Rails are one of the oldest upgrades in skateboarding, and they still do the same two jobs: they protect your graphic, and they make your boardslides and lipslides faster. Picking a pair comes down to a few simple things: length, hole pattern, shape, and material.
This guide breaks down each one, covers skid plates like the Powell Peralta Tail Bone, walks through a clean install, and finishes with our quick picks, led by Black Diamond Rails and Powell Peralta Rib Bones.
What Rails Do
Rails are plastic strips that screw onto the bottom of your deck, one along each edge, between the trucks. When you boardslide, lipslide, or slide coping, the rails take the contact instead of your wood and graphic. They're slicker than bare maple, so you slide faster and further. Some skaters also use them as a place to lock in grabs.
Rails are always sold as a pair, one for each side, and every set we carry comes with mounting hardware.
Length
Rails have to fit between your trucks, so length matters most. Most rails fall between 13.5" and 14.5".
| Length | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 12.75" | Opera Fatties | Extra wide for big boards with wheel wells |
| 13.5" | Opera Barbwire | Good for tighter spacing between trucks |
| 14" | Santa Cruz Slimline, OJ Juice Bars, Slappy Red Lines | Mid length |
| 14.25" | Pig Rails, Rail Devils | Classic medium size |
| 14.5" and up | Black Diamond Rails (14 9/16"), Powell Peralta Rib Bones, Santa Cruz Slimline HSR, Dogtown Blue Haven (14 5/8"), Snot Booger Bars | The most common length; Black Diamond says theirs fit any size board |
Hole Pattern: 4-Hole vs. 5-Hole
Every rail uses either a 4-hole or 5-hole design. Both work. A 5-hole rail has one more screw holding it down; a 4-hole rail means fewer holes in your deck. If you're replacing old rails, matching the old pattern lets you reuse the existing holes.
| Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|
| 4-hole | Black Diamond Rails, Slappy Red Lines |
| 5-hole | Powell Peralta Rib Bones, Santa Cruz Slimline HSR, Santa Cruz Slimline, Dogtown Blue Haven, OJ Juice Bars, Pig Rails, Opera Clear, Opera Fatties, Snot Booger Bars, Heroin Glow Sticks, Rail Devils |
Shape and Profile
Shape changes how a rail feels when you lock into a slide.
| Profile | Example | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Flat bottom | Santa Cruz Slimline | Classic shape: 14" long, 11/16" wide, 3/8" thick |
| Beveled, hollowed bottom | Santa Cruz Slimline HSR | Santa Cruz's High Speed Rail adds a 3D contour that helps you lock into slides |
| Low profile | Dogtown Blue Haven | Just 5/16" tall, with rounded top corners |
| Square, angled | OJ Juice Bars | Square, angled cross-section with rounded corners |
| Extra wide | Opera Fatties | 1.25" wide for Fattie setups and big boards |
Material
| Material | Examples | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| ABS plastic | Black Diamond Rails | Durable, and Black Diamond says it accelerates your slides |
| Nylon 66 | OJ Juice Bars | A tough nylon OJ calls super juicy |
| UHMW polyethylene | Rail Devils | Used for smooth, consistent slides |
| High-density material | Santa Cruz Slimline HSR | Santa Cruz's super-fast, durable HSR formula |
Looks and Extras
Since rails sit right on your graphic, looks count. Opera Clear rails let the graphic show through. Black Diamond Glow in the Dark and Heroin Glow Sticks light up at night. Pig graphic rails add prints like Pool Coping, Ledge, Leopard, and Zebra. And Rail Devils have 28 flints per rail that throw sparks on boardslides and smith grinds.
Skid Plates
Skid plates do for your tail what rails do for your deck's bottom. The Powell Peralta Tail Bone is based on Powell's original 8" shape and mounts with 3 #8 machine screws through holes you drill in the tail (nuts not included). The Original Tail Devil is a spark plate that sticks on with 3M tape, plus 2 screws for aggressive skating, so you can drag a wheelie and watch the sparks fly.
