Surfboard Volume 101: What It Is and Why It Matters More Than You Think

What Is Surfboard Volume?

Volume is the amount of space a surfboard occupies, which is measured in liters. The more liters a board has, the more float it offers. Longer boards are higher-literage than short boards, and the humble, wide fish has something in between. It’s a mathematical sum of your board’s length, width, thickness, rail shape, bottom contours and overall foil.

But that's not the whole story here. Two boards with identical dimensions can have different volumes. This is because the rail profiles might be different, the tail could be different, the shape of the deck could be scooped and the bottom contours may be deeper. Volume is where the foam is, not just how much. You'll also see some shapers dip their boards in barrels of water; the amount of water that spills out is the volume.

Why Is Volume Important?

More volume means more board. Or more float. Having a higher literage will make paddling easier, will sit the board higher on top of the water, as well as make it easier to get into waves—and you can take off earlier. Higher volume boards are a bit more challenging to maneuver, but you get the trade-off of being able to surf weaker waves with them. If you go really high in volume, it can feel as if the board is on the water, rather than surfing on it. A difficult experience to describe, but as with most of surfing, you'll know when it's not feeling right.

Volume also impacts your speed. Lower volume boards will be more in the water when up and riding, you can engage the rails and generate speed. Whereas higher volume boards will carry you through a section.

When volume is distributed thoughtfully, it affects how confidently you can push through turns, hold a line and redirect. If the volume is at the front of the board, you'll have early entry and easy speed. If the volume is centered, the board will feel balanced. With the volume toward the back of the board, you'll have more lift and pivot off the tail.

Lower volume increases sensitivity but can become a bit more tweaky in heavy surf. Higher-volume boards increase stability but can feel corky under pressure. The aim isn’t to have more or less volume. It’s about having the right amount of usable foam in all the right places.

When considering a new board and volume, take into account your local conditions. The general rule of thumb is that if you surf gutless beachbreaks, lean toward more foam. If your local is punchy or a reef setup, lean toward refined shapes. Cold water, heavy waves, add an extra few liters to make up for the amount of rubber you will be wearing. If you're surfing big pointbreaks, prioritise paddle speed and hold.

How To Choose the Correct Surfboard Volume

Whatever you ride most confidently, note the volume. This is your starting point. Think about what waves you're going to surf, and if it's gutless, add five liters or so to your volume. Or take a liter away if you're going to surf hollow, powerful waves. Also, if you're surfing a twin fin, add five liters. Step-ups, add five to 10 liters; grovellers, around five. Mid-lengths, you can shoot for the moon, add more than 10 liters from your baseline.

Don't be afraid to experiment too; the more boards you ride at different volume levels, the more knowledge you'll gain and can take forward. There's no reason you can't try higher-volume boards in more powerful waves; just because it's not the norm should not hinder your decisions around what to surf.

You should also get to know your board dimensions and what you like surfing. Once you can go into a shaping bay and talk through dimensions with a shaper, who knows where you'll be surfing, you can then experiment more. Moving up in volume, or down, depending on what waves you ride, is part of the fun of surfing after all. Figuring it all out is the process—when you find your own magic board, you will understand exactly what makes it special, or you will know the boards to surf in which conditions.

Misconceptions Around Volume

It's important to note that volume isn't a measure of skill. World-class longboarders have higher volumes than other shapes, but it doesn't mean they're worse surfers. However, it is true that beginners should always start on high-volume boards. But once you’re at an intermediate level or above, this kind of changes. Some of the best surfers on the planet ride more volume than you’d expect. For example, big-wave boards carry huge volume for paddling power. Twin fins often rely on fuller rails to create lift and glide. And grovellers use volume to generate speed and make things easier in weaker surf.

Like everything in surfing, volume is about feel. You'll know what feels right and what doesn't; ultimately, it's about having fun and being open to experimentation. That wave down the road—how does it work if you take a mid-length out? What lines can you draw that feel different from a shortboard? Will a fish unlock more speed with a bit more volume?

These are all important questions in a surfer's journey—sticking to the same board your whole life is playing it safe, but pushing outside your comfort zone and adjusting the volume opens up a whole other dynamic.