Skateboard Hardware: How to Choose the Right Bolts, Sizes and Lengths

Skateboard hardware is one of the most overlooked parts of any setup, even though it directly connects your trucks to the deck and heavily affects stability, safety, and overall board feel during every session.

Most skaters initially focus almost entirely on decks, trucks, wheels, or bearings, while hardware is often treated like a secondary component. In reality, as soon as you start taking street skateboarding, bowl riding, or cruising seriously, you quickly realize how important it is to use quality skateboard bolts in the correct size.

A skateboard hardware kit does far more than simply hold the board together. The bolts need to lock trucks and deck together perfectly, preventing unwanted movement, vibrations, and constant loosening caused by impacts and the stress a skateboard takes during everyday skating. If your trucks are not tightened properly, even a perfect setup can suddenly feel unstable and lose precision under your feet.

Every setup requires a specific hardware size, and choosing the correct bolts genuinely changes the way the board responds, how the trucks feel, and the overall riding experience.

How Skateboard Hardware Works

Skateboard hardware connects the trucks to the deck through bolts and self-locking nuts. This system keeps the trucks firmly attached to the board while preventing vibrations, unwanted movement, or looseness during sessions.

Poorly installed hardware can compromise control, stability, and the lifespan of the entire setup. Professional skateboard bolts are specifically designed to fit both the deck holes and the truck baseplate correctly. Using random generic screws from a toolbox is almost always a terrible idea.

Proper skateboard hardware features correct threading, materials that resist vibrations better, and lock nuts designed to keep trucks secure even during aggressive skating.

Many riders underestimate this detail, but after skating rough street spots, fast bowls, or heavy gaps, the difference between cheap hardware and reliable skateboard bolts becomes immediately obvious.

Phillips or Allen Skateboard Hardware

In skateboarding there are mainly two types of skateboard hardware: Phillips head bolts and Allen head bolts.

Phillips bolts are the classic cross-head skateboard bolts. For many years they were the absolute standard in skateboarding, and even today countless skaters still use them daily. Their main advantage is simplicity. All you need is a Phillips screwdriver or the small screwdriver included in most skate tools to install them quickly.

Many old school skaters still prefer them because they are lightweight, simple, and inexpensive. However, you need to be careful during installation. One of the most common mistakes is stripping the bolt head by continuing to force the screwdriver once the hardware is already fully tightened. When a Phillips bolt gets damaged, removing it becomes extremely difficult, and in some cases you may even have to destroy the hardware to remove the truck.

Allen bolts, on the other hand, are the classic hex-head skateboard hardware. Over the past few years they have become the most commonly used option in modern skateboarding thanks to their improved precision during installation. The hex socket provides better grip, less slipping, and much more accurate tightening.

Many modern street skaters prefer Allen hardware because it allows them to work faster and more precisely on their setup. However, you still need to be careful. If you overtighten the tool, you can strip the inside of the bolt, and once that happens removing the truck can become a real nightmare.

Black or Colored Skateboard Bolts

Once you choose the correct size, aesthetics become an important factor as well. Many skaters prefer black skateboard bolts because they look clean, minimal, and aggressive. Other riders choose colored hardware to personalize their setup and make their board instantly recognizable.

Many skateboard hardware kits include two-color combinations or a differently colored bolt to help distinguish the nose from the tail. It may seem like a small detail, but during technical tricks it helps riders immediately identify the board position under their feet.

Over the years skateboard hardware has also become a real customization element. Today you can find black bolts, colored hardware, anodized finishes, and special graphics designed to match decks, trucks, and wheels while creating more unique setups.

How to Choose the Right Skateboard Hardware Size

The correct skateboard hardware length mainly depends on riser pads, truck height, and the type of setup you ride.

One of the most common mistakes is using bolts that are too short. When the lock nut barely catches the threading, the truck can slowly loosen during sessions and the setup loses stability.

On the other hand, using bolts that are too long creates exposed hardware that can feel uncomfortable and negatively affect the overall board feel. Without riser pads, most setups usually use 7/8” or 1” hardware. Once risers or shock pads are added, longer bolts become necessary.

With 1/8” riser pads, skaters generally use 1.1/8” hardware. With 1/4” risers, 1.1/4” bolts are normally required, while 1/2” pads usually need 1.1/2” hardware.

