best kid’s electric scootersSTAFF, COURTESY OF SEGWAY
Walk the streets of almost any major city and you’ll see plenty of “mobility solution” rental scooters from the likes of Bird, Lime, and Spin. It’s obvious that these devices take direct inspiration from the children’s scooters that have been around since the roller-skate era—and now they’re returning the favor. The electric scooter is quickly replacing the conventional bicycle on the wish lists of many kids, and it’s easy to see why: They’re fast enough to be thrilling, easy to operate, and no more expensive than the average pedal-powered two-wheeler.

That doesn’t mean they’re all created equal. The child-specific electric scooter is still new enough that many of the details are still evolving. How fast is too fast? How much range is necessary? And what’s the distinction between a required safety feature and something that just looks cool?

We’ve surveyed the current lineup of available products from both the big names and the small-batch makers to find some great solutions for your child’s electric dreams.

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What to Consider
Range and Speed
Most children’s scooters top out at about 10 miles per hour, which may not sound very fast—unless your kid hits a stationary object, such as a parked car or parking meter. So, in addition to outfitting your kid with a helmet and other safety gear, like elbow and knee pads, it’s also worth supervising your child until you’re certain they have the hang of it. Looking at a speedier scooter? Consider the additional risk very carefully.

The range of kids’ scooters varies considerably, with some geared for long rides to school and others better suited to local adventuring. Be aware, however, that as with other battery-powered consumer devices, each recharge will take a tiny bite out of the total power available. Unlike modern electric cars, which are often configured with enough extra internal batteries to provide a stable range over years, these scooters give you the maximum possible range (and speed) on Day One but decline thereafter. So if you have a three-mile trip in mind, don’t get a three-mile scooter, because it won’t suffice for long.

Size and Weight
It’s generally accepted that electric scooters aren’t a great choice for children under the age of eight. That leaves a pretty broad range of rider size and weight to consider. Some scooters have weight limits; treat them as gospel. Others are simply too large to be safely handled by children. A good rule of thumb: The handlebar should be taller than the child’s waist but well below his or her armpits.

How’s It Go—and Stop?
There’s no common standard for what makes these scooters go and stop. Some use a twist grip for power, which inexperienced riders should avoid, as it’s possible to inadvertently accelerate the scooter during a loss of control, making matters worse. Others are thumb-operated, which is usually safer because losing a firm grip on the handlebar will also result in the scooter slowing to a stop. Many scooters have a “kick-start” feature; as with the typical adult scooter, a firm push is needed to get the scooter moving before it will supply power to the rear wheel.

Stopping is even more important than going, so be certain the brake lever is properly sized for your child’s hand. It’s also critical to ensure that the effort required to stop the scooter isn’t more than your child can handle. A surprising number of child-oriented scooters have a brake lever and required stopping effort that’s very similar to what an adult scooter would have. Avoid those scooters.

How We Evaluated
Many of these products are brand new, so we’ve evaluated the specifications and referred to our test results for non-powered children’s scooters from the same manufacturers. We’ve also read hundreds of consumer reviews to learn what’s working in the hands of the owners and what isn’t. Finally, we’ve relied on our experience operating adult scooters to determine what features are most important for safe and enjoyable operation.

BEST OVERALL CHOICE
Razor E100

RAZOR
amazon.com
$199.99
$139.00 (30% off)
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Key Specs

Max Speed: 10 mph
Range: 6.5 miles (40 minutes)
Recommended Age: 8+
Rider Weight Limit: 120 lb.
Razor is the default choice in the non-powered-scooter market, so it’s no surprise that the company makes a good all-around electric scooter as well. It’s sized for children, and the single brake has a reasonably small lever. Eight-inch-diameter pneumatic tires soften the ride, and two 12-volt batteries provide the motivating power. This scooter is on the small side, so consider it most appropriate for younger children. One potential concern: It’s a twist throttle, so make sure your child has full control of the scooter before he or she wanders too far afield.

Light
Affordable
Easy to use
Available in six colors
Twist throttle requires some skill
Chain drive will require lubrication
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BEST HIGH-END SCOOTER FOR KIDS
Segway Ninebot eKickScooter E10

SEGWAY
amazon.com
$259.99
$219.99 (15% off)
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Key Specs

Max Speed: 10 mph
Range: 6.2 miles
Recommended Age: 8+
Rider Weight Limit: 132 lb.
Segway’s E10 doesn’t weigh much—at just over 18 pounds, it’s eight pounds lighter than a Razor E100. It also folds up for travel, which only about one-third of e-scooters do, but those are usually the more expensive ones (like this Segway) or the cheapies built off a plain kick scooter. This is probably the “nicest” folding scooter. The solid wheels are low-maintenance and can’t catch a flat, although they don’t ride as well as pneumatics. No worries, because the E10 has a bit of suspension above the front wheel. In “cruise mode” the scooter maintains whatever speed you kick it to—a nice way to learn scooter riding without using a throttle. Bored with that? The thumb throttle is safe—parents can set one of two speed limits, 3.1 and 6.2 miles per hour, if desired. Not exactly cheap, Segway’s scooter still offers plenty of value thanks to its durable construction, adjustable speed, and suspension.

Cruise mode for effortless operation
Speed limits for parental control
Thumb throttle for safety
Price
BEST HYBRID OPTION
Razor Power A2

RAZOR
amazon.com
$228.99
$188.87 (18% off)
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Key Specs

Max Speed: 10 mph
Range: 40 minutes
Recommended Age: 9+
Rider Weight Limit: 143 lb.
We’re a bit surprised that more electric scooters don’t look (and work) like the Power A2, which is basically a traditional kick scooter with electric power added on. It’s strong enough for a 143-pound rider while weighing just 16 pounds itself. And if you run out of battery, it can be easily kicked along like a standard Razor. It doesn’t have a hand brake or any extra electric features, but it’s an easy transition from a normal kick scooter, and for some people that will be all the options they need.

