Home/Tools/Saddle Height Calculator
Free fit tool

Saddle Height
Calculator.

Enter your inseam to get your ideal saddle height with the proven LeMond method, plus a fit range and how to set it right.

Your measurement
Measure your inseam standing in socks with a book pulled up snug between your legs, from the top of the book to the floor.
Saddle height
29.1 in
bottom bracket to top of saddle
Also equals 74.0 cm
Fit range 28.9 to 29.4 in
Set this as a starting height, then fine tune a few millimetres at a time so your knee keeps a slight bend at the bottom of the stroke and your hips stay level.

Results update as you type. This is a starting position; adjust by feel and consider a professional bike fit for persistent discomfort.

The method

How the calculator works

Your saddle height comes straight from your inseam using the LeMond method, a road-proven starting point.

x
LeMond formula Saddle height in cm equals your inseam in cm times 0.883. It is the classic, knee-friendly starting figure.
in
Inseam driven Leg length sets the geometry, so the whole result rides on an accurate inseam measurement.
BB
Reference point The number is measured from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the saddle, along the seat tube.
~
A range to tune Bodies and shoes differ, so a small range is shown. Start in the middle and adjust a few millimetres at a time.
K
Then set setback Once height feels right, set fore and aft with the KOPS method so your knee sits over the pedal axle.

Change saddle height gradually. Move it in small steps, ride, and watch for a smooth pedal stroke with no hip rock. If a knee complains at the front, come up slightly; at the back, come down slightly.

Want a printable bike fit cheat sheet?
A one-page saddle height and setback reference is coming soon to our shop.
FAQ

Saddle height FAQ

The most trusted starting point is the LeMond method: multiply your inseam in centimetres by 0.883. That number, in centimetres, is the distance from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the saddle measured along the seat tube. A 84cm inseam gives about 74cm.

Developed with three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, it sets saddle height at 0.883 times your inseam. It gives a slightly lower, safer starting position than some formulas, which protects the knees while you fine tune. It is measured from the bottom bracket centre to the top of the saddle.

Stand against a wall in socks with feet about 15cm apart and pull a book up firmly between your legs like a saddle. Measure from the top edge of the book to the floor. That is your cycling inseam, and it drives the whole calculation.

Too high and your hips rock side to side, you point your toes to reach the pedals, and you may feel pain at the back of the knee. Too low and your knees stay very bent, you feel pain at the front of the knee and your quads tire quickly. Aim for a smooth pedal stroke with a slight bend at the bottom.

From the centre of the bottom bracket axle, along the line of the seat tube, to the top of the saddle where it meets your sit bones. Measure with a tape held straight along the seat tube, not vertically from the floor.

Yes, it is one of the most common causes. A saddle set too low overloads the front of the knee, while one set too high stresses the back of the knee and hamstrings. Getting height right, then setting fore and aft with the KOPS method, resolves most fit related knee pain.