As you start shopping for your first kayak or upgrade from your current boat, you'll find there are more options than ever—many different types, styles, and features to consider along your buying journey.

But the most critical question you should ask yourself is: What size kayak do I need for my height and weight? Are there other factors that affect the ideal kayak size for me?

Sizing a kayak is easier than it sounds, but you should take this seriously. You can buy the best, most expensive kayak on the market. Still, it must be appropriately sized for your height and weight, kayaking style, experience level, and the type of water you paddle in. Otherwise, you'll be fighting an uphill battle (...or paddling upstream!).

There is no need to play the guessing game - we're here to provide a definitive answer on which size kayak is best for you. We'll cover sizing based on height/weight, experience level, kayaking style (the type of water you paddle), and more. By the end of this article, you'll know precisely what kayak size you need. Let's get things started by discussing the different kayak dimensions.

Understanding Kayak Dimensions

Before we can answer the question of what size kayak I need for my height and weight, we must explain the different kayak dimensions. Having an in-depth understanding of these specifications will make the process of finding the right kayak for you much easier to understand.

Kayak Length

But it could be more complex - you may be on the shorter end and still opt for a longer kayak because they are generally faster. On the other hand, if you're tall but want to kayak in whitewater rapids or river currents, you'll want a shorter kayak to accommodate your style.

Kayak Width

Kayak Volume

Many new kayakers who are shopping for a boat will factor in kayak length and width. However, kayak volume is another important spec when shopping for a new boat. We actually use this as the primary determinant of what size kayak you need based on height and weight. More on that later.

Kayak volume refers to the amount of space the kayak takes up. It's measured by looking at the total interior capacity of the boat. This specification also gives kayakers an idea of how much gear they can bring on the boat. High-volume kayaks are an excellent choice for beginners because they're more stable. But, just like with a broader kayak, you sacrifice speed with higher volume.

Kayak Weight & Weight Capacity

When it comes to weight, you need to consider the weight of your kayak relative to your strength and transportation capabilities. For example, inflatable kayaks are light - but hardshell tandem kayaks can get heavy. Kayaks range from 20 pounds on the lighter end to as heavy as 200 pounds for a fully dressed-out sit-on-top fishing kayak. The average kayak will fall somewhere between 35-70 pounds. When choosing the best kayak for you, factor in how much it weighs and how much you can lift and carry. This will determine how difficult it is to load and unload the boat during transportation, whether onto a towable kayak trailer or roof rack, or just into your backseat or trunk.

For further consideration, check out our guides on transporting your kayak and tying it to a J rack.

Along with considering how much your kayak weighs, you need to consider how much weight it can hold. Weight capacity specs will affect your ideal kayak size—you need one to accommodate your body weight and any additional gear you bring. For example, fishing kayaks sacrifice speed and maneuverability for greater weight capacity and stability. Those who plan on doing overnight trips in their kayak will need to pay particular attention to this as well because the weight of gear and supplies can quickly add up. To figure out how much weight to add for your gear, try packing your overnight gear and supplies together in a bin and popping it on your bathroom scale. Or, as a general rule of thumb, add at least 25 pounds per person for one night, and 10 additional pounds for each night after that.

Kayak Cockpit Size

Because your cockpit is where you'll be sitting, you'll want to consider the ideal cockpit size carefully. Paddlers with a larger frame will require a larger cockpit that can accommodate their hips, thighs, and waist. Plus, a larger cockpit opening makes it easier to get in and out of the kayak without getting stuck or flipping the boat. Recreational kayaks and fishing kayaks have some of the most oversized cockpits because they are designed for comfortable trips with plenty of space for gear, coolers, your paddling buddy or your dog. You might also consider a sit-on-top kayak, which doesn't have a cockpit - giving you all the mobility you need.

Many touring kayaks, as well as older whitewater kayaks, feature a smaller cockpit that might be more difficult to get in and out of without beaching your kayak on land. Those tighter cockpits, however, do make it easier to "connect" to the kayak to allow for additional maneuverability just by shifting your weight or lifting your knees.

Some kayakers use a boat with a smaller-than-ideal cockpit to maintain speed and maneuverability. We advise against this as it can get pretty dangerous. Say you flip over - getting out of a tight cockpit isn't easy. Plus - you want to enjoy the water, and if you feel stuck in a small cockpit, that will be tough.

Kayak Legroom

Finally, consider legroom when sizing your kayak. Those with longer legs will want more legroom but be sure you need it. If you're over 6' tall but have shorter legs and a longer torso, you may not need as much legroom as you initially suspected based on your height alone.

What Size Kayak Do I Need for My Height and Weight?

Now that you know all the different aspects of sizing a kayak, it's time to get into the meat and potatoes of today's discussion: what size kayak do I need for my height and weight? We know that height and weight are significant when choosing a kayak paddle - but what about the kayak itself? While height and weight are a great starting point, these are just two factors that will affect your ideal kayak size - as you'll learn later. For now, let's look at some recommendations based on height/weight:

• Under 5'6" & 140lbs: go with a low-volume kayak
• 5''7"-5'10" & 140lbs-190lbs: go with a medium volume kayak
• Over 5'10" and over 180lbs: go with a high-volume kayak

Keep in mind that these are just general guidelines. As you'll learn in the next section, other factors should affect your sizing.

And, if you fall outside of one of the three categories above because your weight varies or you'll be sharing your kayak with friends and family of different shapes and sizes - stick as close as you can with the height recommendation. We've seen that height trumps weight when it comes to perfect sizing. If you're 6' tall but only 150 pounds, we recommend sticking with a high-volume kayak rather than a medium-volume kayak. This will accommodate your long legs.