Just like a kick scooter, so it’s easy to use
Just like a kick scooter, so no hand brake, no suspension, and solid wheels
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BEST LOW-SPEED OPTION
Gotrax GKS

GOTRAX
amazon.com
$129.99
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Key Specs

Max Speed: 7.5 mph
Range: 4 miles
Recommended Age: 6-12
Rider Weight Limit: 154 lb.
Concerned about safety and usability? The Gotrax has a unique system that relies on foot placement. One foot has to be on an activation button at the front of the deck in order for the scooter to begin operation. The rider kicks the scooter along then places their foot on a second button farther down the deck, at which point the scooter accelerates to 7.5 mph. Moving the back foot off the button causes the scooter to slow down, and there is a traditional foot-operated brake on the rear wheel to bring it to a halt. Neither fancy nor fast, this Gotrax can be a peace-of-mind option for parents concerned about the daredevil potential inherent in these scooters.

Safety-oriented operating system
Very simple to use
Low speed and range
BEST BIG-KID SCOOTER
Razor E300

RAZOR
amazon.com
$335.89
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Key Specs

Max Speed: 15 mph
Range: 10 miles (40 minutes)
Recommended Age: 13+
Rider Weight Limit: 220 lb.
The Razor E300 can handle riders up to 220 pounds, and it’s sized for people over five feet tall. It’s fast at 15 mph and will leave a Bird or Spin adult scooter in the dust. Plus, it can run 10 miles between charges, making it usable for a day at the playground. It has a twist-throttle, a single left-hand brake lever, and nine-inch pneumatic tires to soften the ride. At 43 pounds, the E300 is heavy, so it’s best used by children who can physically handle it. For those kids, it’s a rocket ship with considerable range.

Big
Fast
Long range
Expensive
Heavy
Chain drive requires maintenance
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BEST COMPACT SCOOTER
Gotrax Vibe

GOTRAX
amazon.com
$249.99
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Key Specs

Max Speed: 12 mph
Range: 7 miles
Recommended Age: 8-15
Rider Weight Limit: 176 lb.
This Gotrax looks like an adult rental scooter, but folds to a backpack-friendly size. At 20 pounds, and offering a top speed of 12 mph, it’s aimed at older kids weighing up to 176 pounds. It has an LED headlight, rare in this market, and boasts an anti-locking electronic brake to go with its thumb throttle, making it safety oriented. Holding the throttle for 10 continuous seconds activates a cruise-control mode in which the scooter maintains one of three set speeds. It is front-wheel-drive, which isn’t common with scooters, and has an LED speedometer to display battery life. Slightly more expensive than similar models from the competition, the Vibe is probably the coolest electric scooter out there.

Headlight
Display
Electronic features
Cost
May be too fast for many children
BEST DIVERSE RANGE OF SCOOTERS
Mongoose React E-Series

MONGOOSE
amazon.com
$169.99
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Key Specs

Max Speed: 6 to 15 mph
Range: 6 to 8.5 miles
Recommended Age: 8+
Rider Weight Limit: 120 lb.
Mongoose offers the same basic scooter idea in three different power levels, so it’s easy to choose the right one for your child. The E1 runs at a safe-and-sane 6 mph, the E2 at 8.5 mph, and the E4 blasts along at 15 mph. All are fairly simple devices with push-button throttles and foot brakes. The E4 is adjustable for height, but the others are not. The urethane wheels can’t catch a flat, and the scooter lacks any sort of suspension. While not quite as “normal” as the Razor electric A2, these React scooters should be an easy transition from push scooters. For many riders, the React E2 will be the “Goldilocks choice.”

As fast as you want to go
Very simple
Not cheap
The E4 may be too fast for some kids
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BEST SEATED OPTION
Maxtra E120

MAXTRA
amazon.com
$179.98
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Key Specs

Max Speed: 10 mph
Range: 7 miles
Recommended Age: 6-12
Rider Weight Limit: 155 lb.
Not all children are physically able or confident enough to stand on an electric scooter; for them, the Maxtra E120 offers a removable seat. It’s also highly convertible, with four inches of adjustment in both seat and handlebar height. It folds for easy storage, although it’s not as compact as others. It has a twist throttle and a fairly large brake lever that won’t work with smaller hands. Because the rider is able to operate it while seated, it’s not a kick-start; a twist of the throttle will get it moving from a stop. Make sure your child understands this, as it’s not typical. The six-inch polyurethane wheels won’t be happy on broken pavement. If you don’t need the seat, there are better options, but if you do, this is the one.

Seating option
Wide adjustment
Large brake lever
Twist throttle
Small wheels
BEST FOR OLDER CHILDREN
Swagtron SG-8

SWAGTRON
amazon.com
$234.99
$169.00 (28% off)
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Key Specs

Max Speed: 15 mph
Range: 10 miles
Recommended Age: 9-12
Rider Weight Limit: 150 lb.
Swagtron’s SG-8 is fast and light (just 14 pounds) and comes in bright accent colors the older daredevil in your family will love. A spring suspension makes the best of the small, 5.5-inch rubber-tired wheels, and a push-button brake removes the speed that the push-button throttle adds. You can configure it to kick-start or start from rest on the power button. It folds, although it won’t fit into a backpack like the Gotrax above. Consider this the sports car of electric scooters and save it for children who are both under 150 pounds and physically capable of operating a scooter that easily drives away from adult models.

Fast
Light
Not that expensive
Requires some experience to ride safely and well