Bike Size Guide: 8 Size Charts + Calculator

Unsure if you're riding or buying a proper sized bike? Use our easy charts and calculator to determine the correct size for your height and inseam.

Bike size guide

Finding the perfect bike size can be a real challenge if you don’t know what to look for. 

With so many styles and brands of bikes, it’s hard to find one that fits your needs. Whether you are looking for a mountain bike, BMX bike, hybrid bike, kid’s bike, or road bike, we have all the charts, tips, and tools you need in this bike size guide.

Ready to find out your perfect size? Let’s go!

Know your height

Begin by measuring your height. To do this, take off your shoes, stand against a wall, feet together, and measure from the ground to the top of your head. 

Height by itself just works for BMX sizes because they are normally sized by wheel size.

For the other types of bikes like mountain or road bikes, height will play a role but it will not give you an accurate reference by itself when choosing your perfect bike size.

Bikes have different geometries that can affect sizing even if two people fall within the same height range.

This is why you’ll need to determine your inseam length and standover height as well. 

Let’s look at them!

Measure your inseam

The most important measurement you need to know is your inseam.

This will give us the reference we need for standover height and bike fit as well so that we are able to choose a proper bike size.

Taking inseam is almost as simple as measuring your height you are only going to need these little extras: 

  • A friend or someone to help you.
  • A hardcover book. 
  • Cycling shorts or equivalent.
  • A pencil.

Now, 

  1. Shoes off and shorts on, stand with your feet shoulders width apart against a wall.
  2. Place the hardcover book with the spine of the book firmly against your crotch (simulating the bike seat) and hold it straight.
  3. Have your friendly or not so much helper to draw a line on the wall on top of the spine of the book. 
  4. Finally measure from it to the ground.

And boom that is your inseam measurement!

What is standover height and why is it important?

Standover height is measured from the center of the top tube to the ground.

A bike that is your right size will need to have a standover height of 2″ – 4″ shorter than your inseam measurement.

This measure comes very handy specially if you are buying your bike online cause virtually it is as if you were standing on it 😉

Tip: If you don’t see this measure directly on the manufacturer’s bike size chart, look for it on the specs of the bike or flat out ask the seller.

That is all you need to know to place yourself in a bike size chart and choose the right one.

Let’s get to it!

Finally! All bike size charts for men and women are here…

Ok, I’m sorry I tricked you a little bit but there is one more thing to note before racing to the size charts.

Most probably you’ll find your measurements place you in more than one size. 

What the…?

Yes, it is completely normal, if this is your case my advice is to go for the shorter one as it is easier to tweak your bike to make it bigger than the other way around.

No more tricks, here they are:

Road bike size chart for men

HeightInseam LeghtFrame SizeBike Size
4’10” – 5’0″
147cm – 152cm
26″
66cm
18″ – 19″
47cm – 48cm
XXS
5’0″ – 5’3″
152cm – 160cm
27″
69cm
19″ – 20″
48cm – 51cm
XS
5’3″ – 5’7″
160cm – 170cm
28″
71cm
20″ – 21″
51cm – 53cm
S
5’7″ – 5’9″
170cm – 175cm
30″
76cm
21″ – 22″
53cm – 55cm
M
5’9″ – 5’11”
175cm – 180cm
31″
79cm
22″ – 23″
56cm – 58cm
L
5’11” – 6’2″
180cm – 188cm
32″
81cm
23″ – 24″
59cm – 61cm
XL
6’2″ – 6’5″
188cm – 196cm
34″
86cm
24″ – 25″
62cm – 64cm
XXL
*Bike size charts may vary from one manufacturer to another use this one only as reference

Road bike size chart for women

HeightInseam LenghtFrame SizeBike Size
4’10” – 5’1″
147cm – 155cm
26″
66cm
16″ – 18″
44cm – 46cm
XXS
5’1″ – 5’3″
155cm – 160cm
27″
69cm
18″ – 19″
47cm – 49cm
XS
5’3″ – 5’5″
160cm – 165cm
28″
71cm
19″ – 20″
50cm – 52cm
S
5’5″ – 5’8″
165cm – 172cm
30″
76cm
20″ – 21″
53cm – 55cm
M
5’8″ and up
172cm and up
31″
79cm
21″ – 22″
56cm – 57cm
L
*Bike size charts may vary from one manufacturer to another use this one only as reference

Learn more: Road bike size guide for men and women

Mountain bike size chart for men

HeightInseam LenghtFrame SizeBike Size
4’11” – 5’3″
147cm – 160cm
25″ – 27″
63cm – 68cm
13″ – 15″
33cm – 38cm
XS
5’3″ – 5’7″
160cm – 170cm
27″ – 29″
68cm – 74cm
15″ – 17″
38cm – 43cm
S
5’7″ – 5’11”
170cm – 180cm
29″- 31″
74cm – 79cm
17″ – 19″
43cm – 48cm
M
5’11” – 6’2″
180cm – 188cm
31″ – 33″
79cm – 84cm
19″ – 21″
48cm – 53cm
L
6’2″ – 6’4″
188cm – 193cm
33″ – 35″
84cm – 89cm
21″ – 23″
53cm – 58cm
XL
6’4″ and up
193 and up
35″ and up
89cm and up
23″ and up
58cm and up
XXL
*Bike size charts may vary from one manufacturer to another use this one only as reference

