If your child sometimes rides on the street or around the neighbourhood, fitting their bike with the best kids bike bell is essential for safety; not just theirs, but also that of pedestrians.
We also recommend getting one if you are planning a family cycling holiday.
Bells for kids’ bikes are generally cheap. You can get a good one for £5. They are also easy to install and use.
In this buying guide, we review the best kids bike bells you can buy online in the UK, and give you some tips on how to choose the right bell for your child’s bike.
What to Consider When Choosing a Kid’s Bike Bell
a) Bike Bell vs. Bike Horn
Should you get a bike bell or a bike horn for your kid’s bike? It depends on where you ride with your child most often and their preferences.
A bike horn is typically louder than the ring ring of a bell. A bell will do when riding around quiet streets or on a trail but it may not be loud enough when riding in a noisy place. For that, a horn will attract the attention of pedestrians and drivers more effectively.
There’s also the fun factor. Consider whether your kid will find it more fun to ring a bell or operate a horn.
Younger riders might appreciate a horn more.
Another reason you may want to choose a horn or a bell for your 2-4 year old is that horns can have multiple sound effects while a bell is restricted to just one sound. Some horns even come with light effects.
If you are on a budget, a bike bell will likely be cheaper than a horn.
b) Type of Bell
There are two common types of bike bells: the simple ones where a tab hits a metal bell and the more complex ones with an arm that rotates gears inside the bell, causing two metal rings to hit the sides of the bell.
A simply tab-style bell produces more of a ding type of sound while a gear-based bell produces a rrring sound.
A gear-style bell is better for warming pedestrians since a single pull of the arm produces a prolonged ring. If your kid will be riding in places with many pedestrians, get this type of ringer.
For younger riders who’ll be enjoying the bike mostly at home, any type of bell will do. A tab-style bell has one advantage though: it is less likely to break down and if it does, it is easier to repair.
c) Bike Fit
Make sure the bell is the right fit for your child’s bike. Manufacturers will usually indicate what size of handlebar the bell can fit.
However, some bells are designed to fit a wide range of bike handlebar sizes using an adjustable mount (though there’ll still be a minimum and maximum handlebar size). If you are not sure how big your child’s bike handlebar is, get an adjustable bell.
d) Left or Right
Make sure you choose the right bike bell based on whether your child is right or left handed.
Most bells are designed for installation on the right side of the handlebar. But you can also find some designed for left hand use.
e) Loudness
A good bike bell should be loud and clear to ensure anyone walking up ahead can hear it. Most kids’ bike bells have no problem with this.
If you are planning to get a horn, consider getting one with volume control especially if you are getting it for a toddler bike. Pressing a loud horn a hundred times a minute may be fun for your little one but can drive you crazy.
f) Style
The best style comes down to your child’s preferences. Most manufacturers offer bells in multiple colour options so you can pick your kid’s favourite colour.
Some bells come in the shape of popular cartoon characters while others have unique animal-like shapes.
g) Ease of Installation
A good bike bell should take no more than a minute to install. Usually, you just need to tighten a screw to attach the bell to the handlebar.
Some bells will even come with a mini screwdriver just in case you don’t have one around.
h) Materials and Durability
Finally, make sure the bell is made to last. For something that your kid will probably see as a toy, it’s important that it be well made.
Most kids bike bells are made with aluminium and plastic. Look through customer reviews to see whether there are any durability issues with the bell.
The Best Kids Bike Bells
1. Paliston Aluminum Bike Bell
Available in more than a dozen colours, you are sure to find a Paliston bike bell that your child will love.
The bell fits any bike, including adult bikes, with a handlebar measuring 22mm wide or less. Installation takes less than a minute and a mini screwdriver is included for tightening the bell onto the bike.
Note that this is a right-sided bike bell.
The main body of the Paliston bell is made from aluminium, which produces a crisp ring when you press the lever. It’s loud enough to warn pedestrians even when riding somewhere noisy.
The lever is easy for kids to operate. Just a light touch is all that’s needed to get the bell ringing. Make sure you install it close enough to their hand such that they don’t need to let go of the bike handlebar to ring the bell.
Price-wise, Paliston is one of the cheapest bike bells you’ll find. But it’s well made and customers say it lasts for long without any issues.
What we like about it:
- Over a dozen colour options.
- High quality aluminium construction.
- Loud and crisp ringing.
- Easy to install.
