Riding a bike is part of pretty much any kid’s childhood. Your son or daughter would definitely be happy receiving a brand new bike for his or her birthday. However, it’s not as simple as just going to the bike store and picking out any beautiful new bike that’s on display. You need to consider the size of your children before you buy your bike.
Tips On Choosing the Perfect Bike Size For Your Kid
You see, there are many different bike frames for different ages. If you buy the wrong size for your kid, he or she might get into an accident. And, it’s not just the frame size you have to think about. You should also take into consideration the sizes of the other parts as well like the wheels, pedals, and others.
Here are a few tips that you can use when choosing the size of your kid’s next bike:
Seat Height
Tire Size
Frame Type
Weight
Conclusion
Height 
The first thing that you have to take into consideration would be the height to age ratio. There are various bike heights that would cater to various ages. The age range would start from 2 years old up until 10 years old for children’s bikes. Here’s a breakdown of the height to age ratio:
| Age | Recommended Height |
| 2-3 | 36 inches to 39 inches |
| 3-4 | 37 inches to 44 inches |
| 4-5 | 41 inches to 48 inches |
| 5-8 | 45 inches to 54 inches |
| 9 to 10 | 49 inches to 59 inches |
| 10 and above | 56 inches |
While this is the recommended height for children of the following ages, you also have to discern for yourself whether the child is comfortable on the bike or not. This would depend on the child’s individual heights and builds. So, ask your child to try out the bike and see which one is comfortable for him or her. Just use this as a guide to help you narrow your choices.
Seat Height
Without going over the table that we’ve provided above, one of the ways to determine the height of a bike is through the seat height. Just to give an idea, the seat height will determine whether your kid will be able to touch the ground with his or her feet or not.
Why is this important?
Well, if your kid is a first-timer on the bike, then he or she will need to use his or her feet to stop. That said, beginners must be able to plant their feet on the ground. The seat height will determine whether or not the bike rider can do that. If ever your kid has more control of the bike, then he or she won’t need to be so particular about height seat anymore.
Tire Size 
Tire size is already related to the seat height. Knowing the tire size is pretty important if you don’t want to change the size of your bike frame. As kids grow bigger, their biking needs will change. If you think that the bike frame of their bikes can still match their size but not the height anymore, then you can simply change the tires. Here’s a breakdown of the typical height to tire size ratio:
| Height | Tire Size |
| 36 inches to 39 inches | 12 inches |
| 37 inches to 44 inches | 14 inches |
| 41 inches to 48 inches | 16 inches |
| 45 inches to 54 inches | 20 inches |
| 49 inches to 59 inches | 24 inches |
| 56 inches | 26 inches |
You can also match this breakdown with the age to height breakdown we provided earlier to get a full view of your kid’s bike.
Frame Type 
Now, there are two frame types that you have to take into consideration when you buy your kid’s bike. There is the short wheelbase type and the long wheelbase type. The short wheelbase type has a smaller and narrower frame which is usually aimed for children who have shorter legs and arms. It’s also great for beginners and really small kids who do not want to try speeding up yet.
The other type is the long wheelbase type. The long wheelbase type is the wider and more robust frame type. This is aimed for the kids who have longer arms and longer legs since the handlebars and the seat are both further from each other as compared to the short wheelbase type. This one is aimed toward the kids who want more stability with their bikes.
Weight
Lastly, you may also want to take the weight of the bike into consideration. The weight also contributes to the overall size of the bike because it usually translates into robustness. That said, kids that weigh more must have bikes that are more robust. Ideally, the weight of a bike should be less than 40% of the child’s total weight. You can use this for your computation when you shop for your kid’s bike. Of course, you might not be able to find the exact weight of the bike but something close is good enough. Less than 40% to 50% of your child’s weight is a good range.
Tips On Choosing the Perfect Bike Size For Your Kid Conclusion
As one can see, buying a bike for your child isn’t just about picking out the one that looks the coolest or has the best features. Sure, you’d want a bike that looks beautiful aesthetically and has all the cool functions. However, you have to take into consideration the size in order to ensure your child’s safety and overall enjoyment.
Now, the thing about the size is that it isn’t just isolated to how big the bike is. There are so many factors to take into consideration when we talk about size. There would be the overall bike height, the robustness, the frame size (based on frame type), the tire size, and the seat height. All of these have to be in accordance with your child’s age and your child’s size. Once you take all of those into consideration, you should have absolutely no problem picking out the right bike for your kid.
So, take this guide, go on to the bike store, and purchase the best bike for your kid. He or she will definitely love it.
