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Oct 15, 2024

The best electric scooters we've tested | Tom's Guide

Here are our top picks for the best electric scooters for adults, kids and commuters, based on hundreds of hours of testing When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate

Here are our top picks for the best electric scooters for adults, kids and commuters, based on hundreds of hours of testing

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Electric scooters have become a huge part of our lives because they're so convenient; they make it a lot easier to get to work, school, or anywhere else we want to go. But which is the best electric scooter for you?

After testing dozens of scooters, ranging from less than $200 to more than $1,500, I think the best electric scooter is the NIU KQi Air. It's very light, has a great range and power, and has antitheft features. It's not the most powerful scooter around, but it's more than enough for most people.

NIU also makes my favorite budget scooter: The NIU KQi 100P costs less than $400, but if your needs are modest, it can get you around comfortably. Just don't expect it to perform well on hills, or take you for extra-long rides.

As part of our evaluations, I've ridden electric scooters for hundreds of miles, taken them up and down hills, on subways and trains, through cities and suburbs, to see how well they perform in a variety of conditions. Whether you need a scooter to get back and forth to school or work, a scooter that can go the distance, or a scooter that can help you haul groceries from the store, we have a pick for you. Below are our top choices for the best electric scooters for all types of rider needs, wants, and budgets.

Best overall

The KQi Air offers the best combination of power, performance, range and weight we've ever seen in an electric scooter. And, it has a few fun extra features — like antitheft — too.

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Best budget scooter

This scooter costs less than $400, but will get you where you need to go. While not the most powerful, it's light and compact, and has large tires to smooth out the road.

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Best for long distances

With an estimated 40-mile range, this scooter will get you where you need to go — wherever it is. It's comfortable and has a number of safety and security features.

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Best for commuters

The Unagi Model One Voyager is incredibly light and its dual motors gives it more power than most electric scooters its size. However, its rubber wheels make for a rougher ride.

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Fastest scooter

With a top speed of 32 MPH, this scooter will let you keep up with most city traffic. It also has turn signals, full suspension, a powerful motor, and excellent range.

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Best for kids

This fun and cheap scooter will give your kids plenty of thrills — safely — as they learn to ride. It doesn't go too fast or too far, but comes in plenty of fun colors.

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Best for carrying stuff

With a large basket in the rear, the Balto is great for a trip to the grocery store. And, it folds up into a very compact space, making it great for apartments.

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Our expert review:

The Niu Kqi Air is a light scooter that still manages to offer lots of power and range. So, you can travel a good ways, and still be able to carry it up a flight of stairs with ease. That's because a number of parts of the Air is made out of carbon fiber, bringing its weight on a par with the Unagi Model One Voyager.

Aside from its weight, the Air has a few other features that elevate it above other electric scooters. Its 9.5-inch air-filled tires offer a smooth ride for a scooter that lacks suspension, and its 350W motor was able to get us up and down hills with few problems. Plus, a capacious battery can get you up to 31 miles on a charge — though we saw something closer to 20 in our testing.

In addition, we also liked the Air's turn signals in the handlebars, as well as an electronic locking system and alarm that gave us greater peace of mind when riding and parking the scooter in a public space. Yes, at around $1,000, it's on the more expensive side, but it offers the best combination of performance, range, and weight that we've seen in an electric scooter. Its for all these reasons the NIU KQi Air was also given the Tom's Guide Award for best scooter in 2024.

Read our full NIU KQi Air review.

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Our expert review:

With a starting price of less than $400, the NIU KQi 100P undercuts many comparable electric scooters by a good amount, yet doesn't compromise on features or performance.

Black with gray accents, the KQi 100P has a fairly clean design, as the scooter's cables are routed through its body. Its headlight was enough to illuminate my way home in the dark, but I wish it could have been brighter.

For a budget scooter, the KQi 100P offered a very smooth ride, thanks to its large 9.5 x 2.3-inch tires and front suspension, and it has a nice folding mechanism for when you want to store it. And, if you connect it with NIU's app, you can lock the scooter via Bluetooth, and set an alarm if someone tries to steal it.

Make no mistake: This scooter's specs are far more modest than the KQi Air as well as other models on this list. With 300W motor, a max speed of 17 miles per hour and a hypothetical range of 18 miles (I got about 10 in practice), this isn't a scooter designed for long distances or big hills. But, if you're riding on flat terrain, or looking for an electric scooter for your teen who's ready to graduate from one of the best electric scooters for kids, this is a pretty good option.

