GRÖSSE ERMITTELN

How to Find the Right Saddle for You!

Sigi · Feb 8, 2023 · 5 min read

Buy bicycle saddles: Which one is right for you? We show you how to find the perfect saddle based on riding position, sit bone width, and riding style.

So findest du den richtigen Sattel! - Alpensattel.de

Step by step

1
Prepare material
You need a piece of corrugated cardboard of about 30 by 30 cm, a hard chair or a stair step, a ruler and a pen. Place the cardboard on the seat with the corrugated side facing up. No sofa, no upholstered chair – the surface has to be hard so the cardboard shows the impressions. Wear thin trousers without thick seams on the seat, because any seam distorts the impression by several millimetres.
2
Sit upright on the corrugated cardboard
Sit down on the cardboard with your full weight. Your feet are flat on the floor, your knees at a right angle, your back straight and upright. No hunched back, no hollow back – both tilt the pelvis and shift the sit bones relative to each other. Always measure upright: your riding position on the bike is only factored in later via the size chart.
3
Sit still for 30 seconds and shift your weight
Sit still for 30 seconds and don't wobble back and forth, otherwise the impressions become blurry. Pull yourself down with your hands on the seat or lift your feet briefly – this puts your full weight on the sit bones and makes the impression clear. Then stand up slowly.
4
Mark the centre points and measure
You can see two clear impressions in the cardboard. Mark the centre of each impression with a pen and use the ruler to measure the distance between the two points – not between the edges. This value in centimetres is your sit bone distance. To be safe, measure a second time: if the result differs by more than 0.5 cm, repeat the measurement.
5
Derive saddle width
The saddle width follows from your sit bone distance: 9 to 10 cm needs 130 to 140 mm, 11 to 12 cm needs 143 to 155 mm, 13 to 14 cm needs 155 to 165 mm, from 15 cm at least 165 mm. Within the range, this applies: if you sit upright, take the upper value; if you ride in a sporty, bent-over position, take the lower one.

If you want to buy a new bike saddle, the right size is crucial – especially for longer rides. An uncomfortable saddle leads to pain, numbness, and pressure points. The good news: you can determine your saddle size at home in five minutes. You only need corrugated cardboard, a ruler, and a hard chair.

Why the right saddle size is so important

Your pelvis has two bony protrusions at the bottom – the sit bones. These are exactly what should rest on the bike saddle and support your weight. If the saddle is too narrow, your sit bones slide off to the sides and the weight lands on sensitive soft tissue. If it’s too wide, your inner thighs rub with every pedal stroke.

The distance between your sit bones is individual. For men, it typically ranges from 10 to 14 cm, for women from 11 to 16 cm. A saddle that fits your neighbor perfectly can be a source of pain for you.

Measuring sit bone width – at home in 5 minutes

You don’t need a bike fitting or an appointment. With corrugated cardboard and a ruler, you can measure your sit bone width yourself.

Step 1: Prepare materials

You need a piece of corrugated cardboard (about 30 by 30 cm, for example from a box), a hard chair or stair step, a ruler or tape measure, and a pen.

Step 2: Sit on the cardboard

Place the cardboard on a hard surface. Sit on it in a normal posture, feet flat on the floor. Lean slightly forward, about as you would on a bike – this shifts the pressure to where it lies when cycling.

Step 3: Sit still for 30 seconds

Stay still for 30 seconds. Don’t wiggle, or the impressions will become blurry. Tip: If you place a book under each foot so that your knees are slightly higher than your hips, it increases the pressure on your sit bones and makes the impressions clearer.

Step 4: Measure the impressions

Stand up and look at the cardboard. You will see two clear impressions – these are your sit bones. Measure the distance from the center of the left impression to the center of the right. This is your sit bone width.

Step 5: Derive saddle width

Add a margin to the measured value depending on your sitting position. Upright (city, e-bike): plus 3 cm. Sporty-moderate (trekking, MTB): plus 2 cm. Road bike: plus 1.5 cm. For a 12 cm sit bone width and sporty posture, this results in a 14 cm saddle width, i.e., 140 mm.

Our guides show you step by step how to fit and adjust your saddle.

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Saddle width depending on riding position

Your sit bone width alone is not enough. Saddle width also depends on your riding position. The more forward you lean, the less it adds to your measurement.

Upright (City, E-Bike, Dutch bike): Sit bone width + 3 cm
Sport-moderate (Trekking, MTB, Gravel): Sit bone width + 2 cm
Road bike (highly forward-leaning): Sit bone width + 1.5 cm

Example: 12 cm sit bone width in a sport-moderate posture results in a 14 cm saddle width, i.e., 140 mm. For a comfort model designed for upright sitting, it would be 150 mm.

Saddle size chart – how to read your result correctly

Note: Women anatomically have a wider sit bone distance and usually choose wider saddles. Measure first, then choose.

9 to 10 cm sit bone width: 130 to 140 mm saddle width – typical for Race+
11 to 12 cm: 143 to 155 mm – typical for Sport+
13 to 14 cm: 155 to 165 mm – typical for Comfort+ or Sport+
15+ cm: 165+ mm – typical for Comfort+

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Which saddle is right for you?

With your measured sit bone width and riding position, you can now precisely select the perfect model. Our three main models are categorized by riding position:

Alpensattel 3.0 Comfort+ – for an upright riding position (city, e-bike, Dutch bike). Memory foam, wide contact surface, cutout for pressure relief in the perineal area.

Alpensattel 3.0 Sport+ – for a sporty-moderate posture (touring, MTB, gravel). AIR suspension, relief channel, medium width. The all-rounder saddle.

Alpensattel 3.0 Race+ – for a strongly forward-leaning posture (road bike, performance gravel). Narrow, lightweight, with targeted pressure relief at the front.

All three models are available in several widths and both in the men's version and in the women's version.

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At a glance

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Mounting in minutes

The right saddle makes the differenceEven with perfect mounting, the wrong saddle leads to pressure, numbness or poor posture. Three models, three riding positions.

Sporty, slightly leaningMTB, trekking → Sport PRO

Low, aerodynamicRoad bike, gravel → Race PRO

Relaxed, uprightE-bike, city bike → Komfort PRO

Find your saddle

Frequently asked questions

How do I measure my saddle size at home?

With a piece of corrugated cardboard on a hard surface. Sit down, lean slightly forward, and sit still for 30 seconds. You will see two impressions – these are your sit bones. Measure the distance from center to center. Depending on your sitting position, add 1.5 to 3 cm to the sit bone distance; this gives you your saddle width.

What is the sit bone distance and why is it important?

The sit bone width is the distance between the two bony protrusions on the pelvis – where you should rest on the saddle. For men, it typically ranges from 10 to 14 cm, and for women from 11 to 16 cm. It determines the saddle width you need so that your weight rests on the sit bones and not on the sensitive soft tissue.

What saddle width do I need for a sit bone distance of 12 cm?

With a 12 cm sit bone width, a saddle width between 143 and 155 mm fits. For an upright seating position (city, e-bike), rather 155 mm; for a sporty position (trekking, MTB), rather 143 mm. On the road bike, you go a bit narrower because less weight rests on the sit bones.

Do women need a wider saddle than men?

On average, yes. Women anatomically have a wider sit bone distance and therefore usually need wider saddles. But: There is no general women's or men's model that fits everyone. What matters is always your individual sit bone distance. Measure first, then choose.