Best Bike Headset Spacers for Road Bikes of 2026
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Bike headset spacers are an important component of any road bike, as they allow for fine-tuning of the handlebar height and positioning. These small, cylindrical pieces fit over the steerer tube of the fork and underneath the stem, providing additional height and adjustability to the handlebars. Made from lightweight materials such as aluminum or carbon fiber, headset spacers come in a variety of sizes and colors to match the style of the bike. Whether you're a competitive cyclist looking to shave off seconds from your time or a casual rider seeking a more comfortable riding position, bike headset spacers are a versatile and essential accessory for any road bike.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Bike Headset Spacers for Road Bikes
Sumind 11 Pieces Carbon Fiber Bike Headset Spacer Set
The Sumind 11 Pieces Bike Carbon Fiber Headset Spacer Set includes 7 different sizes of spacers, made of woven carbon material. These spacers are light in weight, corrosion-resistant, and have good temperature resistance. The set is designed with smooth edges and a delicate texture, making it durable to use. The spacers also allow for precise height adjustments and fit most road bicycles with an inner diameter of 28.6 mm and external diameter of 34.9 mm. The total weight of the set is approximately 45 g.
Cheimaxy Carbon Fiber Headset Spacers 8PCS
The Cheimaxy Carbon Spacers offer precise engineering with a tight tolerance of ±0.1mm, ensuring a smooth and secure fit on your bike's headset. These spacers are compatible with any 1 1/8 inch front stem fork, so you can use them on mountain, BMX, or road bikes with ease. Made from braided carbon fiber, they provide a strong yet lightweight solution that also adds a sleek matte look to your bike. Designed for durability, these spacers resist wear and heat while maintaining a clean, burr-free finish, giving you reliable performance and a polished appearance every ride.
DSCMLIS Carbon Fiber Headset Spacers 11PCS
The DSCMLIS Carbon Fiber Spacers come in 11 pieces with six different thicknesses, allowing you to easily adjust your bike's stem height for a comfortable ride. Made with precision engineering, these spacers fit perfectly on a 1-1/8 inch stem, ensuring your bike’s front end stays aligned. Crafted from high-density carbon fiber, they offer a strong yet lightweight alternative to metal spacers, improving your bike’s performance. The matte finish not only looks sleek but also features smooth edges and high corrosion resistance, so you can rely on them in all weather conditions. These spacers are a great upgrade for any rider wanting durability and precise fit.
Mihoutal Carbon Fiber Bike Headset Spacers 12-Pack
The Mihoutal Carbon Fiber Spacers offer a perfect fit for all modern bikes with their standard 1 1/8 inch diameter, making them ideal for mountain, road, cruiser, and electric bikes. You get a versatile set of 12 spacers in six different thicknesses, allowing you to easily customize your handlebar height for the best riding comfort and control. Made from high-strength carbon fiber, these spacers are much lighter than aluminum, helping to improve your bike’s performance without sacrificing durability. Plus, their sleek woven carbon design with precision-machined edges not only looks great but also ensures a perfect stack alignment for a smooth ride.
Cane Creek 110-Series Crown Race Aluminum
The Cane Creek 110-Series Crown Race Aluminum is made of alloy and designed for bike maintenance. It is a bike headset accessory that is durable and long-lasting. This crown race is compatible with 1.5-inch steerer tubes and has a 52/40 bearing size.
BQSHOP Heavy Duty Headset Top Cap Bearings
BQSHOP Heavy Duty Headset Top Cap Bearings is made of forged machined steel cups and oversized 1/4 inch bearings, suitable for MTB and road bikes. It fits frames under 44mm inner diameter head tube and 28.6mm straight tube fork or 1.5 standard taper pipe fork. This long-lasting headset offers smooth and durable performance. If not satisfied, you can apply for unconditional return and refund within 180 days.
GooDay Bicycle Headset Spacer Set
The GooDay Bicycle Headset Spacer Set is a must-have accessory for any cyclist. This set includes 8 spacers in 4 different sizes, allowing you to adjust the height of your handlebars to suit your riding style. Made from black anodized aluminum alloy, these spacers are not only eco-friendly but also sturdy and durable. With an inner diameter of 28.6mm, they are compatible with most MTB, BMX, mountain, and road bikes. The lightweight design and easy installation make these spacers a convenient choice. Additionally, the aluminum construction makes them more resistant to corrosion compared to carbon fiber spacers. Whether you're a casual rider or a hardcore off-roader, the GooDay Bicycle Headset Spacer Set is a reliable and versatile option for enhancing your biking experience.
Albedel Bike Ball Bearing Retainer Set 5x10 Kinds
The Albedel Bike Bearing Set offers a comprehensive solution for your bike maintenance needs by including 10 different types of ball bearings in one package. This variety ensures you have the right size for various bike parts, making replacements easy and convenient. These bearings serve as reliable substitutes for worn-out bike components, helping to restore smooth performance. Plus, they are versatile enough to fit a range of bikes, including mountain, road, scooters, and foldable models. With this set, you get the convenience of multiple sizes and broad compatibility in one purchase, making it a handy accessory for any bike owner.
Quacc 6 PCS Headset Spacers 1 1/8" Aluminum Alloy Bike Headset Spacers for MTB BMX Road Bikes 2mm 3mm 5mm 10mm
SHIMANO Dura-Ace FH-9000 11-Speed Low Spacer
The SHIMANO 11-Speed Low Spacer is designed to fit perfectly with 11-speed freehubs, making it easy for you to use 9- and 10-speed cassettes without any issues. This means you can upgrade or change your bike’s cassette smoothly and enjoy better shifting performance. Made from strong materials, this spacer holds up well under tough riding conditions, so your drivetrain stays aligned and efficient for longer. Specifically made for the Dura-Ace FH-9000 series, it reduces unnecessary movement in your drivetrain, helping your gear changes feel smooth and precise. Plus, its low-profile design works well with different cassette setups, making it a handy part for both serious cyclists and bike enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What size headset spacers do I need?
When choosing headset spacers the most important thing is to match the size to the diameter of the fork steerer tube. The most common steerer diameters are 1”,1 1/8”, 1.5” and tapered.
2. Can you put spacers under the headset?
You CANNOT put spacers under the head tube. The bottom cup of the headset has to fit snugly in the head tube, and the steer tube of a fork is a little broader at the bottom to fit the base plate of the headset. There's no safe way to change these relationships.
3. How tight should headset spacers be?
A god rule of thumb is to tighten your headset cap bolt until it is causing some friction with steering and then back it off until it's tight enough to keep the stack neatly in place. This is typically 1/8th to 1/4 of turn. Give your headset spacers a twist. You should not be able to move them much, if at all.
4. Do you need spacers on steerer tube?
The clamp bolts of the stem on the steerer tube in a threadless headset setup are what holds the whole assembly together. Spacers below the stem are required to eliminate vertical play. Spacers above the stem are only required for aesthetics.
During our bike headset spacer for road bikes research, we found 24 bike headset spacer for road bikes products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 21,421 customer reviews through our big data system to write the bike headset spacers for road bikes list. We found that most customers choose bike headset spacers for road bikes with an average price of $7.21.
The bike headset spacers for road bikes are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of bike headset spacers for road bikes, including Sumind, Cheimaxy, DSCMLIS, Mihoutal, Cane Creek. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 664 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.
Jason Kiser is an editor who lives in California, he previously worked in a travel agency for ten years, which enabled him to travel a number of interesting countries and experience several different cultures along the way. His range of job and travel experiences grant him expertise in hiking, camping, outdoors and fitness.