Best electric scooters for kids in 2024: A buying guide for parents | Tom's Guide

The best electric scooters for kids, plus safety tips for riding.

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Picking up one of the best electric scooters for kids is a good way to entice them to get out of the house — and away from the screen they've been staring at for hours on end.

After testing a bunch of models by having kids ride them and tell us what they thought, we think the best scooter for most kids is the Segway Ninebot eKickScooter C2 Lite. Its lengthy name notwithstanding, the kids who tried it out loved its looks and its handling — we had to force them to come in for dinner! And, at $169, parents loved its price too.

However, if that model isn't quite what you — or your kid — is looking for, we have plenty of other kid-tested recommendations, including models with colorful LED lights and even Bluetooth speakers.

Here are the rest of our picks for the best electric scooters for kids.

Best overall

A great design, adjustable speeds, and easy controls made this the favorite among our kid testers.

Read more below.

Best budget

The GKS has special foot pedals that cut off power automatically if your kid steps off the scooter, and it's less expensive than other models.

Read more below.

Best Razor

A sturdy build, solid speed, and good range means you kid will get a lot of safe fun out of this scooter.

Read more below.

Best for older kids

This scooter not only has LED lights in its tube and base, but it also has a Bluetooth speaker that pumps out your tunes.

Read more below.

Best dirtbike-style scooter

With its fat tires and beefy frame, the Droyd Blipper can get your kid ready for some serious offroad fun.

Read more below.

Best sit-down scooter

Razor's Pocket Mod looks like a pint-size Vespa, which makes us want to ride it as much as our kid.

Read more below.

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Our expert review:

Our test kids could not wait to try out the Segway Ninebot eKickscooter C2 Lite, and took to it instantly, scooting up and down the neighborhood like they'd been riding it for years. The C2 Lite's handbrake on the left and thumb throttle on the right were intuitive for kids to learn.

We also like the C2 Lite's design; there are few exposed cables, and its blue deck sweeps elegantly from the front stem to the rear tire. We also appreciated that the deck was covered with a very grippy material, lessening the chances that a kid might slip off. Another nice safety feature for parents: The C2 Lite has three speed modes, so you can limit its top speed to 7.5 MPH, which we found helpful for kids just starting out.

While you can't see them during the day, the underside of the C2 Lite has some colorful LEDs that illuminate the ground beneath the scooter; however, as with most kids' scooters, there's no headlight or taillight.

If you have a child who's a bit older, you should check out the Segway Ninebot Kickscooter C2 Pro ($249 at Amazon). Designed for kids age 6-14, it has a top speed of 12.4 MPH, a max range of 9.9 miles, an adjustable handlebar, ambient lights, and even a Bluetooth speaker, so your kid can rock out on their way to school.

Our expert review:

Designed for kids age 6 to 12, the GoTrax GKS has a unique braking and acceleration method. Rather than using hand controls, it has two buttons on the deck of the scooter. Step on the first button and then kick off to start the scooter moving; step on the second button to accelerate. When it's time to stop, simply take your foot off the rear button and press down on the fender. Our child reviewer found it very easy to figure out, but the small deck caused the scooter to slow down every time she shifted her feet.

The GKS is lighter than most other kids scooters and has a hub-mounted 150-Watt motor, which should make for a silent ride. However, it has a 6-inch rubber wheel, which meant a bumpier experience than air-filled tires. And, its range (up to 4 miles) is shorter than other scooters. It also lacks bells and lights, and there's no reflector on the rear fender. But overall, it's a very good electric scooter for children starting out.

Read our full GoTrax GKS electric scooter review.

Our expert review:

Razor has been making scooters — both electric and traditional — for kids for decades, so it has a pretty good idea of its target audience. The Razor Power Core E100 hits the sweet spot of price and performance, especially for younger riders. It comes in a wide variety of colors, so your child can find one that suits her or his style. This scooter features twist-grip acceleration controls and a hand-operated front brake.

It tops out at 10 mph, so it's fast enough for your kid to get to school on time but not so fast that it ventures into dangerous extreme sports territory. The Razor E100 can manage up to 40 minutes of drive time, or up to 10 miles of distance, which is a bit shorter than our top pick.

