The best electric scooters of 2023
Select independently determines what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
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 we picked the best electric scooters | The best electric scooters in 2023 | How to shop for an electric scooter | How to use an electric scooter
Our top picks
Editor’s choice: Segway Ninebot Max G30P
Most secure pick: Gotrax G4
Most lightweight pick: Segway Ninebot F30
Related: Experts share what to look for, and we share our favorites.
How we picked top-rated electric scooters
To find the best electric scooters on the market, we only considered top-rated 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 tried an electric scooter
In addition to examining top-rated models as noted above, I also tried the Segway Ninebot Max G30P for a month riding around the busy streets and bike lanes of New York City including over bridges and in parks (legally permitting, of course). The G30P is a top-rated, bestselling model from Segway, one of the biggest e-scooter brands. I used it 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.
Top-rated electric scooters in 2023
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.
Editor’s Pick: Segway
Segway Ninebot Max G30P
Pros: Comfortable ride, excellent range
Cons: Heavy
I used this electric scooter for my 30 minute commute for about a month. It’s a heavy electric scooter that I felt comfortable and safe riding every day. The wide, grippy footboard helped my feet stay firmly planted, even as I rode over bumps at 15 miles per hour. The handlebar grips have a slightly knurled texture, which helped me maintain a steady grip too. This remained the case when my hands were sweaty or while I wore thick gloves. The textured footboard and handlebars, combined with its smooth acceleration and braking, led to a comfortable ride daily.
The display shows your current speed, riding mode, approximate battery life and light status. It was easy to read — even in direct sunlight — and helped me stay mindful of my speed in crowded areas.
The Segway Ninebot also comes with an associated app that was easy to use. Through the app, you can engage the digital lock, which disables the throttle and engages the brakes, making the scooter very hard for potential thieves to move when parked. You can also view your exact battery percentage and change settings such as cruise control.
My daily 30-minute commute took between 25% and 45% of the total battery. I only had to charge the scooter for about two hours to get it back to 100%. The charging cable for the G30P is slim and lightweight; I packed it with me wherever I went, meaning I could charge the scooter anywhere that had a wall outlet. But, at 42 pounds, the G30P is heavy. If your commute involves a lot of stairs, we recommend one of our lighter weight top picks.
While this is the only electric scooter I tried for this piece, I highly recommend it for long-distance commuters who want an intuitive, comfortable riding experience.
Riding modes: 3 (Eco, Standard, Sport) | Weight: 42 lbs | Est. range: Up to 40.4 miles | Max speed: 18.6 mph | Charge time: 6 hours | Motor: 350W | Brakes: Front mechanical drum brake, rear regenerative electric brake | Tires: 10 inch | Hill grade: 20% | Waterproofing: IPX5 | Weight capacity: 220 lbs | Certifications: UL 2272
Segway Ninebot Max G30P
Segway Ninebot Max G30P $ at Amazon
Segway Ninebot Max G30P $ at Best Buy
Segway Ninebot Max G30P $ at Segway
Most secure: Gotrax
Gotrax G4
Pros: Great security features
Cons: 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 top-rated 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
Gotrax G4
Gotrax G4 $ at Amazon
Most lightweight: Segway
Segway Ninebot F30
Pros: Lightweight, shorter charge time
Cons: Limited range
If your commute is in the 10 miles range, a lighter weight electric scooter like the Segway Ninebot F30 may be more convenient. It’s the lightest weight of all of our top picks at 33 pounds, so it's easier to carry.
Like the Ninebot Max G30P, the F30 has three riding modes: eco (which has a 9.3 mph top speed), standard (which has a 15.5 mph top speed) and sport (which also has a 15.5 mph top speed, but has faster acceleration than standard mode). To switch modes, you can double tap the power button on the digital console. The F30 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 as portable as the charger for the G30P.
Riding modes: 3 (Eco, Standard, Sport) | Weight: 33.3 lbs | Est. range: Up to 18.6 miles | Max Speed: 15.5 mph | Charge time: 5 hours | Motor: 300W | Brakes: Front regenerative electric brake, rear mechanical drum brake | Tires: 10 inch | Hill grade: 15% | Waterproofing: IPX5 | Weight capacity: 220 lbs | Certifications: UL 2272
Segway Ninebot F30
High-weight capacity: NIU
NIU KQi3 Pro
Pros: Triple-braking system, high-weight limit
Cons: Very heavy
The NIU KQi3 Pro has the highest weight capacity of our top picks at 265 pounds. In many ways, it is similar to the Segway Ninebot Max G30P. 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 the G30P as it has an AC adapter attached.
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
NIU KQi3 Pro
Related: These safe ebikes are ready for commuting, cargo, passengers and anything in between.
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
Meet our experts
At 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 Select?
Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter at Select who has ridden bikes and e-bikes around New York City for years. To better understand electric scooters and their complexities, he commuted to work with an electric scooter for a month. He also performed extensive research into electric scooters and looked for top-rated models that were safe, portable and reliable
Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
