This post will give overview of bicycle handlebar size standards, in terms of stem mounting area as well as grip mounting area (or bar wrap area for road “drop” bars). Other important dimensions of road bike bars are explained in the post about road bar geometry, while important considerations for flat bars are given in MTB (flat) bars setup post.
Table Of Contents (T.O.C.):
- Measuring important diameters
- Standard bicycle handlebar sizes (diameters)
2.1. Stem clamp diameter standards
2.2. Standard handlebar grip area diameters
2.3. Overview of all (including obsolete) handlebar size standards
1. Measuring important diameters
If handlebars are sought for a stem already owned, look at stem size standards for how to take important measurements. For the handlebars themselves, it is important to measure the following two diameters: stem clamp diameter and grip diameter. Picture 1 shows how to measure the stem clamp diameters of flat and drop bars.
Pictures 1a, and 1b
Measuring the other important dimension, grip diameter, is shown in picture 2.
Pictures 2a, and 2b
The pictures 1 and 2 speak for themselves, no need for further explanation. Standard dimension overview is given in the next chapter.
2. Standard bicycle handlebar sizes (diameters)
2.1. Stem clamp diameter standards
Current standards for stem clamp diameter are given in the table 1:
| TABLE 1 | |
| Handlebar attachment diameter – measurement units: mm (inches) | Standard name |
| 22.2 (7/8″) | for steel bars of old MTB and BMX bikes, and some small kids’ bicycles |
| 23.8 (15/16″) | Obsolete British standard common on old British 3-speeds |
| 25 | Obsolete French standard |
| 25.4 (1″) | Standard ISO size, common for bars from the end of the 20th century |
| 26 | Italian road bike (and bar) standard. Obsolete |
| 27 | Titan – obsolete standard |
| 31.7 – 31.8 – depending on how manufacturers round down the inch dimension which is (1 1/4″) | Modern “oversized” standard |
| 35 (1 3/8″) | Easton standard |
2.2. Standard handlebar grip area diameters
There are only two current standard sizes:
- Flat bars have a 22.2 mm (7/8″) grip area diameter.
- Road (“drop”) bars have a 23.8 mm (15/16″) grip area diameter.
2.3. Overview of all (including obsolete) handlebar size standards
Table 2 gives an overview of all the handlebar size standards, with a short explanation of each.
| TABLE 2 | ||
| Stem clamp diameter | Grip diameter | Standard explanation |
| mm (inches) | mm (inches) | |
| 22.2 to 31.8 (varies) | 19 | Small kids’ bicycle handlebars. |
| 22.2 (7/8) | 22.2 (7/8) | Mostly steel bars of BMX and old mountain bikes. |
| 23,8 (15/16) | 22,2 (7/8) | Obsolete old British 3-speed standard, also used on old British steel drop bars. |
| 25 | 23,5 | Obsolete French standard. |
| 25.4 (1) | 22.2 (7/8) | Standard I.S.O. size, used on many flat bar bicycles at the end of the 20th century. Today mostly present on lower end models. |
| 25.4 (1) | 23.8 (15/16) | Standard I.S.O. size, used on many drop bar bicycles at the end of the 20th century. Today a bit less common, mostly used on low end models. |
| 25.8 | 23.8 (15/16) | Unofficial “in-between” size used by some Italian manufacturers so that the bars can be used with both ISO (25.4 mm) and Italian (26 mm) sized stems. |
| 26 | 23.8 (15/16) | Old Italian standard for drop bars. Sometimes also called “road” standard. |
| 26.4 | 23.8 (15/16) | Old Cinelli drop bar standard. They switched to 26 mm in 1998. |
| 27 | 23.8 (15/16) | Titan – obsolete drop bar standard. |
| 31.8 (1 1/4) | 22.2 (7/8) | Modern “oversized” standard for flat bars. |
| 31.8 (1 1/4) | 23.8 (15/16) | Modern “oversized” standard for drop bars. |
| 35 (1 3/8) | 22.2 (7/8) | Easton standard – for flat bar mountain bikes |
Related post – Bicycle stem size standards:
I need a set of white handlebar grips for a non standard handlebar the diameter is 20 mm its on a very small Raleigh childs bike. Any idea where i can purchase these
Hi Pete,
The standard diameter for the small kids’ bikes’ handlebars is 19 mm.
The next size, on bikes for the not very small kids, is the 22.2 mm standard.
(note to self – update the article 🙂 )
I would suggest checking the local bicycle shops – they usually have those, and I think it’s best to support the LBS.
Nonetheless, just in case, there’s always google and online shopping, so here’s what I’ve found:
20-22 mm grips
(Amazon affiliate link)
19 mm inner diameter grips
(Bike24 link – and they’re not white, but orange 🙁 )
Note that I haven’t tried any of these models so can’t 100% confirm they are what they say they are.
The locally available kids’ bike grips are practically exclusively no-name (“Chinese”).