Anyone who is riding a bicycle for the first time, or learning how to ride it, needs to find a bike that’s just the right height for them. So, you might be wondering: what size of bike do I need for my height?
Fortunately, we are bike enthusiasts so we wrote this article to help you out. You’ll find out below which bike type and height are just right for your needs. After all, there are many kinds of bikes out there – from BMX to cruiser, triathlon, dirt bikes, trek, hybrid, road bikes, and so forth.
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Choosing your bike starts with the right height. You need to be comfortable and safe in your bike so it should be tailored to your height and weight, as well as physical ability and practical usage.
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How To Measure A Bike
So, how exactly do you measure a bike?
First of all, bike measurements that are often required when purchasing your own bicycle include the height of the person and inside leg or the inseam.
First, measure your height while standing up against a wall, with your back straight, and with no shoes on. Use a tape measure either by yourself or with someone’s help.
Next, measure your inside leg or inseam by standing with your feet apart and no shoes. Measure from the groin to the ground and record the distance. The importance of the inseam is for the standover height or the distance from the ground to the bike frame. There should be an inch of clearance between your inside leg and the bike’s top tube.
Bikes in the market are often measured from the seat up to the crank axle (where you place your feet to paddle the bike). However, for children’s bikes, they are often measured by their wheel size, such as 12-inch bikes.
Road Bike Sizes
When it comes to road bikes, you’ll find models that are measured in centimeters for the frame size. Choosing a road bike requires a great amount of effort to ensure accuracy. That’s because road bikes need to be comfortable yet easy to steer. A road bike will require you to sit most of the time so you’ll have to be in a comfortable position.
With that said, here are common frame sizes and their recommended rider height and inside leg measurements:
| Ideal frame size | 47 to 48 cm | 49 to 51 cm | 51 to 52 cm | 52 to 53 cm | 53 to 54 cm | 54 to 56 cm | 56 to 58 cm | 58 to 60 cm | 60 to 62 cm | 62 cm and above |
| User height | 4’10” to 5’ | 5’ to 5’2” | 5’2” to 5’4” | 5’4” to 5’6” | 5’6” to 5’8” | 5’8” to 5’10” | 5’10” to 6’ | 6’ to 6’2” | 6’2” to 6’4” | 6’4” and above |
| Inside leg (inches) | 24 to 26 | 25 to 26 | 26 to 29 | 28 to 30 | 29 to 31 | 30 to 32 | 31 to 33 | 32 to 34 | 33 to 35 | 34 and above |
Mountain Bike Sizing
Typically, when compared with a road bike, a mountain bike usually has a smaller frame size and is often measured in inches. Mountain bikes usually don’t require the inside height due to the lower standover height and an upright cycling position.
Here are the most common frame sizes and the ideal rider height:
| Ideal frame size | 13 inches | 14 inches | 15 inches | 16 inches | 17 inches | 17 to 18 inches | 18 to 19 inches | 19 to 20 inches | 21 to 22 inches | 23 inches and above |
| User height | 4’10” to 5’ | 5’ to 5’2” | 5’2” to 5’4” | 5’4” to 5’6” | 5’6” to 5’8” | 5’8” to 5’10” | 5’10” to 6’ | 6’ to 6’2” | 6’2” to 6’4” | 6’4” and above |
BMX Bike Sizes
In measuring a BMX bike, only the rider height and the top tube are needed when choosing. Here are some of the most common top tube sizes with their corresponding recommended user height:
| Ideal top tube length | 12 to 15 inches | 15 to 18 1/2 inches | 17 to 18 1/2 inches | 18 1/2 to 19 1/2 inches | 19 1/2 to 20 1/2 inches | 20 1/2 inches and above |
| User height | 4’ and below | 4’ to 4’6” | 4’4” to 4’10” | 4’8” to 5’4” | 5’4” to 5’10” | 5’10” and above |
Cruiser Bike Sizes
Also known as a beach bike or beach cruiser, these bikes are ideal for city travel due to their low speed. They are also ideal for light usage. The most common cruiser bike sizes can be found in this chart:
