How Much Do Inflatable Paddle Boards Cost?

Buyers looking for a good inflatable SUP board to buy are faced with the unenviable task of slogging through pages of online search results to sort through an unending list of self-serving articles and review lists hawking whichever brands are paying them the highest advertising dollar to recommend their products.

The result is mass confusion and uncertainty that can lead to making a purchase you’ll later regret. We’ve seen it all, and enough is enough. 

Rather than presuming to tell you which of the many available boards to buy or a specific brand of board to buy, this article aims to provide some background information necessary to help you understand paddle board pricing and what you can expect to get for your money.

We suggest reading this article in it’s entirety for context and a complete understanding of the subject, but if you want a quick answer to your question use the following navigation tool. 

How Much Does a Good Inflatable Paddle Board Cost?

A good inflatable paddle board from a reputable brand will generally cost between $900 for a solidly performing all-around board with a durable construction to $1200 and up for higher-end boards with additional material layering and unique design features for specialty uses. 

Advanced features such as configurable fin setups, specialty shapes for specific uses, and high end materials are available to buyers who are willing to spend a little more for the highest performing recreation equipment.

There are many boards available at much lower prices, but due to the realities of production and distribution, manufacturers generally need to cut a lot of corners in materials and production to be able to sell a decent inflatable paddle board that retails for $800 or less. 

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)

An important aspect of SUP pricing to be aware of is companies that consistently sell their paddle boards at a discount, hyping up a selling price that never really existed.  

If the board you are buying is on sale from its MSRP during the paddling season for an extended period of time and isn’t a previous series or year model, then question the real value of what you are paying for.  The fake discount is the oldest trick in marketing for a brand that has nothing else to offer. 

The Cost of Advertising

If a brand seems to appear everywhere you click on your search for a stand up paddle board, then that level of exposure costs money.  Advertising isn’t free, and much of the cost of that intrusive promotion gets passed on to the buyer, usually at the expense of quality and reliability. 

All-in-One SUP Kits

There is a trend from some brands / manufacturers selling SUP ‘all-in-one kits’ and assigning an inflated MSRP value to included accessories such as the SUP bag and included paddle. This is an easy game to play.  If the package kit is worth $800, and you’re getting $400 in included accessories you didn’t choose, then what you are really buying by that math, is a $400 paddle board. 

There is nothing wrong with adding value to a SUP package or All-in-One kits in general.  Buyers should however be aware SUP ‘all-in-one kits’ are manufactured with calculated costs that are inclusive of an average paddle and cheap leash, and might not be the great deal they seem at first.  

Having a choice of additional accessories will give you an indication of true value, and really let you customize a SUP package and gear for your needs. 

Prices in Different Countries

These pricing guidelines are in USD but we’ve been asked many times how price ranges translate to other countries. Exchange rates do not always equate to a direct value as there several other criteria that will ultimately effect prices in different parts of the globe.

Factors that will ultimately effect the cost of SUP boards and specific brands in different countries are –

• Import or sales taxes and tariffs 
• The brand location and origin. Is the specific brand based in that country or using distributors? 
• Insurances required under law of specific countries or states
• Country specific infrastructure costs relating to shipping and storage of the product
• Regional specific retail practices and consumer behavior 
• Competitors and their market strategy for that location
• Is the brand spending their money on advertising / influencers or are they spending it on manufacturing better products?

It is impossible to give a more definitive set of guidelines for each country but a reasonable estimation can be reached by researching the pricing of a few boards you are considering and balancing that with the features and performance you require.

Price is one factor that should be considered when purchasing an inflatable SUP but it isn’t definitive. Define what you consider to be a good inflatable SUP by evaluating multiple criteria and work towards that.

Related: The Best Inflatable Paddle Board: Reality Vs. The Internet

How Much Do Paddle Boards Cost Overall?

Inflatable paddle boards are just one of several types of SUP boards you can buy.

