Motorcycle Helmet Fit & Purchase Guide

Find your starting size before you shop

Build a Better Helmet Shortlist in About 2 Minutes

Measure your head, choose your preferences, and compare currently available helmets matched to your starting size.

About 2 minutes · No account required

How to measure head circumference for a motorcycle helmet using a flexible tape measure

A size chart provides a starting point. The helmet still has to fit your actual head. Use this guide to build a better shortlist before buying online or visiting Eagle Leather for an in-person fit check.

Build Your Starting Helmet Profile

Answer four questions

Your completed answers stay visible so you can go back and change any selection without restarting.

Measure around the widest part of your head, just above the eyebrows and ears. Keep the tape level.

Head circumference

Enter a realistic head measurement before continuing.

Use this only if you want to narrow the shortlist. You can use the helmet collection filters later if you want a specific Snell version.

Head shape helps rank your results, but it will not automatically eliminate an otherwise suitable helmet. Manufacturer documentation is inconsistent across brands, so treat this as a useful clue rather than an absolute.

3 Helmets We'd Start With

One currently available starting point is shown in each price tier. Price tiers are adjusted for the coverage you selected, and every helmet is checked for matching-size availability before it is shown.

All Currently Available Matches by Price Tier

Before You Ride

Confirm the fit in four areas

Use the checklist after you put the helmet on and fasten it correctly. A good recommendation is still only a starting point.

Crown fit: firm, even pressureThe liner should make snug, even contact around the crown without one concentrated pressure point at the forehead, temples, sides, or top of the head.
Cheek pad fit: supported, not painfulCheek pads should sit snugly against the face. Open and close your mouth. Your cheeks should remain supported, but the pads should not force the inside of your cheek between your teeth.
Retention system: roll testFasten the chin strap correctly. Grasp the lower rear edge and try to roll the helmet forward and off your head. It should remain securely retained.
Field of view: check the eyeportLook straight ahead without turning your head. Your eyes should sit naturally in the eye opening. Bring moving fingers in from each side until you first see them and confirm the helmet is not creating an obvious obstruction to your normal peripheral vision.

The Final Check

The 15-Minute Test

Do not decide the moment the helmet goes on. After completing the fit checks above, keep the helmet on for at least 15 minutes. This is when the difference between snug and too tight usually becomes easier to recognize.

Snug = goodEven support remains tolerable and often starts to feel more natural as you wear it.

Tight = badConcentrated pressure, pain, numbness, or hot spots become more noticeable as time passes.

Loose = badThe helmet shifts independently of your head or does not stay securely positioned.

Choose what you want to do next

Shop every helmet that matches your hard criteria, or bring your fit plan to Eagle Leather and compare helmets in person.

Still have questions? Jump to the Motorcycle Helmet FAQs →