You may be able to find a pair of cheap skates at your local skate shop — and we always love to shop small — but online is where you’ll find the most selection. Here’s a brief rundown of what you can expect to find:
Amazon: Pages and pages of roller skates — the most of any retailer we looked at — from cheap no-name kids’ roller skates to pricey adult models for roller derby, jam skating, and more. Prices range from about $35 for beginner youth skates (factory refurbished pairs can be had for about $10 less) to about $225 for VNLA brand adult roller skates.
Walmart: Fewer options than Amazon, but still well over 100 roller skate options to choose from (more if you include third-party sellers on the Walmart site). Prices range from about $25 for a pair of Roller Derby brand adjustable kiddie skates to $120 for a pair of traditional-style adult skates by Epic.
Target: Less selection than Walmart, but the same basic selection of roller skates for kids and adults from brands including Chicago Skates, Roller Derby, and Circle Society. Prices range from $30 to $120.
Dick’s Sporting Goods: Dick’s carries around 75 different models (most of them for traditional indoor/outdoor skating) for kids and adults from brands such as Epic, Roller Derby, Roces, and Chicago Skates. Prices run from $35 for kids’ skates to $120 for a pair of classic adult skates.
Academy Sports & Outdoors: This retailer carries only a couple dozen roller skate models from brands including Roller Derby, Airwalk, and Chicago Skates. Prices range from $20 for a pair of youth skates to $100 for an adult pair.
Ebay: Here, you can find new-in-the-box roller skates for kids and adults as well as gently (and not-so-gently) used and vintage models. Price and selection are all over the map, but are in line with big-box retailers when it comes to new, name-brand roller skates.