What size bike do I need for my height?
Road, mountain, hybrid or e-bike: here's your starting size in one table.
Short answer: most adults between about 5'6" and 5'10" start on a medium, but every brand draws its lines a little differently, and two bikes with the same size label can fit differently.[1 2 · Oct 29, 2026] Use the table to get close, then check the chart for the exact model and test ride.[1 · Oct 29, 2026]
Bike size by height, by type of bike
Each column restates one published chart, read at the height on the left. "Or" means the height sits on the boundary between two sizes.
| Rider height | Road (effective top tube)[1 · Oct 29, 2026] | Mountain[2 · Oct 29, 2026] | Hybrid or e-bike (one brand's chart)[3 · Oct 29, 2026] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4'10" (147 cm) | XXS (47–48 cm) | XS | outside chart |
| 5'0" (152 cm) | XXS (47–48 cm) or XS (49–50 cm) | XS | outside chart |
| 5'2" (157 cm) | XS (49–50 cm) | S | S |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | S (51–53 cm) | S | S |
| 5'6" (168 cm) | S (51–53 cm) or M (54–55 cm) | M | M |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | M (54–55 cm) | M | M |
| 5'10" (178 cm) | L (56–58 cm) | M | L |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | L (56–58 cm) or XL (58–60 cm) | L | L |
| 6'2" (188 cm) | XL (58–60 cm) | XL | XL |
| 6'4" (193 cm) | XXL (61–63 cm) | XL or XXL | XL |
| 6'6" (198 cm) | XXL (61–63 cm) | XXL | outside chart |
Centimeters are converted from feet and inches and rounded; the lookup is our own reading of each chart.
How bikes are sized
- Road bikes are often labeled by seat tube length in cm, sometimes by letter, and the labels don't match across brands. Stack and reach are the best numbers for comparing two bikes.[1 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Mountain bikes mostly use letters (XS to XXL); older bikes used seat tube length in inches.[2 · Oct 29, 2026] Reach is the most useful number for comparing sizes between brands.[4 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Hybrid, city and e-bikes may use letters or a frame size in cm. One maker measures frame size from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube.[5 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Kids' bikes are sized by wheel diameter (12 to 26 in), not frame. See the kids bike size chart.[6 · Oct 29, 2026]
Between two sizes?
- Longer reach (usually the bigger size) is more stable on fast descents and roomier if your torso or arms are long for your height.[4 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Shorter reach (usually the smaller size) feels more nimble and suits a shorter torso or arms.[4 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Test ride both when you can.[5 · Oct 29, 2026]
Affiliate links: if you buy through a link in this box we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It does not change the sizes or sources on this page. How we handle affiliate links.
Sources: 1. BikeRadar, Road bike sizing. 2. Ridley's Cycle, Mountain bike size chart and fit guide. 3. Polygon Bikes, Sizing guide (height charts by bike type). 4. Trek, What size mountain bike do I need?. 5. Gazelle, Bike frame size chart. 6. Trek, Kids bike buyer's guide by age and size. Checked Oct 29, 2026. Trademarks belong to their owners; charts are restated in our own tables, not reproduced.