The KQi 100P unseated the Hiboy S2 as my favorite budget scooter. Both performed similarly in my tests; the Hiboy is lighter, so it's easier to carry around, but the KQi is significantly cheaper.

Read our full NIU KQi 100P review.

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Our expert review:

The Segway Ninebot Kickscooter Max G2 is an excellent upgrade to the original, featuring a longer range, more powerful motor, and some excellent new safety and security features.

For starters, the Max G2 has turn signals built into the handlebars that we found to be plenty bright — at least to oncoming traffic (my body tended to block the signals from those behind me). You can also set an unlock code to help deter thieves, and Apple Find My is built in, should the scooter ever go missing. You should still get one of the best bike locks to be safe.

The G2's 1000-Watt motor was more than powerful enough to get me up steep hills, and a capacious battery was able to deliver about 22 miles of range. That's shorter than Segway's advertised 43 miles, but still longer than most other scooters. And, thanks to dual suspension and thick 9 x 2.5-inch inflatable tires, I was able to ride around in comfort, too.

The one tradeoff: This scooter weighs a heavy 53.5 pounds, so it's not something you'll want to carry around.

Read our full Segway Ninebot Kickscooter Max G2 review.

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Our expert review:

Thanks to its dual 250-watt motors, the Unagi Model One Voyager powers up hills with aplomb, zipping along twice as fast as other scooters with just a single motor. Using both motors (you can opt to use just one) causes the battery life to drop significantly lower than the scooter's advertised 20-mile range.

The Unagi also has a great display that's bright enough to easily see even in daylight; we also liked its intuitive controls and loud, electric-sounding horn. It has both head and taillights, the latter of which blinks rapidly when you hit the brakes.

We were also enamored with the Unagi's sleek design; its carbon-fiber front post changes in geometry from a circle to a triangular shape, making for an intriguing look.

All of this comes at a price: The Model One Voyager costs $1,490 — and it's often on backorder. However, Unagi's scooter rental program lets you rent the Voyager for $69/month, or the Unagi Model One Classic for $39/month with an annual subscription.

Read our full Unagi Model One Voyager review.

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Our expert review:

The Apollo City has something most other electric scooters lack: Turn signals. It's a lot easier to let other drivers know you want to go left or right if you can switch on a light, rather than holding your arm out — even better, they're on both the deck of the scooter as well as the ends of each handlebar, so it's even easier for cars to spot you.

Yet, the Apollo City is also a great scooter on its own; its 500-Watt motor let us roar up and down even the steepest of hills with ease, and its top speed of 32 miles per hour let us keep pace with most local traffic. We also liked its full suspension and puncture-proof tires.

Apollo's app even lets you customize the scooter's performance, and has a remote-locking function, which engages the scooter's brakes, so that others can't ride it.

Still, at 57 pounds, this is a pretty heavy electric scooter — it's not our first choice if you have to carry it up a flight of stairs — and its latching mechanism is more finicky than you'll find on many other electric scooters. But, otherwise, this is a fun and fast electric scooter with a good safety feature built in.

Read our full Apollo City 2023 review.

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Our expert review:

The Razor E100 is the best electric scooter for parents who want to get a scooter for their kids to safely ride around town. It comes in a variety of colors and features twist-grip acceleration controls, as well as a hand-operated front brake. The E100 tops out at 10 mph but offers enough torque for heading uphill or over steep bumps. And with 40 minutes of drive time, that's plenty to get to school and back with a pit stop in between.

The Razor E100 is available in a variety of colors and styles, so you should be able to find a model that best fits your child's personality. Just remember to get them a helmet. One caveat of the E100 is that it uses a chain-drive motor, which can be noisier than hub motors, and could require some maintenance over time. Also, the E100 lacks a bell or reflectors of any kind, so you'll want to purchase some at a bike shop to help make your child more visible on the road.

For more options, be sure to check out the best electric scooters for kids.

Read our full Razor E100 electric scooter review.

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Our expert review:

The Glion Balto is the best electric scooter for those who want something they can use to pick up groceries or carry things to and from the store. And, it can fold up on itself, making it much easier to store.

We also really like that the Balto comes with a side-view mirror, lights, and turn signals, which made us feel safer in traffic. And, the Balto's battery is removable, so you don't have to park the scooter near an outlet. As a bonus, you can also use the battery to charge your phone — but you'll need to buy an adapter first.

