Buying a Skate Ramp for Your Child: A Parent's Guide
Author: WA Skate Ramps
Not sure which skate ramp to buy for your child? Compare quarter pipes, kickers, mini ramps and sizes, plus practical advice on space, progression, assembly, outdoor use and delivery.
Your kid wants a skate ramp. Awesome.
Now you're staring at quarter pipes, mini ramps, different heights and widths wondering what on earth you're supposed to buy.
Don't stress. You don't need to know the difference between a rock to fakie and a backside disaster to choose a good ramp.
You just need to get a few basics right.
The best ramp for your child is not automatically the biggest one you can squeeze into the backyard. It should suit what they ride, what they can already do, what they want to learn and the space you've actually got.
Here's how we'd narrow it down.
1. What Do They Ride?
Start with the obvious question.
- Skateboard?
- Scooter?
- BMX?
- Roller skates or blades?
- A bit of everything?
Many skate ramps can be used by different wheeled sports, but the way riders use them can be quite different.
A skateboarder interested in transition might love a quarter pipe. A scooter rider who spends half their life looking for something to jump may get heaps of use from a wedge or kicker. A street skater may be much more excited about a low rail, ledge or manual pad.
Before buying the ramp you think looks coolest, find out what your kid actually enjoys riding at the skatepark.
2. What Can They Already Do?
This matters more than their age.
Ask yourself:
- Are they still learning basic balance and control?
- Can they confidently ride around on flat ground?
- Do they already ride banks and ramps at the skatepark?
- Are they comfortable on transition?
- Are they already doing stalls, grinds, jumps or drop-ins?
If they're brand new, buying a monster ramp for them to "grow into" can backfire.
A ramp they are confident enough to ride regularly will normally be far more useful than one they avoid because it looks terrifying.
If you're buying for someone completely new to ramps, our Beginner Skate Ramp Guide breaks the options down by the skills they want to learn.
3. What Type of Riding Do They Actually Enjoy?
If you can, ask your child what part of the skatepark they spend the most time on.
They love ramps and transition
Look at Quarter Pipes or, if you have more room and transition is really their thing, Mini Ramps & Half Pipes.
They love jumping
Check out Bumps & Jumps. Wedges and kickers can be moved around and combined with other obstacles as skills develop.
They love grinds, slides and manuals
A rail, ledge, grind box or manual pad may get more use than a transition ramp. Have a look through our Boxes & Ledges.
There is no point buying a mini ramp for a kid whose favourite thing in the world is skating rails.
4. What Size Skate Ramp Should You Buy?
This is where parents understandably get stuck.
Height matters, but it isn't the only measurement. Width, ramp type, available space and the rider's confidence all make a difference.
As a general approach, younger and newer riders often benefit from smaller, more approachable transition rather than jumping straight onto the biggest ramp available.
Our Skate Ramp Size Guide goes through 2 ft, 3 ft and 4 ft ramp options, width, skill level, available space and progression in more detail.
Do not buy by age alone. Two kids of the same age can have completely different riding experience.
5. Quarter Pipe, Kicker or Mini Ramp?
Quarter Pipe
A quarter pipe is a single curved transition. Riders approach it from flat ground, ride up the ramp and come back down.
It is a versatile home ramp for learning transition, kickturns, fakies, stalls and coping tricks as skills progress.
It can also become part of a bigger setup later.
Kicker or Wedge Ramp
A kicker or wedge is a simpler bank-style obstacle. Riders can roll over it, jump from it or combine it with boxes, rails and other features.
They're handy where portability and changing the layout matter.
Mini Ramp
A mini ramp has two opposing transitions joined by a flat bottom. The rider pumps backwards and forwards rather than needing a separate run-up for every trick.
They're brilliant for riders who love transition, but they need more dedicated space and are a bigger commitment than a single obstacle.
If you're weighing up those two main transition options, our Quarter Pipe vs Mini Ramp Guide goes much deeper.
6. Will They Grow Out of It?
Maybe, but that doesn't mean you should skip straight to a huge ramp.
Progression does not only mean going higher.
You can add:
- Another quarter pipe
- A rail
- A box or ledge
- A kicker
- A manual pad
- Another line through the existing setup
A smaller obstacle that still gets skated years later as part of a bigger setup has not been outgrown. It has just found some new mates.
Our Backyard Skatepark Ideas guide shows how you can start with one useful obstacle and build the setup over time.
