Skateboard Bushings Guide: How to Choose the Right Hardness, Shape, and Fit

Bushings are the cheapest part of your setup, but they have more to do with how your trucks feel than almost anything else. The right set can make stiff trucks come alive, stop speed wobbles, or finally give you the deep carve you've been chasing. The wrong set can make a perfectly good truck feel sloppy or dead.

This guide covers everything you need to pick the right skateboard bushings: durometer (hardness), shape, fit, washers, and when to grab a full rebuild kit instead. If you already know what you want, jump to the Quick Picks or shop all skateboard bushings.

What Do Bushings Actually Do?

Bushings are the urethane cushions that sit around the kingpin of your truck, one above the hanger and one below it. When you lean on your board, the hanger presses into the bushings. They compress to let the truck turn, then push back to return it to center.

Each truck has a few parts that work together:

• Top and bottom bushings. The pair that controls how easily your truck turns and how quickly it snaps back.
• Bushing washers. Metal washers on either side that hold the bushings in place and affect how restrictive the turn feels.
• Kingpin nut. Tightening it squeezes the bushings for a tighter truck; loosening it frees them up.
• Pivot cup. The small urethane cup in the baseplate that holds the pivot of the hanger. When it wears out, trucks squeak and turn unevenly.

Tip: If you're constantly cranking your kingpin nut to get the feel you want, your bushings are the wrong hardness. Backing the nut off to the end of its threads to loosen up isn't safe, and cranking it down to tighten up just crushes your bushings. Change the bushing instead.

Bushing Durometer: How Hardness Changes the Feel

Bushing hardness is measured on the durometer "A" scale. The lower the number, the softer the bushing and the easier your truck turns. The higher the number, the firmer the bushing and the more stable your truck feels.

Most skateboard bushings fall between 78A and 100A. Here's how the range breaks down:

Rider weight is a starting point, not a rule. Your riding style and personal preference matter just as much. A 180 lb transition skater who likes loose trucks might ride 90A, while a 140 lb street skater who likes tight trucks might ride 95A.

Compare the Number, Not the Name

Here's where a lot of people get tripped up: brands don't agree on what "soft," "medium," and "hard" mean. A 92A is called Medium Hard by one brand and Medium by another. A 95A might be labeled Medium, Firm, or Medium Hard depending on who made it. And one brand's "Soft" can be 81A while another's is 88A.

When you're switching brands, ignore the label and compare the durometer number to what you ride now. If you're not sure what you have, most bushings are color-coded by hardness within a brand, and stock bushings on most trucks land somewhere around 90A to 92A.

Dual-Durometer Setups

Some bushing sets use a different hardness on the top and bottom, like the stock Ace setup with a 91A top and an 86A bottom. The softer bushing lets the truck lean freely, while the firmer one adds support and helps it return to center. You can build your own dual-durometer setup by mixing two sets, which is a great way to fine-tune your feel once you know what you like.

Choosing Bushings by Riding Style

• Transition, bowls, and pools: Softer bushings (86A-92A) let you carve deep, pump through transitions, and kickturn with less effort.
• Street and technical skating: Medium to hard bushings (92A-97A) give you a stable base for ledges, rails, flip tricks, and landings.
• Cruising and carving: Softer bushings make every push more fun and give you a smooth, surfy lean.
• Speed and hills: Harder bushings (96A-100A) resist the side-to-side movement that turns into speed wobbles.
• Beginners: Medium bushings (90A-94A) are the most forgiving. They're stable enough to feel secure while you learn, and responsive enough that turning doesn't take extra effort.

Bushing Shapes: Cone vs. Barrel vs. Combo

Hardness gets most of the attention, but shape changes the feel just as much. The more urethane a bushing has, the more it resists turning.

• Barrel (cylinder): A straight cylinder shape with the most urethane. Barrels give more support and a steadier, more predictable feel. Great if you want stability without going up in hardness.
• Cone (conical): Tapered toward the washer, so there's less urethane. Your truck starts leaning with less effort for a quicker, more responsive turn.
• Cone and barrel combo: The most common setup: a cone on top for easy lean and a barrel on the bottom for support and centering. You get a quick turn that still feels planted.
• Specialty designs: Some bushings go further. Bones Hardcore bushings bond the urethane to a hard inner core for better memory and less break-in. Pig Bushings pair a conical top with a barrel bottom in every pack. Doh Doh Cones offer a hyper-responsive conical version of the classic Doh Doh's barrel.

Independent offers the clearest example of how shape changes things: the same hardness comes in both Standard Conical and Standard Cylinder. Pick conical if you want quicker turning, cylinder if you want more support.

Will These Bushings Fit My Trucks?

Good news: most skateboard bushings are made in a standard size, and they're interchangeable between most major truck brands, including Independent, Thunder, Venture, Krux, and more. For most skaters on standard street trucks, fit isn't something to worry about.