If you're looking for another scooter with a basket, you should also check out the Razor EcoSmart Cargo; it has a bit more zip than the Balto and its basket can be swapped out for an extra seat, but it can't fold up, and its chain drive is a bit noisy.

Read our full Glion Balto review.

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We've tested a lot of electric scooters at Tom's Guide, and unfortunately, while many are great, not all can crack our top list. Still, if none of the picks above satisfy your needs, you may want to check out these below.

NIU KQi3 Max (★★★★☆)Our previous top pick, the KQi3 Max has everything: It got us up the steepest of hills, a range of up to 40 miles, a great design, and it's packed with all sorts of features, such as disc brakes and a remote electronic lock. However, it's a heavy 46 pounds, so it's not the best if you need to carry it up stairs.

Read our full NIU KQi 3 Max review.

Hiboy S2 (★★★★☆) This is a great scooter for those on a budget. It has regenerative and mechanical disk brakes and lights, not just in the front and back, but around the sides of the scooter, too. The S2's 350-Watt motor proved up to the task for most situations, but like most budget scooters, I found it had trouble on hills. Its battery life is good for a scooter in this price range, but expect to charge it every few days if you plan on doing a lot of riding.

Read our full Hiboy S2 electric scooter review.

Apollo Go (★★★★☆)While it's a hefty 46 pounds, the Apollo Go has an excellent range of up to 30 miles, a top speed of 28 MPH, dual 350W motors, big air-filled tires and full suspension, which gave us a long, comfortable ride. In addition, it has turn signals and an app that lets you customize the scooter's performance. Not bad for $1,299.

Read our full Apollo Go review.

Razor EcoSmart Cargo (★★★★☆)The rear of this scooter can be configured with either a basket or a second seat, to carry two smallish people around. It's a lot of fun to ride, but its chain drive makes it a lot noisier than other scooters we've reviewed.

Read our full Razor EcoSmart Cargo review.

Razor Ecosmart Metro HD (★★★★☆)While not quite as powerful as the EcoSmart Cargo, the Metro HD has a quieter motor that's still pretty strong. It typically sells for less than $500, has a large basket, and is comfortable to ride.

Read our full Razor EcoSmart Metro HD review.

Here's a quick glance at the raw numbers for each of the electric scooters on this page; as a reminder, the max range figures are an estimate, based on ideal riding conditions. Based on our experience, you'll get about 60-70% of that figure.

How are you going to use the scooter?How you plan to use your scooter will go a long way to determining the best electric scooter for your needs. If you're using it as a "last-mile" vehicle — getting you from your home to the bus or train, and then from the bus or train to your office — you'll want to prioritize an electric scooter that's small and light. Look for a scooter that weighs between 20 and 30 pounds.

You'll also want an electric scooter that folds quickly and easily. There's nothing worse than having to fumble with a latch when you're rushing to catch a train — and your fellow passengers will appreciate it, too.

Are you riding on hilly terrain?Where you plan to ride your scooter should also help determine your purchase. If you live in a flatter area, a scooter with a 300W to 350W motor should give you all the power you need. If, however, you live in, say, San Francisco, you'll want a scooter with a stronger motor to get you around. Larger individuals should also consider electric scooters with more powerful motors.

Price: For many, the price of an electric scooter will be the starting point for any buying decision. Here's a quick rundown of what to expect at each price tier.

Battery life/range: After price, this will be the next deciding factor for many. It's a bit difficult to provide an accurate estimate of battery life and range, because it's dependent on a variety of factors, including the rider's weight, the temperature, and the terrain — if you're riding on flat surfaces, you'll be able to go much farther than if you're riding up and down hills. Battery life is typically measured in Amp Hours (aH); the higher the number, the longer you'll be able to ride.

Speed: Most electric scooters will top out at around 15 to 18 miles per hour on a flat road. That's plenty fast for most uses, but there are scooters that will zip along at speeds in excess of 25 MPH.

Motors: The majority of electric scooters will have a single hub-mounted motor (meaning the motor is built into the wheel itself), and will typically have a power rating of 250 to 350 Watts. If you live in a particularly hilly area (or want to go fast) you'll want a motor with higher wattage.

Tires/suspension: There's nothing worse than a jarring ride as you bump over potholes and cracks in the road. To mitigate this, most electric scooters are now outfitted with air-filled (pneumatic) tires, which help cushion things. Others will have front or rear suspension (or both), which makes for an even more comfortable ride. Bigger tires also mean a more stable ride, too.

