Kids' bikes: how to pick the right size
Kids' bikes are sized by the child, not the age. Here are the fit range, weight, brakes and gears of 44 popular kids' bikes, new and used.
How to choose
- Fit first. A bike that fits now is safer and more fun than one they'll "grow into". Too big is hard to control and scary.
- Seat height. New riders: with the seat at its lowest, both feet should reach the ground. Confident riders: tiptoes on both sides is fine.
- Weight matters most. A kid's bike is a big share of a small rider's weight. Under about 30% of their body weight is great; over 40% feels heavy.
- Brakes. Hand brakes with levers that adjust in for small hands are easier to learn on than a coaster (pedal-back) brake.
- Gears. Single speed is simplest for 16" and most 20" bikes. Gears help on 24" bikes and hilly places.
- Used is great. Kids outgrow bikes fast. Check the brakes work, the wheels spin straight and nothing wobbles.
12″ wheels
| Bike | Rider height | Ages | Bike weight | Brakes | Gears | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haro Shredder 12 | — | — | 15.9 lb (7.2 kg) | Coaster only | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Maker's page |
16″ wheels
| Bike | Rider height | Ages | Bike weight | Brakes | Gears | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialized Riprock Coaster 16 | 3′1″–3′6″ (94–107 cm) | — | 18.6 lb (8.4 kg) | Coaster only | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| Schwinn Koen 16" SmartStart | 3′2″–4′0″ (97–122 cm) | 3–7 | 20.6 lb (9.3 kg) | Coaster + hand brake | 1 (single speed) | $$$ | Buy at Amazon · Maker's page |
| REI Co-op Cycles REV 16 | 3′3″–4′0″ (99–122 cm) | 4–8 | 18.1 lb (8.2 kg) | Hand brakes | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Buy at REI |
| Retrospec Koda 16 | 3′3″–4′5″ (99–135 cm) | 4–6 | 18.5 lb (8.4 kg) | Coaster + hand brake | 1 (single speed) | $$$ | Buy at Amazon · Maker's page |
| Trek Precaliber 16 | 3′3″–3′10″ (99–117 cm) | 4–5 | 17.6 lb (8.0 kg) | Coaster only | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| Guardian Bikes Ethos 16in | 3′4″–3′10″ (102–117 cm) | 4–6 | 17.5 lb (7.9 kg) | Hand brakes | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| JOYSTAR Totem 16in | 3′5″–4′5″ (104–135 cm) | 4–7 | 21.5 lb (9.8 kg) | Coaster only | 1 (single speed) | $$$ | Buy at Amazon · Maker's page |
| woom GO 3 | 3′5″–3′11″ (104–119 cm) | 4–6 | 13.0 lb (5.9 kg) | Hand brakes | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| woom ORIGINAL 3 (no longer made) | 3′5″–3′11″ (105–120 cm) | 4–6 | 11.9 lb (5.4 kg) | Hand brakes | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Browse used listings on eBay |
| RoyalBaby Freestyle 16in (coaster brake) | 3′5″–4′5″ (105–135 cm) | 4–7 | 23.3 lb (10.6 kg) | Coaster + hand brake | 1 (single speed) | $$$ | Buy at Walmart · Buy at Amazon |
| Huffy Rock It 16" | 3′6″–4′0″ (107–122 cm) | 4–6 | 18.0 lb (8.2 kg) | Coaster only | 1 (single speed) | $$$ | Buy at Walmart |
| Huffy Sea Star 16" | 3′6″–4′0″ (107–122 cm) | 4–6 | 19.0 lb (8.6 kg) | Coaster only | 1 (single speed) | $$$ | Buy at Walmart |
| Haro Shredder 16 | — | 5–7 | 19.4 lb (8.8 kg) | Coaster + hand brake | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Maker's page |
18″ wheels
| Bike | Rider height | Ages | Bike weight | Brakes | Gears | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mongoose Switch 18 | 3′6″–4′4″ (107–132 cm) | 5–8 | — | Coaster + hand brake | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Buy at Amazon · Maker's page |
| Kent Abyss 18 BMX | 4′0″–4′4″ (122–132 cm) | 5–8 | 28.0 lb (12.7 kg) | Coaster + hand brake | 1 (single speed) | $$$ | Buy at Walmart · Maker's page |
20″ wheels
