CalculatorsHandlebar Width Calculator
Handlebar Width Calculator
Measure acromion to acromion — the bony tips of the shoulders — and use that as the road hood-to-hood width. Gravel and MTB get extra width so the wrists stay neutral off-road.
Inputs
Results
- Bar width
- 16 in
- Added width
- 0 mm
How the number is made
Road bar = shoulder width. Gravel adds 20 mm. MTB flat bars add 40 mm. The second output is that added flare, not the total.
Hood width and drop width differ. Measure the part of the bar you actually hold.
Related calculators
- Stem Length and Angle Calculator
A narrower bar often wants a slightly longer stem to keep the same reach.
- Bike Frame Size Calculator
Bar width does not fix a frame that is the wrong reach.
Questions
Centre-to-centre or outside?
Match the published bar width (usually centre-to-centre at the hoods) to the shoulder measurement.
Are narrow bars faster?
Only if you can breathe and hold them. Start at shoulder width, then test 20 mm narrower on a trainer.
Is flare added on top of shoulder width?
Yes. Road bars add nothing, gravel adds 20 mm and flat MTB bars add 40 mm. That extra width is on top of the shoulder measurement, not a replacement for it.
Related gear
- Drop bar in your width
A 40 cm bar on 42 cm shoulders closes the chest and loads the wrists.
$40–$300