How to build a complete skateboard step by step (2026 guide with video)

Parts (the complete setup):

• Deck
• 2 trucks (front + back)
• 4 wheels
• 8 bearings (2 per wheel)
• 4 spacers (between the bearings) — optional but recommended
• 1 grip tape
• 8 bolts + 8 nuts (standard or allen)
• 4 washers (usually come with the trucks)

Tools:

• 1 skate tool (the 3-in-1: allen + 14mm for axles + 14mm for kingpin)
• 1 box cutter to cut the grip
• 1 file or fine sandpaper to smooth the grip edge (optional but looks better)

Grip tape comes with adhesive backing protected by a paper. The right process:

1. Place the deck top-side up on a flat table.
2. Peel 5-10 cm of the paper off the back of the grip.
3. Line the grip up with one end of the deck (nose or tail, doesn’t matter).
4. Stick those 5-10 cm down pressing firmly.
5. Gradually peel the rest of the paper while pressing the grip from the centre to the edges with your palm.
6. Work slow. If you see a bubble, lift and re-stick.

The grip sticks out past the deck outline. You have to cut it:

1. Take an allen key or a screwdriver and run it around the whole perimeter of the deck, pressing firmly. The friction creates a visible white line on the grip — that’s your cut guide.
2. Take the box cutter. Tilt it about 30-45° to the deck (NOT perpendicular).
3. Rest the blade on the white line and cut following the perimeter. Do it in one steady pass.
4. If loose threads remain, run fine sandpaper or the side of the blade over them to smooth them.

The trucks go underneath, the bolts go on top (head visible on the grip). The kingpin (the big central bolt of the truck) must point towards the centre of the deck, NEVER towards the ends.

1. Push a bolt down from the top through each of the 4 front holes. If the grip doesn’t have the holes marked, push the bolt through it (the grip tears cleanly).
2. Place the first truck (front) with the kingpin pointing to the centre.
3. Underneath, fit the 4 corresponding nuts and screw them in with the skate tool.
4. Tighten moderately — don’t crush it. You can tighten more later if they loosen with use.
5. Repeat with the second truck (back).

Each wheel takes 2 bearings (one on each side). There’s a trick to fitting them without a special tool:

1. Flip the trucks up (board resting upside down on the table, trucks pointing up).
2. Place a bearing on the axle (the thin metal axle that sticks out).
3. Put a wheel on top of the bearing, pressing down firmly. The bearing press-fits into the centre of the wheel.
4. Take the wheel off, flip it, repeat with the second bearing.
5. If you use a spacer (recommended), it goes BETWEEN the two bearings.
6. Repeat with all 4 wheels.

1. On the axle, first a washer — comes with the trucks in most cases.
2. Fit the wheel with its 2 bearings.
3. Add another washer.
4. Hand-screw the nut until it’s flush.
5. Finish with the tool: tighten until the wheel has NO side play, but NO MORE.
6. Check: the wheel should spin free when you spin it by hand. If it spins heavy, you’ve over-tightened.

The kingpin is the big bolt in the centre of the truck. It defines how “hard” or “soft” the truck turns.

• Loose (wide turning): the truck turns a lot. Good for cruising, bad for flips.
• Tight (controlled turning): the truck turns little. Good for flips, bad for cruising.

Sweet spot: flip the board over, push a truck to one side with your hand. It should lean but return to centre on its own. If it doesn’t return = too loose. If it doesn’t move = too tight.

Set both kingpins equally at first. Over time you’ll discover whether you like the front looser, both equal, or tighter.

If you want to skip the back-and-forth, here are two clear paths. If you'd rather fine-tune, head back to the sections above.