Best kids’ bikes: top models for every age

Choosing the best kids' bike for your child is just as serious a business as picking out the best road bike for yourself, if not more so. If it's your child's first bike, you want to ensure that their initial cycling experience is a joyful introduction to life on two wheels.

For your child to be comfortable and in total control when cycling it's vital to get the best kids' bike for them, which ultimately means one that fits them. With the cost of bikes and the speed at which children grow, there's a huge temptation for any parent to buy a kid's bike that their child will 'grow into'. But this will backfire and will have your child in tears of frustration as they attempt the impossible task of trying to ride a bike that's far too big and heavy for them.

It's worth noting that many kids' bikes will be branded as off-road or mountain bikes until the wheels start getting to around 650b (more on wheel sizes below). Even if you are the most hardened of road riders, or have never dabbled in the mud yourself, don't let a label put you off! Realistically these are more akin to hybrids, and will provide a child with the ability to experience all kinds of riding. The important thing at this age is to regularly get kids out on two wheels for lots of exploring and adventuring by bike.

You may also want to transport your kids' bikes somewhere quieter to ride, in which case you might need a bike rack for your car to help get their bike and yours to where you want to go.

As availability is quite territory-dependent, we've split this guide into USA-specific models first and then UK models and then by age range for each. Also, check out our Buyer's Guide to children's bikes at the bottom of the page for more advice.

The quick list

USA Bikes

UK bikes

Best kids' bikes USA

USA: Best kids' bikes – balance bikes

Kids can take to balance bikes almost before they can walk and they're a great way to learn to ride a bike. They're a good option to teach older children to ride too. Here are our top three picks in the US, but for more options and advice check out our separate guide to the best balance bikes.

Strider 12 Sport Baby Bundle

Maybe your child isn't quite ready to hit the sidewalk just yet. In that case, you can still help them feel like a big kid and start them on the right track with this setup.

Strider offers its Sport model in a "Baby Bundle" with a rocker that lets them get a feel for riding from the comfort of their nursery. The ABS plastic rocker holds the bike firmly in place and is easy to remove when they're ready to start striding.

Cannondale Trail Balance Bike

Cannondale's Trail lets kids keep up with their parents with a lightweight frame and single-sided fork that mimics Cannondale's own Lefty suspension forks. The ultra-short seat tube lets riders lower (and possibly cut down) the seat post to suit very young (and very small) riders.

Cannondale sells models with or without a rear brake and there are also Trail bikes with pedals if they've already got to that stage. The 1.75" tires make for a smooth ride wherever they want to go, off-road or on.

Hornit Airo Balance Bike

At 2.95kg, our tester found this bike easy to get to grips with, and their guardian was impressed with the light steering, as well as the saddle and thick tires which made for a comfortable early ride experience. Our tester wanted to ride it straight away, so it won that early battle - and being easy to get on with, it quickly became a cherished toy.

The Airo was easy to assemble, though adjustments do need an Allen key, and we did find that the paint scratched quite easily. Otherwise, it was perfect.

Read our review of the Hornit Airo balance bike here

USA: Best kids' bikes – ages three to six

In this age category, bikes will have pedals and a chain to drive the wheels. Gears aren't needed at this age though as they will add weight and unnecessary complication to the bike.

Here, it's all about learning the basic skills of pedalling and controlled braking, without the added mental challenge of changing gear.

Tires will often be multi-use and wheel sizes usually measure between 14 to 16", but very occasionally 12".

Cannondale Trail 12

A good option for kids just progressing from a balance bike, the Cannondale Trail is also available in 16" wheel size for slightly older kids. It comes with proportionately sized components so that it's easier to learn on, while the stabiliser wheels will suit kids who haven't learned on a balance bike before graduating to pedals.

There's a rear coaster brake so they don't need to learn brake use at the same time and a chain guard to keep clothing safer. Although there are plenty of alloy components, the frame and fork are steel - robust but quite heavy.

Woom 3

The Woom 3 provides simplicity and reliability for youngsters just getting going on a pedal bike.

