Teaching your child to ride a bike is one thing, but helping them find the right bike can be another challenge. Whether your child is just learning how to catch their balance or simply itching to take a joy ride around the neighborhood, investing in a good-quality bike that fits their age and height is a worthwhile pursuit. Since kids’ bikes are often sized differently from those for adults, there’s a lot to consider when shopping for the right one.
To help you get started, we spoke to cycling experts about how to find the right bike for your child and what to consider when it comes to identifying the correct size, weight and type of bike. We also compiled a list of highly rated and expert-recommended options that are in line with their shopping guidance.
SKIP AHEAD Kids bikes to consider | What are the different types of kids bikes?
Selected.Our top picks
Best for kids under 10
Woom 4 20-Inch Kids Bike
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$599.00
Woom
Learn moreBest for older kids
Cannondale Quick Kids Bike
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$500.00
Cannondale
Learn more
When shopping for a kids’ bike, you want to ensure you’re getting one that will fit your child. Like adult bikes, the wheel size will indicate how big the frame is, says Alison Dewey, education director with bicycling advocacy organization League of American Bicyclists. Typical wheel sizes for kids’ bikes range between 12 and 24 inches, and the bigger (and often older) your child is, the bigger their bike’s wheels should be.
Another way to measure bike size is by your child’s inseam, the length from the floor to your child’s seat. Most bikes will offer multiple sizes, and bike maker Schwinn even has estimates as to which size to buy, depending on your child’s age:
- 1 to 4 years old: 12-inch wheels
- 3 to 4 years old: 14-inch wheels
- 3 to 7 years old: 16-inch wheels
- 5 to 9 years old: 18-inch wheels
- 7 to 13 years old: 20-inch wheels
- 10 to 15 years old: 24-inch wheels
Of course, since children vary widely in size and body type, the numbers above will also likely vary. When determining the right size bike for your child, you should start by looking at the top tube — the bar at the top of the bike closest to the seat — and whether your child touches it when they’re in a normal standing position, says Lor Song, education programs manager at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
“Make sure that when the child straddles over the bike in a normal pedestrian stance, the top tube doesn’t hit their lower area — that’s usually a good indication that the height is right for the child,” says Song. Dewey adds that you also want there to be a little bit of space there, “so that it’s not a danger if they stop suddenly.”
Considering how quickly kids grow at younger ages, an adjustable seat post can help tailor the bike’s fit to your child and extend its usage. Dewey notes that the child’s toes should be touching the ground when seated, but they shouldn’t be flat-footed since that indicates the seat is too low. She also warns that most bike manufacturers will include an etched line on the post that signifies a “danger zone” — if you raise the seat past that line, you risk the seat snapping off or the frame breaking. You can raise the seat post about 4 to 5 inches before hitting that line.
Dewey and Song also suggest paying attention to the bike’s weight. A bike that’s too heavy for your child will make it difficult for them to navigate and exhausting to ride long distances. Our experts also recommend finding a bike with a frame weighing no more than 50% of your child’s weight, as lighter bikes are easier to maneuver. Safety is also worth mentioning: On top of considerations like traffic, other riders and the amount of time you’re riding, ensure your child is wearing a helmet and other protective gear.
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To help your child have fun and stay safe while on the road, here are a few highly rated and expert-recommended bike options that align with the guidance we received from our cycling experts. We listed different types of bikes for kids of varying ages and sizes based on our experts’ advice (we go into detail on the types of kids’ bikes below). We also noted the wheel size and suggested ages and weights of each one based on the bike manufacturers’ recommendations.
Top tricycle for kids: Radio Flyer Steer and Stroll Trike
- Recommended ages: 2-5 years old
- Wheel size: 10-inch front wheels and 7-inch back wheels
- Bike weight: 14.6 pounds
A tricycle can be a great way to introduce your child to biking — this model is made of plastic and steel, and it comes with a handle on the back for parents to help their child steer (and avoid crashes). This tricycle comes with an adjustable seat, a storage compartment in the back and a petal lock in case you want to push your child via the handle. It weighs around 14 pounds and has a weight capacity of 49 pounds. It’s also highly rated, with a 4.7-star average rating from more than 6,820 reviews on Amazon.