• Epoxy SUP board prices start around $700 and top out in the neighborhood of $2000. 
• Molded plastic SUPs and “Soft Top” paddleboards are available for as little as $400.
• Inflatable paddle boards have the widest range of prices, with cheap throwaway boards sold on Amazon and Walmart for as low as $200, and high-end specialty models priced up to $1800. Inflatable boards produced for serious recreational use generally start around $900 retail.

Why Are Paddle Boards So Expensive?

Paddle boards are expensive because making a SUP board that is durable, lightweight, and performs well requires the use of expensive materials and labor intensive manufacturing techniques.

Almost all paddle boards, regardless of their quality level, are made in China, so there are also significant transport and logistics costs involved, especially with epoxy, molded plastic, and soft top SUPs, which can’t be rolled or folded.

We’ll get to why good inflatable paddle boards are so expensive in a bit, but first let’s revisit the other three main types of paddle board and what goes into their cost.

Epoxy SUP boards are made from an inner core shaped from foam that is covered by a fiberglass shell.  The quality of the inner foam is essential to the weight and strength of the board, as are the type of glass fibers and epoxy resin used to form the shell of the board.

While the inner foam of a hard paddle board is shaped by machine, there is considerable manual labor required to finish the outside of the board, which requires multiple coatings that need to be applied in a controlled setting.

Epoxy boards cost a lot to ship from the overseas factory, to warehouse, and to ship to the store or customer.  As a result, a much greater percentage of a fiberglass board’s price is due to its bulk and the cost involved in moving it around before it gets to you. 

Soft top paddle boards are made from a molded piece of polystyrene foam and coated with a rubbery foam to add some strength and a surface for standing.  Soft top SUPs tend to be a cheaper option, but their durability leaves a lot to be desired. 

Molded plastic SUP boards are mass produced in a plastic molding operation. This is among the least expensive options, the primary cost being the raw plastic used to make the board.  However, plastic boards are very heavy to lift and carry and performance is not the greatest.

Why Are Inflatable Paddle Boards So Expensive?

Inflatable SUP boards, at least good ones, are expensive because producing them involves expensive material and a lot of skilled hand craft to make them properly without cutting corners.

Inflatable paddle boards utilize special materials that allow them to maintain a board shape when inflated, rather than blowing up like a ball.  It is called drop stitch which involves two sheets of material that are connected to each other with thousands of small fiber that maintain a fixed distance between the sheets when inflated. 

Producing this material is expensive, especially when quality base materials are used. In cheaper boards, the fibers used to connect the sheets are weaker and less securely attached to the outer sheets. Also, the outer sheets of material are thinner and more stretch, resulting in an overly flexible and bouncy board.

This has the effect of cheaper boards trying to compensate poor construction with impressive sounding marketing spiel, unrelated pay for play product videos by youtube / instagram ‘influencers’ and and gimmick concepts. Standing on boards between saw horses, hitting boards with mallets, throwing them off buildings or driving over them with vehicles has absolutely nothing to do with paddling a board on water. 

Getting Value from Your Purchase

A good inflatable SUP will have little or no noticeable flex and will not feel bouncy, but the price will be higher because of the expensive material required to make a board with ideal physical properties and outline shape.

It’s important to make this distinction because a lot of false information and innuendo circles the internet ad nauseam where all inflatable paddle boards are painted with the same brush. There are levels to this and understanding this core concept can be difficult for most people looking to buy an inflatable SUP.

Manufacturing an inflatable paddle board is an elaborate operation that requires various panels to be joined with adhesive and great precision. Some manufacturers have automated parts of the process to meet the needs of mass production, but sacrifices in quality are required for a board to be made primarily by machine.

Are Cheap Paddle Boards Any Good?

Cheap paddle boards are cheap for a reason.  Cheap inflatable SUPs are made from thin single-layer material which results in a board with inferior rigidity and durability.

Cheap hard boards seem okay at first use, but can quickly delaminate and get water inside the outer shell. Beware of marketing claims, because the low end of the market is rife with false advertising regarding how the boards are constructed.

