Best folding bikes: Space-saving bikes for your urban riding needs
The best folding bikes are comfortable and capable bikes, but small when folded, light enough to carry, and durable enough to deal with the rigours of daily commuting
The best folding bikes can fold down into incredibly small and compact shapes, allowing for more versatility for travel or just simply taking up less room in your house or at work. They can also be just downright fun to ride.
Folding bikes, due to their convenient size and weight, can also be carried onto a train or a bus or even a plane. What could be more convenient? If you need to combine different modes of transport when travelling or commuting, a folding bike is possibly the best commuter bike for you. The best folding electric bikes can take the effort out of your ride, making your ride even easier.
We reckon the Brompton C Line is the best folding bike overall; it's fun, durable, easy to ride and folds down into an incredibly compact package. If you want a lower weight, the T Line is as feathery as many of the best lightweight bikes.
If you have found your ideal folding bike, it's a good idea to check out our commuter bike accessories checklist, and while you're there, why not have a look at our best commuter helmets and best waterproof cycling jackets to go with it?
Read on for our pick of the best folding bikes, or head lower down for our buyer's guide to help you choose.
Best folding bikes: Quick list
The Brompton C Line is a classic for a reason. It's durable, compact and folds quickly.
Tern's no-frills design should keep maintenance needs down.
Decathlon offers a lot of bike for little cash, with extras including lights included.
The lightest T Line weighs under 8kg, thanks to titanium and carbon fibre.
The BYB handles like a non-folding bike and has 11 speed gearing for faster rides.
With 24-inch wheels, the Node is more comfortable than smaller-wheeled folders.
Best folding bikes available today
Best overall
1. Brompton C Line
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want the most compact fold: Brompton's fold is still class-leading.
✅ You want a wide range of accessories: From bags to lights and more, there's a huge range of Brompton-specific add-ons.
❌ You want the lowest weight: The C Line's steel frame adds weight; other Bromptons are significantly lighter.
❌ You want more gears: Expect to pay significantly more for 6 or 12 speeds.
Brompton Bikes are considered the gold standard in folding bikes for their foldability, reliability and comfort. The C Line is Brompton's standard build, which sits between the more basic A Line and the significantly lighter P Line and the titanium and carbon T Line.
You get a choice of gearing, with 2, 6 or 12-speed options and a gear range of up to 300% that's great for hilly routes. The C Line weighs in at 11.3 kilos, not as light as the titanium T-line model, which we tested below, but still light enough to tackle all but the steepest climbs with ease.
At the back, all Bromptons have an elastomer between the front and rear triangles, which acts as a simple yet effective bump absorber. With seven colours to choose from and loads of accessories and luggage options, it's easy to spec the bike just as you want it.
Best for low maintenance
2. Tern Link C8
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want low maintenance: The simple design should be easy to take care of.
✅ You want larger wheels: The 20-inch wheels have more roll-over of obstacles than Brompton's 16-inch wheels.
❌ You want a more compact fold: The single mid-frame fold doesn't produce as compact a package as a Brompton.
❌ You want more gear range: The eight speeds don't provide as much range as a Brompton's 6 or 12.
The Tern C8 is one of the brand's entry-level folding bikes, which transitions easily and folds right down. Using the brand's FBL two-joint frame design, the top tube breaks away in the middle, and the wheels are stuck together with the brand's Magnetix 2.0 dropout latch.
The C8 has 20-inch wheels that are finished in Schwalbe's Impact BigPack tyres, which have decent air volume and good puncture protection. The C8 has eight gears at the back, complete with a Shimano Tourney mech and grip shifter on the bars for maximum reliability with minimal maintenance. At the front, the bike uses Tern's Physis 3D Handlepost, which is made using 3D-forging so the structure is a single piece, removing the need for welds and increasing stiffness.
Best on a budget
3. B'Twin Tilt 500
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want an all-included package: The Tilt 500 comes with mudguards and a rack, so there are few add-ons needed.
✅ You want a budget option: The Tilt 500 is one of the more affordable folding bikes.
❌ You want a smaller folded size: Folded down, the bike is still quite a lot larger than a Brompton.
❌ You want better brakes: The budget rim brake callipers aren't as strong as some.
For a cheap and cheerful option, look no further than the B'Twin Tilt 500, equipped with a Shimano 1x7 drivetrain, front and rear mudguards, 20-inch wheels with 1.75in tyres complete with anti-puncture reinforcement, and a stand for convenience.
It also comes supplied with front and rear battery-powered lights, and is compatible with a range of accessories, including a transportation cover, a pannier rack, and Hamax and Bike Original kids' bike trailers. At 12.9kg, the Tilt isn't among the heaviest folding bikes available, and it's covered under Decathlon's lifetime warranty.