Top balance bike for kids:Strider Classic Balance Bike
- Recommended ages: 2-3 years old
- Wheel size: 12 inches
- Bike weight: 6.7 pounds
Dewey recommends Strider’s balance bike as an ideal option for beginner riders, specifically for children aged 18 months to three years old. This model comes with thick tires for balance and has a weight capacity of up to 60 pounds, according to the brand. It also comes with an adjustable seat and handlebar height to help you fit it to your child, and it weighs under seven pounds, which makes it easy for your toddler to maneuver, according to the brand. It has a 4.8-star average rating from over 3,550 reviews on Amazon and comes in four colors: blue, green, red and pink.
Top kids bike with training wheels: RoyalBaby Kids Bike with Training Wheels
- Recommended ages: 4-7 years old
- Wheel size: 16 inches
- Bike weight: 25 pounds
This bike is designed for kids who have outgrown a tricycle but aren’t quite ready to be on two wheels yet — this highly-rated model has built-in training wheels and comes mostly assembled, so your kid can be riding within minutes of opening the box. This bike comes in seven colors, including red, green, pink and orange. It’s available in various size options, too, ranging from 12-inch wheels (with built-in training wheels) to 20-inch wheels (with no training wheels). This bike also boasts a 4.5-star average rating from over 16,615 reviews on Amazon.
Top easy-to-brake bike for kids: Guardian 16 Inch Bike
- Recommended ages: 4-6 years old
- Wheel size: 24 inches
- Bike weight: 17.5 pounds
Getting the hang of braking can be challenging for little ones. Some bikes have brakes that require rotating the pedals backward, while others have brakes on the handles (one for the front wheel, another for the back wheel). Guardian makes it easy with one hand brake that stops both wheels. This bike, which has a 4.9-star average rating from over 980 reviews on Guardian’s website, is compatible with training wheels and takes just five minutes to set up, according to the brand. The tires are suitable for road or easy trail rides and the bike comes in six colors —purple aqua, black blue and mint purple.
Top lightweight bike for kids: Woom 4 20-Inch Kids Bike
- Recommended ages: 6-8 years old
- Wheel size: 20 inches
- Bike weight: 17 pounds
Made from lightweight aluminum, the Woom 4 bike weighs under 20 pounds, making this the lightest option on this list for kids above 6 years old. Woom says the bike’s seat is ergonomically designed for a more comfortable fit, and it features a highly adjustable seat post with a secure aluminum clamp that helps eliminate risk of the seat turning or twisting, according to the brand.
“The Woom bike is a good [option] because it’s easy to assemble, provides hand breaks so kids can learn how to use them, has a bell and a bike pump,” Song says. The bike also has a 155-pound weight limit, has seven gears that can be manually adjusted using a twist shifter and includes ergonomic handlebars with screw-in grips to ensure comfort and safety, the brand says. It’s available in five colors, including red, blue, green, yellow and purple.
Top bike for older kids: Cannondale Quick Kids Bike
- Recommended ages: 10 years and older
- Wheel size: 24 inches
- Bike weight: 20 pounds
Song says that Cannondale is a good high-end brand to consider that offers a variety of kids’ options. The Cannondale Quick bike has 24-inch wheels and seven gears, which can be great for older kids and more advanced riders. The brand says the frame is made of aluminum and extremely lightweight, weighing only 20 pounds. This bike is designed less like a mountain bike and more like a road bike, with thinner tires and a lighter frame, according to Cannondale.
Top durable bike for kids: Dynacraft Magna Major Damage BMX Dirt Bike
- Recommended ages: 4-8 years old
- Wheel size: 16 inches
- Bike weight: 24 pounds
This bike from Dynacraft was designed specifically for wear and tear, with a steel frame and colorful design. This model can hold up to 81 pounds, has 16-inch wheels (and removable training wheels), and weighs under 25 pounds, Dynacraft says. The bike—which earned a 4.5-star average rating from more than 2,680 reviews on Amazon—also has pedal breaks and a handlebar pad for a more comfortable grip, according to the brand. This bike is also available in a 12-inch and 20-inch wheel size version.