7. Where Are You Going to Put It?
Measure before ordering. Seriously.
Check:
- Total available length
- Total available width
- Run-up and roll-away
- Access around the ramp
- Ground surface
- Drainage
- Fences and walls
- Garage or shed headroom
- Gate and side-access width
- Whether Mum or Dad still expects to park a car there
We've put the full checklist into our Backyard Skate Ramp Setup Guide.
8. Can the Ramp Stay Outside?
Yes, provided you choose a ramp and materials suited to outdoor use and look after them properly.
Outdoor ramps have to deal with sun, rain, moisture and temperature changes, so setup, drainage and maintenance matter.
Do not assume an indoor ramp can simply be left outside because there happened to be a sunny day when you assembled it.
Read our Outdoor Skate Ramp Guide before choosing between indoor and outdoor options.
9. What Does Assembly Involve?
WA Skate Ramps kits are designed to take most of the tricky fabrication work out of the job.
Components are machined, cut to size and pre-drilled, and the kits include step-by-step assembly instructions with photos and diagrams.
Exactly what is involved depends on the product. A small portable obstacle is obviously a different job from building a full mini ramp.
Check the individual product page for the required tools and estimated assembly time. Larger mini ramps are much easier with a second pair of hands.
If a mini ramp is on your shortlist, see How Easy Is It to Assemble Your Mini Ramp?.
10. How Does Something This Bloody Big Get Delivered?
Thankfully, we don't put a finished mini ramp on the back of a courier van and hope for the best.
WA Skate Ramps ships products Australia-wide from our Perth warehouse. Ramp kits are packed for freight with components ready for assembly at your end.
Shipping cost depends on the size and weight of the order and the delivery location. You can calculate freight from the product or checkout process before placing the order.
For larger deliveries, make sure the delivery address has suitable access and that someone can be available to receive the order when required.
See our current Shipping & Returns information for delivery details.
Don't Forget the Boring Parent Stuff
Yep, we know. The kid wants to skate, not hear a lecture.
But a few basics matter:
- Use appropriate protective equipment, including a properly fitted helmet.
- Supervise younger or inexperienced riders appropriately.
- Keep the riding area clear.
- Make sure the ramp is assembled and positioned correctly.
- Check the ramp regularly for anything loose, damaged or unusual.
- Let skills build progressively rather than rushing straight to bigger tricks.
The goal isn't to remove every challenge. Skateboarding is challenging. The goal is giving them a setup where they can practise, gain confidence and keep progressing.
Still Not Sure What to Buy?
Tell us:
- Your rider's age
- What they ride
- Their current ability
- What they enjoy at the skatepark
- How much space you've got
- Whether the setup will live indoors or outdoors
A couple of photos and measurements of the area are even better.
Send the details to WA Skate Ramps and we'll help narrow it down.
We're skaters too. We'd much rather help you choose something that gets ridden than sell you a giant ramp that becomes Australia's most expensive backyard clothes horse.
Build & Skate Your Happy Place.
Buying a Skate Ramp for Kids FAQs
It depends on what the child rides and wants to learn. A smaller quarter pipe can be a versatile first transition ramp, while a gentle wedge or kicker suits riders interested in jumps and flowing over obstacles. Rails and low boxes suit riders more interested in grinds and street-style tricks.
Choose based on ability, confidence, riding style and available space rather than age alone. Smaller transition is often more approachable for newer riders, while experienced riders may be ready for more height or width. Measure the complete riding area before ordering.
Many WA Skate Ramps products can be ridden by skateboards and scooters, as well as other wheeled sports. The better question is which obstacle suits the rider's interests and experience, because skateboard and scooter riders may use the same ramp differently.
Not necessarily. A ramp that is too intimidating may get less use. A smaller ramp that suits the rider now can still provide progression and may become part of a larger modular setup later.
Yes, if the ramp and materials are suitable for outdoor use and it is correctly positioned and maintained. Outdoor ramps need suitable drainage, protection from moisture and regular inspection.
The components are machined, cut to size and pre-drilled, and the kits include step-by-step instructions. Assembly requirements vary by product, so check the individual product page for tools and estimated assembly time.
Yes. WA Skate Ramps ships ramps and skate obstacles Australia-wide from Perth, Western Australia. Freight cost depends on the order size, weight and delivery location.