Beginner’s will often buy into the false economy of a cheap paddle board, then later come to the understanding that their equipment is holding them back.  A better approach for a beginner is first understand the challenges they are facing when shopping for a board of their own, then work towards a set of criteria for the best equipment they can afford.  

Are Costco Paddle Boards Any Good?

If you are inclined to pick up a cheap paddle board while you are stocking up on paper goods and groceries, you can certainly get that done at Costco. The boards you’ll find in warehouse stores such as Costco and Sam’s Club are designed to sell at very low prices, which necessitates the use of thin materials and tradeoffs in how the boards are constructed.

These boards can be okay as something to play around on with the kids, but if you want to purchase a board that lets you get the most from your time on the water and will last for many seasons, you should invest in a higher quality board that will last many times longer and can be selected to meet your specific needs and paddling aspirations.

Costco will sell branded SUP boards but don’t kid yourself about what you’re really getting. The truth is that most of these boards are essentially a licensing deal with a third party that has little if nothing to do with the brand that is stamped on the box. These boards are pumped out of a production line en mass necessitating the big box store approach to everything.  

An easy rule to follow is to stick to buying groceries at stores that sell groceries. If you want a good inflatable stand up paddle board buy one from a specialist who really understands the technology. Pumped Up SUP doesn’t sell milk or bread. There is a reason for that. 

Related: How To Buy An Inflatable Paddle Board – Pumped Up SUP Buyers Guide

Why Are Paddle Boards More Expensive Than Kayaks?

Kayaks are generally made of molded plastic, using a manufacturing process that does not involve much labor. The molds used to form a kayak are a one-time investment, so once the mold has been paid for, there is not a lot of production cost aside from the plastic material.  Paddle boards are made with much more complex and labor intensive manufacturing processes. 

Hard paddle boards are generally made in a multi-step process involving a contoured foam core that is coated with an epoxy resin.

Inflatable paddle boards are made using special drop-stitch fabrics which are expensive and require great precision in assembly to maintain an accurate board shape.

High quality inflatable paddle boards are completely hand-made, so labor costs are high. Some lower cost inflatable SUPs are assembled in a more automated mass production process, which keeps the cost down but results in lower quality and performance.

If your background is in kayaking, then SUP is an excellent addition to your paddling routine.  Paddle boards are lighter than a typical Kayak boat.  Stand up paddling offers a different perspective and opportunities with many of the skills being transferable. 

Are Inflatable Paddle Boards Worth It?

For buyers wanting a high performing board that they can take anywhere in a car or airplane, doesn’t require a large amount of storage space, and is not susceptible to dings or cracking, a quality inflatable SUP is a great recreational investment that is worth the money spent.

The price range of inflatable paddle boards is similar to that of fiberglass or epoxy SUP boards, so the added benefits of a quality inflatable paddle board do not come with added cost.

Inflatable and hard SUP boards each have specific performance advantages, so the approach we recommend is to decide which type of board will work best for you, identify the models that best meet your needs, and buy the highest quality board within those parameters that fits your budget.

Related: Inflatable vs. Hard Board – Which Is Best?

Pumped Up SUP is an online store specializing in high-performance inflatable stand up paddle boards and accessories. We’re always happy to answer your questions – just give us a call at 1-877-777-1769.

Want Expert Advice on Choosing an Inflatable SUP Board?

Check out our 2023 Inflatable Paddle Board Buying Guide – or – The Best Inflatable Paddle Board – Reality vs the Internet.

Want To Buy an Inflatable SUP Board?

Explore our range of SUP boards for sale by activity / use in Inflatable SUP Type or focus on Inflatable SUP Brands to find the right board for you. 

Want Answers to Anything Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Inflatable SUP?

The Pumped Up SUP SUP Paddle Blog is the best resource on the internet for up to date information to help with your next inflatable SUP purchase!