How to pick a size › Kite surf
Kite Surf
Board Size
A size chart · 60 kite surfboards in the atlas
A 75 kg rider wants 24–30 L to learn, 21–25.5 L once riding, 18.8–22.5 L once confident and 16.5–20.3 L as an expert. Litres are a share of your weight in kilos, a ratio that falls as you progress: a fixed margin would go negative for a light rider on boards this small.
These are rules of thumb, the ones shops and sizing guides quote, not any brand’s chart. Where a brand publishes its own rider weights they are below, and they should win.
Kite Surf Size Chart
Volume in litres by rider weight and level · rule of thumb, not a brand’s chart
| Weight | First sessions | Getting there | Confident | Expert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 kg | 16–20 | 14–17 | 12.5–15 | 11–13.5 |
| 55 kg | 17.6–22 | 15.4–18.7 | 13.8–16.5 | 12.1–14.9 |
| 60 kg | 19.2–24 | 16.8–20.4 | 15–18 | 13.2–16.2 |
| 65 kg | 20.8–26 | 18.2–22.1 | 16.3–19.5 | 14.3–17.6 |
| 70 kg | 22.4–28 | 19.6–23.8 | 17.5–21 | 15.4–18.9 |
| 75 kg | 24–30 | 21–25.5 | 18.8–22.5 | 16.5–20.3 |
| 80 kg | 25.6–32 | 22.4–27.2 | 20–24 | 17.6–21.6 |
| 85 kg | 27.2–34 | 23.8–28.9 | 21.3–25.5 | 18.7–23 |
| 90 kg | 28.8–36 | 25.2–30.6 | 22.5–27 | 19.8–24.3 |
| 95 kg | 30.4–38 | 26.6–32.3 | 23.8–28.5 | 20.9–25.7 |
| 100 kg | 32–40 | 28–34 | 25–30 | 22–27 |
| 105 kg | 33.6–42 | 29.4–35.7 | 26.3–31.5 | 23.1–28.4 |
| 110 kg | 35.2–44 | 30.8–37.4 | 27.5–33 | 24.2–29.7 |
The rule at each level
- First sessions: 0.32 to 0.4 L per kg you weigh.
- Getting there: 0.28 to 0.34 L per kg you weigh.
- Confident: 0.25 to 0.3 L per kg you weigh.
- Expert: 0.22 to 0.27 L per kg you weigh.
Your level
- First sessions: still learning to get up and stay up.
- Getting there: riding, working on turns and transitions.
- Confident: linking runs in most conditions.
- Expert: the smallest board that still gets you going.
Your weight
With your wetsuit on, if you ride in one. Lighter than 50 kg or heavier than 110 kg? The finder works the range out from 35 to 140 kg.
What Fits at 75 kg
First sessions
Getting there
Confident
Expert
Across the 139 sizes listed for kite surfboards in the atlas, the middle 80 % run from 19 to 27 L, and half are under 23 L.
The newest at 21–25.5 L, for a 75 kg rider getting there
- Duotone Blur D/LAB 2027 24.1 L
- Duotone Blur SLS 2027 24.1 L
- Cabrinha Arcade 2026 21 L
- Cabrinha S-Quad 2026 23 L
- F-One Keahi Pro 2026 22.7 L
- F-One Keahi Pro Surf 2026 22.7 L
- Gong Kiteboard Alu FSP 2X 2026 24 L
- Gong Kiteboard Catch FSP 2X 2026 23 L
What the Brands Say
13 kite surf sizes from Duotone come with the brand’s own rider-weight range. At the middle of each range, the chart above puts 8 at First sessions, 4 at Getting there and 1 outside every level. A brand knows its own rails and thickness: when its range and the rule disagree, go with the brand.
| Board | Size | Brand’s range | The chart at its middle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duotone Provoke 2027 | 13.2 L | 60–85 kg | Outside every level |
| Duotone Whip D/LAB 2027 | 19.9 L | 45–65 kg | First sessions |
| Duotone Whip SLS 2027 | 19.9 L | 45–65 kg | First sessions |
| Duotone Blur D/LAB 2027 | 20.8 L | 45–70 kg | First sessions |
| Duotone Blur SLS 2027 | 20.8 L | 45–70 kg | First sessions |
| Duotone Volt D/LAB 2027 | 20.8 L | 50–70 kg | First sessions |
| Duotone Volt SLS 2027 | 20.8 L | 50–70 kg | First sessions |
| Duotone Whip D/LAB 2027 | 22.4 L | 65–85 kg | Getting there |
| Duotone Whip SLS 2027 | 22.4 L | 65–85 kg | Getting there |
| Duotone Volt D/LAB 2027 | 22.5 L | 70–90 kg | Getting there |
| Duotone Volt SLS 2027 | 22.5 L | 70–90 kg | Getting there |
| Duotone Blur D/LAB 2027 | 24.1 L | 55–75 kg | First sessions |
| Duotone Blur SLS 2027 | 24.1 L | 55–75 kg | First sessions |
Beyond the Litres
Kite surfboards look like small surfboards, about 5'4" to 6'4" long with 20–30 L of volume, with a pointed or squashed nose, rails and three or four fins for grip on a wave face. Two outlines appear in the drawings: compact 'noseless' boards, shorter, wider and thicker, which are easy for beginners in waves up to about 1–2 m, and classic surfboard shapes, which hold better in bigger surf. Flat rocker gives speed and planing; more rocker gives tighter turns. They are built stronger than paddle surfboards, with harder foam and reinforced stand zones, because a normal surfboard's deck caves in under kite loads. Rule of thumb: take the higher end of 20–30 L as a beginner, longer for light wind and big waves, shorter for tighter handling.
At the same volume, a wider board is steadier and easier to start on, a narrower one quicker rail to rail; a long board for its width glides and lifts earlier, a short one turns tighter. The finder’s cards say which is which among the boards at your size.
Questions
What size kite surfboard for a beginner?
0.32 to 0.4 L per kg you weigh: 19.2–24 L at 60 kg, 24–30 L at 75 kg and 28.8–36 L at 90 kg. The ranges shrink level by level, so most riders move down a size as they progress.
What size kite surfboard for a 60 kg rider?
19.2–24 L to learn, 16.8–20.4 L once riding, 15–18 L once confident and 13.2–16.2 L as an expert.
What size kite surfboard for a 90 kg rider?
28.8–36 L to learn, 25.2–30.6 L once riding, 22.5–27 L once confident and 19.8–24.3 L as an expert.
Should I go by the brand’s size chart?
When it has one, yes: it knows its own rails and thickness. 13 kite surf sizes in the atlas come with one, listed above.
Is volume the only number that matters?
No: width and length change how a board rides at the same volume (above), and thickness and rails change how it floats. Start from the volume, then pick the shape.
Size charts for other sports