What Size Kayak Should I Get Based on Water Type?

Plan on doing a specific type of kayaking in a particular type of water? You may have an ideal kayak size that doesn't fit your height/weight recommendations. For example - the perfect kayak size for floating down rivers differs from the ideal kayak size for ocean kayaking. Let's take a look at some examples below.

Rivers

When we talk about kayaking in a river, we are not talking about whitewater rapids. If you want to tackle whitewater rapids, check out whitewater rafts or our catarafts for sale instead.

That said, floating down rivers will generally require a shorter kayak. All rivers have some degree of flow, so speed may not be your primary concern—you'll want stability and maneuverability. The ideal kayak type for this water is known as the "recreational kayak." Regarding sizing, you should look for kayak lengths between 8' and 13'.  

Lakes/Ponds

Lakes and ponds are unique because various kayak types and sizes work here. It depends on your kayaking goals. Do you want to go lake fishing? Look for a fishing kayak that's shorter and wider. Do you want to explore and race around with friends? A recreational kayak or even a touring kayak will work great. For lakes or ponds you'll usually want a kayak between 10' to 14' in length.

Oceans/Sea

While we don't recommend it for those who are first learning kayaking, ocean and sea kayaking is an incredible adventure. In this type of water, you're facing huge waves and changing tides. As such, you need to be far more focused on kayak sizes that are stable and maneuverable, similar to river kayaks. There is actual sea kayaks meant just for this type of water, but touring kayaks also work great on the ocean. Look for a boat that's at least 12' long.

Paddle size is also important, so be sure to check out our buying guide for kayak paddles. 

Other Factors That Affect Proper Kayak Sizing

The two main factors affecting your ideal kayak size are your height/weight and how you'll use your kayak. But other factors affect proper kayak sizing. As such, we've compiled additional information below to help you make the right decision.

Storage

Consider how you will store your kayak when it isn't being used. 

A large hardshell kayak will be fine if you have ample garage or shed space. But if you live in an apartment or only have a 1-2 car garage, consider a smaller kayak that can easily be stored. Consider an inflatable kayak that can be deflated or a modular kayak that can be broken down between uses. Folding kayaks work great for tight spaces, too.

Transportation

Also, consider how you'll get your kayak to and from your destinations. There are all sorts of ways you can go about this - from using kayak trailers to roof racks and even stowing the boat in your truck bed. Considering transportation before buying a kayak will save you a headache later on.

Trust us - you want your first day taking the kayak out to be spent on something other than getting a large kayak onto your small hatchback roof. Our guide on transporting a kayak is an excellent resource for this.

Tandem Kayaking

You may want to start your kayaking adventures solo, but have you thought about how fun it would be to bring along a friend? With a tandem kayak, you can share your journey with a paddling companion and create incredible memories. The extra length found in a tandem is handy for people, pets, or even gear. And many of these can be converted between solo and tandem seating. So, consider these when sizing and choosing your kayak.

Will You Take Overnight Trips in Your Kayak?

If you want to use your kayak to find cool camping spots along the lake or river, you need a higher-volume kayak. This will allow you to bring overnight gear with ease. You'll need to focus on both interior volume and weight capacity. Some kayaks have a weight capacity of up to 800 lbs, whereas others are capped at around 300- 400 lbs.

But, if you only use your kayaks for day use - you can sacrifice some volume for speed. Recreational kayaks are narrower but offer more performance.

You may want to check the storage type and capacity as well - some kayaks have watertight storage wells, others have rigging to keep drybags secure on top of the boat, and others may have only minimal built-in accessories for stowing your gear.

What Is Your Experience Level?

If you're starting out and this is your first kayak, you should steer towards the shorter and smaller end of the spectrum. Learning in a small kayak is far easier than learning in a large kayak. You can always upgrade a few years down the road and sell your smaller one - but you want to stay manageable with your first kayak rather than end up hating the activity because you didn't learn in the proper boat.

How to Size a Kayak

We've answered the question, "What size kayak do I need for my height and weight?" We've also described what else you should consider—the type of water and kayaking style you prefer, your experience level, and much more.

Putting It All Together

This chart provides some basic guidance for the length and type of kayak you should look for based on your height and weight, for the way you want to kayak. However, sizing a kayak is challenging, with many things to consider. Use these recommendations as guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules.

We hope this guide helped simplify this somewhat overwhelming process. But if you want a personal consultation to learn about which size and style of kayak best suits you, we're here to help.

Head to Outdoorplay and contact our experts via phone, email, or live chat. We're lifelong paddlers ourselves and eager to help you make the right decision so you can enjoy the great outdoors as they were intended. Don't be shy - we're happy to help!

Frequently Asked Questions

What size kayak should I get?

The kayak size you should get depends on your height, weight, and the paddling you plan to do. Generally, a longer kayak offers better speed and tracking. A wider kayak provides more stability and is suited for beginners or recreational use.

How long is a kayak?

Kayaks vary in length, typically ranging from about 6 feet (1.8 meters) for whitewater models to over 12 feet (3.7 meters) for sea or touring models. The choice of kayak length depends on the intended use, with shorter kayaks being more maneuverable and longer ones offering better speed and tracking.

How long is a kayak paddle?

Kayak paddle lengths typically range from 71 to 102 inches (180 to 260 centimeters), depending on the paddler's height, the width of the kayak, and the paddling style. Flatwater paddles are usually longer while whitewater paddles are on the shorter side. The right size paddle will enable you to comfortably reach the water without straining, helping you paddle smoother & more efficiently.