🛶 Paddle Length Calculator
Enter your height and your boat's width to get a recommended paddle length in centimetres and inches — a solid starting point before you check a manufacturer's sizing chart.
📏 Get Your Fit
What is a Paddle Length Calculator?
It suggests a well-fitted paddle length by balancing your height against how wide your boat sits at the seating position — so the blade clears the water and your stroke doesn't force an awkward reach on every pull.
Use it before buying a new paddle, when switching to a wider or narrower boat, or if your current paddle feels off. Paddling style, torso length, and blade shape all shift the ideal length a little, so treat this as a starting point and confirm fit against the manufacturer's own sizing chart.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How does the paddle length calculator work?
Enter your height and the width of your boat at the seating position. It applies a common sizing rule — three-quarters of your height plus the boat's width — to suggest a paddle length that clears the water comfortably without forcing an awkward reach.
Why does boat width matter for paddle length?
A wider hull sits your hands further from the water on each stroke, so it needs a longer paddle to reach the same blade depth and angle a narrower boat would with a shorter one. Ignoring width is a common reason paddlers end up with a paddle that feels too short.
Does paddling style change the ideal length?
Yes — a low-angle touring stroke generally suits a slightly longer paddle, while a high-angle, faster stroke (common in whitewater and sprint paddling) usually favors a shorter one for quicker cadence. Treat this calculator's output as a solid starting point and adjust toward your preferred style.
Should I round to the nearest size a manufacturer sells?
Most paddle makers sell in fixed increments (often every 5 or 10 cm), so round to the closest available size, or consider an adjustable-length paddle if you're between sizes or paddle multiple boat widths.