There is no such thing as a kayak of the right size. Many factors in choosing the kayak you need depend on what you want to use it for and where you use it. There are a few things to consider:

What type of water would you use to kayak?
Fast river waters require shorter kayaks, while sea kayaks typically require longer boats.
What type of kayaking do you plan to do?
Are you looking for something good for speed? For fishing? For navigating rapids? Depending on what you’re after, the shape of your ideal kayak will change.
How do you plan to store, transport, and launch the kayak?
If you live in an apartment with limited storage space, or drive a smaller car, this may be a factor in the size of the kayak you can accommodate.
How many people and how much gear are you taking?
If you are kayaking for two, or if you plan to fish or hunt, it affects the type of kayaking you need.

You might be surprised to know that your own height and weight don’t have as much bearing on the dimensions of the kayak you want. For that, you’ll look more to your paddle length than to the width of your boat.

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Kayak Sizes and Dimensions
The three elements of kayak size are length, width and volume. There are other dimensions to consider, such as weight, load-bearing capacity and cockpit dimensions. Each dimension of canoeing affects key parts of the ride, such as speed, maneuverability, or comfort. Finding the right kayak for you means finding a kayak that sits comfortably where all these factors fit exactly into the experience you want.

Kayak Length
The average kayak is about 10 feet long, but there's a wide range of possible lengths, but you'll probably see them ranging from 6 feet to 16 feet. Generally speaking, the longer the kayak, the faster the speed. As a result, a boat used for rapids will be shorter than a standard recreational kayak and much shorter than a boat built for speed.

Recreational kayaks
Most recreational kayaks will start around 9.5 feet, although there are exceptions for boats used for performance skills and boats suitable for young people. You might see them as high as 12 feet. The shorter ones are slower, but easier to handle while paddling.

Tandem kayaks
Double kayaks can range from 10-14 feet, but tend to hover around 12-13 feet.

Sea kayaks
Sea kayaks (or tourist kayaks) tend to be the longest, about 12-17 feet. (Although it is possible to design a compact sea kayak.)

Performance kayaks
Performance kayaks are designed for speed and can run between 15 and 18 feet.


Knowing all the factors that affect kayaking performance -- from how each dimension affects it to the type of water each kayak is best suited for -- can help you make the choice that will make you the happiest. Figure out where you're taking your kayak and what you're doing with it, and work out from there. Check out the buying guide to get you started.