| Bike | Rider height | Ages | Bike weight | Brakes | Gears | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polygon Premier 20 | 3′5″–4′3″ (105–130 cm) | 5–8 | 21.2 lb (9.6 kg) | Hand brakes | 7 | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| Specialized Riprock 20 | 3′6″–3′11″ (107–119 cm) | — | 21.1 lb (9.6 kg) | Hand brakes | 8 | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| Guardian Bikes Ethos 20in Small | 3′7″–4′3″ (109–130 cm) | 5–8 | 20.7 lb (9.4 kg) | Hand brakes | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| Huffy Rock It 20" | 3′8″–4′8″ (112–142 cm) | 5–9 | 26.0 lb (11.8 kg) | Coaster only | 1 (single speed) | $$$ | Buy at Walmart |
| Huffy Sea Star 20" | 3′8″–4′8″ (112–142 cm) | 5–9 | 25.0 lb (11.3 kg) | Coaster only | 1 (single speed) | $$$ | Buy at Walmart |
| Trek Precaliber 20 | 3′9″–4′4″ (114–132 cm) | 6–8 | 20.3 lb (9.2 kg) | Coaster + hand brake | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| REI Co-op Cycles REV 20 | 3′9″–4′5″ (114–135 cm) | 6–9 | 20.4 lb (9.2 kg) | Hand brakes | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Buy at REI |
| woom GO 4 | 3′9″–4′3″ (114–130 cm) | 6–8 | 17.2 lb (7.8 kg) | Hand brakes | 7 | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| woom ORIGINAL 4 (no longer made) | 3′9″–4′3″ (115–130 cm) | 6–8 | 17.0 lb (7.7 kg) | Hand brakes | 7 | $$$$ | Browse used listings on eBay |
| Cannondale Kids Trail 20 | 3′10″–4′3″ (117–130 cm) | 5–8 | — | Hand brakes | 7 | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| Giant ARX 20 | 3′11″–4′7″ (120–140 cm) | — | 19.3 lb (8.8 kg) | Hand brakes | 8 | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| Schwinn Koen 20" SmartStart (no longer made) | 4′0″–5′0″ (122–152 cm) | — | 27.5 lb (12.5 kg) | Coaster + hand brake | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Browse used listings on eBay |
| Kent Ambush 20 BMX | 4′5″–5′0″ (135–152 cm) | 7–13 | 28.0 lb (12.7 kg) | Hand brakes | 1 (single speed) | $$$ | Buy at Walmart · Maker's page |
| Kent 2 Cool 20 | 4′5″–5′0″ (135–152 cm) | 7–13 | 32.0 lb (14.5 kg) | Hand brakes | 1 (single speed) | $$$ | Buy at Walmart · Maker's page |
| Kent Kobra 20 | 4′5″–5′0″ (135–152 cm) | 7–13 | 28.0 lb (12.7 kg) | Hand brakes | 6 | $$$ | Buy at Walmart · Maker's page |
| Haro Shredder 20 | — | — | 23.1 lb (10.5 kg) | Coaster + hand brake | 1 (single speed) | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| Specialized Hotrock 20 (7-speed) (no longer made) | — | — | — | Hand brakes | 7 | $$$$ | Browse used listings on eBay |
24″ wheels
| Bike | Rider height | Ages | Bike weight | Brakes | Gears | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialized Hotrock 24 | 3′11″–4′8″ (120–142 cm) | 9–12 | — | Hand brakes | 8 | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| Retrospec Dart 24 | 4′0″–5′0″ (122–152 cm) | 8–11 | 28.2 lb (12.8 kg) | Hand brakes | 7 | $$$$ | Buy at Amazon · Maker's page |
| Schwinn Ranger 24" | 4′0″–4′9″ (122–145 cm) | — | 31.2 lb (14.2 kg) | Hand brakes | 21 | $$$$ | Buy at Walmart · Maker's page |
| woom ORIGINAL 5 (no longer made) | 4′1″–4′9″ (125–145 cm) | 7–11 | 19.2 lb (8.7 kg) | Hand brakes | 8 | $$$$ | Browse used listings on eBay |
| woom EXPLORE 5 | 4′1″–4′9″ (125–145 cm) | 7–11 | 20.7 lb (9.4 kg) | Hand brakes | 8 | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| REI Co-op Cycles REV 24 | 4′2″–4′10″ (127–147 cm) | 8–12 | 28.2 lb (12.8 kg) | Hand brakes | 7 | $$$$ | Buy at REI |
| Trek Precaliber 24 8-speed (no longer made) | 4′3″–4′11″ (130–150 cm) | — | 24.6 lb (11.2 kg) | Hand brakes | 8 | $$$$ | Browse used listings on eBay |
| Giant ARX 24 | 4′3″–4′11″ (130–150 cm) | 7–12 | 19.9 lb (9.0 kg) | Hand brakes | 8 | $$$$ | Maker's page |
| Mongoose Flatrock 24 | 4′4″–5′2″ (132–157 cm) | 10–15 | 33.3 lb (15.1 kg) | Hand brakes | 7 | $$$$ | Buy at Walmart · Buy at Amazon · Maker's page |
| Huffy Rock Creek 24" | 4′10″–5′10″ (147–178 cm) | 12–19 | — | Hand brakes | 18 | $$$ | Buy at Walmart |
| Haro Flightline 24 | — | — | — | Hand brakes | 7 | $$$$ | Maker's page |
No paid placements: the order only follows size. Sizes and weights come from each maker's pages and independent reviews. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.