Best kids’ bikes for 2024: top picks for children of every age

Learning to ride a bike is a huge milestone in a child’s life, so it makes sense to do your research to ensure you're choosing the best kids' bike to suit your child's needs. From those first moments of promising you won’t let go (when you secretly do for a full 10 seconds) to watching them head off on their own adventures, a bicycle marks a new relationship between your child and the big wide world.

Many of us are looking for ways to make the most of our gardens and local outdoor spaces this year. Besides the obvious benefits to physical and mental health, getting outside near where you live saves money too. That's why we've put together guides to all manner of outdoor toys and equipment, from the best trampolines and hammocks to the best paddling pools and best scooters for kids.

As children grow and change, so do their bikes. They gain more independence and learn new skills, so it’s important to find the right bike to suit their individual needs. If you’ve just started bike shopping and you don’t know what wheel size to get or how many gears they need - or you’re simply feeling overwhelmed with the abundance of choice out there - we’ve rounded up the best children’s bikes to cater for a range of ages and budgets.

We started our research by scouring the Mumsnet forums to see which were the best bikes for children from as young as 3 years right up to teenagers. We made notes of the brands they rated highly and cross-checked these with other review sites and specialist online retailers, such as Evans Cycles and Tredz, to see if they came out on top.

Here are the 7 best kids’ bikes to buy in 2024.

Should I buy an e-bike for my child?

An ebike (or electronic bike) includes an electronic bike and rechargeable battery, offering assisted pedalling to help you cover greater distances with ease. Originally created for adults, ebikes are suitable for children aged 14 and above, subject to certain rules. Many Mumsnet users question the safety risks of assisted cycling, so it is recommended that you do your own research and consider your teens overall cycling proficiency before making the (significant) investment.

How to buy the best bike for your child

There is a mind-boggling array of kids’ bikes around. The first thing is to narrow down the age range you’re looking for.

Balance bike or stabilisers?

If you’re after a first bike for your toddler, you’re looking at a choice between a balance bike and a bike with stabilisers. These come in small 10- or 12-inch wheel sizes but offer two very different methods of learning to ride.

You’ll likely know all about stabilisers from your own childhood – these attach to either side of a normal pedal bike to prevent it from falling over. Stabilisers allow your child to practise propelling the bike using its pedals. Once the stabilisers are taken off, they'll learn to ride on a bike they’re familiar with. The downside is that they won't learn how to balance during the toddler riding stage, which could hinder how quickly they take to riding without stabilisers.

A balance bike has no pedals. Instead, a child propels the bike with their feet, taking strides along the ground while sitting on the bike and holding their feet out when they get some motion going. In general, but not always, children who learn on balance bikes learn to ride a pedal bike quicker. Some balance bikes now come with pedal sets that you can add once they’re confident enough.

Starter bike

Usually in wheel sizes from 14 to 18 inches, first pedal bikes don't come with many bells and whistles. This stage is all about getting them riding, so you want a bike that's lightweight, a good size and really easy to use (avoid gears or double chains). Baskets, bells and other fun additions are, however, to be encouraged.

Intermediate bike (20 inches plus)

This is where the choices get interesting. There are a few different types of bikes, but the basic choice is a road bike (thin wheels), a mountain bike (thick wheels) or a hybrid (a mix of the two). Hybrids are often the way to go because they give your child flexibility on various surfaces.

Specialist bike

As your child gets older, they might get interested in particular cycling sports such as BMX or cyclo-cross, and there are specialist bikes suited to this.

What size bike does my child need?

First things first, buy them a bike that fits them now, not a bike that they can ‘grow into.’ Bikes aren’t jumpers. If the bike is too big then they won’t be able to ride it properly.

Try and buy a bike that fits with the saddle and handlebars at their lowest point, which will give them a bit of extra flexibility. You can also buy bikes that transform for a growing child.

Also consider your child’s weight versus the full weight of the bike. Ideally you want the weight of the bike to be no more than 32 percent of your child's weight. So if your child weighs 20 kilograms, you’re looking for a bike that weighs just under seven.

Before you go shopping, check your child’s height and inside leg measurement. Most bikes come with a recommended age range, but the sizes are based on those measurements so they will give you the best idea of which models to try first.

How much should I spend on a child’s bike?

Unsurprisingly, prices go up as bikes get bigger. You can find both balance bikes and 20-inch bikes for under £100 but, if you pay a bit more, you’ll get a bike that's higher in quality and easier to ride. On average, expect to pay between £200 to £300 for a decent kids' bike.

If you’re on a budget, you can walk into a bike shop, get lots of good advice from specialised sales people and walk away with a bike that won’t break the bank.

The main difference between a cheap bike and an expensive one at this stage is weight. The cheaper it is, the heavier it's likely to be. However, bikes from premium brands, such as Frog Bikes and Islabikes, do retain their value well, so you might be happy to shell out for a bike that can be passed down to younger siblings. You'll also find numerous secondhand sites selling premium bikes for a budget price.

Renting bikes for children – how does it work?

