Best Lightweight and Foldable Electric Scooters 2027

The best lightweight foldable electric scooters 2027 comes down to one trade: every pound you cut costs you battery, power or hill-climbing. The NIU KQi Air is the best balance I found. At 26.4 lb, ERideHero tested it at 20.1 mph and 24.2 miles of range, which is the best range ERideHero has measured on a scooter under 40 lb. If you want a lightweight scooter that still climbs and brakes, the Apollo Go is the one, at 46 lb with 26.7 mph and 19.8 miles. If you want the lightest electric scooters 2027 on a budget, the GoTrax XR Ultra weighs 26.4 lb but only managed about 14 to 16 miles in the tests I found.

Those are my picks for the best lightweight electric scooters 2027, and I chose them for tested range, braking and folded size, not for weight alone. Weight is easy to put on a spec sheet, and it is also the number least often checked: EScooterNerds' "lightest electric scooters" list says "One-Hand Carrying" in its title but describes no carry test, and it lists maker weights with no weighing. I haven't ridden or carried any of these. My picks come from ERideHero's tested numbers, EScooterNerds' range tests, and maker pages, and I say which is which.

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Best lightweight foldable electric scooters 2027 at a glance#

Weight, speed and range are tested (ERideHero, 175 lb rider) unless the row says otherwise. Where only the maker's spec exists, I say so. Prices come from the named source and conflict between sources.

The 100F is in the table to show the cost of a small battery: it is heavier than the KQi Air, goes less than half as far and failed ERideHero's 17 percent hill test.

How light is lightweight? Weight classes that matter#

"Lightweight" has no standard. If you want the best lightweight portable electric scooters 2027, these are the bands I use, and they're my judgment, not a rule.

• Under 30 lb: you can lift it with one hand for a short carry and take it on stairs. The KQi Air, XR Ultra, E-TWOW GT, GoTrax GXL V2 and Levy scooter sit here, at about 26 to 26.5 lb each.
• 30 to 41 lb: carryable for a flight of stairs, but you'll feel it. The KQi 100F (38.8 lb) and Segway E3 Pro (40.1 lb) are here.
• 40 to 50 lb: a short carry only. The Apollo Go (46 lb) is here, and it is the heaviest scooter in this guide that I'd still call portable.
• Over 50 lb: not lightweight, whatever the marketing says.

Weight does more than limit stairs. It sets the battery size, and the battery sets the range. I show that trade below with a number of my own, watt-hours per pound.

How I chose these lightweight scooters and what I trust#

1. Tested range and speed first. ERideHero tests range in regular, fast and eco riding with a 175 lb rider and a GPS logger. EScooterNerds also tests range for several light scooters, and I use those as separate figures.
2. Weight and folded size. These are mostly maker specs. ERideHero's list doesn't label weight as tested or claimed, and EScooterNerds says it didn't run weight tests on the scooters in its lightest-scooter list.
3. Braking and hills. Light scooters often brake and climb worse, so I give those numbers where they exist.
4. Tires and build. Tubeless tires and a decent IP rating are the nearest thing to a durability signal I could find, and I say below how thin that evidence is.

I rely on ERideHero and EScooterNerds because they publish numbers. A third lightest-scooters article, on Ride Review (August 31, 2026), runs about 750 words, cites no tests and puts the 54 lb Segway Ninebot Max G3 and a 77 lb EMOVE in a "lightweight" list, so I did not use it for picks. Levy's lightweight page lists its own scooters with maker figures, and I treat its numbers as claims.

Best lightweight electric scooters 2027: my picks#

NIU KQi Air: best lightweight all-rounder#

The KQi Air is the only scooter under 40 lb in ERideHero's best-scooters list, and the numbers justify it: 26.4 lb, 20.1 mph, 24.2 miles regular range (18.5 fast, 27.3 in eco mode), a 451.2 Wh battery and a 5 hour charge. The folded size is 44.9 by 21.3 by 18.9 inches. It has 9.5 inch tubeless self-healing tires, no adjustable suspension, IP55 and a 12.4 ft braking distance. The weak spot is hills: ERideHero measured a 7.9 mph hill climb, against 17 degrees claimed by NIU. The page header shows "from $809.10," which may be out of date.

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Apollo Go: the light scooter that still performs#

At 46 lb the Go is not ultralight, but it is light for how it rides. ERideHero measured 26.7 mph, 19.8 miles regular range (15.4 fast, 23.7 eco), a 12.3 ft stop and IP66, with a 540 Wh battery, 9 inch tubeless self-healing tires and a 265 lb rider limit. The charge time is 7.5 hours. ERideHero's earlier hill test had the Go holding 12 mph on a 17 percent grade, which no ultralight scooter here can do. Its price is from $799 on ERideHero's page, and Apollo's January 2026 page shows $799 as a limited-time banner. See my commuter guide for how it fits a daily route.

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Segway Ninebot E3 Pro: tubeless and widely sold#

ERideHero lists the E3 Pro at 40.1 lb, with a 368 Wh battery and a 7 hour charge. It tested at 19.3 mph (Segway claims 20), 17.2 miles regular range (14.8 fast, 20.1 eco; Segway claims 34) and a 16.5 ft stop, the longest braking distance of the group. The hill climb speed was 6.9 mph. It has 10 inch tubeless tires that are not self-healing, rubber suspension, IPX5 and a 265 lb rider limit, and the folded size is 48.6 by 22.2 by 17.5 inches. The price is from $509.99 on ERideHero's meta description, with the live price not loaded. I'd choose it for the tires and the price, and I'd look elsewhere if braking distance matters to you.