The Power Core E100 has what we'll generously call a "classic" design — others might call it dated — that doesn't hold up well against newer models from Segway and even Razor. For instance, the battery feels kind of tacked on to the bottom of the scooter, and its motor juts out from the rear hub.

Razor makes a few variants of this design; the E90 has a less-powerful 90W motor, while the E300 has a 250W motor and a higher top speed of 15 MPH. None of the models have bells or reflectors, which is typical for most kids' scooters.

They'll see — and hear — you coming in the Razor Sonic Glow, an electric scooter for kids that's decked out in colorful LEDs, and has a built-in Bluetooth speaker that lets you blast out your favorite tunes as you ride. Even better: the LEDs in the deck and steering tube synchronize to your music, so they'll jam along to your music, too.

An 80-Watt brushless rear hub motor propels the Sonic Glow at speeds of up to 10 miles per hour, and its rechargeable 24V battery will power the scooter for up to 55 minutes. This one looks like a lot of fun.

Our expert review:

If you want to give your kid a taste of what it's like to ride a dirt bike, the Droyd Blipper is a good place to start. This fun little ride has 16-inch tires and a 250W motor to give them a safe, but enjoyable time as they rip around the block.

While the Blipper doesn't have any suspension, its large tires and padded seat offered our kid plenty of comfort as he rode over bumps and holes — or maybe he was enjoying himself so much that he didn't notice. And, with a top speed of 12.5 miles per hour, they won't be going so fast as to be dangerous — not that they shouldn't wear a helmet.

Our only quibble with the Blipper is that its battery ran out too quickly, which goes to show you how much fun our test rider was having.

Read our full Droyd Blipper review.

Stylish kids who prefer to sit down instead of standing up may like the Razor Pocket Mod Miniature Euro electric scooter, a seriously cool ride. Like the rest of the Razor family, it comes in a variety of colors and even features a cubby for stowing books, jackets or whatever else needs to be stored.

Like the Vespa you'd see zipping around the streets of Paris or Rome, the Pocket Mod features a twist-grip throttle and a rear suspension system, so it's a comfortable ride. The 12-inch tires are a bit bigger than the norm, but that's to help sustain its top speed of 15 mph for up to 40 minutes of riding time.

NIU makes one of the best electric scooters, so it stands to reason that the company also makes one of the best electric scooters for kids. The KQi Youth is available in two colors (blue and orange) and has a colorful LED oval where the base meets the stem. These lights can be changed to six different patterns, and also indicate when you're braking or charging the scooter.

Apart from that, your kid will ride comfortably on 7.5-inch puncture-proof rubber tires, and the scooter can be set to one of two modes to limit its max speed to 6.2 miles per hour, or go the max 10 MPH. It's IP54 rated, so it can withstand being ridden through puddles, and has a decent range of around 7 miles.

However, this scooter usually retails for around $300, so it's a lot more expensive than our other picks on the page, and its design isn't as sleek as Segway's.

Still undecided? Here's a quick look at each scooter, its top speed, range, and recommended rider age. Bear in mind that the advertised range of an electric scooter is based on ideal circumstances; in practice, it will often be 60-70% of what the company claims.

Here are three things to consider before buying an electric scooter for your child:

How big is your kid? Many electric scooters made for kids have a weight limit of 120 pounds. Even though your child may weigh less than that, a bag loaded with schoolbooks may push it over the limit.

How old is your child? The electric scooters we recommend on this page are intended for children ages 8 and up. For kids younger than that, we recommend nonelectric scooters. However, as your child grows older, they may need — or want — an electric scooter with more capabilities. Plus, they may not want to ride the same scooter as when they were a small kid.

How far does your child have to go? If you're getting your child an electric scooter so they can get to school and back, consider how far they have to travel. If it's a longer distance, you'll want to get a scooter with a better range, so your kid doesn't get stuck pushing the scooter home.

Always wear a helmetAccording to a national poll at the University of Michigan (initially reported in the The New York Times), only 59% of parents said their child wears a helmet while riding a bike, skateboard or scooter. Don't be part of the 61% whose kids don't. While our list of the best bike helmets is geared more for adults, those same companies also make helmets designed for children. You'll want to look for a helmet that has MIPS or a similar shock absorption technology, which helps prevent rotational head injuries.

