If you worked or lived in a major U.S. city around 2018, you may remember the electric scooter boom. While the sudden influx of e-scooters was met with resistance locally and abroad, the industry is now only growing in size.
Today, there are plenty of high-quality electric scooters to choose from for commuting and leisure. To help you narrow down your choice, we selected top-rated electric scooters with more than 500 ratings. I specifically looked for top-rated options that prioritized safety, and even tried one of the most popular models for one month.
SKIP AHEAD How I picked the best electric scooters | The best electric scooters | How to shop for an electric scooter | How to use an electric scooter
How I picked the best electric scooters
To find the best electric scooters on the market, I only considered the best models that excel in the following areas:
- Control: All of our picks kick-to-start, meaning you cannot engage the throttle while stationary. They all also have multiple riding modes and cruise control.
- Portability: Each of our recommendations fold down so you can easily carry them if needed.
- Visibility: Our electric scooter picks all have built-in front and rear lights.
- UL certification: We only considered electric scooters that are certified in compliance with the UL 2272 safety standard. This means a scooter went through a variety of independent lab tests to prove the safety of its electrical and battery system.
How I try electric scooters
I used an electric scooter to commute to and from work, as well as visit friends in different neighborhoods in New York City. Most of my trips were about 5 miles, and took about 30 minutes.
When commuting, I comfortably wore my everyday backpack; it weighs about 6 pounds with my laptop, lunch, headphones and other daily essentials. Plus, I always wore a Lumos Ultra helmet — not only does its bright color make me more visible to cars and passengers, but helmets can also reduce the risk of head injury by more than 50%, according to research from the National Transportation Safety Board.
Riding around outside in New York in March meant dealing with changing weather. I usually wore a windbreaker to combat both the spring rain showers and any wind rushing past me as I rode at higher speeds. On days where the temperature was below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, I wore gloves — my hands got very cold and uncomfortable gripping the handlebar otherwise.
The best electric scooters
While there are a lot of cheap electric scooters available online, our top picks cost upwards of $500 and come from established brands like Segway, NIU and Gotrax.
Most lightweight: Segway Ninebot F40 (out of stock)
- Lightweight
- Shorter charge time
- Large AC adapter
If your commute is in the 20 mile range, a lighter weight electric scooter like the Segway Ninebot F40 may be more convenient. It’s the lightest weight of all of our top picks at 34 pounds, so it’s easier to carry.
The F40 has three riding modes: eco (which has a 9.3 mph top speed), standard (which has a 18.6 mph top speed) and sport has the same speed but with a faster acceleration than standard mode. To switch modes, you can double tap the power button on the digital console. The F40 also has regenerative braking (a process that stores energy every time you engage the brakes) adding a tiny bit more to your maximum range so you can go further.
It comes with a charger you can plug into any two prong wall outlet, though it has a large AC adapter attached, so it’s not that portable.
Riding modes: 3 (Eco, Standard, Sport) | Weight: 34.8 lbs | Est. range: Up to 24.9 miles | Max Speed: 18.6 mph | Charge time: 6.5 hours | Motor: 350W | Brakes: Dual brake system | Tires: 10 inch | Hill grade: 20% | Waterproofing: IPX5 | Weight capacity: 220 lbs | Certifications: UL 2272
Most secure: Gotrax G4
- Great security features
- Mid-range scooter
- Fast
- Only two riding modes
The G4, a top-rated Gotrax model with thousands of five star ratings, is a mid-range commuter electric scooter with enhanced security features. This model has a four-digit combination lock that’s built into the stem of the scooter and a retractable steel cable that you can use to lock the scooter by wrapping it around a secure structure like a bike stand or railing. To turn the scooter on and move, you must enter a three digit activation code on the screen, which serves as another deterrent for would-be thieves.
Outside of security, the G4 has a 25-mile range and a top speed of 20 miles per hour. (This is faster than nearly all of the other models we researched.) Similar to our other top picks, the stem folds down and locks to the back wheel, making it easier to carry and store when not riding. It also has a grippy, ridged footboard to help keep your feet steady when riding. It comes with a charger that has a large AC adapter attached, and plugs into any two-prong wall outlet.
Riding modes: 2 (gear 1, gear 2) | Weight: 37 lbs | Est. range: Up to 25 miles | Max Speed: 20 mph | Charge time: 5 hours | Motor: 500W | Brakes: Front electromagnetic brake, rear mechanical drum brake | Tires: 10 inch | Hill grade: 15% | Waterproofing: IPX4 | Weight capacity: 220 lbs | Certifications: UL 2272
High-weight capacity: NIU KQi3 Pro
- Triple-braking system
- High-weight limit
- Very heavy
The NIU KQi3 Pro has the highest weight capacity of our top picks at 265 pounds. It is larger and heavier than many e-scooters I researched and has a maximum range over 30 miles, a grippy footdeck for comfort and built-in lights and reflectors for safety.
