Skateboard Bushing Durometer Calculator
Find the right bushing durometer for your weight and riding style.
Get hardness recommendations for street, cruising, longboard, and downhill skateboards.
Skateboard Bushing Durometer
Bushing durometer (Shore A hardness) determines how easily your trucks turn vs. how stable they feel at speed. Heavier riders compress softer bushings into mush — lighter riders can’t turn harder bushings effectively.
Standard durometer scale:
| Durometer | Feel |
|---|---|
| 78A-83A | Very soft — nimble, turny, low speeds |
| 84A-87A | Soft — beginner cruising, low-speed carving |
| 88A-90A | Medium — versatile street + park |
| 91A-93A | Medium-hard — high-speed park, mini-ramp |
| 94A-96A | Hard — long-distance pumping, downhill prep |
| 97A-100A | Very hard — high-speed downhill |
| Cone shape | More turn for the durometer rating |
| Barrel shape | More stability for the durometer rating |
Recommended durometer by rider weight (street setup):
| Rider Weight | Soft Set | Standard | Stable Set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 100 lb (45 kg) | 84A | 87A | 90A |
| 100-145 lb (45-66 kg) | 87A | 90A | 92A |
| 145-185 lb (66-84 kg) | 89A | 91A | 93A |
| 185-220 lb (84-100 kg) | 91A | 93A | 95A |
| Over 220 lb (100 kg+) | 93A | 95A | 97A |
Riding style adjustments:
- Tech street / flatground: medium durometer, cone bushings — quick turns
- Park / transition: medium-hard, barrel bushings — predictable
- Cruising / carving: soft, cone — lots of turn at low speed
- Longboard pumping: soft front + medium-hard back
- Downhill: hard, barrel — speed wobble prevention
Truck setup tips:
- Top bushing is what limits roll — typically the softer one
- Bottom (under hanger) bushing stops bottoming out — typically the harder one
- Cup washers add support to soft bushings
- Step-cone (top) + eliminator (bottom) = downhill trick combo
Signs your bushings are wrong:
- Bushings too soft for you: wobbles at speed, kingpin keeps loosening, “wallowy” carve
- Bushings too hard for you: can’t turn at low speed, sore feet from constantly pressing, no carve feel
Replacement schedule: Bushings deform permanently within 2-12 months of regular use. If your trucks feel “broken in” but inconsistent, swap bushings — it’s the cheapest performance upgrade in skateboarding.