| Rider height | 2’10” to 3’8” | 3’2” to 4’4” | 4’ to 5’4” | 5’ to 6’4” | 6’ and above |
| Ideal frame size | 8 to 10 inches | 12 inches | 15 inches | 15 to 21 inches | Extended frame |
| Ideal wheel size | 16 inches | 20 inches | 24 inches | 26 inches | |
Triathlon Bike Size
Triathlon bicycles are specially designed because they’re meant for sporting events. In a triathlon bike, the inside leg, frame size, and top tube length are what you need to look for. Here are some of the most common sizes for both genders:
| Ideal frame size (cm) | 48 to 50 | 50 to 52 | 52 to 54 | 54 to 56 | 56 to 58 | 58 to 60 | 60 to 62 |
| Inside leg (inches) | 26.5 to 28 | 27.5 to 29 | 28.5 to 30 | 29.5 to 31 | 30.5 to 32 | 31.5 to 33 | 32.5 to 34 |
| Top tube length (cm) | 48.5 to 50 | 50 to 51.5 | 51.5 to 53.5 | 53.5 to 55.5 | 55.5 to 57 | 57 to 58 | 58 to 59 |
Trek Bike Size
Also known as a trekking bike, it is a kind of hybrid bicycle that’s often used for off-road travel. It has a straight handlebar and requires the rider to be in an upright position. Common trek bike sizes include the following:
| Trek Bike Size | Inseam (inches) | Rider height (inches) |
| XS | 25.2 to 28.7 | 4’5” to 5’1” |
| S | 28.3 to 29.9 | 5’ to 5’3” |
| M | 29.9 to 31.9 | 5’3” to 5’7” |
| M/L | 31.5 to 33.1 | 5’6” to 5’10” |
| L | 32.7 to 34.6 | 5’9” to 6’2” |
| XL | 34.3 to 36.2 | 6’1” to 6’5” |
| 2XL | 36.2 to 37.4 | 6’4” to 6’7” |
Dirt Bike Sizes
A dirt bike is often used in competitions and should have a rugged design since it is technically motor-powered. Dirt bikes are measured not just with lengths and heights but preferably with engine displacement.
First, here’s a chart to help you choose an appropriate dirt bike based on your height:
| Rider age or height | Seat height (inches) |
| 3 to 7 years old | – |
| 5 to 9 years old | 17 to 26 |
| 7 to 10 years old | 26 to 29 |
| 10 to 12 years old | 29 to 32 |
| 5’2” | 29 to 32 |
| 5’4” | 30 to 34 |
| 5’6” | 34 to 38 |
| 5’10” | 36 to 38 |
| 6’ and above | 37.5 to 38.6 |
Next, here’s a recommended chart of different engine displacements of dirt bikes:
| Rider age or height | Engine displacement |
| 3 to 7 years old | 50 cc |
| 5 to 9 years old | 50 cc, 70 cc |
| 7 to 10 years old | 110 cc |
| 10 to 12 years old | 110 cc, 125 cc |
| 5’2” | 125 cc |
| 5’4” | 140 cc, 150 cc, 250 cc |
| 5’6” | 125 cc, 150 cc, 250 cc |
| 5’10” | 250 cc and above |
| 6’ and above | 450 cc and above |
Hybrid Bicycle Size
A hybrid bike is a combination of a mountain and a road bike, which makes the user feel comfortable while also allowing them to stroll around the town or neighborhood properly. If you’re looking for a hybrid bike, here’s a size chart for you:
| Hybrid bike size classification | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
| Ideal frame size (inches) | 13 to 14 | 15 to 16 | 17 to 18 | 19 to 20 | 21 to 22 | 23 to 25 |
| Rider height | 4’10” to 5’1” | 5’1” to 5’5” | 5’5” to 5’9” | 5’9” to 6’ | 6’ to 5’3” | 6’3” to 6’6” |
What Size Bike Frame Do I Need?
The bike frame you should get depends on your height. There are different bike frame sizes out there because there are also different types of bikes. A road bike frame is measured differently (in centimeter) as compared to that of a mountain bike (in inches).
To help you figure out the appropriate frame size depending on your height, here’s a simple chart:
| Rider height | 5’0 to 5’3” | 5’4” to 5’6” | 5’7” to 5’9” | 5’10” to 5’11” | 6’ to 6’2” | 6’3” and above |
| Mountain bike frame (cm) | 50 | 51 to 53 | 53 to 54 | 55 to 58 | 58 to 59 | 60 to 62 |
| Road bike frame (inches) | 15 to 16 | 15 to 16 | 16 to 17 | 17 to 19 | 20 to 21 | 20 to 22 |
What Wheel Size Bike Do I Need?
When choosing bikes for a child, it’s usually measured in wheel size and not the frame. Wheel sizes also vary depending on the bike frame. To help you choose, here are some common kids’ wheel sizes:
| Wheel size | 12 inches | 16 inches | 20 inches | 24 inches |
| Inseam | 14 to 20 inches | 19 to 23 inches | 22 to 25 inches | 24 to 28 inches |
| Ideal age | 1 to 4 years old | 3 to 6 years old | 5 to 8 years old | 8 to 12 years old |
