Skate punk started in early 1980s California, where skateboarding was popular and was considered a form of rebellion. Bands such as Dr. Know, Agression, Suicidal Tendencies, Stalag 13, Agent Orange, Ill repute, JFA ect.. were the structure of the skate core scene. Bands that influenced the genre include Black Flag, JFA and Minor Threat. The 1990s saw a rise in its popularity, with skate punk bands experiencing commercial success. Events like the Warped Tour and the X-games have featured skate punk bands. Fat Wreck Chords and Epitaph Records have been home to many successful skate punk bands since the early 1990s when skate punk grew popular. By 2000, the two labels stopped signing new skate punk bands, with the exception of Pour Habit signing to Fat Wreck Chords in 2009.

Since the 1990s, skate punk has slowly grown in popularity (with the exception of the US), especially in Europe, Japan, and South America. The Japanese record label, Bells On Records is a staple in the resurgence of skate punk. It features more than 20 bands from around the world.