A little less than half of all states have laws that require children age 17 and under to wear helmets when riding bicycles, while nearly all states have laws regarding the use of helmets when riding low-powered cycles, such as electric scooters.

For extra protection, consider investing in a pair of elbow and knee pads for your kid. Look for a set that includes wrist guards. Reflective gear is also a good idea if your child will be riding close to sundown.

Add bells, horns, and lightsTo keep the price down, many electric scooters for kids lack bells, horns, or lights, as kids should not ride their scooters after dark. Still, a little extra safety measures don't hurt, and all of these can are inexpensive and can be easily found online or at a local bike shop. At the very least, we recommend adding a bell to the handlebars. You can also check out our picks for the best bike lights, which should easily fit on many scooters.

Don't buddy up Kids like to have fun, but remind them that buddying up with a friend on an electric scooter isn't the best idea. Every scooter has a weight limit, and even if your child and a friend come under that number, putting an extra person on the vehicle makes it harder to balance and steer.

Check local laws and regulations A Consumer Reports survey found that more than 1 in 4 riders weren't entirely sure about the traffic laws related to riding electric scooters. If you, too, aren't sure, check with your city about its rules. In most cases, you can't ride e-scooters on sidewalks and instead have to use bike lanes and share the road with cars. If you're anxious about your kid riding across busy intersections, try to map out a route that avoids streets with high pedestrian and car traffic.

Learn to use hand signalsIt's never too early to learn the universal language of hand signals. That's right: The DMV-mandated signals for turning left, turning right and stopping come in handy when riding an electric scooter. To keep your kid safe out on the road, make sure that they not only know these signals, but also understand how to properly use them. However, it can be tricky to make a hand signal and ride a scooter with one hand.

Avoid hauling extra weightYour child will likely travel with a backpack on the way to school. But make sure they understand that hanging a bag, or even a sweater, on the handlebars of their scooter can throw the vehicle off balance. If carrying cargo is a concern, consider an electric scooter that's outfitted with a basket or storage space.

Check for defectsElectric scooters require a bit of assembly before they're ready for the road. For models like the Razor E100, you'll have to attach the handle to the base before the scooter's ready to roll. Once it's assembled, do a thorough safety check. First, perform a visual inspection, to confirm that everything is connected correctly and the wheels are inflated and sturdily in place.

Then, charge the battery to full power and take the scooter for a test run. Check out the brakes and throttle, trying them really hard. If you find a defect with the product after you've taken it around the block, contact the manufacturer immediately.

Teach your kid how to ride properlyElectric scooters are not as tolerant of bumps and potholes than cars because the wheels are smaller. Before your kid ventures out on their own, take them around the block for a few test runs. Teach them how to safely take off, accelerate and decelerate, hit the brakes, and maneuver around uneven sidewalks and sticks in the road. Manufacturers often include safety instructions with the scooter that you can refer to as you teach your child the ins and outs of driving their new vehicle.

Electric scooters for kids can only reach speeds of up to 10 miles per hour, and many top out at 7-8 MPH; by comparison, electric scooters meant for adults typically go up to 15-20 MPH.

Some electric scooters for kids will have two modes: A beginner mode that limits the speed to around 6 MPH, and an advanced mode that lets your child get up to around 10 MPH.

Typically, the minimum age recommended by electric scooter manufacturers is 8 years of age; children younger than that may not posses the coordination to safely operate an electric scooter, no matter how slow it goes. The Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) suggests 8 as a minimum age at which children can ride a scooter, but it cautions that regardless of age, a child should not ride a scooter if they lack balance and coordination. Other organizations are more cautious: The American Society of Pediatrics has said that children under 16 should not operate or ride on motorized vehicles.

By putting them in the hands of kids, of course! We let a few kids between the ages of 7 and 10 try out the scooters, to see how easy they are to master and how fun they are to ride. All rides are done under the supervision of adults, and the children are wearing appropriate safety equipment. After, we ask them for their impressions — that is, if we can get them off the scooters.

Because most of these scooters requires at least some assembly, we also consider how long, and how difficult they are to put together.

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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