Gift Guide
Best kids bikes under $100
Here is the honest shape of this budget: under $100 you can buy a good balance bike, and you cannot buy a pedal bike worth owning. That is a better outcome than it sounds, because a balance bike is the right first purchase for almost every child under four.
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Every pick on this page is a balance bike, and that is not a dodge. When we checked manufacturers' own list prices on 2026-09-29, the cheapest pedal bike any of them published sat at $129.99 — well over the cap. Under $100 the balance bike is the category, and for a child under four it is also the correct purchase.
How we picked these, and why there are no prices on the page
Each of the three below was listed under $100 on the manufacturer's own site when we researched this page on 2026-09-29. We do not publish prices anywhere on this site — they move weekly and a stale number is worse than none — so every check-price button here goes to the live listing and shows you today's figure rather than ours. If one of these has drifted above $100 by the time you read it, that is exactly why.
Where the $100 line actually falls
| Tier | What exists | Example | Published fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $100 | Balance bikes and four-wheel ride-ons | Retrospec Cub 12 | Seat 11–15" |
| $100–$150 | Better balance bikes; the first pedal bikes | Schwinn Elm 12, $129.99 | No saddle height published |
| $150–$200 | Pedal bikes that publish their fit | Retrospec Koda 16, $169.99 | Seat 18.5–23" |
| Over $200 | Aluminum frames, real hand brakes | See the premium picks | Full inseam ranges |
List prices read from Retrospec's and Schwinn's own product pages on 2026-09-29. This site never publishes a live price; these figures are the selection criteria, not a quote.
The pattern is consistent: under $100 you are buying a bike with no drivetrain. Add a chain, cranks, a freewheel and a brake and the price roughly doubles, because those parts cost money to make and to assemble. There is no manufacturer being greedy here, and no bargain being missed.
Why that is good news, not bad
A child under four should be on a balance bike anyway. It weighs a third of what a cheap pedal bike weighs, its saddle drops about five inches lower so it actually fits, and it teaches balance — the one skill that takes months. We set the full comparison out on balance bike vs regular bike.
So the $100 buyer with a two- or three-year-old is not compromising. They are buying the thing we would tell them to buy at any budget.
What to check at this price
Does the brand publish a seat height range?
This is the single filter that separates a good budget bike from a gamble. All three picks here publish one. Most sub-$100 bikes on marketplaces publish an age band and nothing else, which means you cannot confirm the bike fits until it arrives.
Foam tires or air tires?
At this price foam is common and genuinely fine on pavement — the Cub 12 uses EVA foam that never punctures and never needs a pump. Air grips better on grass and gravel; the Baby Beaumont has it, at a higher price and more weight.
Is a weight published at all?
Often not. Retrospec publishes 9.3 lb for the Baby Beaumont and no figure for the Cub 12 or the Cricket 2. A steel budget balance bike will not be as light as a 6.4 lb aluminum one, and any listing that does not say should be assumed heavier rather than lighter.
The three picks, and who each is for
Just started walking — the Cricket 2
Four wheels, a fixed 8.5 inch seat and a 44 lb rider limit, quoted for 12 to 24 months. Lower than any two-wheel balance bike goes, and it cannot tip. It teaches nothing about balance and is not meant to — it is the step before. See balance bike vs walker.
Walking confidently — the Cub 12
An 11-to-15-inch published seat range, a 19.5-to-22.5-inch handlebar range, and flat-free foam tires. It starts as low as a Strider 12 Sport at a fraction of the price, and it is the one we would buy of the three.
Wants a basket — the Baby Beaumont 12
9.3 lb, air tires, a bell and a basket rated to 5 lb, with a 13-to-16 inch seat range on the lighter colourways. Check the colourway: some run 15 to 18 inches instead, which is a different bike for a different child.
The alternative worth knowing about
A used premium balance bike often sells under $100 and will be two to three pounds lighter with a real hand brake. Kids bikes get outgrown rather than worn out, so the second-hand market at this size is unusually good. What to check before you hand over cash is on buying a used kids bike.