Lights: If you plan on riding your electric scooter in the early morning, at dusk, or among city traffic, it's worth getting a model with lights so you can see and be seen. Look for electric scooters with headlights and taillights — the better ones will have taillights that flash when you apply the brakes. Unfortunately, turn signals are rare, so you'll have to look out when changing lanes.

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The majority of our picks on this page are for adult riders. However, if you're looking for something for your child, be sure to check out the best electric scooters for kids.

It's also important that you wear a helmet while riding a scooter. In the event of an accident, it could very well save your life, or prevent a traumatic brain injury. Our current top pick is the Giro Register MIPS, which is light, comfortable, and very affordable. For other options, check out our guide to the best bike helmets.

You'll also want to pick up one of the best bike locks to make sure that your scooter doesn't get stolen. Considering that it's a little tricker to lock up a scooter than a bike, a chain lock, like the Kryptonite New York Legend Chain 1515 & New York Disc Lock, might be your best option. It's heavy, but it's incredibly hard to cut.

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The vast majority of electric scooters are designed to travel at speeds of 15 miles per hour. More expensive models can reach speeds of up to 20 MPH. Others can go even faster — we've seen (and rode) models that exceed 30 MPH — but here, you're getting into a gray area when it comes to state motor vehicle laws and regulations.

A typical electric scooter will have a 250-350 Watt motor, which should be more than enough power for most city riding on level terrain. As you go up in price, you'll find scooters with 500 Watt and higher motors, which are helpful if you need to get up steeper hills. At the top end, you'll find 800 to 1,000-Watt motors, which not only make getting up hills a cinch, but can also scoot you at much faster speeds.

Most, if not all electric scooters will have some sort of reflective surface so that you'll be more visible when a car's lights shine on you. As you go up in price, electric scooters will have headlights and tail lights — some tail lights will even blink when you apply the brakes.

Speaking of brakes, almost all scooters have some sort of handbrake; some will have a secondary brake that can be activated by pressing down on a scooter's rear fender.

Almost all electric scooters will also come with a bell or horn so you can warn others that you're approaching — but this doesn't mean you should ride recklessly. And, it's important to always wear a helmet when riding an electric scooter.

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There are dozens of varieties of electric scooters on the market, but only a few are worth bringing home to ride.

To test electric scooters, we ride them around a New Jersey suburb and, if the scooter is light and small enough, we take it on a train and into New York City. As increasing numbers of people are bringing scooters on public transportation, we like to see how easy it is to lug a scooter up stairs, and to see how well it can be stowed under a seat.

Once in New York, we ride the scooter some more to see how well it handles potholes and other road obstacles. We also take each scooter up a street with a 6-percent grade, to see how well its motor performs under strain. More powerful scooters will be able to maintain a somewhat consistent speed, while lesser models will slow to a crawl.

Best electric bikesBest budget electric bikesBest electric scooters for kidsBest bike helmets

In addition, we evaluate each scooter to see if it can reach its advertised top speed, and how close its range comes to the company's estimates. Spoiler alert: Most electric scooters will get around 60% of their advertised range.

As part of the testing process, we also evaluate a scooter's brakes, lighting, and design, as well as its price.

For entry-level and commuter scooters, we primarily consider things such as portability — how easy it is to fold up to bring on the bus or other types of public transportation, or how light it is to cart up a long stretch of stairs — along with range and top speed.

Commuter scooters don't need to be the fastest things around, but it helps if they can manage at least 15 MPH for a sustained time so that you're not holding up anyone in the bike lane. We also looked at braking mechanisms, including hydraulic disc brakes, which are the best for stopping quickly and safely at top speeds, and mechanical disc brakes, which are considered the second best for their reliability. Extra features like headlights, reflectors and available speedometer also factored into our commuter picks.

For the performance-based, higher-end rides, we consider range, speed and braking mechanisms, but we also looked at suspension. If you're paying upward of $1,000 for an electric scooter, it should be comfortable to ride and able to scale curbs, hills and bumpy roads.

For our picks for kids, electric scooters in this category don't offer the same bells and whistles as commuter models. For instance, many of the child and preteen picks don't fold up for portability, so we considered overall weight and size for kids with longer rides to school. We also stuck with scooters that topped out at 15 mph for utmost safety. And like our commuter and high-performance picks, we pored over reviews from parents where accessible.

For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom's Guide.

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Here at Tom’s Guide our expert editors are committed to bringing you the best news, reviews and guides to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve!

Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he’s not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he’s probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight — or chagrin — of his family.

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