Skateboard Risers

What Are Skateboard Risers?

Skateboard risers, also known as riser pads or skateboard truck risers, are hard plastic components that help prevent wheel bite and give you more clearance when riding. You add skateboard riser pads between your trucks and deck, therefore increasing the height of your board off the ground. Wheel bite can be dangerous and also damaging to your board, so getting a pair of risers is a simple and affordable solution to avoiding this problem.

Skate risers are often confused with skateboard shock pads. Risers are made from plastic and are designed to raise your deck’s height preventing wheel bites. Meanwhile, shock pads are usually made from rubber or dense foam with the goal of absorbing impacts and reducing vibrations when skating.

What Size Skateboard Risers Do I Need?

The riser size you will need depends on the size of your wheels and truck height. For instance, if you are riding a setup with larger wheels and have low or mid trucks, then you will likely need thicker risers. In general though, if your wheels are smaller than 54 mm, then you likely won’t need risers. There are three common sizes of risers: 1/8” (3.175 mm), 1/4” (6.35 mm) and 1/2” (12.7 mm) depending on how much clearance you want.

Remember that if you are adding risers, you will have to get yourself hardware that is long enough for your new setup. To make sure you get the right size, have a look at our Buying Guide for Skateboard Bolts and Riser Pads.

The other thing to take into account is what shape pads you want: rectangular or angled. Rectangular is the classic design and is most common on skateboards. Angled or wedged risers alter the angle of the trucks, therefore, having a bigger impact on the style of riding. Using angled risers is more common for cruisers and longboards.

If you need some new nuts and bolts for your new setup, check our range of Skateboard Hardware.