Several of the more expensive bike brands can now be rented, which may be a good option if your child is between sizes.

Frog Bikes and Squish Bikes, among others, can be rented through the Bike Club. Islabikes runs the Imagine Project which offers a similar subscription-based bike scheme. The idea is that you pay a nominal amount a month – from around £5 to £20, usually – and always have a bike that fits your child. When they get too big for the bike, you send it back and get another bigger one. It’s also a great environmental choice for eco-conscious families.

How to check if a bike is right for your child

Ideally you’ll have taken measurements and already have an idea of which wheel size and weight you’re looking for before you go shopping. Once in the shop, let your child try a few different bikes to see how they ride them.

Get them to pick each one up first to check they can lift it themselves. You need to check the frame height as well as the size of the wheels, so get them to put one leg over the bike and check that they can stand with both feet flat on the ground without the top tube touching their crotch.

Then get them onto the saddle and check that they're sitting upright. When their foot is on the pedal at the bottom of the rotation, their leg should be slightly bent. They should also be able to hold the handlebars firmly with a slight bend at the elbows and be able to use any gears or brakes on the handlebars easily.

How to size a child for a bike bought online

Many top bike brands sell largely online, which makes it hard to try a bike out for size, though most will give you lots of help over the phone and be happy to arrange returns and re-delivery to help you find the perfect size.

Measure your child’s inside leg accurately to get an idea of where to start. Get them to stand close to a wall, put a book between their legs at the very top of the inner thigh and make a mark on the wall where the top edge of the book lies. Then measure from the mark down to the floor.

Generally, you should go for a wheel size that’s the same or smaller than that measurement. So if they have a 22-inch inside leg, you’d pick a 20-inch bike rather than a 24-inch bike. Look to see if the frame height is listed and ensure that it's smaller than your child’s inner leg measurement.

You'll easily find sizing guides online, but remember that brands can vary.

See a kids' bike sizing guide »

Things to look for when buying a kid’s bike

Try to put aside ideas of getting more for your money. You’re better off with a simple bike that does one job well. You can add baskets, panniers and bells later on.

The features to look for will change depending on the age and ability of your child, but keep things simple with this handy list:

• Weight – too heavy and they won't be able to manoeuvre the bike

• Wheel size – this will be dependent on age

• Tyre thickness – the thicker the tyres the more robust the bike. The wider the tyres the easier it will be to balance and, unless you’re definitely after a mountain bike, avoid any tyres with too large a tread as these are harder to get used to as well. A hybrid bike with wide but fairly smooth wheels is the best option for both on- and off-road.

• How comfy the bike is – look for seats with a 'scoop' saddle for optimum comfort

• Single chain rings for young riders – multiple chains are best left until they are much older and can understand how they work

• Easy-to-use hand brakes – some bikes, like balance bikes, won't have handbrakes. Make sure they are easy for them to use and not too big or too stiff to grasp. Some bikes have foot brakes (or coaster brakes) which can be easier to use for little ones, generally they require your child to pedal backward to stop, which can be confusing when teaching them to pedal forwards. A hand brake may be easier and give them more control. Some models have both.

• Material – steel and aluminium are the most commonly used materials for bike frames. While steel is stronger, aluminium is lighter

• Gears - these are best left until they can really make use of them. They will complicate matters when they’re still learning and becoming confident. If in doubt, go for a single-gear bike. If you’re going for a bike with gears, make sure they are designed specifically for children.

Avoid any sort of suspension until they’re almost in their teens as they won’t have the strength for the added weight.

What is the best kids’ bike?

When it comes to a high-quality, lightweight bike, we think the Frog 44 is the best kids’ bike to buy right now, and the range comes highly recommended by Mumsnet parents.

How we chose our recommendations

Recommendations from real parents

We started our research by trawling the Mumsnet forums to find out which bikes Mumsnetters themselves were recommending, looking at how easy they were to ride, how well they lasted over time and to what extent they retained their value after use.

Our forums have over 7 million users each month so we know that each product they suggest has already been tried and tested and will withstand the needs of a family, whilst also catering for a range of different needs, budgets and lifestyles.

Expert advice

To help us find the best bikes on the market, we also consulted expert advice from the likes of Which? as well as bike retailers such as Evans Cycles on safety, durability and what to look for in a kids’ bike. We then applied those criteria to our shortlist to help us come up with a list of bikes for every age and stage.

Reviews

We looked at in-depth reviews of children’s bikes online, particularly in the cycling press, to

see which brands were impressing the experts most.

We also checked online consumer reviews on websites such as Amazon and Decathalon, making a note of both positive and negative feedback, to help us pick a product.

Celebrated best products

Finally, during our research, we made sure to look at products that have received industry awards. This, combined with real parent recommendations, reviews and expert advice, helped us recommend a variety of bikes in a range of prices and styles.

About the author 

Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help people make confident purchases.  

While it took a while to master pedalling with her youngest daughter, Lucy loves heading out on the bikes and exploring local trails with her family. 

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