10 Best Electric Scooters for Kids

Over the years, there has been a variety of “must-have” ride-on toys for kids. Roller skates, Big Wheels, pogo sticks, pogo balls, rollerblades, the list goes on. However, the electric scooter is something special. It’s the first kids ride that I promise you, Dad is going to take to the corner store after the tikes are off to bed. These are seriously fun little toys that are going to test the boundary of “Kids-toy.” 

However, before you head out and pick up just any old electric scooter for the kids, there are a few things to know first.

How it Holds a Charge

You want to make sure that the scooter you choose can go for a while. There is nothing like having to entertain a cranky child while their wheels are charging, yet again. Once your kid gets a taste of the electric life, they are going to want nothing else. So be sure you chose a ride that has longevity. And while all brands tend to rave about their long-lasting batteries, the most dependable way to tell which is best, is to look for a name brand. When it comes to charge, reputation matters. You also want to pay attention to charge-time. No matter how good a battery is, at some point, it will need a boost. The shorter that down-time is, the better! 

Safety First

When it comes to buying products for your children, safety is always going to be top of mind. And it used to be that a lot of the vetting process was left to you as a parent. In recent years the government has instituted the UL 2272 Certification for scooters to help consumers know they are getting a product that has passed all the required safety tests. That said, it’s essential to look closely at any ride-on toy for children to determine if the product is age-appropriate for your child. 

Range and Speed

When deciding on the right electric scooter, you need to consider range and speed. You don’t want something that’s going konk out partway through a family walk, leaving you to carry the powerless push-board, while consoling a disappointed child. Nor do you want something with so little acceleration that your kid will be bored of it inside a year. Consider that this scooter should ideally last a few years, and too slow is the surest way to have it end up forgotten and in the garage by year two. 

Durability

As we mentioned above, you want to get a few years out of your child’s electric scooter, so make sure you select one that can stand up to the riggers of everyday child riding intensity. To be confident that yours is going to last, look at the components that the scooter is made from. While most high-quality units will be mostly metal, check to ensure the wheels aren’t fastened using cheap plastic parts. Sometimes, manufacturers sneak those in where they think you’re lest likely to look. 

The Top Ten

Without further ado, here is our list of the top ten electric scooters for kids. 

This is one incredible electric scooter for kids of any age, although it probably skews a little older. With a top weight capacity of 220 lbs and a fantastic range of 18.6 miles, many moms and dads are going to be getting some serious distance on this themselves after the kids are asleep. Especially with its top speed of 15.5-miles per hour. The handle folds down to make it easy to toss in the trunk, and weighing only 28.5 lbs is not a challenge to lift or carry.

It features a 250-watt motor, which means it holds it’s own on the slopes. This bad boy can tackle up to 20 degrees of incline before it starts getting sluggish. Of course, there are also disc brakes and an eABS regenerative anti-lock braking system that provides solid stopping power while funneling that energy back into the battery for longer rides. The easy to read LCD display, leather-like handles, and an ultra-bright headlight are also reasons that we stuck this one at the top of the list.

This scooter makes it high on the list thanks to its durability. Don’t get me wrong, the rest of the specs are great, but we love how virtually indestructible this thing is. It’s also renowned for being an excellent scooter for the price as it consistently comes in cheaper than many comparable models. The 8.5″ Pneumatic tires mean that it rides smoothly over most anything and requires very little maintenance.

It does have a handlebar display, which is very basic, and the front headlight could do with being a touch brighter. However, these are things that won’t bother most young riders. The weight is a little bit high at 31 lbs, mostly due to the quality components. The top speed is an industry-standard of 15.5 MPH from a 250-watt motor, and the range is 12.5-miles. We would love it if the charge time could be better than 4-hours, though.

The folks at Razor have been making quality scooters for a while now. And while this is no exception, the very basic feel of this scooter tends to make it a better choice for more novice riders. It’s a bit heavy, weighing in at 40 lbs, but the build is sturdy and will hold up to being tossed around a bit. The top-speed clocks in at 15 MPH, and it has about 40-minutes of continuous riding in it before it konks out, which is about 10-miles. The hard part is the charge time. Our test put it at about 10-hours, meaning it’s going to spend a lot of time plugged in. Similar to most electric scooters in this range, it will hold a person up to 220 lbs. And with this model, there is no charge display, so you either have to watch your time or wait until it starts to lag.

