Electric scooters

Most budget adult scooters on Amazon top out at 15.5 to 19 mph; premium models ship at 20 mph and some unlock 22 to 28 mph in an app, and the kids' scooters we cover run 7.5 to 12.4 mph. The legal limit is often lower than the top speed: California limits scooter riding to 15 mph, and New York defines an e-scooter as one that goes 20 mph or less. Scooters are not e-bikes, so the three US e-bike classes do not apply.

Battery size decides it. We estimate range by dividing the battery's watt-hours by 22 to 27 watt-hours per mile, the band published full-speed range tests show for a 175 to 180 lb rider: a 270 Wh scooter covers about 10 to 12 miles, a 551 Wh scooter about 20 to 25. In those tests scooters covered a median 59% of their advertised range, because makers measure with lighter riders at about 9 to 11.4 mph. We have not ridden these scooters ourselves.

In most states, no. California is the big exception: its Vehicle Code (section 21235) requires a driver's license or instruction permit to ride a motorized scooter on public roads, and a helmet under 18. Pennsylvania does not allow e-scooters on public roads at all. Cities add their own rules, so check your state and city before you ride.

UL 2272 is the fire and electrical safety standard for stand-on devices such as scooters and hoverboards. New York City has required UL 2272 certification for scooters sold there since September 2023; since January 2026, California (SB 1271) has required their batteries to be tested to UL 2272 by an accredited lab; and a federal rule was proposed in June 2026. It covers the battery and electrical system, not the folding stem or the brakes. Fake labels exist, so we only call a scooter certified when we find it in the certifier's own directory.

Solid tires never puncture and need no pumping, which suits short, smooth city trips; air-filled tires absorb bumps and grip better in the wet, but can go flat. Most budget scooters on Amazon use 8.5-inch solid tires, and 10-inch air-filled tires ride noticeably better on rough pavement.

A scooter is lighter and folds smaller, and Amazon's best sellers cost about $150 to $450, so it suits short trips with stairs or a train in the middle. Sized so the battery covers the round trip plus a quarter, most budget scooters suit round trips under about 9 miles, and the biggest batteries we cover (Segway Ninebot Max G2, NIU KQi 300X) about 16 to 18 miles. An e-bike costs more but carries more, handles hills and potholes better, and goes further on a charge. If your round trip is longer than that, or hilly, look at e-bikes instead.

They carry real risk. The CPSC estimates 79,300 emergency-room visits from e-scooters in 2024, and estimates that only 18% of injured riders were wearing a helmet. Wear one, check the brakes and the folding latch before each ride, charge with the maker's charger away from doors and exits, and search the CPSC recall list for your model before you buy.