Top high-end bike for kids: Fuji Dynamite 24 Pro Disc
- Recommended ages: 8-11 years old
- Wheel size: 24 inches
- Bike weight: 29 pounds
The Dynamite 24 Pro Disc from Fuji Bikes—which Song called out as a good quality brand if you’re looking for a more generic bike—has a 24-inch wheel size, weighs under 30 pounds, and is designed for young kids looking to explore trails, parks and other outdoor terrain. According to the brand, it features a durable and lightweight alloy frame and high-grip tires to handle dirt roads and off-road cycling.
Top mountain bike for kids: Co-op Cycles REV 20 6-Speed Plus Kids Bike
- Recommended ages: 7-13 years old
- Wheel size: 20 inches
- Bike weight: 23 pounds
If you’re looking for a durable mountain bike for your child, this option from Co-op Cycles is designed with extra-wide, all-terrain tires for smooth and stable riding along trails, according to the brand. It has six gears to help customize their pedaling, which can be easily adjusted using a twist shifter, according to the brand. It has a weight limit of 80 pounds and offers a 24-inch version of this mountain bike for older kids and teens.
Top cruiser bike for kids: JOYSTAR Petal Girls 20-Inch Bike
- Recommended ages: 7-10 years old
- Wheel size: 20 inches
- Bike weight: 22.8 pounds
This bike looks like a vintage beach cruiser, complete with a rear rack for fastening a backpack or bag. The handlebar and seat are both adjustable, and the seat is wide and cushioned for comfort. This bike has both a pedal brake and a hand brake—there’s also a bell included to let people know you’re coming. The chain on this bike is also fully enclosed for safety. This bike has a 4.4-star average from over 1,600 reviews on Amazon and comes in four colors.
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Dewey and Song note that there are several types of kids’ bikes to consider depending on your child’s age and size. Toddlers and young children learning to ride a bike will likely benefit from tricycles and balance bikes, while bigger kids who are more comfortable with balance and riding should lean more toward two-wheeled cruisers or mountain bikes.
The type of bike you get can also depend on several factors, including what type of riding the child is doing. “Kids that are going to be riding off-road trails can benefit from a BMX-style or mountain bike—if they’re riding on trails, you might consider getting a smaller bike that has bigger tires,” Song says. He added that different types of bikes can also fit different budgets: “Parents should consider how much they really want to spend since kids are still growing.”
Our experts shared the most common types of kids’ bikes to consider below, including tricycles, balance bikes and two-wheeled bikes.
- Tricycles are made for the youngest riders and are measured by wheel height and weight capacity.
- Balance bikes, or “push bikes,” are designed without pedals to help your child get accustomed to balancing on a bike and steering.
- Cruiser bikes are similar to typical two-wheeled commuter bikes for adults designed for low-intensity riding. Cruiser bikes for kids come with smaller frames and wheel sizes than those for adults, and most kids’ versions will come with coaster or foot brakes that stop when the rider pushes back on the pedals. If your child is new to biking, you can attach removable training wheels to help stabilize them. However, Dewey warns that training wheels don’t necessarily help your child become as comfortable with balancing on a bike as a balance bike would.
- Mountain bikes and BMX bikes are two-wheeled bikes that are usually crafted for bigger kids who are riding on rougher, off-road trails. These types of bikes are typically more expensive, prioritize durability and come with thicker wheels to handle uneven terrain.
When shopping around for a bike, Dewey and Song recommend going to a local bike shop rather than a big-box retailer if you can. “Bike shops have better quality bikes that are going to be assembled better, and they have staff that can help with the fit of the bike,” says Dewey. She added that many bike shops will also allow you to trade in a bike and go up a size at a lower cost or at the same price point as the bike, which can benefit kids who are growing quickly.
Meet our expertsAt NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Alison Dewey is the education director with bicycling advocacy organization League of American Bicyclists. She leads the League’s Smart Cycling program and the annual National Bike Summit.
- Lor Song, also known as Lao, is the education programs manager at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia who educates local communities about cycling safety, sustainability and healthier lifestyles.
Mili Godio is an updates editor for Select on NBC News.
Hanna Horvath is a personal finance reporter based in New York City. She currently writes for Policygenius and her work has appeared in Business Insider, MSN, Inc Magazine and more.
Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed cleaning experts about the best toilet cleaners.
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