A factory-built complete skateboard costs between €60 and €140, while building your own custom setup from hand-picked parts runs €110 to €250 depending on quality. The gap isn’t arbitrary: a cheap complete uses generic components, whereas a custom build lets you choose every part and usually lasts far longer. Below we break down what each component costs, when each option makes sense, and how to find the same deck up to €20 cheaper.
Complete board or build it part by part
There are two ways to buy a skateboard. A complete comes assembled and ready to ride: take it out of the box and it rolls. It’s the cheaper, more convenient option to start. A custom setup you build yourself by combining a deck, trucks, wheels, bearings, griptape and hardware in whatever brand and hardness you want.
For a kid, or just to test whether skating sticks, a €60-90 complete does the job. Once you know you’ll skate regularly, building your own almost always pays off: you spend a little more upfront but every part is a real component, and when one wears out you replace just that part instead of binning the whole board.
What each part costs
These are the realistic ranges you’ll find in European shops, from entry level to premium:
| Component | Budget | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | €30-40 | €45-65 | €70-85 |
| Trucks (pair) | €25-35 | €40-55 | €55-70 |
| Wheels (set of 4) | €18-28 | €28-40 | €40-55 |
| Bearings (set of 8) | €8-15 | €18-30 | €30-50 |
| Griptape (sheet) | €5-8 | €8-12 | €12-18 |
| Hardware (bolts) | €3-6 | €6-9 | €9-14 |
A couple of useful points. Bearings are sold in sets of 8 (two per wheel), and the ABEC number on the box measures manufacturing tolerance, not real-world skating speed: a reputable “no-ABEC” branded bearing usually outperforms an anonymous ABEC 9. Wheel hardness is rated on the A scale: 99a-101a for street and skatepark (hard and fast on concrete), and 78a-87a if you want soft cruiser wheels to roll around town. Griptape is cheap and replaced often, so it’s neither where to skimp nor where to overspend.
Brand complete or blank deck
Between the factory complete and the premium build sit two middle options that save money:
- Brand complete. Brands like Jart, Enjoi or Element assemble completes with honest entry-level components for €90-130. Better than an anonymous department-store complete, and cheaper than sourcing everything separately.
- Blank deck. An unprinted board, often pressed in the same woodshop as branded decks, for €25-40. The wood is essentially the same; you pay less only because there’s no graphic or pro model. Ideal for a budget-conscious first custom setup.
If you want to know which brands dominate the shops here and what each one charges, see the European skate brands guide.
Why the same deck varies €15-20 (and how to find it cheap)
Something that surprises newcomers: the exact same deck model can cost €49 in one shop and €67 in another, the same week. It isn’t a mistake. Each shop sets its own margin, manages its own stock and runs its own sales, and differences of up to €20 on a single deck are common.
That’s where the comparator comes in: it tracks the price of the same model across every shop at once and shows you where it’s cheapest right now. Instead of opening ten tabs, you search for your board in the catalog and see the real price from every shop on one screen. On a full setup, hunting deals part by part can save you €30-50 without dropping quality.
What a solid first setup and a pro-quality setup cost
- Solid first custom setup: €110-150. A branded deck or a good-wood blank, reliable trucks, 99a wheels and decent bearings. Lasts years and is repaired part by part.
- Pro-quality setup: €180-250. A top deck from your favourite brand, premium trucks, high-end wheels and bearings. It’s what a regular skater rides, and you don’t need to be a professional to justify it.
If you’re just starting and want to understand sizes, hardness and first steps before spending, read the beginner’s skateboarding guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a beginner skateboard cost?
To start from scratch, €60-90 for a decent complete, or €110-150 if you build a custom setup with real components that last much longer. Under €50 you’re usually looking at toy boards with bearings and wood that will hold your learning back.
Is it cheaper to build my own skateboard?
Not upfront: adding up the parts usually costs a bit more than a factory complete. Long term, yes, because every component is better, and when one part wears out you replace just that part instead of buying a whole new board.
Why does the same deck cost different amounts at each shop?
Because each shop sets its own margin and sales. The same board can vary by €15-20. Compare it in the comparator’s catalog and buy from the shop where it’s cheapest today.