An electric scooter makes a great gift for a child when it fits them. Choose one by the maker's age, height and weight limits, with a top speed and a slow mode that suit a beginner. Look for a battery certified to UL 2272, wrap a helmet with it, and know where your child is allowed to ride before the first trip out. Here is what we tell parents in our shops, and what we see when kids' electric scooters come in for service.
Never charge an electric scooter that is wet, swollen, damaged or unusually hot, and stop using it if the battery smells or the brakes stop working properly. Bring it straight to us.
Match the electric scooter to the child
The age on the box is the maker's minimum, not a target. Height and weight limits matter more: above the weight limit, speed, range and braking all suffer, and a stem that's too short or too tall makes the electric scooter harder to control. A small 9-year-old may fit a model for ages 6 to 10 better than one for 9 and up.
| Electric scooter | Age (maker) | Rider height | Max rider weight | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiboy Q2 Lite (seated) | 5 to 8 | Not published | 110 lb | 9 mph |
| Hiboy Joy Haul (seated) | 5 to 8 | Not published | 110 lb | 9 mph |
| Segway C2 Lite | 6 to 10 | 3'8" to 4'8" | 110 lb | 9.9 mph |
| Segway C2 Pro | 9 and up | 3'8" to 5'6" | 132 lb | 12.4 mph |
| Hiboy S2 Lite | 12 and up | 3'7" to 5'7" | 180 lb | 13 mph |
| Segway Ninebot E2 Plus II | 14 and up | 4'6" and up | 198 lb | 15.5 mph |
Ages, heights, weights and speeds are Segway's and Hiboy's figures as listed on our product pages. Prices, ranges and more detail on each model are in the best electric scooters for kids and teens.
Seated models like the Q2 Lite and Joy Haul suit the youngest riders, who are still learning balance. A stem that adjusts, like the C2 Pro's three heights, lets an electric scooter grow with the child.
Pick a speed they can handle, with a slow mode
Kids' electric scooters top out between 9 and 15.5 mph, and most have a slower mode for beginners: the Q2 Lite runs at 3, 6 or 9 mph, and the C2 Lite at 7.5 mph in Standard before 9.9 mph in Sport. On the C2 Pro, parents can control the speed from the Segway-Ninebot app. Start in the slowest mode and move up only once their braking is reliable.
An adult electric scooter is a different machine. Most go well past 15 mph and weigh far more than a child can control or carry, so we don't recommend one as a gift for a child, whatever their age on paper.
Choose a certified battery
Lithium-ion batteries are the part of an electric scooter that needs the most respect. Look for certification to UL 2272, the safety standard for electric scooters and other personal mobility devices, from an accredited testing laboratory. The Hiboy Q2 Lite and Joy Haul batteries, for example, are UL 2272 certified.
In New York City, it's the law: since September 16, 2023, Local Law 39 has only allowed electric scooters, e-bikes and batteries certified to the UL standards to be sold, leased or rented, and that includes second-hand sales. The details are in our NYC battery safety law guide.
Set charging rules before the first charge
The FDNY's safety guidance for lithium-ion devices includes following the maker's instructions for charging and storage, never charging a device on a bed or a couch, and staying with it while it charges rather than charging overnight or when no one is home. A few house rules make that easy to follow:
- Use the charger that came with it. A charger from another device can deliver the wrong voltage. If the original is lost or broken, we replace chargers from $35.
- An adult plugs it in and unplugs it, somewhere you can see it, not in a child's bedroom.
- Never charge it wet, swollen, damaged or hot. Bring it to us instead; our swollen or wet battery safety check starts from $70.
Wrap a helmet with it
A helmet belongs on every ride: a properly fitted bicycle helmet that meets the CPSC safety standard. Budget for one from the start, and buy it in the child's size rather than one to grow into. Some places require one by law: California requires a helmet for electric scooter riders under 18, and in New York City riders aged 16 and 17 must wear one. See helmets and safety gear, including kids' sizes.