Thinking about investing in a folding bike? You can often save on selected models and accessories by checking our Decathlon vouchers before you buy.
Best lightweight folding bike
4. Brompton T-Line
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want the lowest weight Brompton: The high-tech materials drop the weight significantly from the C Line.
✅ You want a wear-resistant ceramic coating: It's only the T Line that can be bought with Ceratech coating.
❌ You want to economise: All T Line bikes are expensive.
❌ You want a bike you'd be happy to use and abuse: You'll want to take care of your T Line, not lock it up in a wet cycle rack or damp shed.
The T-Line is the range-topping model from British brand Brompton. It also happens to be the lightest Brompton ever. The T-Line represents a massive overhaul and a host of new developments from Brompton. It weighs in at 7.45 kilograms in its lightest single-speed form with a titanium frame and over 150 specially developed lightweight components, including a metal-clad carbon seatpost and carbon fork.
Head to our Brompton T-Line review to see why we were so impressed with its new lower weight and brilliant ride qualities, thanks to the new titanium frame and overhaul. The bike is available as a singlespeed if you want the lowest weight, but there are also four and 12-speed options, which add mudguards and a front luggage block.
There's now a Ceratech-coated option which adds durability and wear resistance, as well as shedding water and dirt. It also increases the colour options available, without adding weight.
Best for normal ride feel
5. Tern BYB S11
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want a folder that rides like a non-folder: Tern has designed the BYB has been designed to ride well.
✅ You want top-spec shifting: The BYB has an 11-speed Shimano Ultegra groupset.
❌ You want a quick fold: The compact fold means more joints than on many folding bikes.
❌ You want to economise: The BYB is at the expensive end of the folding bike spectrum.
The Tern BYB (Bring Your Bike) S11 is a 20-inch folder that aims to bring the ride quality of your regular bike to one that folds small enough to fit comfortably under your desk. The brand says that its double-joint design collapses down 30 per cent smaller than traditional folding models, but the joint and lock design makes for a robust frame that doesn't ride like a wet noodle.
When folded, built-in spinner wheels allow you to roll the BYB S11 along without needing to lift it, while an anchor bolt connects the front and rear dropouts, so it doesn't unfold as you make your way through train turnstiles or as you board the bus. With 20-inch wheels and tyres, the Tern sees a 1x11 Shimano Ultegra drivetrain – including a Shadow rear mech – with an 11-32T cassette paired with a 54T front chainring. That's a flashy spec even for a road bike and the BYB has a price tag to match.
Best for longer journeys
6. Tern Node D8
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Your commute is longer: The 24-inch wheels make for a more comfortable, faster ride.
✅ You want a rack and mudguards included: The Node D8 is specced for city riding and carrying.
❌ You want a more compact folder: The 24-inch wheels make the Node a bit larger than many folders.
❌ You want a wider gear range: The range on offer may be a bit narrow for hillier cities.
Rolling on 24-inch wheels and tyres, the Tern Node D8 is the ideal folding bike if you have a longer commute. With the bigger wheels, the Node D8 also has an 8-speed Shimano Claris drivetrain, with an 11-30T cassette and a 52T chainring to satisfy your need for speed. Mudguards and a rack have you set up for commutes too.
With the large wheels, the bike isn't as compact as some of the others, but it'll still fit under your desk, and it only takes about 20 seconds to transition. With an aluminium frame and the bigger wheels, it's not offensively heavy, either, and shouldn't give you too much trouble as you climb the stairs up to a train platform.
Best for simple folding
7. Raleigh Stowaway 7
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want a simple fold: There are no tricks to the single hinge design.
✅ You want a budget bike with all the extras: The Stowaway is well equipped for its price.
❌ You want a compact folder: The single hinge means the bike doesn't fold as small as some alternatives.
❌ You're not based in the UK: The Stowaway is UK-only.
Raleigh's Stowaway sees an aluminium frame and a single-hinge design for a simple folding process. There are magnets to hold the 20-inch wheels together in storage mode, and the bike comes stock with mudguards and a rear rack.
The majority of the components are Raleigh's own, including the tyres, crank and bars, although the drivetrain is a Shimano Revo/Tourney 7-speed mix, with a 14-28T cassette and 48T crankset.
Best for extras
8. Dahon Mariner D8
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want all the extras included: There's just lights to add to be fully equipped.
✅ You want a quick fold: Dahon's mechanism is fast to use and delivers a fairly small folded size.
❌ You want more stability: The short wheelbase makes for edgier handling.
❌ You want easy spares: The own-brand gearing may make replacement harder.
