Guide
How to Grip a Skateboard
Putting griptape on a skateboard is a ten-minute job that separates a clean board from a peeling one. Here is the full method — tools, placement, scoring, cutting, and the mistakes that ruin a sheet.
What You Will Need
- —A fresh sheet of griptape
- —Skate tool or wrench (to remove trucks)
- —Metal file or flathead screwdriver
- —Utility knife with a new blade
- —Scrap of griptape or fine sandpaper
No tool? Add a Skate Tool to your order — it handles every bolt on the board.
How to Put Griptape on a Skateboard, Step by Step
- 1
Strip the deck
Remove the trucks with a skate tool so the board lies completely flat. Wipe the top surface clean and dry — dust and moisture are the two things that stop grip from bonding.
- 2
Peel and place
Peel the backing sheet away and hold the griptape by its corners, adhesive side down. Hover it over the deck and line up the nose and tail before it touches. Once the adhesive contacts the wood it does not slide.
- 3
Press from the centre out
Lay the middle down first, then sweep your palm outward toward the nose and tail. Working from the centre pushes air to the edges instead of trapping it under the sheet.
- 4
Score the outline
Run a metal file or the shaft of a flathead screwdriver along the entire edge of the deck at a 45-degree angle. A crisp white line will appear where the grit compresses. That line is your cutting guide.
- 5
Cut the excess
Start at the tail with a fresh blade. Hold the knife at a shallow angle so it rides the deck's edge, and cut in one continuous pass around each side. A dull blade tears the sheet — change it if you feel drag.
- 6
Sand and punch the holes
Rub the offcut or fine sandpaper along the perimeter to knock down the ragged edge. Then push a screwdriver through each of the eight truck holes from underneath and remount your hardware.
Skipping the score line
Cutting freehand leaves a wavy edge that peels within a week. Scoring first is the difference between a shop job and a hack job.
Using a dull blade
Griptape destroys blades fast. One deck, one fresh blade. A dull edge tears fibres and lifts the sheet as you cut.
Gripping a wet or cold board
Adhesive needs a dry surface at room temperature. A cold deck out of the car will let the tape lift at the nose within days.
Gripping a Printed or Custom Sheet
A printed sheet follows the same method with one change: orientation matters. Decide which end is the nose before the adhesive touches wood, because a graphic applied upside down cannot be repositioned.
Cut slightly wider of the score line on printed grip so the artwork is not clipped at the rail, then sand the overhang back rather than trimming twice. Learn more about custom griptape and how our sheets are printed.
Grip and Decks
Common Questions
How do you put griptape on a skateboard?+
Peel the backing, lay the sheet centred over the deck, press it down from the middle outward, score the edge with a file or screwdriver, cut the excess with a utility knife, and sand the perimeter smooth.
Do you need to remove the trucks before gripping a skateboard?+
Yes. Take the trucks off so the deck sits flat. Applying grip over a mounted board traps air and leaves the tape lifted around the hardware.
How do you get bubbles out of griptape?+
Press them toward the nearest edge with your palm or a flat card. For stubborn bubbles, prick the spot with a pin and press it flat — the hole disappears into the grit.
How do you cut griptape cleanly?+
Score the outline first by rubbing a file or the edge of a screwdriver along the deck's rim until a white line appears. Cut along that line with a fresh blade held at a shallow angle, starting at the tail.
How often should you replace griptape?+
Replace it when the grit stops biting your shoe — usually every three to six months of regular skating, sooner if the board lives outside or gets wet often.
Can you put griptape over old griptape?+
You can, but it is a bad idea. The old layer holds moisture and grit, adds height, and prevents the new sheet from bonding flat. Peel the old tape off first.
Hanging the board instead of skating it? Read how to hang skateboard wall art.