Know where your child can ride
Electric scooter laws are written for public streets, and they often set a minimum age. In New York City you must be 16 to ride an electric scooter, and electric scooters aren't allowed on sidewalks. In California, riders need a driver's license or instruction permit. So a kids' electric scooter is for private property and places where local rules allow it: a driveway, a quiet park path where riding is permitted, or an empty lot, with an adult watching the first rides. See electric scooter laws in NYC and California electric scooter laws; elsewhere, check your state and city.
On the day: before the first ride
- Read the maker's manual together, especially the parts on brakes, speed modes and charging.
- Fit the helmet and set the stem height to the maker's range for your child's height.
- Start in the slowest mode, somewhere flat and quiet, with an adult watching.
- Keep the box. If it's the wrong size, a return can be requested within 15 days of delivery, counted from the carrier's delivered date, with the original box and packaging and less than 50 miles ridden; conditions and fees are in our return policy.
Buying a used electric scooter as a gift?
Check that it carries a UL certification mark, and in New York City remember that Local Law 39 covers second-hand sales too. Then bring it to us before it's wrapped: a simple inspection is free, and a tune-up and safety check starts from $50. We look at the brakes, the folding stem and latch, the tires, the charger and the battery, and tell you what we find.
What we see when kids' electric scooters come in
On kids' models, the brakes, the folding stem and the charger are what we see most. Each one matters for a young rider, and none is expensive to put right:
| Service | From |
|---|---|
| Simple inspection (any brand, any issue) | Free |
| Brake repair (pads, disc clean, clearance) | $25 |
| Brake cable and lever replacement | $75 |
| Folding hinge and latch repair | $30 |
| Stem and handlebar clamp replacement | $20 |
| Charging port repair | $35 |
| Charger replacement | $35 |
| Won't turn on / no power | $35 |
| Swollen or wet battery safety check | $70 |
| Tune-up and safety check | $50 |
Starting prices, parts and labor included; the final price depends on the model and the part. See every price in our repair price guide.
Our technicians service every electric scooter we sell, and any other brand, wherever you bought it; express service runs at every shop. Our shops are in New York City (Flushing, Elmhurst, Brooklyn and Long Island City), San Francisco and Miami. Walk in, or book a repair at the New York and San Francisco shops. A kids' electric scooter bought from us has a one-year Wilson's warranty against manufacturing defects, and we manage the claim.
See our electric scooter gift ideas, every kids' electric scooter we sell, and helmets and safety gear.
Frequently asked questions
What age is right for an electric scooter?
Makers start at 5, with seated models like the Hiboy Q2 Lite (ages 5 to 8), and stand-up kids' models start at 6. Go by the maker's height and weight limits as well as age. Public street rules are separate: New York City sets 16 as the minimum age for riding an electric scooter.
How fast should a kids' electric scooter go?
Kids' models top out between 9 and 15.5 mph, with slower beginner modes. Start in the slowest mode and move up as braking gets reliable.
Are electric scooters safe for kids?
A model sized for the child, with a certified battery, a slow mode, a fitted helmet and a supervised place to ride, is a sensible first electric scooter. An adult electric scooter isn't.
What does UL 2272 mean?
UL 2272 is the safety standard for the electrical system of electric scooters and other personal mobility devices. Look for certification from an accredited testing laboratory; in New York City, only certified electric scooters can be sold.
Does my child need a helmet on an electric scooter?
We recommend one on every ride: a fitted bicycle helmet that meets the CPSC standard. California requires one for riders under 18, and New York City for riders aged 16 and 17.
Can I return an electric scooter gift?
A return can be requested within 15 days of delivery, with the original box, ridden less than 50 miles, under the conditions and fees in our return policy. The 15 days count from delivery, so keep the box until the gift is opened.
Sources: Segway's and Hiboy's figures as listed on our product pages; New York City Local Law 39 of 2023; FDNY lithium-ion battery safety guidance; New York City and California electric scooter rules as covered in our law guides; Wilson's return policy, warranty policy and repair price list. Checked November 2, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