The Mariner is part of Dahon's extensive range of folders. It's fully loaded with mudguards, rack and kickstand - just add lights and you're ready to go. It's also relatively inexpensive for a quality folder and comes with Dahon's proprietary eight-speed shifting and an 11-32 tooth cassette for plenty of gear options.
Dahon says that it will accommodate riders from 4'9" right up to 6'3", so it's a bike that will fit a wide range of riders. Despite rolling on 20-inch wheels, the folded size is pretty compact, it's quick to fold and at 12.5kg, not that heavy either.
How to choose a folding bike
If you are considering purchasing a folding bike, there are a few key things to consider.
- The key point is how the bike folds. If you are buying the bike to use for commuting regularly and will be doing a lot of folding and potentially carrying, check which models fold down smallest and whether they meet the required sizes to take onto public transport.
- Also, look at how quick and easy the bike is to fold; you don't want to be spending ages fiddling with it when you do need to fold it down. This won't be so much of a worry if you only see yourself folding the bike occasionally.
- Look at the weight too. If you're carrying the bike any distance, you may want to choose a lighter design.
- After this, check which models are within your budget and compare the differing specs of each one: does it come with mudguards and a rack? Is the gearing range suitable for where you live?
- It's also worth test riding bikes, as factors such as wheel size and wheelbase length will influence how easy they are to ride.
Best folding bikes: Frequently asked questions
What wheel size do I need on my folding bike?
Bigger wheels roll faster, carry speed better and offer more stability, while smaller wheels are lighter, more manoeuvrable and allow a bike to fold down smaller. Folding bikes come with wheels in sizes ranging from pint-sized 16-inch hoops like Brompton's all the way up to traditional 700c rollers, with most folding bikes based around 20-inch wheels.
If you have a long distance to cover, consider upping the wheel size for increased efficiency and speed. Alternatively, if you have heaps of stairs to climb before boarding a packed train and generally shorter trips to make, smaller wheels and tyres may suit you better.
Do folding bikes only come in one size?
Quite a lot of bikes have a one-size-fits-all frame but have a glut of quick releases and miles of adjustability to make the bike fit most bodies.
That said, if you can dunk a basketball without jumping, you may struggle to find a folder that fits, while the more vertically challenged will have a much easier time.
You can sometimes get extra-long seat posts or different handlebar rises to accommodate different riders - that's something that Brompton specialises in.
What's the best folding mechanism on folding bikes?
The whole selling point of a folding bike is the fact that in a few seconds it can go from bike to compacted storage. However, if it takes as many steps as an origami crane, steer clear.
Also, consider the quality and number of joints. The more joints, the smaller the bike will be folded. However, it also introduces more points for flex, which can make for vague handling and woolly pedalling and may require more maintenance down the line. Since the bikes are designed to be folded, robust, reliable hinges are something that most folding bike makers will concentrate on.
Also, look out for where the mechanical parts end up in the folded package. If they're in the centre they'll be better protected when moving around with the folding bike. They'll also be less likely to smear your clothes with grease.
How do I keep my folding bike safe and well-maintained?
When buying a new folding bike, it's likely that you're trying to avoid leaving it at the train station or on the bike rack outside. It'll certainly be safer parked under your desk, but a bike is never completely safe from bike theft.
The last thing you want for your new bike is for it to be stolen, so ensure you take steps to reduce this risk. We have an article dedicated to advising how to prevent bike theft, but the key takeaways are to ensure you choose the best bike lock, know how to lock a bike correctly, and shop around to ensure you are covered by the best bike insurance policy for your needs.
How do we test?
We're avid riders here at Cyclingnews and we've ridden a fair few of these folding bikes either for reviews or just to get from A to B. So we know what to look for in the best folding bikes and have chosen those that we think best fit the bill. When we review a bike, we'll check it across a wide range of attributes and produce a structured scorecard, which we'll use for our evaluation.
Read our How We Test page for more details.
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Mildred joined as Reviews Writer for Cyclingnews and BikePerfect in December 2020. She loves all forms of cycling from long-distance audax to daily errand-running by bike, and does almost everything on two wheels, including moving house, and started out her cycling career working in a bike shop. For the past five years she's volunteered at The Bristol Bike Project as a mechanic and session coordinator, and now sits on its board of directors.
Since then she's gone on to write for a multitude of cycling publications, including Bikeradar, Cycling Plus, Singletrack, Red Bull, Cycling UK and Total Women's Cycling. She's dedicated to providing more coverage of women's specific cycling tech, elevating under-represented voices in the sport, and making cycling more accessible overall.
Height: 156cm (5'2")
Weight: 75kg
Rides: Stayer Groadinger UG, Triban RC520 Women's Disc, Genesis Flyer, Marin Larkspur, Cotic BFe 26, Clandestine custom bike