Mountain bike size chart for women

HeightInseam LenghtFrame SizeBike Size
4’10” – 5’2″
148cm – 158cm
25″ – 27″
63cm – 68.5cm
13″ – 14″
33cm – 36cm
XS
5’2″ – 5’6″
160cm – 170cm
27″ – 29″
68.5cm – 74cm
15″ – 16″
38cm – 41cm
S
5’6″ – 5’10”
170cm – 178cm
29″ – 31″
74cm – 79cm
17″ – 18″
43cm – 46cm
M
5’10” – 6’1″
180cm – 185cm
31″ – 33″
79cm – 84cm
19″ – 20
46cm – 53cm
L
*Bike size charts may vary from one manufacturer to another use this one only as reference

Learn more: Mountain bike size guide

Hybrid bike size chart for men

HeightInseam LenghtFrame SizeBike Size
4’10” – 5’0″
147cm – 152
26″
66cm
13″ – 14″
33cm – 35cm
XXS
5’0″ – 5’3″
152cm – 160cm
27″
69cm
14″ – 15″
36cm – 38cm
XS
5’3″ – 5’7″
160cm – 170cm
28″
71cm
15″ – 16″
39cm – 40cm
S
5’7″ – 5’9″
170cm – 175cm
30″
76cm
17″ – 18″
43cm – 45cm
M
5’9″ – 5’11”
175cm – 180cm
31″
79cm
19″ – 20″
48cm – 50cm
L
5’11” – 6’2″
180cm – 188cm
32″
81cm
20″ – 21″
51cm – 53cm
L
6’2″ – 6’5″
188cm – 196cm
34″
86cm
21″ – 22″
54cm – 56cm
XL
6’5″ and up
196cm and up
36″
91cm
23″ and up
58cm and up
XXL
*Bike size charts may vary from one manufacturer to another use this one only as reference

Hybrid bike size chart for women

HeightInseam LenghtFrame SizeBike Size
4’10” – 5’1″
147cm – 155cm
26″
66cm
13″ – 14″
33cm – 35cm
XXS
5’1″ – 5’3″
155cm – 160cm
27″
69cm
14″ – 15″
36cm – 38cm
XS
5’3″ – 5’5″
160cm – 165cm
28″
71cm
15″ – 16″
39cm – 41cm
S
5’5″ – 5’8″
165cm – 172cm
30″
76cm
17″ – 18″
42cm – 45cm
M
5’9″ and up
172cm and up
31″
79cm
19″ – 20″
46cm and up
L
*Bike size charts may vary from one manufacturer to another use this one only as reference

Learn more: Hybrid bike size guide

BMX bike size chart

HeightRace SizeFreestyle Wheel SizeTop Tube Lenght
3’3″ – 4′
99cm – 122cm
Micro12″ – 16″15″ – 16.5″
4′ – 4’6″
122cm – 137cm
Mini16″ – 18″16″ – 17.5″
4’6″ – 4’10”
137cm – 147cm
Junior18″ – 20″17″ – 18.5″
4’8″ – 5’4″
142cm – 162cm
Expert20″
18.5″ – 19.5″
5’4″ – 5’10”
162cm – 178cm
Pro20″20″ – 20.5″
5’8″ – 6′
172cm – 180cm
Pro XL20″20.75″ – 21.25″
6′ and up
180cm and up
Pro XXL20″21.25″ – 22″
*Bike size charts may vary from one manufacturer to another use this one only as reference

Learn more: BMX bike size guide

Kid’s bike size chart

Wheel SizeInseam LenghtHeightAge
12″15″ – 18″
38cm – 46cm
36″ – 39″
92cm – 96cm
2 – 3
14″15″ – 20″
36cm – 51cm
37″ – 44″
94cm – 112cm
2 – 4
16″16″ – 22″
40cm – 56cm
41″ – 48″
102cm – 123cm
4 – 6
20″19″ – 25″
48cm – 63.5cm
45″ – 54″
114cm – 131cm
5 – 8
24″23″- 28″
58.5cm – 71cm
49″ – 59″
124cm – 150cm
8 – 11
26″25″ and up
63.5cm and up
56″ and up
142cm and up
10+
*Bike size charts may vary from one manufacturer to another use this one only as a reference

Learn more: Kid’s bike size guide

If you just skipped your way out of the size charts without even trying to place yourself. I got you!

Either way, now that you are here you can also use this bike size calculator to speed up the process or to refer to it later.

Bike size calculator

How To Fix Wrong Bike Size?

To fix a wrong bike size you’ll need to change some or all of these components:

  • Crank arms
  • Stem
  • Seat post 
  • Handlebar

If your bike is too short for you, you’ll want to make the components bigger and shorter if your bike is too big, always starting from the seat post.

Do you remember when I said to you that it is better to choose the smaller size when placing you on the chart?

Well, if your bike is too big for you, you can make components smaller to a certain point specially the stems and if the difference is too extreme you’ll find yourself cutting the seat post tube to try and make it fit.

If this is your case before you try to change or even cut anything perform a full bike fit.

A little bit of creativity will go a long way when it comes to fitting bikes properly so never fret about being stuck between sizes or having components too big or small because chances are they’ll just need some minor tweaking here and there instead of major adjustments which could get expensive over time.

Check out my full bike fit guide if you need a hand with that!

If after doing that you still can’t get it right, it is best to consult with an experienced mechanic at your local bike shop.

The finish line


Choosing the right bike size is crucial for your comfort on a bike, but it’s also important to ensure that you are still getting the correct fit. 

The key takeaway from all of this is that most people will be able to find a proper bike size without too much hassle.

If you took your inseam measurement and calculated your standover height measurement correctly then there should be no problem finding the perfect bike size according to these two measurements alone.

The next time you’re looking around at different bike sizing charts be sure to bookmark our page as we’ve got everything covered!