2. Kids 360° Rotatable Bike Bell
If your child loves cartoon characters, this is the best bell for them. It’s adorable and you can choose from several colour options including black, pink and blue.
It is a bit more expensive than other basic bike bells but it’s also cuter than most bells.
Installation is easy and quick. Using a screwdriver, tighten the bell holder around the bike’s handlebar. It’ll fit any bike with a handlebar equal to or less than 22mm.
Like most bike bells, you can only operate this one using your right hand. It installs on the right side of the bike.
Sound quality is good. The aluminium body produces a loud and clear ring that can be heard from far. The grooved lever is easy for a child to press even when their hands are wet.
What we like about it:
- Cute design – the bell is perfect for younger riders.
- Multiple colour options.
- Cartoon head is rotatable.
- Loud and clear ringing sound.
3. Mini Hornit Bike & Scooter Horn and Light for Children
If you are looking for something with a bit more bells and whistles than a basic bike bell, get a bike horn. We recommend the Mini Hornit bike horn.
The best thing about this horn is the wide variety of sound effects. It doesn’t just make the toot toot sound you’d expect from a horn; it has 25 sound effects.
Some of our favourite sounds include police car, bike bell, fire engine, elephant, trumpet and racing car.
It’s easy to cycle through the sounds using buttons on the horn. There’s also a volume control button, just to ensure your kids don’t drive you crazy as they play with different sound effects.
In addition to sounds, the Mini Hornit also has light effects. Five light settings control the light colour and flashing effect (slow, fast or no flashing). This not only adds to the horn’s cool factor, it also improves visibility in low light.
The Mini Hornit is designed to fit on any bike handlebar. Just clip the two wings around the bikes handlebar – no screwdriver necessary.
Unlike bike bells, the Mini Hornit attaches to the centre of the handlebars, where the bike stem is located.
But don’t worry, the horn is still easy and safe to operate. It comes with a remote trigger that you attach closer to the end of the handlebars, near the hand.
You just extend your finger to press the trigger and sound the horn. There’s no need to take your hands off the handlebars.
The Mini Hornit has a protection rating of IP33, meaning it’s safe from water splashes and large solid particles. It’s not rainproof but it’ll survive a ride through a rain puddle.
The only complaints we’ve seen from customers is that some units arrive with the batteries dead. If your unit doesn’t work, try replacing the batteries. It uses two AAA batteries.
What we like about it:
- Light and sound effects – fun for kids.
- Light improves visibility at night.
- Easy to install.
4. Alomejor Kids Bicycle Bell
The Alomejor kids bike bell is another good option if you are looking for a fun and unique bell design.
This one is shaped like a ladybug, complete with red and black wings, a head, antennae and two yellow eyes. For an added touch of fun, the wings can open and close by pressing the antennae.
Despite its cute look, the bell is loud enough to be heard from a distance.
Installation is easy and quick. Insert the bell into the handlebar and then turn the screw to tighten it.
What we like about it:
- Fun design.
- Loud and clear sound.
- Easy to install.
5. Paliston Kid’s Bike Bell
If you are looking for a fun bike bell for your daughter’s or granddaughter’s bike, we recommend this cute one from Paliston. It is pink with a flower design on top.
There are other colours too so you can choose the one that best matches her bike colour.
It’s also a good choice for a boy’s bike. Just choose their favourite colour. Options include pink & green, red & purple and blue & white.
The Paliston bell fits on any bike handlebar measuring 22mm wide or less. Turn the screw until the bell feels snug.
What we like about it:
- Cute design.
- Multiple colour options.
- Easy to install.
- Clear and crisp sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which side of the handlebar should I install a kids bike bell on?
Most kids bike bells are designed to be operated using the right thumb, thus should be installed on the right side of the handlebar.
But if your child is left-handed or prefers using their left thumb to ring the bell, you can find a left side kids bike bell.If you are buying a horn instead of a bell, you can most likely install it on either side of the handlebars.
2. Can I use a kids bike bell on a scooter?
Yes, you can. Most kids bike bells can also fit on your child’s scooter. Just check the handlebar size the bell fits to make sure it’ll fit snugly on the scooter handle.
3. What’s the difference between a bike bell and a bike horn?
A bike bell uses a simple mechanical design to produce a ding or ring sound. A bike horn uses electricity to create a wide range of fun sounds. You can even adjust volume and some bike horns come with lights.
There are also non-electric trumpet-style horns with a rubber ball that you press to make a loud sound.
