Every bike needs pedals and, thankfully, they don’t have to cost the earth. Here, we’ve chosen a selection of cheap bike pedals for those on a budget.
We’ve included budget road bike pedals, as well as cheap pedals for mountain biking, and affordable flat-pedal options for almost everything else.
Although the best road bike pedals and the best mountain bike pedals cost up to £180, there are bargains to be had for as little as £35.
This best list was written by our staff writer, Nick Clark, who has brought together expertise from across the team while adding his personal experience in the saddle.
The reviews in this buyer's guide were written by David Arthur, Jack Luke, Alex Evans, Oli Woodman and Katherine Moore.
Editor's note: this list was updated on 13 October 2026. We have removed pedals no longer available to purchase, added awards and attributed reviews to their testers.
Cheap bike pedals: our favourites for 2026
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Shimano Tiagra R550 – best budget road pedal
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- £75 as tested by David Arthur
- Use: Road
- Pros: Lightweight; great interface; serviceable; low maintenance
- Cons: Not as durable as siblings
The Tiagra R550 pedals have a large platform that provides good support for getting the power down on a road bike. It shares a similar design to its pricier siblings, but is made from a composite body, rather than carbon-infused material.
If you're looking to try road pedals without breaking the bank, these are well worth a look.
- Read more: Shimano Tiagra R550 pedals review
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Shimano PD-M540 – best budget clipless MTB pedal
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- £69.99 / $85 as tested by Jack Luke
- Use: Mountain biking; commuting; gravel; touring; road; cyclocross
- Pros: Incredibly durable; easy maintenance; great retention system
- Cons: Won't win prizes for beauty
The PD-M540 is so durable that we wouldn't be surprised if it were unscathed after a nuclear war.
While it's a design that has been around for years, it's an excellent choice for those looking for a no-nonsense clipless pedal for various disciplines.
Many of us at BikeRadar rely on it daily to get us to and from work, and for our winter hack bikes.
- Read more: Shimano PD-M540 pedals review
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HT PA03A – Best budget flat pedal
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- 35 / $69 / AU$70 as tested by Alex Evans
- Use: Mountain biking, commuting, leisure riding
- Pros: Well-priced; stong construction; serviceable; plenty of grip
- Cons: None
HT’s PA03A pedals might have a silly name, but they prove perfectly that you don't need to spend a fortune to get some top-performing pedals. They’re cheap, strong, light and reliable with superb levels of grip.
- Read more: HT PA03A pedals review
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Shimano M520 SPD
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- £36.99 / $45 / AU$65.99 as tested by Oli Woodman
- Use: mountain biking, gravel riding, commuting, leisure riding, cyclocross, touring
- Pros: Incredibly hard-wearing; versatile; great action; long service intervals
- Cons: Not the prettiest pedals
Shimano’s legendary M520 SPD pedals are as tough as they are cheap.
Their double-sided entry and resistance to clogging with mud means they’re immensely versatile too. Plenty of us in the BikeRadar office have used them for everything from commuting and gravel riding to cyclocross and mountain biking.
- Read more: Shimano M520 SPD pedals review
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Ritchey Comp XC
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- £55 / $69.95 / €73 as tested by Katherine Moore
- Use: mountain biking, gravel riding, commuting, leisure riding, cyclocross, touring
- Pros: Great performance; lightweight; well-priced
- Cons: Paint shows wear quickly
Similar to Shimano's SPD pedals and using the same cleat design, Ritchey's Comp XC pedals perform well, offering a lightweight clipless pedal at a low price.
Featuring ball bearings, the Comp XC pedals are fully serviceable, but require the upgraded WCS pedals service kit.
The pedals are easy to set up, with adjustable entry and release tension that can be set with an Allen key.
- Read more: Ritchey Comp XC review
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Shimano PD-ME700
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- £55 as tested by Katherine Moore
- Use: mountain biking, commuting, touring
- Pros: Good support for trail riding; long service intervals; great cleat retention
- Cons: Not the lightest
Providing more support than cageless SPD pedals, the PD-ME700 pedals offer a great introduction to clipless systems. The cage improves shoe-to-pedal contact, but they don't feel overly secure on rough singletrack and could be further improved. As with most Shimano pedals, the PD-ME700s are fully serviceable.
- Read more: Shimano PD-ME700 review
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How we test budget bike pedals
We test budget bike pedals on the roads, trails and gravel paths to see how they perform in the real world.
Our testers have experience reviewing hundreds of pedals, and have a good nose for sniffing out the good from the bad.
We keep a keen eye for value for money when testing budget pedals, and we also take into account durability, maintenance, ease of use and how well made they are.
