Surfboard types explained: longboard, mid-length, funboard, shortboard and volume

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Surfboards come in a confusing range of shapes and sizes, and buying the wrong one is the classic way to stall your progress. Board choice mostly comes down to how much float you need and what kind of waves you will surf. Here are the main types and how volume works.

Foam boards (soft-tops)

Soft boards with a foam deck and a slick bottom. They are what most schools teach on.

Forgiving, stable and buoyant
Much less painful when they hit you or someone else
Usually long and wide

Soft-tops are not only for beginners; plenty of experienced surfers ride them on small, fun days.

Longboards

Traditional boards, usually 9 feet or longer, with a rounded nose.

Lots of float, so they catch waves early, even small ones
Stable and smooth, with a style of surfing built around walking the board and nose riding
Heavy and awkward to carry, and harder to duck dive under waves

A longboard is a lifelong board in its own right, not just a learner's step.

Mid-lengths and funboards

The middle ground, very roughly 7 to 8 feet.

Funboards (sometimes called mini-mals) are like a shrunk longboard: wide, rounded and stable. A classic next step after a soft-top.
Mid-lengths cover a range of shapes with more refined outlines, often ridden by intermediates who want something easy to paddle but more manoeuvrable.

These boards are a good bridge, catching waves easily while letting you start turning.

Shortboards

Short, narrow, thin boards, typically around 6 feet, with a pointed nose.

Highly manoeuvrable in good waves
Little float, so they are hard to paddle and catch waves on
Need steeper, more powerful surf and good technique

Learning on a shortboard is one of the most common mistakes beginners make. Most people need many sessions of reliably catching green, unbroken waves before one makes sense.

Fish and hybrids

Fish boards are short and wide, often with a split tail, and work well in smaller, weaker waves.
Hybrids blend shortboard performance with more volume for everyday surf.

What volume means

Board volume is measured in litres and describes how much space the board takes up, which tells you how much it floats. More litres mean more float and easier paddling; fewer mean more responsiveness but more effort. Volume is often matched to the rider's weight. Different guides use different formulas, and figures for beginners vary a lot, so treat any number as a starting point and check against a sizing chart from a shop or shaper. As rough examples from typical dimensions, a longboard can be around 70 to 80 litres and a shortboard around 30 to 40. For longboards, length and outline matter more than volume; for shorter boards, volume becomes a more useful guide. Factors that change how much volume you need:

your weight and fitness for paddling
how often you surf
the waves where you live (small and weak needs more float)
cold water, where a thick wetsuit adds weight and stiffness

Choosing your board

Learn on a soft-top or a long, high-volume board.
Move to a funboard or mid-length once you are standing up and riding along waves.
Go shorter gradually, a step at a time.
Rent or borrow before buying, and try different shapes.
Be honest about your level; it is better to be on too much board than too little.

What board are you riding now, and what would you buy next? Ask questions or share your experience in the comments.