Kids Bike Size Guide
Updated: 7th June 2021
Most of us remember getting our first bike and how great it felt to explore and discover new places with our friends.
You want their first bike to be perfect, so to help you, we've put together this kids bike guide covering sizing and a few key tips to ensure you make the right choice. Give them a love of cycling for life and inspire healthy habits they can take into adulthood.
Kids Bike Size Chart
Note:some brands offer slightly different sizing recomendations, check the sizing tab on the porduct page for brand sizing guideleines for specific models.
How to choose the right size bike?
Choosing the right size bike for your child is the most important thing.
Kids bikes are sized by their wheel diameter and range from 10" to 24".
The easiest way to get the correct size for your child is by measuring their height and checking our size chart above or the size chart on the porduct page for the model you are interested in.
For adult bike sizing info see our bike sizing guide.
Golden rule: Choose a bike that fits
Avoid buying a bike which is too big for them with hopes they will 'grow into' the frame. It will be too heavy for them, difficult to ride and potentially dangerous to use – and safety is key.
You want them to easily reach the floor and pedals, and have full control of the handlebar and brakes.
A larger bike will be heavier and harder to manoeuvre, which is less fun to ride. Enjoyment is the determining factor that will get your kids to love cycling.
Remember, you can always hand down bikes to younger siblings once they've outgrown their bike, or simply sell them on.
Types of kids bikes
2 – 4 year old's bikes
12" bikes & balance bikes
These bikes come in two types, pedal bikes with stabilisers and balance bikes.
Balance bikes are great first bikes for toddlers as they build balancing, co-ordination and steering skills quicker than if they use stabilisers – which are crucial for their development. Also, there are no moving parts (except wheels) so they're less likely to get tangled up in a fall. Your child can also skip the stabiliser stage altogether.
Bikes with stabilisers come with a range of accessories such as baskets, dolls seats and brightly coloured designs to appeal to little riders.
4 – 8 year old's bikes
14" – 18" bikes
We're leaving balance bikes and stabilisers behind and transferring to pedal bikes. These bikes come with pedals, brakes and single speed drivetrains. They're built from durable materials like steel or aluminium which can take the demands of energetic use.
The addition of brakes, riser bars and sturdy grips improve safety at faster speeds while a low top tube (the bar between their legs) makes dismounting easier. 14-18" bikes give them their first real taste of proper cycling while building key skills.
7 – 10 year old's bikes
20" bikes
These are coming of age bikes with geared drivetrains and good quality components. Most 20" bikes will be mountain bike orientated with front suspension.
You don't tend to start seeing on-road style bikes until you get to 24" wheels. 20" bikes are ideal for more adventurous family rides through the park, on canal towpaths and up fire roads.
Front suspension helps to soak up some of the lumps and bumps for a more efficient and comfortable ride. Strong wheels with tacky, knobbly tyres improve stability too.
10 – 12 year old's bikes
24" (junior) bikes
24" bikes mark the last stage in your child's development before the move to an adult bike. They're scaled down adult bikes. You find proper gearing and refined frame designs. This is where you start seeing a split between off-road and on-road bikes.
On-road bikes will feature lightweight frames (aluminium at the higher end) and stiff rigid forks for speed on flat roads and tarmac. Off-road bikes come with 50-70mm front suspension for rougher terrain.
7-9 speed cassettes help your child get to grips with gearing and learn how to ride efficiently.
Buy the best bike you can afford
It's worth choosing your budget carefully and buying the best bike your budget allows. Why? It all comes down to weight. Kids bikes can be very heavy with cheaper options made from steel. Weight matters more so on a kids bike than on an adult bike because children as smaller, lighter and have less muscle mass. Shaving weight off the frame will make a huge difference to handling, responsiveness and enjoyment.
More expensive kids bikes have refined frames with less material being used, whilst keeping them durable. The switch from steel to aluminium which is lighter, stiffer and just as strong as steel will make a big difference to ride characteristics.
Brands like Frog and Early Rider specialise in building kids bikes and produce lighter bikes than most of their competitors.
Choose a design they'll like
No matter how good your choice is, if they don't like the look of it you'll have a hard time keeping them in the saddle. We stock a range of boys bikes and girls bikes in a range of colour schemes and designs to appeal.
Summary
Choosing the right kids bike is very important. It'll leave a lasting memory and will be a big factor in whether they choose to continue cycling into adulthood. By choosing the right size for your child's height, and by opting for the best your budget can afford, you can't go far wrong.
Remember, fun and enjoyment is everything. Buy a bike which is properly fitted to their size so they can cruise around in comfort. Lastly, get them to always wear a helmet!
Most popular kids bikes
Frequently Asked Questions
Children all grow at different times so while a 20 inch wheel bike is generally recommended for kids aged 7 to 10 years old, if a 6 year old is 135cm or taller then they will fit a 20 inch bike. See our kids bike size chart for more.
20 inch bikes are recommended for children between the ages of 7yrs to 10yrs. They are also be suitable for children of different ages who are between 125 and 135cm tall. More kids size recommendations can be found in our kids bike size chart.
24 inch bikes are recommended for children who are 10 years old or older. They may also be suitable for younger children who are taller than 135cm. Find out more with our kids bike size chart.
We generally recommend 14 inch wheel bikes for 6 year old children if they are between 105 and 117cm tall. Children who are 6 years old and taller than 125cm can also ride a bike with 16 inch wheels, if they are taller than 117cm then an 18 inch wheel bike may also be suitable. Our kids bike size chart shows more.
Unless a 5 year old child is 125cm or taller a 20 inch wheel bike will be too big for them. Five year old kids between 105cm and 117cm tall are best suited to a 14 inch bike although if they are taller than 112cm then a 16 inch bike may be suitable. See our kids bike size chart for details.
A 16 inch wheel bike is the size that we recommend for a 6 year old who is between 112cm and 125cm tall. Six year old kids taller than 117cm may also fit an 18 inch wheel bike. You can see this more clearly in our kids bike size chart.
A 20 inch bike is a bike with 20 inch wheels. This mostly means bikes for kids 7 to 10 years old who are between 125cm and 136cm tall. Not all 20 inch wheel bikes are kids bikes however as BMX bikes also have 20 inch wheels.
The best bike for a 3 year old is a balance bike. These are the best type of bike to learn the essential skills of cycling. If they are already confident on a balance bike then they can move up to a pedal bike. A 12 inch wheel bike will be the right size or a 14 inch bike if they are more than 105cm tall. See our kids bike size chart to find out more.
A 14 inch frame bike shouldn’t be confused with a 14 inch wheel bike. A 14 inch frame bike is suitable for a small adult or a child between 150cm and 160cm tall. A 14 inch wheel bike is for a child 105cm to 117cm tall between 4yrs and 6yrs old. Our kids bike size chart shows this in more detail.
A kid can begin to learn how to ride a bike when they are 2 years old or at any age after that. The best place to start is with a balance bike as these teach essential cycling skills. See our How to Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike guide for more.