Wide tires make for a comfortable ride and versatility across all terrains, and the fully enclosed chain helps keep clothes and fingers out of the gears. It's adjustable and simple to maintain - and is one of the lighter 16" options.

Specialized Riprock Coaster 16"

The Riprock Coaster comes with wide 2.3" tires, so there's plenty of grip if they want to head off into the dirt. As its name suggests, there's a coaster rear brake for stopping power. The bike is made of Specialized's A1 premium aluminum and comes with training wheels to help them if they need a bit more time to learn their balance.

It's another bike with plenty of size options - there's a 20" wheel version between this and the 24" bike.

USA: Best kids' bikes – ages seven to eleven

Of course, children will grow a lot in this age bracket - and wheel sizes usually start at 20" and go up to 27.5" - which is the start of an adult bike wheel (commonly referred to as 650b).

Most brands will estimate the wheel and frame size ideal for each age. But clearly, children grow at different rates, so check the size guide and ideally, organize a test ride so you can be sure the bike fits and is actually the best kids' bike for the rider.

At this age, children have usually started to develop the ability to master more than pedalling and braking, along with the urge to want to explore the world a little more and the ability to ride further; it's often the size at which gears will be added.

At the younger / smaller wheel size range of this category, it's still worth limiting the amount of multitasking to just rear gears. These will be more than enough to help negotiate any obstacles and gentle terrain changes.

As the age bracket goes up and wheel sizes increase, additional gears can be added in the form of two chainrings at the front, so they need right and left hand gear shift levers.

At the 24" wheel size, bikes start to resemble adult size, so it's not uncommon to see the introduction of disc brakes and front suspension, although it's worth having a more detailed read of our views on these additions lower down this page before investing in an all-singing all-dancing bike.

Cannondale Quick 24W

The 24" wheels of the aluminum frameset are a great stepping stone between kid's and adult bikes. The lower gearing of 30T chainset and an 11-28 7-speed cassette is a good introduction to gears to get up the hills without the over-complication of a double chain ring.

It's a bit of a pick'n'mix of branded parts, with both Promax and Shimano making an appearance, but you know that with a highly regarded brand such as Cannondale, it will be a great bike for any mini shredder.

Like most bikes in the bigger sizes, colors do become limited, and this time it's just to the one - what Cannondale call Acid Red.

Specialized Riprock 24

If they're more interested in pushing their limits off-road than riding around on tarmac, the Specialized Riprock 24 has plenty to offer. That includes big, grippy 24x2.35" Specialized Ground Control Sport tires and hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors.

There's loads of gear range from the 9-speed 11-42 tooth cassette for both steep uphills and fast descents. The fork is a rigid alloy number which should be fine for an eight year old, as they're still a bit too light for a suspension fork to operate effectively.

Diamondback Youth Division

The Diamondback Division comes with mechanical disc brakes for more consistent, stronger stopping power than the more normal V-brakes and less maintenance.

It rolls on 24" wheels with a 7-speed drivetrain, but the tires are that bit wider to handle tougher off-road terrain.

Best kids' bikes UK

UK: Best kids' bikes – balance bikes

Hornit Airo Balance Bike

At 2.95kg, our tester found this bike easy to get to grips with, and their guardian was impressed with the light steering, as well as the saddle and thick tires which made for a comfortable early ride experience. Our tester wanted to ride it straight away, so it won that early battle - and being easy to get on with, it quickly became a cherished toy.

The Airo was easy to assemble, though adjustments do need an Allen key, and we did find that the paint scratched quite easily. Otherwise, it was perfect.

Read our review of the Hornit Airo balance bike here

Frog Bikes Tadpole and Tadpole Plus

Available in a range of colors, Union Jack and the USA stars and stripes paint jobs included, the Frog Bikes Tadpole also comes in three sizes. We found the 24cm Tadpole Mini ideal for our kids aged one to three, while the 32cm Tadpole suits riders from two to three and the 38cm Tadpole Blue for those three to four.

Of course, suitability will vary, but size guides are provided. The bikes weigh from 3.46kg to 4.18kg, which we found made it easy to carry and for our little ones to ride. There's an easy-grip Tektro rear brake with an adjustable lever, and we found the quick-release seat-post adjustment simple to use.

