Is there a weight limit?

Paddle boarding is an awesome workout. It’s fun, low-impact, helps with core strengthening and improving your balance, is great for beginners, and works all your major muscle groups while allowing you to enjoy the water. The best part is that you can load things like your cooler, speaker, and even your pet on board for a truly unique experience.

Before you embark on your paddle boarding journey, there’s something important you need to consider: just how much weight can a paddle board handle?

Practical Weight Limit vs. Maximum Weight Limit

The maximum weight limit of a paddle board refers to the absolute maximum amount of weight it can carry while still staying afloat. But if you load the SUP board to its maximum weight capacity, it becomes unsafe, will perform poorly, and may even capsize.

This brings us to the practical weight limit which is the maximum weight the SUP board can hold without affecting its performance on the water—mainly its stability and maneuverability. The practical/performance weight limit is usually 75% of the maximum weight limit.

Let’s say you buy a Maddle board with a maximum weight limit of 350 lbs. Technically, you can load 350 lbs on the paddle board, but it’s just not practical as it will be harder to maneuver —not to mention, unsafe—when you’re out in the water. So, you should only load up to 260 lbs, which is its practical weight limit.

It’s important to consider both weight limits before choosing a stand-up paddle board to ensure that you don’t exceed the SUP weight capacity by accident. This is especially important if you want to go tandem paddle boarding, as you will want a board that can handle the total weight of multiple paddlers.

Here’s a helpful table with a few examples:

But why is a paddle board’s weight capacity even important? Because if you choose an SUP that isn’t able to handle the combined weight of your body plus your gear, you run the risk of toppling over. You’ll also find it harder to paddle. So, finding a paddle board with the right weight capacity is crucial for your safety as well as for your paddle boarding experience.

For a more detailed explanation of the weight limit, please read our blog post below!

Do Paddle Boards Have a Weight Limit?