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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

Cycle Sprog's most popular articles

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.

We've got hundreds of articles on the website, and we do hope you enjoy browsing them, but if you're in a hurry these are our most popular articles that will get you started.

Keep the school run rolling this term

Term is well underway, routines are settling in, and that makes now a good moment to build cycling into everyday life, not just at the start of term but 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 build confidence and get everyone comfortable on their bikes.

The mornings are noticeably cooler now, and the evenings are drawing in too, so it's worth thinking about layers, lights and waterproof bits sooner rather than later. A little planning helps: finding routes that avoid the worst of the traffic, and building in a bit of extra time while everyone gets used to riding in the dimmer light.

Whether it's the ride to the school gates, a weekend trail or just a spin round the block, every journey this term is a chance to build confidence, stay active and make cycling part of family life. Half term is coming up too, a great excuse for a longer ride together.

Explore our guides for getting kitted out for cooler days, route planning and tips to help your family cycle to school with confidence this term.

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