To paint a skateboard deck, take off the trucks, scuff the bottom with fine Angelus Wet Sandpaper until the factory gloss is gone, and wipe off the dust. Then brush on thin coats of Angelus Paint, add your design, and seal it with two or three coats of Acrylic Finisher. Angelus Paint is flexible, so it bends with the deck instead of cracking when you land.
We've been mixing paint in Los Angeles since 1907, and decks are a favorite canvas for the artists who use it. A blank deck costs less than most art boards, and it's one of the few paintings you can actually ride.
Start here: what are you making?
Quick answer: painting a skateboard
- Remove the trucks and hardware.
- Scuff the bottom with fine sandpaper until it looks dull.
- Wipe off all the dust.
- Brush on a base coat, then your design in thin layers.
- Seal with Acrylic Finisher and let it cure 24 to 48 hours.
Why prep matters on a deck
The factory graphic is sealed under a slick coat
Most decks come with a printed graphic under a smooth clear layer. Paint has nothing to grab on that slick surface, so it scrapes off the first time the board slides on a ledge. A light scuff with fine sandpaper gives the paint a texture to hold.
The dull test
Tilt the deck under a light. When there are no shiny patches left, you're done sanding.
Sand with the grain
Long strokes along the length of the deck keep scratches from showing through thin paint.
Leave the grip alone
Paint the bottom only. The grip tape side needs its grit to keep your feet planted.
New to painting? Start here
Angelus Paint Basics Kit
Black, White, Red, Yellow, and Blue mix into almost any color for your deck art, and the kit adds five brushes. Angelus Paint brushes on smooth and covers dark wood in a few thin coats. Add Acrylic Finisher to seal it.
4.9 stars from 290+ reviews
Shop the Basics Kit or browse all colors
Seal it in
Angelus Acrylic Finisher
A clear topcoat that protects your art from scuffs and moisture. Matte keeps it looking hand painted, gloss makes the colors pop.
4.8 stars from 1,700+ reviews
Shop finishersShop this guide
Prep
Angelus Wet Sandpaper
Scuffs the factory gloss so paint can grip. 4.9 stars from 70+ reviews.
ShopBrushes
Angelus Paint Brush Set
Flat brushes for backgrounds, fine ones for linework. 4.9 stars from 600+ reviews.
ShopReal reviews from Angelus customers
Artists use Angelus on decks and wood
★★★★★
"Angelus is just one of the paints out there and I've used it for just about anything, pin-striping bicycle frames, custom hand painted graphics on skateboards... Absolutely love the detail brushes, I don't bother with any others out there."
Steven M. · Verified buyer · Black Paint
★★★★★
"This time I tried it on wood, canvas and illustration board. The paint is perfect!! Great consistency and coverage! No need to water it down and the colors are very vibrant."
David W. · Verified buyer · Best Sellers Kit
★★★★★
"This is exceptional for wood finishing. The grain show true and the color? Vibrant!"
Crystal A. · Verified buyer · 12 Color Leather Dye Kit
How to paint a skateboard deck, step by step
Take off the trucks
Unscrew the trucks and set the bolts aside in a bag. A bare deck lays flat, and you can paint right to the edges without masking around baseplates. If the deck has been ridden, wipe off dirt and wax with a damp cloth and let it dry.
Scuff the bottom
Sand the whole bottom with fine Angelus Wet Sandpaper, using long strokes along the grain. Stop once the gloss is gone and the surface looks evenly dull. You don't need to sand off the old graphic. Wipe off every bit of dust with a lint-free cloth. On a very slick deck, a coat of a general adhesion promoter gives the paint even more grip.
Customer story
"I use this sandpaper for all my projects, leather, wood, paint, aging costumes for a distressed look, etc." Jennifer N. · Verified buyer · Wet Sandpaper
Lay down a base coat
Brush on a thin base coat over the whole bottom. If the old graphic is busy or the wood is dark, start with Angelus White Paint so the colors on top stay bright, and so the old art doesn't show through. Let it dry 15 to 30 minutes, then add a second coat if you can still see the graphic.
Sketch and tape your design
Lightly pencil your design onto the dry base. Use masking tape for stripes, color blocks, and hard edges, pressing the edges down firmly. Stencils work well for logos and lettering.
Pro tip
Brush a thin layer of your base color along the tape edge before you add the new color. It seals the edge, so the next color can't creep underneath.