These measurements are practical guidelines, but some setups may require slight adjustments depending on the trucks, deck, or type of riser being used. The thicker the riser pad, the longer the hardware needs to be.

Skateboard Hardware for Street Skateboarding

Technical street skaters usually ride low trucks, smaller wheels, and compact setups. For this reason, the most commonly used sizes are almost always 7/8” or 1”.

Many street skaters intentionally avoid riser pads because they increase the overall height of the skateboard and slightly change pop, control, and flip trick timing.

With classic 52 mm or 53 mm wheels, risers are often unnecessary. However, when using low trucks and larger wheels, riser pads become useful to prevent wheel bite during aggressive sessions.

Even small differences in truck height can dramatically change the feel of the setup under your feet, especially during technical lines or highly precise tricks.

Skateboard Hardware for Bowl and Vert

In bowl skating and vert, taller setups are much more common compared to street skateboarding. Many transition skaters ride high trucks, larger wheels, and riser pads to gain more speed, smoother flow, and extra clearance during deeper turns.

In these cases longer hardware is almost always necessary compared to classic street setups. Many bowl riders use 1.1/8” or 1.1/4” bolts depending on the thickness of their risers.

With larger wheels and faster setups, increasing the distance between the truck and deck becomes essential to avoid wheel bite and maintain smooth lines through transitions.

Skateboard Hardware for Cruiser and Surf Skate

In cruiser skateboarding, longer bolts become almost mandatory. Cruisers use much larger and softer wheels designed to absorb vibrations and handle rough pavement more comfortably.

Without riser pads, wheel bite quickly becomes a serious problem, especially during tight carving or pumping. Most cruisers use 1.1/8” or 1.1/4” hardware, while very tall surf skate setups may require even longer bolts.

Many surf skate systems have a much wider turning range and need additional clearance to function properly. With the correct setup, pumping feels smoother and the riding experience becomes far more surf-oriented.

Longboard Hardware

Longboard setups are completely different from traditional street skateboarding. Many setups use shock pads, angled risers, and very tall trucks to modify geometry, stability, and overall longboard behavior during carving, pumping, or downhill riding.

For this reason, longboard hardware is often significantly longer than the bolts used in regular street skateboarding. Many longboarders use double risers or angled pads to gain additional stability at higher speeds or achieve deeper turning while pumping.

In these situations, using the correct hardware becomes essential to keep the setup stable, precise, and safe even during aggressive riding.

Skateboard Hardware Maintenance

Skateboard hardware should be checked regularly. Continuous vibrations from rough street spots, damaged asphalt, gaps, and coping naturally tend to loosen nuts and bolts over time.

For this reason, it is important to periodically check hardware tightness and replace rusty or worn bolts.

A stripped bolt can quickly turn into a massive problem when trying to disassemble the setup. Many skaters damage their hardware because they use the wrong tools or overtighten the bolts after the nut is already fully locked.

Once a bolt becomes completely stuck, removing it can take a very long time, and in some situations you may even risk damaging the truck or the deck itself.

Maintaining your skateboard hardware properly means avoiding unnecessary problems and keeping the setup stable, precise, and safe during every type of session.

Flat Head or Raised Head Skateboard Bolts

In traditional street skateboarding, flat head bolts are almost always used. This type of hardware sits perfectly flush with the griptape and does not create interference during flip tricks or slides.

Only some drop-through longboards use different hardware with raised heads or specific mounting systems.

For street, bowl, cruiser, and surf skate setups, flat head hardware remains the best option because it provides better comfort and less interference while riding.

Find the Best Skateboard Hardware at Pleasures Milano

At Pleasures Milano you can find skateboard bolts, skateboard hardware kits, Allen hardware, Phillips bolts, colored hardware, black bolts, riser pad hardware, cruiser hardware, surf skate hardware, and longboard hardware selected from the best skate brands in the world.

Since 1999, only truly reliable components for street skateboarding, bowl, vert, cruiser, surf skate, and longboard setups have been selected.

If you have doubts about the correct size, riser pad compatibility, or the ideal hardware length for your setup, the Pleasures Milano technical support team can help you choose the perfect configuration for your riding style.

Remember that free skateboard assembly, real technical support, and fast 24/48 hour shipping are also available. This way your skateboard arrives properly assembled, stable, and ready to skate straight out of the box.