And if your child is past four and needs pedals, this is the wrong page — the budget starts at about $130 and the honest picks are on best kids bikes under $200.
| Wheel | Inseam | Height | Age brands quote | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12" | 10–18 in | 31–40 in | 1.5 – 3.5 | Balance bike |
| 14" | 14–19 in | 37–43 in | 3 – 5 | First pedal bike |
| 16" | 15.5–25 in | 40–47 in | 4 – 6 | First pedal bike |
| 20" | 18.3–28 in | 43–51 in | 5 – 9 | First gears |
| 24" | 26–32 in | 49–57 in | 7 – 11 | Big kid |
| 26" | 29.5–37.4 in | 55–65 in | 10 – 14 | Adult-adjacent |
Built from the inseam ranges woom, Prevelo, Guardian and Strider publish for their own bikes (read 2026-09-23). Age is the brands' figure, shown so you can see how loosely it maps.
What we would actually buy
For most children under four: the Retrospec Cub 12. An 11 inch minimum seat height with a published range, flat-free tires, and the cheapest bike here that lets you confirm the fit before it arrives.
If they want somewhere to put things: the Retrospec Baby Beaumont 12 — air tires, a basket and a bell, at 9.3 lb.
For a child who has only just started walking: the Retrospec Cricket 2, whose 8.5 inch seat is lower than any balance bike goes.
The picks
Every figure below is the manufacturer's own published spec, linked to the page we read it from. We have not ridden these bikes and the cards say so — here is how we choose.
Quick picks — sorted by what it fits
| # | Product | Best for | Fits | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12" Top pickRetrospec Cub 12 An 11 inch minimum seat height with a published range, foam tires that never go flat, and a price that makes the premium 12-inch bikes look like a decision rather than a default. | The cheapest bike that publishes its fit | Seat 11–15" · 18 mos–4 yrs | |
| 2 | 12" Retrospec Baby Beaumont 12 The balance bike that arrives with a bell and a basket, on air tires, with a published seat range — bought because a two-year-old wants somewhere to put a rock. | A basket on a balance bike | Seat 13–16" · ≤50 lb | |
| 3 | FITS Retrospec Cricket 2 A four-wheeled ride-on with an 8.5 in seat — the only thing here a 12-month-old can actually sit on and push, and the honest answer for a child who is not ready for two wheels. | Twelve to twenty-four months | Seat 8.5" fixed · ≤44 lb |
n/p = the manufacturer does not publish that figure. We do not fill in a number they never gave.
Top pick — The cheapest bike that publishes its fit
Retrospec Cub 12
An 11 inch minimum seat height with a published range, foam tires that never go flat, and a price that makes the premium 12-inch bikes look like a decision rather than a default.
| Wheel | 12" |
|---|---|
| Saddle height | 11–15 in |
| Brakes | None — riders stop with their feet |
| Gearing | None (balance bike) |
| Frame | Hand-built high-tensile steel, Super Step-Thru |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says 18 months–4 years |
What works
- 11–15 in published seat range — as low as a Strider 12 Sport at the bottom
- 19.5–22.5 in published handlebar range, which almost nobody publishes
- Flat-free EVA foam tires: no pump, no punctures
- Comfortably the cheapest balance bike here that still publishes its fit
What doesn't
- Retrospec publishes no weight, and a steel frame at this price will not be light
- No brake at all
- Foam tires give up grip and cushioning to air on grass and gravel
- Four inches of seat travel, so about a year and a half of fit
Hands-on status: Researched from published specs · Retrospec — Cub 12 specs
#2 — A basket on a balance bike
Retrospec Baby Beaumont 12
The balance bike that arrives with a bell and a basket, on air tires, with a published seat range — bought because a two-year-old wants somewhere to put a rock.
