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Leave your car at home for short trips. Instead of driving to the store or commuting in traffic, you can ride an electric scooter and move around your neighborhood with ease. With an electric scooter, you don’t have to worry about paying for parking or driving around trying to find a spot. Just ride up, put the kickstand down, and you’re ready to go. Electric scooters are easier to use than electric skateboards and are more compact than electric bikes. That makes them a great choice for people who live in cities and either don’t have a car or want something smaller for getting around.
Today, there are many electric scooters that are both affordable and built to last. You can choose from scooters made for quick trips to work to those built for rough roads, higher speeds, and longer rides. We tested several of them on our own daily commutes to help you find the best electric scooters for adults.
Top Electric Scooters for Adults
- Best Overall: Segway Ninebot Kickscooter Max
- Best for the Money: Gotrax XR Ultra Electric Scooter
- Best for Storage and Comfort: Gotrax Flex Ultra Electric Scooter
- Best for Safety Features: Segway Ninebot KickScooter ES4
- Best for Suspension: Navee Electric Scooter Off-Road S65C
Electric Scooter Laws You Should Know
In many places, riding electric scooters on sidewalks is not allowed. You may have to ride in bike lanes instead. Some areas also have speed limits for scooters and other small electric vehicles. For example, in Florida, electric scooters with seats must be registered and have a license plate. Always check your local rules before choosing a scooter, especially if it has a seat.
Things to Think About Before Buying
Range
How far a scooter can go depends on the size of its battery and motor. Things like your weight, the weather, road conditions, and hills can also affect the range. The ranges listed by manufacturers are usually the best-case numbers.
Most scooters can travel up to 10 miles per charge, while others can go up to 40 miles or more. Many scooters also have different drive modes. If you want to save power on a longer trip, you can switch to a low-power or eco mode, which slows the scooter down to help the battery last longer.
Speed
Most of the scooters we tested go between 15 and 20 mph. That’s fast enough for getting through city streets or paths comfortably.
One exception is the Apollo Scooters Go Electric Scooter, which can reach 28 mph. There are other scooters out there that go even faster—up to 60 mph—but we didn’t include them. That’s because they are banned in many places or require a special license.
Motors
Electric scooters usually have motors between 250 and 350 watts. That’s enough power for most everyday use. If you’re a heavier rider or live in a hilly area, you may want a scooter with a more powerful motor. These motors cost more and weigh more, which can make the scooter harder to carry when you’re not riding it.
Tires and Suspension
Most electric scooters use rubber tires. Some have solid rubber, while others are tubeless or use inner tubes. Solid rubber tires last the longest and are good for short rides on smooth roads, but they don’t absorb shock as well.
Tires with inner tubes used to be more common, but now more scooters come with tubeless tires. These offer a smoother ride and can still get punctures, but they handle rough roads better than solid rubber tires.
Safety and Extra Features
If you ride early in the morning or at night, look for scooters with good front and back lights. It’s also smart to have a bell or horn to alert others when you’re nearby.
Good brakes are important, too. Some scooters only have one brake, while others—especially more powerful models—have front and back brakes or motor brakes. Motor brakes can help slow you down and also charge your battery a little while riding.
Other useful extras include seats or baskets. A seat is helpful if you prefer to sit while riding, and a basket is great for running errands like grocery shopping.
How We Chose and Tested These Scooters
We tested several electric scooters ourselves by riding them to and from work. We looked at how well they performed in terms of power, speed, range, and comfort. Our rides included long bridges, steep hills, and roads without bike lanes. We also paid attention to how each scooter felt while riding—how quickly it sped up, how well it braked, and how it handled bumps and cracks.
For scooters we didn’t test directly, we researched them by reading expert reviews and checking customer feedback. We looked at key features like motor strength, range, and safety, and only chose scooters from trusted brands that are easy to find in stock.
Full Reviews
- Segway Ninebot Max G2 Electric KickScooter
If you want a scooter that does almost everything well and has a long battery life, the Segway Ninebot Kickscooter Max is a strong choice. It can travel up to 40 miles on one charge, handle hills with up to a 20% grade, and support riders up to 220 pounds.
Its 10-inch air-filled tires make the ride smooth and can fix small punctures by sealing them from the inside. It also folds up easily for storage. At just over 40 pounds, it’s heavier than some scooters, but that weight comes from the large battery that gives it a longer range.
While 40 miles may not be enough for long trips, it’s more than enough for weeks of local use. It costs more than some others, but with how well it performs, it’s a great all-around option.
- Gotrax Flex Ultra Electric Scooter
This scooter has a seat and a basket, making it more than just a commuter scooter. When we tested it, we rode from Central Park back to Brooklyn with a full backpack in the basket. Being able to sit during the trip made the ride much more comfortable.
The motor has good pickup and reached close to 20 mph on straight roads. It handled the uphill ride over the Queensboro Bridge without slowing down. The 14-inch tires were large enough to take on potholes and rough pavement.
Though it’s not small enough to store in a closet, it still folds and offers power, comfort, and storage for longer city rides and errands.
- Gotrax XR Elite Electric Scooter
If you’re looking for a good scooter that doesn’t cost too much, the GoTrax XR Elite is worth a look. At just 32 pounds, it’s light and easy to carry, especially with its foldable design.
This scooter has a range of 16 miles, a top speed of about 15 mph, and can handle hills with a 15-degree incline. It’s much more affordable than the Segway Max—by about $400—while still offering reliable performance.
It’s not made for long trips or high speeds, but it’s perfect for short rides around town. The battery also charges quickly—in about four hours.
- Navee Electric Scooter Off-Road S65C
At first glance, this scooter looks like the others, but it includes several small upgrades. The dual suspension system is one of the best features, helping smooth out the ride on bumpy roads and trails.
During a commute from Brooklyn to Midtown, we liked using the different drive modes. The standard mode, which tops out at around 12 mph, worked well on busy streets and saved battery. The sport mode hit 20 mph and helped us get to work on time.
The scooter used more battery power in sport mode, but the time saved made it worth it. Overall, it offered a good balance of power and comfort.
- Gotrax GXL V2 Electric Scooter
The GXL V2 is a good option if you want a low-cost scooter for quick trips. It can go up to 9 miles on a full charge and costs less than $400, making it one of the cheapest on the list. It’s also very light and easy to store.
The top speed is 15.5 mph and the battery charges in just 3 to 4 hours. However, it has a less powerful motor and only a rear brake, so it’s not ideal for hills. Still, it’s a great scooter for quick errands or short rides around the city.
- Apollo Scooters Go Electric Scooter
If you want more speed, this scooter from Apollo might be the one. It reaches a top speed of 28 mph, which is faster than the others we tested.
It also has strong brakes and a responsive suspension system that keeps the ride smoother on gravel and small bumps. The air-filled tires are self-sealing like those on the Segway Max, but will eventually need to be replaced.
Though it rides a bit rougher than others at times, it makes up for it with speed and solid performance.
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