Paint in thin layers
Fill in your design with thin layers of Angelus Paint, letting each dry before the next. Work from the big background shapes to the small details. Two or three thin coats beat one thick one, which can crack when the deck flexes. For fades and airbrush work, thin the paint with 2-Thin.
Pro tip
Mix custom shades on a palette before they touch the deck, and mix enough for the whole design. Our color mixing guide has recipes.
Seal it with Acrylic Finisher
Peel the tape once the paint is dry to the touch. Then brush on two or three thin coats of Acrylic Finisher over the whole bottom, letting each dry. Wait 24 to 48 hours before you bolt the trucks back on and ride, so the finish cures hard.
You can stop here
That's a custom deck, ready to ride or hang. Tag @angelusdirect with #AngelusDirect so we can see it. Ready for the next level? Try a dyed wood background below.
Dyeing a deck so the wood grain shows
For color that lets the wood grain through, sand the bottom down to bare wood first, since dye can't soak through the factory coat. Wipe on Angelus Leather Dye with a rag in circles, building a few coats until it's even. Blend a second color along the edges for a fade. For an extra smooth dyed finish, Bryan from Swell Guy Customs starts at 300 grit and works up through 800 and 1,500, sanding along the grain. Once the dye is completely dry, paint your art on top and seal the painted design with finisher. Watch Bryan dye and paint a nautical deck in our skateboard video tutorial.
Customer story
"I use Angelus dyes mostly on wood projects. The colors come out exceptionally beautiful and the wood grain shows up in a way that no other product would do." Paris N. · Verified buyer · 12 Color Leather Dye Kit
Painting a deck you'll actually skate
Boardslides and grinds will scratch any paint on the bottom of a deck, and many skaters like that worn-in look. To keep the art fresh longer, keep the paint layers thin, give the tail, nose, and center an extra coat of finisher, and save your most detailed work for spots away from the trucks and the middle of the board, where it slides on ledges. Touch-ups are easy: scuff, repaint, and reseal.
Painting a deck for display
A wall deck never touches a rail, so go as detailed as you like. Layer fine linework, glitter, or metallic accents, and choose a gloss finisher if you want the colors to shine under lights. Many artists paint the grip side too after peeling off the grip tape, which turns the deck into a two-sided piece.
When to use something else
| If you want | What we'd use |
|---|---|
| Color with the wood grain showing | Angelus Leather Dye on bare wood. See dyeing a deck. |
| To paint roller skates | Deglazer, paint, and finisher on the boots. See how to paint roller skates. |
| To paint a guitar | See how to paint a guitar. |
| To paint the wheels | Skip it. Urethane wheels flex and wear too fast for paint to stay on. |
Mistakes that ruin a painted deck
- Painting over the gloss without sanding. The paint peels at the first slide.
- Leaving sanding dust on the deck. Paint sticks to the dust instead of the wood, and it flakes off.
- Wiping the deck with dish soap or rubbing alcohol before painting. Soap leaves a film paint won't grip, and alcohol can lift the old graphic unevenly. A damp cloth and a dry wipe are all you need.
- One thick coat. It cracks when the deck flexes on landings. Build color in thin layers.
- Painting the grip tape on a board you ride. It fills the grit and your feet slip.
- Riding before the finisher cures. Give it 24 to 48 hours.
Related guides: Dye a guitar · Paint a guitar · Paint roller skates · Mix custom colors · Clean and care for leather shoes
Painting skateboard decks FAQ
What paint is best for a skateboard deck?
We'd use Angelus Paint. It's a flexible acrylic that bends with the deck, covers well over old graphics, and seals with Acrylic Finisher.
Do I need to sand a skateboard before painting?
Yes, lightly. Scuff the factory gloss with fine sandpaper until it's evenly dull. You don't need to sand down to bare wood unless you're using dye.
Can you paint over the existing graphic?
Yes. Scuff it, then cover it with a base coat. White paint hides busy graphics best and makes bright colors pop.
Can you skate a painted skateboard?
Yes. Seal it with Acrylic Finisher and let it cure first. Slides and grinds will scratch the bottom over time, which is normal, and touch-ups are easy.
How do you seal paint on a skateboard?
Brush two or three thin coats of Acrylic Finisher over the dry paint, then wait 24 to 48 hours before riding.
Should I paint or dye my deck?
Paint for solid colors and artwork, dye when you want the wood grain to show. You can dye the background first and paint art on top.