| Wheel | 12" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 9.3 lb |
| Saddle height | 13–16 in |
| Brakes | None — riders stop with their feet |
| Gearing | None (balance bike) |
| Frame | Hand-built high-tensile steel, step-through |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says 18 months–4 years, rider up to 50 lb |
What works
- 13–16 in published seat range on the lighter colourways, with a stated 9.3 lb weight
- Air-filled 12 x 2.125 tires rather than foam
- Bell and a 5 lb-rated basket included
- 50 lb published rider weight limit
What doesn't
- 9.3 lb — nearly 50% heavier than a 6.4 lb woom GO 1
- Seat range differs by colourway (13–16 in on some, 15–18 in on others), so check before you order
- No brake
- One colourway was sold out when we checked on 2026-09-29
Hands-on status: Researched from published specs · Retrospec — Baby Beaumont 12 specs
#3 — Twelve to twenty-four months
Retrospec Cricket 2
A four-wheeled ride-on with an 8.5 in seat — the only thing here a 12-month-old can actually sit on and push, and the honest answer for a child who is not ready for two wheels.
| Saddle height | 8.5 in min |
|---|---|
| Brakes | None — feet on the floor |
| Gearing | None (four-wheel baby balance bike) |
| Frame | Four-wheel frame with non-slip, no-scratch wheels |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says 12–24 months, rider up to 44 lb |
What works
- 8.5 in seat height, lower than any two-wheel balance bike we have found
- Four wheels, so it cannot tip while they work out what their legs are for
- 44 lb rider limit, which covers most children to about four
- Indoor-safe non-scratch wheels
What doesn't
- The seat is fixed at 8.5 in — there is no adjustment and no growth in it
- Four wheels teach nothing about balance; this is the step before a balance bike
- Retrospec publishes no product weight
- Outgrown quickly — Retrospec's own range tops out at 24 months
Hands-on status: Researched from published specs · Retrospec — Cricket 2 specs
Questions parents actually ask
01Can you get a good kids bike for under $100?
You can get a good balance bike. You cannot get a pedal bike worth owning — when we checked manufacturers' own list prices on 2026-09-29, the cheapest pedal bike published sat at $129.99. For a child under four that is fine, because a balance bike is the right first purchase anyway.
02What is the best kids bike under $100?
The Retrospec Cub 12. It publishes an 11 to 15 inch seat range and a 19.5 to 22.5 inch handlebar range, so you can confirm the fit before you buy, and its flat-free foam tires never need a pump.
03Why are there no pedal bikes on this page?
Because none of the manufacturers we check published one under $100 on 2026-09-29. Adding a chain, cranks, a freewheel and a brake roughly doubles the price of a kids bike, and we would rather say so than pad the list with something we cannot verify.
04Is a used bike better than a new one under $100?
Often, yes. A used premium balance bike at this price will typically be two to three pounds lighter and have a real hand brake. Kids bikes are outgrown rather than worn out, so condition at this size is usually good.
05Why don't you show prices on this page?
Prices move weekly and a stale price is worse than none. We selected these three on their manufacturer list price at the time of research, and every check-price link goes to the live listing so you see today's figure.
Sources
- woom — kids bike sizing guide
- Guardian Bikes — 16 inch Original specs
- Prevelo — Alpha Two specs
- Giro — Scamp MIPS II
- CDC — weight-for-age percentile data file
- Retrospec — Cub 12 specs
- Retrospec — Baby Beaumont 12 specs
- Retrospec — Cricket 2 specs
- Retrospec — kids balance bikes (list prices)
- Schwinn — Elm 12in specs
Read next
- Gift GuideBest kids bikes under $200What $200 buys by wheel size, and the one brand that publishes its fit.
- Big Kid BikesHow much to spend on a kids bikeOne threshold that matters, and where the returns stop.
- Big Kid BikesBuying a used kids bikeFour checks, and why used is the smart budget route.
- Balance BikesAre balance bikes worth it?The case for, the case against, and when to skip it.