Motorcycle Helmet Size Guide by Brand
A helmet size letter is not a measurement. Every maker sets its own bands, so the same head can take a different letter from one brand to the next. A 60 cm head is an L in Shark's chart and on most ICON shells, but an XL on the ICON Ultraflite, in HJC's own chart and on the Scorpion-built X15, X16 and X17 in Harley-Davidson's guide.
So measure your head first, then read the chart published by the maker of the helmet you want. Every chart below is copied from the maker's own website or fit guide. Where a maker publishes no chart, we say so rather than borrow one.
Every helmet we sell is on the motorcycle helmets page.
How to measure your head
The makers who publish instructions all put the tape in the same place: around the widest part of your head, just above the eyebrows and ears. The details differ a little:
- ICON: “Wrap a flexible tape measure around your head approximately one inch above the eyebrows and ears.”
- Shark: “Place the tape measure about 2 cm above the eyebrows, passing just above the ears and around the back of the skull.”
- Harley-Davidson: place the tape about an inch above your eyebrows, just above your ears and at the largest point round the back. “Measure at least twice. If your numbers vary slightly, use the larger number.”
- HJC: “Wrap a tape measure around your head about one inch (2.5 cm) above your eyebrows.”
Biltwell and ROEG publish no written instructions. Biltwell's chart shows the tape running round the head above the ears.
If you are between two sizes
Here the makers disagree, so we give each rule against its own brand rather than one of our own:
- Shark advises the smaller size, “as the internal foams of the helmet compress over time”.
- Harley-Davidson: “If you're between sizes, opt for the smaller one. Padding will break in with use.” If the smaller size is too tight and creates painful pressure points, H-D says to take the larger.
- HJC: “try on the larger helmet first and then the smaller size.”
- ICON gives no between-sizes rule. It says “The correct helmet size can only be checked and confirmed by physically fitting the helmet to the user.”
ICON helmet sizes
ICON publishes a chart for each shell. The Airform, Airflite, Airframe Pro, Threshold and Domain charts share the same bands, from XS at 53 - 54 cm to 3XL at 65 - 66 cm.
ICON Airform, Airflite, Airframe Pro, Threshold and Domain
| Size | Head (cm) | Head (inches) | Hat size |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 53 - 54 | 20 7/8 - 21 1/4 | 6 5/8 - 6 3/4 |
| S | 55 - 56 | 21 5/8 - 22 | 6 7/8 - 7 |
| M | 57 - 58 | 22 3/8 - 22 3/4 | 7 1/8 - 7 1/4 |
| L | 59 - 60 | 23 1/8 - 23 1/2 | 7 3/8 - 7 1/2 |
| XL | 61 - 62 | 24 - 24 3/8 | 7 5/8 - 7 3/4 |
| 2XL | 63 - 64 | 24 3/4 - 25 1/8 | 7 7/8 - 8 |
| 3XL | 65 - 66 | 25 1/2 - 26 | 8 1/8 - 8 1/4 |
ICON's Threshold chart gives no hat sizes. The hat sizes above are from the other four charts. ICON's Airframe Pro chart also lists a 2XS:
| Size | Head (cm) | Head (inches) | Hat size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2XS | 51 - 52 | 20 1/8 - 20 1/2 | 6 3/8 - 6 1/2 |
ICON Ultraflite
| Size | Head (cm) | Hat size |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 54 - 55 | 6 5/8 - 6 3/4 |
| S | 55 - 56 | 6 7/8 - 7 |
| M | 57 - 58 | 7 1/8 - 7 1/4 |
| L | 58 - 59 | 7 3/8 - 7 1/2 |
| XL | 60 - 61 | 7 5/8 - 7 3/4 |
| 2XL | 62 - 63 | 7 7/8 - 8 |
| 3XL | 64 - 65 | 8 1/8 - 8 1/4 |
ICON publishes the Ultraflite with its own centimetre bands: one centimetre up from its other shells at XS, the same at S and M, and one centimetre down from L to 3XL (54 - 55 … 64 - 65 cm).