Aside from weight capacity, its biggest differentiator is its braking system. It has brakes in both the front and rear wheels, and has corresponding left and right brake levers on the handlebar, which provides stability when stopping, according to the brand. The rear wheel also has an electronic brake. With three brakes instead of the typical two, the NIU KQi3 has the strongest braking potential of our top picks.
This model also has three riding modes: e-save (with a top speed of 9 mph), sport (with a top speed of 19.9 mph) and a custom option that you can set via the NIU app. Like our other top picks, this model has over one thousand five star ratings on Amazon.
Its charger, which plugs into any two-prong wall outlet, is also larger than other models we recommend.
Riding modes: 3 (E-Save, Sport, Custom) | Weight: 44.75 lbs | Est. range: Up to 31 miles | Max Speed: 19.9 mph | Charge time: 6 hours | Motor: 350W | Brakes: Front and rear disk brakes, rear electric brake | Tires: 9.5 inch | Hill grade: 20% | Waterproofing: IP54 | Weight capacity: 265 lbs | Certifications: UL 2272
How to shop for an electric scooter
You can buy an electric scooter for as little as $100, but that doesn’t mean you should. Any vehicle you are using should be safe and durable. When shopping, I recommend keeping the following in mind:
- Understand electric vehicle laws. Electric scooter laws vary on the state and city level. For example, the New York City Department of Transportation states that all e-scooters must operate at or below 15 miles per hour, and should not be ridden on sidewalks or streets with a speed limit higher than 30 miles per hour. Check your local laws before making an e-scooter purchase.
- Check for e-scooter certifications. We only recommended e-scooters that are certified in compliance with the UL 2272 standard. This is one of many electrical safety standards developed by UL Solutions, a leading company in global safety science. You can usually find this certification (which will likely come from UL Solutions or TÜV Rheinland Group) via a label posted on the box as well as certification printed onto the scooter itself.
- Give it a test ride. If possible, I recommend trying it out before purchase. If not, I recommend buying from a retailer or marketplace with a generous return policy, just in case the ride isn’t right for you.
How to use an electric scooter
If you are the new owner of an electric scooter, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you begin riding:
- Practice: Riding an electric scooter is very different from riding a bicycle or moped. New riders should have their first ride in a low-risk environment, according to Alison Dewey, the director of education at the League of American Bicyclists. “Find a place without traffic, away from pedestrians, where you can practice handling the scooter,” she says. For safety reasons, I also recommend using the e-scooter’s low or middle speed modes, especially for your first few rides. These modes will restrict your electric scooter’s top speed, making it easier to handle as you learn how to ride comfortably.
- Ride safely: “Predictability is a key safety measure on any type of scooter,” says Dewey. Try to avoid making sudden direction changes, and, if possible, indicate where you intend to turn. Cyclists typically use hand signals, but in my experience taking your hands off of the handlebars on an e-scooter (as compared to a bicycle) immediately leads to an unstable ride. To solve this, I consistently wore a bike helmet with built-in turn signal lights so I didn’t have to take my hands off the handlebars. When I was moving at a slow speed, I found it much easier to use a hand signal than when I was at higher speeds. Regardless, be sure to stay aware of traffic and pedestrians while riding, and follow any and all local laws.
- Charge smartly: All of our top picks (and most electric scooters generally) come with a charger included, and need to be plugged into a wall outlet to charge. Most electric scooters take between four and six hours to get from 0-100%. I charged my e-scooter for about two hours every night and never ran out of battery, but charging needs vary depending on the scooter and the distance traveled per day. Nearly every manufacturer recommends a few common-sense charging rules to maintain a safe and working battery:
- Do not charge your electric scooter unattended
- Do not charge your electric scooter overnight
- Only charge using the provided charging equipment
- Never charge through an extension cord or power strip
- Do not charge if the charging port, power cord, or battery appears wet or damaged
More about the Segway electric scooter recall
On March 20th, 2025, Segway issued a recall for two of its electric scooters: the Segway Ninebot Max G30P and Max G30LP. According to the notice posted on the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission website, the scooter's folding mechanism can fail, causing the handlebars or stem to fold while the scooter is in use, posing a fall hazard to the rider. Anyone who purchased either G30 model between 2020 and 2025 should stop using them and fill out Segway's recall request form.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Alison Dewey is the director of education at the League of American Bicyclists, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to creating safer roads and stronger communities for bikers in America.
Why trust NBC Select?
I am a reporter at NBC Select who has ridden bikes and e-bikes around New York City for years. To better understand electric scooters and their complexities, I commuted to work with an electric scooter for a month. I also performed extensive research into electric scooters and looked for top-rated models that were safe, portable and reliable.
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