Bike Saddle Height Calculator
Starting saddle height from inseam using the LeMond (0.883), Hamley (1.09) and heel methods — for road, gravel, MTB and TT bikes — with knee-angle check and adjustments for cleats, crank length and pedals.
How it works
LeMond: height = 0.883 × inseam (BB centre to saddle top); Hamley: 1.09 × inseam (pedal spindle to saddle top); ± 0.5–1.5 cm for bike type, shoes and crank length
Saddle height sets the knee angle at the bottom of the pedal stroke, and getting it within a centimetre or so matters for power, comfort and knee health — too low overloads the front of the knee, too high strains the back of it and rocks the hips. The LeMond formula, popularised by Greg LeMond’s coach Cyrille Guimard, multiplies inseam by 0.883 and has stood up well as a starting point for road riders with standard cranks and shoes. Hamley’s 109% method measures to the pedal spindle instead, so it folds crank length in. Both are then nudged for shoe stack, crank length and discipline: mountain bikers sit lower for technical control, time-triallists slightly higher to open the hip angle. Confirm with a knee angle of 25–35° at the bottom of the stroke and adjust in tiny steps.
Worked example
An 84 cm inseam on a road bike with 172.5 mm cranks and standard road shoes: 0.883 × 84 = 74.2 cm from the bottom bracket to the saddle top; the Hamley figure of 91.6 cm to the pedal spindle agrees within a few millimetres.
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure inseam accurately?
Stand barefoot against a wall, feet 15 cm apart, pull a hardback book firmly up into the crotch, level it, and measure floor to book top. Take three readings and average.
Why does my bike fitter set it differently?
Formulas ignore flexibility, femur length, foot size and pedalling style. A dynamic fit measuring knee angle on the bike overrides any formula — use this as the starting point.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.