The retro Vespa-ish nature of this scooter looks like it rolled out of an Austin Powers movie. And yet, your kids are going to love it. It feels like a proper grownup ride, unlike many of the scooters available today. The styling is clearly pushing for a young-girl demographic, but given a chance, the boys will be out cruising around on the Pocket Mod as well.

The max weight capacity is 170 lbs, and it’s recommended for kids over eight. However, we think a capable six or seven-year-old would be able to handle it; parental discretion is advised. The range is about 10-miles or 40-minutes continuous riding, and the larger 12-inch tires make for a smooth ride. The 12-hour charge time, though, is going to drive you nuts if your child is an avid rider.

The Gotrax GKS scooter makes this list with an important disclaimer; it only for little kids. Unlike many of the others on here, this one is really geared to younger novice riders. It has a top speed of 10 MPH, a range of 7.5-miles, and a weight capacity of 150 lbs. It’s simply not suitable for dad!

We do love the attention to safety with this scooter. The Safe-Start technology makes it, so both feet need to be on the board before the motor engages. Of course, it’s also great that the whole unit only weighs 17 lbs in case it runs out of gas halfway around the block, and you end up having to carry it home.

What is cooler than having your very own transformer? While I may have been swept up in the novelty of this hybrid electric scooter/bike, I can totally imagine my 7-year-old self absolutely loving it. It has a top speed of 10 MPH and a range of only 6-miles, but it allows you to quickly shift between bike and scooter depending on the adventure at hand.

The intuitive throttle and braking control make it a great starter ride. While the adjustable handlebars mean, you can easily adapt the scooter to the rider as they grow.

If you’re looking for an electric scooter for your teenager, the Swagtron should be high on your list. It’s lightweight, at 26 lbs, and its 250-watt motor produces 18 MPH and ranges up to 11-miles on a single charge. The frame is built from aluminum alloy and able to handle teenagers well. And the 320 lbs max weight capacity means this scooter is going to be ok when they inevitably stick more than one rider on it. Teenagers.

It’s also important to know that the front-mounted hub-motor is durable, and the power supply is fully rechargeable in 3.5-hours.

Having the option to sit down on your electric scooter just seems like the best of both worlds. And, if that seat is easily removable, why wouldn’t you want that? With the Razor S Series, you get a full-powered electric scooter, with optional seat, perfect for your high schooler to get back and forth. It has a high-torque, ultra-quiet chain-driven motor, with a handy twist-grip throttle up top for easy control. The top speed is 12 MPH, and a full charge will get you 40-minutes of continuous riding. Sadly though, the charge time is 12-hours from fully drained.

Of course, it’s worth mentioning that the S Series has a range of models and swappable add-on parts, like rear brakes to help you customize or upgrade as the rider gets older.

When it’s time for a serious electric scooter, this Segway is where it’s at. Whether it’s for your honor student teenager who needs a reliable ride to school, or for your own commute to the office, the Ninebot Max is capable.

The powerful 350W motor, can reach up to 18. 6 MPH, and travel up to 25-miles with a max load of 220 lbs. It can tackle hills at a 20 percent grade, and the Regenerative Braking System helps recycle energy from stopping, which provides an extended range. The rechargeable battery takes about 6-hours to be full up, which is better than many but still not as fast as we’d like it. However, with the extended range and regenerative braking, we’re willing to give that a pass. Of course, when you get to this electric scooter level, you also get smart battery monitoring technology and smartphone app access to keep up to speed.

The last electric scooter on our list is the Hiboy NEX, which gives you about 13-miles of range from a single charge. And, while we would always prefer a little more distance, it’s still pretty respectable. It will support up to 180 lbs and travel at a top speed of 13 MPH. But the cool bit on this one is that there is an electronic anti-lock brake and rear fender foot brake to ensure you can always bring the scooter to a quick stop. It’s also easily folded up and carried, and at 23 lbs, that’s not much of a task. We also like the easy to use power display, throttle control, and front and rear lights. This is a solid all-around e-scooter.