Best Electric Bike Helmets UK 2026

Do You Need a Special Helmet for an Electric Bike?

In the UK, any bicycle helmet is legally sufficient for e-bike riding. However, because e-bikes travel faster than conventional bikes — often reaching 15–20 mph on flat roads — many riders choose helmets with better coverage, improved ventilation, and MIPS technology (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) for added rotational impact protection.

Key Safety Standards

• EN1078 — the standard European cycle helmet certification. All helmets sold in the UK must meet this.
• NTA 8776 — a Dutch speed-pedelec standard increasingly used for e-bike specific helmets, offering stronger chin protection.
• MIPS — not a certification, but a widely-used slip-plane technology that reduces rotational forces during impact.

Urban vs Mountain Helmets

Urban helmets prioritise low profile, integrated rear lights, and compatibility with glasses and earphones. Mountain / trail helmets offer more rear-head coverage, visors, and better ventilation for active riding. For a daily commuter, an urban helmet with MIPS and built-in rear light is the sweet spot.

Getting the Right Fit

Measure around your head just above your ears and eyebrows. Most adult helmets cover 54–62 cm with a dial adjuster for fine-tuning. The helmet should sit level — not tilted back — with the front edge no more than two finger-widths above your eyebrows. Straps should form a 'V' around each ear with no more than two fingers' gap under the chin.