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How to measure your child’s head for a bike helmet

Why it's important to measure your child's head before you buy a helmet

If you're buying a new cycle helmet for your child, it's really important to measure their head correctly so you can buy a helmet that fits them – check out our best kids bike helmets guide for our top picks once you know the size you need.

Buy a bike helmet that is too small for your child and it will either perch on the top of their head and not provide any protection on impact, or it will squeeze their head and cause discomfort.

We all know that an uncomfortable child is an unhappy child, and they're unlikely to want to wear the helmet!

Choose a helmet that's too large for your child and it will move around on their head. This won't protect them properly if they did come off their bike.

To determine the correct size cycle helmet for your child you need to accurately measure their head and buy a helmet that fits them now.

Never, ever buy a kids bike helmet that is too big for them so they grow into it.

Kids cycle helmets are generally sized in centimetres, with the range of head circumferences the helmet is designed for shown on a sticker inside the helmet.

Equipment you'll need:

Tailors style, flexible tape measure
Or
Piece of string and ruler or metal tape measure

 

Measuring your child’s head using a flexible tape

Get your child to stand up straight and look straight ahead.

Run the tape around the circumference of your child’s head roughly 2cm above the eyebrow all the way around.

Be careful to keep the tape straight, and not to dip down around the back of their head.

Note the measurement in centimeters.

How to measure your child's head for a bike helmet

Measuring your child’s head using string

If you don’t have a tailor’s tape you can use a piece of string. Run the string around the circumference of the head around the centreline of the forehead. Mark the string and then measure against a ruler or a metal tape measure. Be careful to measure from the correct end of the string!

 

How NOT to measure your child's head for a cycle helmet

You must make sure you measure your child for a helmet in a straight line around their forehead.

The tape should not go up towards their hairline at the front, nor down towards their neck at the back.

This photo demonstrates how NOT to measure for a kids' bike helmet. If your tape looks like an Alice band, then it’s in the wrong place!

How not to measure your child's head for a bike helmet

Kidvelo competition

Kidvelo competition

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Here at Cycle Sprog we help thousands of families each week find the information they need about kids bikes and cycling together as a family.

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Keep the family riding as the nights draw in

With half term behind us and the clocks gone back, the school run looks a little different now. Darker mornings and early sunsets mean it’s a good time to make sure everyone feels confident and visible on their bikes for the weeks ahead.

If you’ve been meaning to try cycling to school, there’s still no pressure to do it every day. Even once a week is a great way to keep riding through the colder months and stop it from feeling like a big deal.

Good lights, front and rear, are now essential for many journeys, along with reflective details on bags and clothing. Warm layers, gloves and waterproofs make a big difference to how much everyone enjoys the ride, and it’s worth checking tyres and brakes as wet leaves and frosty mornings arrive. Allow a little extra time, and stick to routes you know well while everyone gets used to riding in the dark.

Whether it’s the ride to the school gates, a weekend spin through crunchy autumn leaves or a festive lights ride as Christmas approaches, every journey this winter is a chance to stay active, have fun and make cycling part of family life.

Explore our guides to bike lights, winter cycling kit and route planning, and get tips to help your family keep cycling to school with confidence all winter long.

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