See every ICON helmet on the ICON page, or go straight to a shell: Airform, Airframe Pro, Airflite, Ultraflite, Threshold and Domain.
Biltwell helmet sizes
Biltwell publishes one helmet sizing chart rather than one per model.
| Size | Head (cm) | Head (inches) | Approx. fitted hat size* |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 53 - 54 | 20.75" - 21.25" | 6-1/2 to 6-3/4 |
| S | 55 - 56 | 21.5" - 22.0" | 6-7/8 to 7-1/8 |
| M | 57 - 58 | 22.4" - 22.85" | 7-1/8 to 7-3/8 |
| L | 59 - 60 | 23.25" - 23.6" | 7-3/8 to 7-5/8 |
| XL | 61 - 62 | 23.75" - 24.25" | 7-5/8 to 7-7/8 |
| XXL | 63 - 64 | 24.375" - 25.0" | 7-7/8 to 8-1/8 |
*Biltwell's own footnote: “Fitted hat sizes vary widely by head shape, length and volume of hair, hat manufacturer, and other variables.”
Biltwell also warns that “Just because you're an M in Helmet X doesn't mean you're an M in a Biltwell.” The numbers on a helmet's size tag, it says, “refer to the interior circumference of the helmet, NOT your head's measurement.”
See every Biltwell helmet on the Biltwell page, or go straight to a model: Gringo, Gringo S, Gringo SV and Lane Splitter.
ROEG helmet sizes
ROEG gives head circumference in centimetres only, and writes half centimetres with a comma. The Jett, Sundown and Peruna share one set of bands. The Jettson has its own, starting at 52 cm.
| Model | XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jett, Sundown, Peruna | 53 - 54 | 55 - 56 | 57 - 58 | 59 - 60 | 61 - 62 | 63 - 64 |
| Jettson | 52 - 53,5 | 54 - 55,5 | 56 - 57,5 | 58 - 59,5 | 60 - 61,5 | 62 - 63,5 |
ROEG publishes no chart for the RX1. We have not borrowed another model's numbers for it. If you are unsure of your RX1 size, ask us before ordering.
See every ROEG helmet on the ROEG page, or go straight to a model: Jett, Peruna, RX1 and Sundown.
Harley-Davidson helmet sizes
Harley-Davidson's own fit guide says that one brand's “medium” might fit like a “small” in another. Rather than one Harley-Davidson chart, it prints example charts from the companies that build its helmets: Scorpion and HJC.
Scorpion-built: X09, X14, X15, X16 and X17
Read the column for your helmet's shell. We show the columns H-D gives for ECE helmets. From 58 cm, the X15, X16 and X17 and the ECE X14 move up a size before the X09 does.
| Hat size | Inches | cm | DOT/ECE X09 | DOT/ECE X15, X16, X17 | ECE X14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 5/8 | 20 7/8 | 53 | XS | — | — |
| 6 3/4 | 21 1/4 | 54 | XS | XS | XS |
| 6 7/8 | 21 5/8 | 55 | S | S | XS/S |
| 7 | 22 | 56 | S | S | S |
| 7 1/8 | 22 3/8 | 57 | M | M | M |
| 7 1/4 | 22 3/4 | 58 | M | M/L | M/L |
| 7 3/8 | 23 1/8 | 59 | L | L | L |
| 7 1/2 | 23 1/2 | 60 | L | XL | XL |
| 7 5/8 | 24 | 61 | XL | XL | XL |
| 7 3/4 | 24 3/8 | 62 | XL | 2XL | 2XL |
| 7 7/8 | 24 3/4 | 63 | 2XL | 2XL | 2XL |
| 8 | 25 1/8 | 64 | 2XL | 3XL | 3XL |
| 8 1/8 | 25 1/2 | 65 | — | 3XL | 3XL |
— : H-D's chart gives no size for that head.