There are a few important exceptions:

• Vintage and reissue Independent trucks: Independent Stage 1 through 7 trucks, including the current Stage 4 reissue, use larger bushings. Go with Independent Original Cushions.
• Ace trucks: Ace makes separate bushings for standard AF1 and Classic, AF1 and Classic Lows, and AF1 Inverted trucks. Match the bushing to your truck type. See Ace Standard, Ace Low, and Ace Inverted.
• Slappy Ultra Low Kingpin trucks: ULKP trucks use a shorter top bushing. Grab Slappy ULKP bushings. Standard Slappy bushings fit the ST1 Classic and ST1 Hollow/Low.
• Low trucks in general: Some low trucks have a shallower bushing seat. If you ride lows, double-check fit or buy the brand's low-specific bushing.
• Longboard trucks: Reverse-kingpin longboard trucks use a completely different bushing size. Street bushings won't fit, and longboard bushings won't fit street trucks. Check out Paris and Orangatang longboard bushings instead.

Check the pack size. Most skateboard bushing packs include enough for both trucks. Some longboard packs, like Paris, are sold per truck, so you'll need two.

Bushings Only or a Full Rebuild Kit?

If your bushings are the only thing worn out, a bushing pack is all you need. But if your trucks squeak, feel sloppy, or turn unevenly from side to side, other parts are probably worn too. A rebuild kit replaces everything at once and costs a lot less than new trucks.

Rebuild kits typically include bushings, washers, and pivot cups. Some also include kingpin and axle nuts. Check out the Thunder Bushing Rebuild Kit or the Dime Bag Hardware Rebuild Kit. If only your pivot cups are shot, Ace and Slappy sell replacement pivot cups on their own.

Signs It's Time to Replace Your Bushings

• They're cracked, split, or flattened out
• Your trucks don't return to center after a turn
• Your trucks feel sluggish or dead even with the kingpin nut adjusted
• Your trucks squeak (often a pivot cup issue)
• You want to change how your setup feels

Don't Forget the Washers

Washers are an easy way to fine-tune your turn without changing bushings. Cup washers wrap around the bushing and limit how much it can expand, which gives a more restrictive turn that firms up at the end of the lean. Flat washers let the bushing spread out, giving a looser, more linear turn. Always use the washers that match your bushings, and replace any that are bent or worn.

Tuning Tips

• Start with the kingpin nut snug. Once your new bushings are in, tighten the nut until the bushings just start to compress, then adjust in small turns.
• Give them a session or two. Most bushings loosen up slightly as they break in. High-rebound formulas break in faster, and some, like Slappy's pre-broken-in formula and Bones Hardcore, need almost no break-in at all.
• Think about the weather. Most urethane gets a little firmer in the cold and softer in the heat. Shorty's Doh Doh's are formulated to hold their durometer in any temperature.
• Experiment. Try swapping top and bottom bushings, mixing hardnesses, or changing washers. Small changes can make a big difference.

Quick Picks

Shop Bushings by Brand

We carry bushings from the brands skaters trust most, and every product page includes a hardness guide to help you choose:

• Independent: Standard Conical, Standard Cylinder, and Original Cushions from 78A to 96A
• Bones Hardcore: Double Action bushings with a bonded hard core
• Thunder: Premium bushings and complete rebuild kits from 90A to 100A
• Shorty's Doh Doh's: Classic barrel and Cones, temperature stable from 88A to 100A
• Ace: Standard, Low, and Inverted bushings plus pivot cups
• Slappy: Pre-broken-in bushings for standard and Ultra Low Kingpin trucks
• Krux: World's Best Cushions in three hardnesses
• Pig: Cone-top, barrel-bottom bushings in 81A, 91A, and 96A
• Venture: Loose Trucks Conversion Kit
• Dime Bag Hardware: USA made bushings and rebuild kits in nine hardnesses from 88A to 98A
• Orangatang and Paris: Longboard bushings for reverse-kingpin trucks

Bushings FAQ

What hardness bushings should I get?

For most skaters, 90A to 94A is the sweet spot. Go softer (86A-90A) if you're lighter or want loose trucks for transition. Go harder (95A-100A) if you're heavier or want tight, stable trucks for street and speed.

Are soft or hard bushings better for beginners?

Medium bushings, around 90A to 94A, are best for most beginners. Super soft bushings can feel unstable, and very hard bushings make turning difficult while you're learning.

Do all skateboard bushings fit all trucks?

Most standard skateboard bushings fit most major truck brands, including Independent, Thunder, Venture, and Krux. The exceptions are vintage and reissue Independent trucks, Ace Low and Inverted trucks, Slappy Ultra Low Kingpin trucks, some low trucks, and longboard trucks, which all need specific bushings.

How often should I replace my bushings?

There's no set schedule. Replace them when they crack, flatten, or stop returning your truck to center, or anytime you want to change how your board feels.

Do soft bushings cause wheel bite?

They can. Looser trucks lean further, so your wheels are more likely to hit the deck on hard turns, especially with large wheels or low trucks. Riser pads fix this.

How many bushings do I need?

Each truck needs two bushings, a top and a bottom, so four total for one board. Most skateboard bushing packs include all four. Some longboard packs are sold per truck.

Keep Building Your Setup

Bushings are just one piece of the puzzle. Check out our other guides:

• Skateboard Truck Size Guide: How to Choose the Right Trucks
• Skateboard Wheels Buyer's Guide: Size, Hardness, and Shape Explained
• Sizing Guide for Decks, Trucks, Wheels, Hardware, and Risers

Ready to dial in your trucks? Shop all skateboard bushings.