What size bike for 5'6" (168 cm)?
Right around where small turns into medium. Here's how the charts split it.
Short answer: at 5'6" (168 cm) a general road chart points to S (51–53 cm top tube) or M (54–55 cm top tube), a general mountain bike chart to M, and one brand's hybrid chart to M.[1 2 3 · Oct 29, 2026] Where a cell says "or", you're on a boundary between two sizes. Brands draw their lines differently, so check the exact model's chart and your inseam, and test ride if you can.[1 · Oct 29, 2026]
Road bikes at 5'6"
| Chart | Size at 168 cm | Range that size covers |
|---|---|---|
| General guide[1 · Oct 29, 2026] | S or M | S: 160–168 cm (51–53 cm top tube); M: 168–175 cm (54–55 cm top tube) |
| One brand's road chart[3 · Oct 29, 2026] | S | S: 162–170 cm |
Mountain bikes at 5'6"
| Chart | Size at 5'6" | Range that size covers |
|---|---|---|
| General shop chart[2 · Oct 29, 2026] | M | M: 5'6"–5'10" (17–18 in frame) |
| One brand's hardtail and full-suspension chart[3 · Oct 29, 2026] | M | M: 162.5–175 cm |
Hybrid, city and e-bikes at 5'6"
| Chart | Size at 5'6" | Range that size covers |
|---|---|---|
| One brand's hybrid and e-bike chart[3 · Oct 29, 2026] | M | M: 165–175 cm |
| One city and e-bike maker[4 · Oct 29, 2026] | S (46 cm) or M (53 cm) | S (46 cm): 4'10"–5'6"; M (53 cm): 5'6"–5'10" |
Tables are our own reading of each published chart at 168 cm (5'6"); centimeters are converted from feet and inches and rounded. Not every chart has a size at every height.
Small or medium?
- Long torso or arms for your height, or you like stability at speed: the longer reach of the bigger size may suit you.[5 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Short torso or arms, or you like a nimble, playful bike: the smaller size.[5 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Newer riders may find sizing up gives them more bike than they can comfortably control.[2 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Use your inseam as a tiebreaker where the model's chart lists one. See how to measure your inseam.
- Test ride both sizes if you can.[1 4 · Oct 29, 2026]
Other heights: see the bike size by height chart from 4'10" to 6'6".
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. Gazelle, Bike frame size chart. 5. Trek, What size mountain bike do I need?. Checked Oct 29, 2026. Trademarks belong to their owners; charts are restated in our own tables, not reproduced.