HJC-built: Capstone and Velo H34
H-D's HJC chart gives hat sizes and inches, with no centimetres.
| Hat size | Inches | HJC size |
|---|---|---|
| 6 3/8 | 20 1/4 | 2XS |
| 6 1/2 | 20 1/2 | 2XS |
| 6 5/8 | 20 7/8 | XS |
| 6 3/4 | 21 1/4 | XS |
| 6 7/8 | 21 5/8 | S |
| 7 | 22 | S |
| 7 1/8 | 22 3/8 | M |
| 7 1/4 | 22 3/4 | M |
| 7 3/8 | 23 1/8 | L |
| 7 1/2 | 23 1/2 | L |
| 7 5/8 | 24 | XL |
| 7 3/4 | 24 3/8 | XL |
| 7 7/8 | 24 3/4 | 2XL* |
| 8 | 25 1/8 | 2XL |
| 8 1/8 | 25 1/2 | 3XL |
| 8 1/4 | 26 | 3XL |
| 8 3/8 | 26 3/8 | 4XL |
| 8 1/2 | 26 3/4 | 4XL |
| 8 3/4 | 27 1/2 | 5XL |
| 8 7/8 | 27 5/8 | 5XL |
*H-D's chart prints “2L” at hat size 7 7/8. We show it as 2XL.
See every Harley-Davidson helmet on the Harley-Davidson helmets page.
Shark helmet sizes
Shark sorts its helmets into three size groups. The D-Skwal 3, Ridill 2 and Skwal i3 are all in its first group, shown here. Shark gives centimetres only.
| Size | Head (cm) |
|---|---|
| XS | 53/54 |
| S | 55/56 |
| M | 57/58 |
| L | 59/60 |
| XL | 61/62 |
| XXL | 63/64 |
Shark helmets are listed with the rest of the range on the motorcycle helmets page.
HJC helmet sizes
This is HJC's own chart, which HJC says “is only for reference. Always try the helmet on”. Its bands overlap: 55 cm is in both XS and S, and 58 cm in both M and L.
| Size | Head (cm) | Head (inches) | Hat size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2XS | 52-53 | 20 1/2 - 20 7/8 | 6 1/2 - 6 5/8 |
| XS | 54-55 | 21 1/4 - 21 5/8 | 6 3/4 - 6 7/8 |
| S | 55-56 | 21 5/8 - 22 | 6 7/8 - 7 |
| M | 57-58 | 22 3/8 - 22 7/8 | 7 1/8 - 7 1/4 |
| L | 58-59 | 22 7/8 - 23 1/4 | 7 1/4 - 7 3/8 |
| XL | 60-61 | 23 5/8 - 24 | 7 1/2 - 7 5/8 |
| 2XL | 62-63 | 24 3/8 - 24 3/4 | 7 3/4 - 7 7/8 |
| 3XL | 64-65 | 25 1/8 - 25 1/2 | 8 - 8 1/8 |
See every HJC helmet on the HJC helmets page.
What the standard on the listing means
gov.uk states that all helmets worn on UK roads must meet one of the following:
- British Standard BS 6658:1985 and carry the BSI Kitemark
- UNECE Regulation 22.05
- UNECE Regulation 22.06
- a European Economic Area member standard offering at least the same safety and protection as BS 6658:1985, and carry a mark equivalent to the BSI Kitemark
Our own listings do not all say the same thing. Most show a string from the 22.06 family, punctuated differently by every supplier who sends it to us. Some listings state no standard at all. If the standard matters to your decision, ask us before ordering.
Try it on
ICON, HJC and Harley-Davidson all tell you to try a helmet on before you buy. Our stores are at Wellington Road Ind Est, Wellington Bridge, Leeds LS12 2UA, and Preston Farm, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 3BP. Or go back to all motorcycle helmets.