Bike Size Charts – For Women, Men & Kids

Getting the right bike size is crucial, there’s no doubt about that.

When you are lucky enough to test ride a bike, then the process is quite straightforward – it feels good or it doesn’t. It’s as simple as that.

But what can you do when you’re shopping online (bike shops, marketplace, Craigslist and so on)?

The answer is simple – use bike size charts!

We have various methods on how to find the right bike size based on your height and/or inseam, so let’s take a closer look at these below.

Method One: Bike Height Chart – The Easiest

This method requires your height and provides you with the proper frame size measured in inches. If you need the results in centimeters, then jump to step 2.

Mountain Bike Size Chart

Your height / Frame Size / Marker

• 4’11″ – 5’3″ = 13 – 15 inches = X-Small
• 5’3″ – 5’7″  = 15 – 16 inches = Small
• 5’7″ – 5’11” = 16 – 17 inches = Medium
• 6’0″ – 6’2″ = 17 – 19 inches = Large
• 6’2″ – 6’4″  = 19 – 21 inches = X-Large
• 6’4″ and taller  = 21+ inches = XX-Large

Road Bike Size Chart

Height / Frame Size (seat tube height) / Marker

4’10”- 5’2” = 47 cm – 48 cm = XX-Small
5’2″- 5’6” = 49 cm – 50 cm = X-Small
5’3”- 5’6” = 51 cm – 53 cm = Small
5’6”- 5’9” = 54 cm – 55 cm = Medium
5’9”- 6’0” = 56 cm – 58 cm = Large
6’0”- 6’3” = 58 cm – 60” cm = X-Large
6’3”- 6’6” = 61 cm – 63 cm = XX-Large

Voilà!

These two are very generic charts, so we recommend always seeking more information from brands that you’re interested in.

Method Two: Calculating the bike size

1. Take off your shoes and stand with your legs about 6″ – 8″ (15 – 20 cm) apart. Measure the height from the ground to your crotch.
2. Be sure of the type of bicycle you want: Mountain bike, city bike or road bike. You can read about the different bike types from here.
3. Now you can take your calculator and calculate the right size:
   

City bike – Leg inseam (cm) x 0,685 = Your frame size
Mountain bike –  Leg inseam (cm) x 0,66 = Your frame size
Road bike – Leg inseam (cm) x 0,70 = Your frame size

(If your leg inseam is 76cm, then your right mountain bike size is 50 cm (20”), road bike 53 cm and city bike 52 cm)

Method Three: Bike Size Chart (Advanced):

Mountain bike size chart

City bike (Also commuter/hybrid bikes) size chart

Road bike size chart

To make it simple – Bicycle Guiders’ bike size graph.

Open me!

Got the right size?

Nice!

And now go cycling!

*Please note that frame sizes from XXS – XXL don’t have the same meaning for every manufacturer. Those sizes (like on clothing) show current model sizes.

Kids Bike Size Chart

Let’s consider several methods all at once of how to size a bike for a kid with more certainty.

If you want to make sure to choose the right kids’ bike size, you should take into consideration 1) Age, 2) Height, 3) Inseam, and 4) Tire Size.

We tried to gather all of this data into one kids’ bike size chart that you can see below. It should work for most kids, except for some exceptions.

As a result: You can double-check the results. If you’re satisfied, you can choose the right bike based on these results.

If you find that some numbers don’t match and you’re getting different results based on different criteria, keep in mind that all kids are different. As they get older, the discrepancies between individuals become even larger. 

• Read also: 26-Inch Bike for What Size Person?

Right Saddle Height (vs Standover Height) For Kids

Choosing the right saddle height is extremely important for all riders, especially for kids. If you place the saddle too low or high, your child is likely to feel a lack of control and lack of confidence.

So, let’s make it clear.

BONUS:

• Fourth Sizing method: Amazon Fit Guide
• Fifth Sizing Calculator: Competitive Cyclist Fit Calculator.
• Sixth – Jenson USA Bike Fit Calculator (Beta)

Voilà!

Read next: How to fit a bike

The right saddle height has a very important role. If it’s too low, you won’t have enough power in your feet. In mountain bike racing, I have experienced that when the saddle falls one inch down from normal, I lose about 25-50% of my force. I better stop and let the group go, then fix it and lose 15 seconds but I do catch the group and can even get the next group ahead. So the right saddle height plays a big role!

 Need Professional Fitting Service? Order From Amazon!

The easiest way is to

1. Lean to the wall with your elbow sitting on the bike (or let someone help you as shown on the picture)
2. Put your leg to lowest point but parallel to the ground.
3. Move your saddle up or down until you have a nice bend behind your knee. It should be something around 30 ° but don’t waste too much energy finding that exact angle.

Go out and ride. Does it feel good? If not, then adjust. Also, you can adjust the seat to front and rear. 

But… which brand to buy? See our Best Bike Brands

TIP: If you got the right height, mark it down with some sharp object. That’s the best size chart ever 🙂 Some bikes have centimeters marked there, then keep this in mind.

What If I Got My Bike Size Wrong?

Then ask your merchant, if you can send your bike back to get the right one. If you don’t want to do that, then you can do the following things:

• Move your saddle to the front or rear
• Buy a longer or shorter stem. It changes your body position
• Buy a longer seat post

Give it time to get the feeling right. I remember when I got my first 29er mountain bike. It felt like a ship and seemed difficult to ride in narrow trails of the forest. Now I start laughing when I sit on a 26″ mountain bike because it looks so tiny.

Read Next:

• Best Mountain Bikes
• Best Road Bikes
• Top Gravel Bikes
• Best Folding Bikes
• Best Hybrid Bikes
• Home…

CLICK TO SHARE THIS ARTICLE

TwitterFacebookGoogle+LinkedInPin It