Choosing by Riding Style
| Style | What to Look For | Good Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Street and ledges | Fast, durable rails that lock in | Black Diamond Rails, Santa Cruz Slimline HSR, Dogtown Blue Haven |
| Pool and old school | Classic shapes and tail protection | Powell Peralta Rib Bones, Powell Peralta Tail Bone, Santa Cruz Slimline |
| Big boards | Extra width, shorter length | Opera Fatties |
| Night sessions and fun | Glow, graphics, or sparks | Black Diamond Glow in the Dark, Rail Devils, The Original Tail Devil, Slappy Red Lines |
How to Install Rails
Rails screw into your deck, so take your time. A rushed install is how decks get cracked.
- Set the rails on the bottom of your deck, between the trucks and parallel to the edges. Line up both sides so they match.
- Mark each screw hole with a pencil.
- Drill shallow pilot holes with a bit slightly smaller than the screws. Wrap tape around the bit as a depth stop, and never drill through the deck.
- Drive the screws in by hand so they don't strip or split the wood.
Check your rails' instructions for brand-specific tips. For example, Powell Peralta suggests a #6 flat washer under each screw when mounting Rib Bones on a Flight deck, and Rail Devils use adhesive backing to help with alignment.
Quick Picks
| Pick | Best For | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Black Diamond Rails | Best overall | Durable ABS, 14.5" 4-hole design, 8 short screws, and 11 colors |
| Powell Peralta Rib Bones | Classic style | The original Rib Bones shape, reissued in 14.5", 5-hole |
| Powell Peralta Tail Bone | Tail protection | Powell's original 8" skid plate |
| Santa Cruz Slimline HSR | Locking into slides | Beveled, hollowed High Speed Rail |
| Dogtown Blue Haven | Low profile | Just 5/16" tall, with 10 self-tapping screws |
| OJ Juice Bars | Tough material | Nylon 66 in three colors |
| Pig Rails | Most options | 9 solid colors plus 5 graphics |
| Opera Clear | Showing off your graphic | Clear, so your graphic shows through |
| Opera Fatties | Big boards | 1.25" wide, 12.75" long |
| Rail Devils | Sparks | 28 flints per rail |
Shop by Brand
- Black Diamond: 14.5" 4-hole ABS rails in 11 colors, including glow in the dark
- Powell Peralta: Rib Bones rails and Tail Bone skid plates
- Santa Cruz: Slimline and Slimline HSR rails
- Dogtown: Blue Haven low-profile rails
- OJ Wheels: Juice Bar Nylon 66 rails
- Opera: Clear, Barbwire, and Fatties rails
- Pig: 14.25" rails in solid colors and graphics
- Tail Devil: Sparking Rail Devils and Tail Devil spark plates
- Slappy: Candy-themed Red Lines and Green Apple Lines
- Snot Wheel Co.: Booger Bars rails
- Heroin: Glow Sticks glow-in-the-dark rails
FAQ
Do rails come in pairs?
Yes. Rails are sold as a pair, one for each side of your deck, and every set we carry includes mounting hardware unless explicitly stating otherwise.
Do I have to drill my board?
Yes, but only shallow pilot holes for the screws. Never drill through the deck when using standard wood screws. Skid plates like the Powell Tail Bone are the exception, since they mount with through-holes.
What size rails do I need?
Measure the space between your wheels. Most rails are 13.5" to 14.5", and they need to fit in that space without touching the trucks. Rails are generally universal but it doesn't hurt to check.
Should I get 4-hole or 5-hole rails?
Either works. If you're replacing old rails, match the pattern so you can reuse the holes.
Do rails make you slide faster?
Yes. Rails are slicker than bare wood, so boardslides and lipslides go faster and further, and your graphic stays intact.
Keep Building Your Setup
- How to Choose Skateboard Wax
- Skateboard Wheels Guide: Size, Hardness, and Shape
- How to Choose Skateboard Bearings
- Skateboard Bushings Guide
- Skateboard Truck Size Guide
- Sizing Guide for Decks, Trucks, Wheels, Hardware, and Risers
Ready to save your graphic? Shop all skateboard rails.