Read our review of the Frog Tadpole Plus balance bike here

Vitus Smoothy Balance Bike

Known for its value for money, the Wiggle house brand Vitus now reaches the youngest bike riders in the household. Made from cast magnesium, the frameset incorporates an integrated footrest for when the balance glide is cracked by the rider, as well as a useful handle for the adult.

The Smoothy comes in six colors, rolls on 12" wheels and has a claimed weight of just 3.2kg / 7lbs. Adjustable height handlebars and saddle make this a great option.

UK: Best kids' bikes: Ages three to six

Vitus 16

Another perfect kids' bike for the grand tour wannabes. Designed for riders around three to five-year-olds, the Vitus 16 Kids Bike is actually the second smallest of the range, which starts at 14", going all the way up to a 26" wheel size bike, with rear gears getting added at around the 20" wheel stage.

The aluminum bike comes with short-reach Tektro brakes and All-Purpose Vee Speedster tires, which Vitus say are equally happy on hard pavement or off-road trails.

A great progression from either a balance bike for a taller little one or a size upgrade from a 14" wheel starter bike, without overly complicating things and with three class colorways to choose from, there should be an option for every rider.

HOY Bonaly 14

Designed by the multiple Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy, the Hoy Bonaly is the ideal kid's bike for straddling a couple of categories age-wise.

Acting as a great lightweight starter bike for children from four years old, it is available in wheel sizes up to 24", gaining rear gears at the 20" wheel version, allowing your child to grow with the brand, which is exclusive to Evans Cycles.

There are three bold colors in all sizes of the Hoy Bonaly, which is named after the area where Sir Chris first rode a bike. It comes with aluminum tubing, low weight components and uses micro-drive gearing to help reduce weight further. The 14" wheel version even comes with an extra small brake leaver for tiny hands to master.

UK: Best kids' bikes – ages seven to eleven

Frog 53

Hybrid title bikes are incredibly popular among adults for their versatility in combining the best of road and MTB design - making these great kids' bikes for on and off-road.

All models feature a single chainring with 32 or 34 teeth, with a wide spread of gears at the back to allow kids to tackle more challenging terrain, as well as increase speed on the flat.

The great thing about Frog bikes is the size range, starting all the way back at balance bikes, then starter bikes and then this model starts at the Frog 53 with 20" wheels and extends to the Frog 78 with 26" wheels. So if you do become accustomed to the range you really can grow with the brand.

One of the biggest things we love about Frog bikes is the bold colorways, there are generally between four and seven color choices depending on the model, and often specials/ limited editions, such as the bright yellow Tour De France range.

Hornit Hero 16

Hornit is a relative newcomer to the kids' bike market, having initially started out making cycling accessories (the infamous 'world's loudest horn', no less). It's on the more premium end of the market and is competing against the likes of the Frog 44.

At 5.7kg, it is notably light – helped by the aluminum frame, lightly spoked wheels and the use of a carbon belt drive instead of a traditional chain. A carbon belt might sound superfluous on a kids' bike, but they are highly practical as well as saving weight – not being susceptible to rust or being mucky and oily.

As a first step up from a balance bike to one crank-propelled, the low weight makes the transition a much easier process. Climbs barely perceptible to adults can feel like a mountain to small kids – and a heavy bike really amplifies that.

Buyer's guide to kids' bikes

Buying a kids' bike that ticks all the boxes can be tough. You don't want it too large, but you don't want them to grow out of it in a few weeks. Likewise, you don't want to pay a fortune, but you want a bike that offers them a quality ride, is durable and isn't too heavy.

We'll guide you through how to choose the best kids' bike for your budding young riders.

Teach your child to ride in just 45 minutes

Get them started on a balance bike

Foot placement is equally important, and getting that right for narrower hips calls for additional bespoke components.

To create a closer foot placement, the best kids' bike companies will design their own bespoke narrow bottom brackets with cranks in multiple lengths. This has the added benefit of improving ground clearance when the bike leans over, while also making it easier for the child to put their foot down.