. Though we’re aware it’s going to take time.
But wait!
What if there was a quicker way?
Quick Tips & Techniques for Sizing a SUP Paddle Fast

If you follow the simple step-by-step paddle sizing process above, you should reach a good approximate SUP paddle length that you can continue to fine-tune.
But, what if you don’t have access to all the info, or just don’t have the time or patience to make lots of fiddly adjustments?
Are there any quicker methods you can use to help you get close to a similar answer?
Alternative Methods For Approximating your Ideal SUP Paddle Length
Eye-to-Eye – Stand your SUP paddle vertically on the ground, blade up. Hold it parallel to your body. Adjust your paddle until the paddle throat (the section where the blade meets the paddle shaft) is roughly level with your eyes. Clamp it and fine-tune it from there.

Hands off – With your paddle blade on the ground this time, hold your paddle upright and parallel to your body. Raise your other arm above your head, elbow slightly bent. Bend your wrist to form a right angle (pretend you’re making a snake puppet with your arm). Adjust your SUP paddle until the handle rests snugly in the crook of your wrist and hand. Clamp and fine-tune from there.

Shaka – Make a shaka shape with your hand and place it on your head. A shaka is where you close your middle three fingers into your palm, while keeping your thumb and pinky finger extended (like the horns of a bull). Standing upright, place the thumb of your shaka on your head, pinky finger pointing straight-up at the sky. Adjust your SUP paddle so that the top of the handle is level with the top of your pinky. Clamp and fine-tune from there.

Sizing it up
And there you have it. A compilation of simple SUP paddle length calculators. Hope you find them as useful as we have.
We might be absolute beginners but we believe, thanks to these tips and techniques, we’re much closer to finding our own ideal SUP paddle lengths than many paddleboarders who’ve been SUPing for a lot longer.
Which is awesome. Because it not only means we’re catching them up skill wise, but it also means we’ve a better chance of catching them out on the water too.
And, to be honest, after the problems we’ve had even getting our paddle board paddles apart recently,we’re just thankful we can use and adjust the damn things at all. Which brings us to another point.
At some time in the future, you might outgrow or outperform your friendly, adjustable SUP paddle. When you do, you might want upgrade to a one piece paddle, because some of those are absolute beauties. They’re lighter, faster and stronger. But, they’re no longer adjustable.
Not unless you want to cut off the handles and hot glue them back on.
Needless to say, at that point, SUP paddle length then DOES become set in stone. If and when that happens, you better make absolutely sure that paddle is the right length for you.
Because, once you’re out there, on the water, with a badly sized one piece SUP paddle, there’s no easy way of turning (paddling) back.
Safe Paddling.
