Burton Snowboards is the world's leading manufacturer of snowboards. Founded by Jake Burton Carpenter in 1977, the company specializes in a product line aimed at snowboarders: snowboards, bindings, boots, outerwear, and accessories.

The company's flagship store is in Burlington, Vermont. Snowboards are manufactured "10 miles (16 km) down the road."

Aside from selling goods under its own brand name, Burton stores sell several sub-brands which focus on specific market niches. These sub-brands include Anon Optics (snowboard goggles and eyewear); RED (helmets and body armor), and others that manufacture outerwear and footwear. In 2005, Four Star Distribution sold four of its snowboard brands to Burton, including Forum Snowboarding which designs hardgoods and softgoods, outerwear and streetwear. Burton, a privately-owned company, also owns a surfing distributor.

In February 2008, Burton acquired DNA Distribution, which includes the skateboard manufacturer Alien Workshop, and two other companies.

In 2008, the winter sports industry had grown to $487 million. Burton had 40-70% of these sales, depending on the category.

Carpenter first made snowboards by hand in his garage. He couldn't afford the proper equipment -- so he applied polyurethane wearing a scuba mask. His co-founder Dimitrije Milovich, was an East coast surfer and founder of Winterstick.

In 2008, a number of complaints arose when Burton produced snowboards with topsheets illustrating self-mutilation and Playboy bunnies.

The company started using a single-channel binding-mounting system on its 2006 models. In 2007, this system was installed on other snowboard lines. A binding system was offered with this system. The bindings were designed to give the rider more control as well as greater board feel.