The right size dirt bike helmet can be the difference between life and death should you have an accident. That’s why it’s so important to know exactly what size helmet is right for you. With that said, how exactly do you measure for a dirt bike helmet?
You can measure your head for a dirt bike helmet by using a cloth tape measure just above (about an inch) your eyebrows and ears. You want to wrap it around your head so you can get the circumference. It’s also a good idea to pay attention to your head shape as there are different shaped helmets.
If you’re trying to find the perfect helmet for your next dirt bike adventure, you’re right where you need to be. In our guide below, we will walk you through everything from how to properly measure your head, to how to pick the right shape helmet for you. Additionally, we will get into some basic rules of thumb around how tight helmets should be. With that, let’s jump right into it!
How Tight Should a Dirt Bike Helmet Be?
Before we get into the specifics of helmet/head sizes, let’s take a look at the big picture. In general, how tight should a dirt bike helmet be?
Generally speaking, a dirt bike helmet should be comfortably snug without adding any unnecessary pressure to any areas of your head. If you notice there are areas of your head receiving extra pressure then your helmet is a little too tight.
This is important to know because a helmet that is too tight or too loose can actually end up causing more damage than it prevents in the case of an accident. Therefore, you want a tiny bit of wiggle room but you don’t want the whole helmet to be loose.
Here’s a great sizing video, with charts and more info below:
You can find great deals on Dirt Bike and Motocross Helmets Here online from Amazon with DOT approval and great ratings.
How Do You Determine Helmet Size?
Determining helmet size can be tricky in that different companies can use slightly different scales–though they try to keep them roughly the same–and you have to know how to measure your head.
The main way, therefore, you determine helmet size is to know the shape and circumference of your head and then to look carefully at the scales each helmet company uses.
Here are some charts that most helmet manufacturers adhere to:
Adult Helmet Sizing Chart
| Size | Inches | CM |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 20.9 – 21.3 | 53 – 54 |
| S | 21.7 – 22 | 55 – 56 |
| M | 22.4 – 22.8 | 57 – 58 |
| L | 23.2 – 23.6 | 59 – 60 |
| XL | 24 – 24.4 | 61 – 62 |
| XXL | 25 – 25.2 | 63 – 64 |
Junior/Youth Helmet Sizing Chart
| Size | Inches | CM |
|---|---|---|
| S | 18.5 – 18.9 | 47 – 48 |
| M | 19.3 – 19.7 | 49 – 50 |
| L | 20.1 – 20.5 | 51 – 52 |
In the subsections below, we will lay out exactly how you get the shape and size of your head as well as how you can analyze helmet sizes from different companies to find the right one.
What are the Different Helmet Shapes?
There are three basic shaped helmets available on the market. They were created because human head shapes vary a little across the population.
The three most basic helmet shapes are as follows:
- Round Oval
- Intermediate Oval
- Long Oval
To determine which of these shapes goes best with your head, you can simply have a friend take a picture of the top of your head looking down and then compare it across the three shapes to find out which one is most like it.
You can find great deals on Dirt Bike and Motocross Helmets Here online from Amazon with DOT approval and great ratings.
How Do You Measure Your Head?
Measuring your head is actually a pretty straightforward affair. To do so just make sure you have a cloth/soft tape measure at the ready.
Once you have your cloth/soft tape measure ready, follow the steps below to measure your head for your new helmet:
- Wrap the tape measure around your head just above your eyebrows: First things first, you need to wrap the cloth/soft measuring tape horizontally around your head about an inch above your eyebrows. You want to target this area because it is the furthest out your head will go. If you measure too high or low it will be inaccurate.
- Write down the circumference of your head so you don’t forget it: Start by pinching the spot where the tape measure came together and remove it from around your head. Be sure and write down your measurement so you don’t have to make it again.
Alternatively, if you don’t have a soft/cloth measuring tape you can take a length of rope, wrap it around your head just above your eyebrows and ears, and then straighten the rope and measure it with a regular tape measure. It’s harder to be accurate this way because your hand could slip or the rope could stretch but it will work in a pinch.
How Do You Know Which Helmet Size is Right?
So now that you know the measurement of your head, how do you pick the right helmet size?
The measurement of your head should help you narrow your search to a few sizes. Make sure and check the individual sizing chart for the particular brand of helmet you’re looking at to find the sizes in your range.
Try out the sizes that correspond to your range until you find a helmet that fits snuggly without adding extra pressure points anywhere on your head.
How Do you Measure a Youth Dirt Bike Helmet?
So far we’ve mainly been talking about adult dirt bike helmets, but what if you are trying to get a helmet for someone who is a bit younger? How do you measure a youth dirt bike helmet? Is it the same as with adults?
You measure for a youth dirt bike helmet the same way you do for adults. The only difference really is in the scales used for youth helmets. Like with adult helmets you’ll want to double check across brands as different brands may use slightly different scales.
So Really, How Do You Measure for a Dirt Bike Helmet?
That was a lot of information in a small space. We went over everything from how tight a helmet should be to how you can measure your head for one. Before we close, a brief summation is in order.
To measure for a dirt bike helmet you simply need to get the circumference of your head with a cloth tape measure.
Then you should check across brands until you find the size that fits snuggly without adding any extra pressure to your head. You should also consider the shape of your head for the best fit. So, what size helmet will you be picking up?