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E-TWOW GT: the ultralight with the biggest battery#

EScooterNerds lists the E-TWOW GT at 26.5 lb, with a 504 Wh battery, a 25 mph spec, and a folded size of 106 by 15 by 33 cm (about 41.7 by 5.9 by 13.0 in, my conversion), which is the slimmest fold here. It tested its range at about 48 km (30 miles) and a third party got 49 to 52 km. EScooterNerds lists the price as $1,089 in the text and $849 in the table, and no IP rating, so I'd confirm both. I'd also confirm the weight, because EScooterNerds didn't weigh it. With 504 Wh in 26.5 lb, it has the best battery-to-weight ratio I found, on paper.

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GoTrax XR Ultra: the budget ultralight#

ERideHero lists the XR Ultra at 26.4 lb, with a 187 Wh battery, 15 mph and 16 miles claimed, 8.5 inch tubed tires, IP54, a 220 lb rider limit and a folded size listed as 14.6 by 43.3 by 17.1 inches. It has a mechanical rear disc brake only, with regenerative braking up front, and no front brake. ERideHero shows it from $249, EScooterNerds lists $449. EScooterNerds tested range at 23 km (about 14 miles) and a third party got 26 km (about 16 miles), and its speed test gave 32 km/h against 25 km/h from the third party. This is a short-trip scooter for flat ground, and the tubed tires mean you'll deal with flats. My flat tire guide helps with that.

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Lightest electric scooters 2027: the weight-versus-range trade#

Here are the numbers that show what weight buys you. Watt-hours per pound is battery capacity divided by scooter weight, and watt-hours per mile is battery divided by tested range. Both are my own math from the figures above.

The pattern is clear. The KQi Air and E-TWOW GT put 17 to 19 Wh into every pound, so they go far for their weight. The 100F and XR Ultra carry about a third of that, so they feel light but run out quickly. The low Wh per mile on the XR Ultra comes from its low speed and short test, not from efficiency, so don't read it as a good sign.

Also notice that the Apollo Go uses far more energy per mile than the ultralights. That is the price of 26.7 mph and hill-climbing, and it is why it weighs 46 lb.

Best foldable electric scooters 2027: folded size and storage#

A foldable scooter is only useful if it fits where you put it. The folded sizes I found are below. The KQi 100F's 45.4 by 7.2 by 19.9 inches and the XR Ultra's 14.6 by 43.3 by 17.1 inches look like different axis orders from the other listings, so treat all of these as approximate.

Folding also covers how the stem locks and whether the fold feels secure. I have no tested data on that for these models, and I'd read hands-on reviews of the one you choose. ERideHero's review of a different scooter, the NIU KQi 300X, rates its stem fold and rear hook lock highly, so check whether your pick has something similar. If you'll lock your scooter outside instead, see my guide to locking up an electric scooter.

Best foldable electric scooters for travel 2027: cars, trains and planes#

Folding makes a scooter easier to put in a car boot or carry onto a train. Flying is harder, and I'd not assume you can.

The U.S. FAA's lithium battery page lists limits for spare batteries: up to 100 Wh without special approval, and 101 to 160 Wh with airline approval, with spare batteries in carry-on only. It says nothing about e-scooters, hoverboards or batteries installed in devices, so it gives no answer on whether you can fly with a scooter. What I can say is that the batteries in my sources are 187 Wh (XR Ultra), 243 Wh (100F), 368 Wh (E3 Pro), 451 Wh (KQi Air), 504 Wh (E-TWOW GT) and 540 Wh (Apollo Go). All are above 160 Wh, so none of them fits inside the numbers that page gives. Check the airline's own rules before you plan to fly with one.

For trains, buses and trams, the rules are set by each operator, and I haven't summarized them. Ask the transit agency whether folded scooters are allowed and at what times. For the car, weight and folded length are the numbers that count: the E-TWOW GT at about 42 inches and the KQi Air at about 45 inches are the shortest folds here.

Best foldable electric scooters for city commuting 2027: top rated, tested#

If you want the top rated foldable electric scooters for city commuting, the tested numbers narrow it fast. For a short urban commute with stairs, the KQi Air is the one with a real ERideHero-tested range (24.2 miles) in a body you can lift. For a longer or hillier route, the Apollo Go is better, at the cost of 20 lb more weight.

Light scooters struggle on hills. ERideHero measured hill climb speeds of 7.9 mph (KQi Air), 6.9 mph (E3 Pro) and 6 mph (100F), and the 100F failed its 17 percent test and slows above about 10 percent grade. If your commute has a steep hill, an ultralight is the wrong tool. For a full commuting breakdown, see my guide to the best commuter electric scooters, and for tested range at the long end, my long-range scooters.

Best lightweight durable electric scooters 2027: what the evidence says#

I'd like to tell you which lightweight scooter is the most durable, but I can't. I found no long-term durability test of any scooter here. What exists are proxies:

• Tires. Tubeless tires cut flats. The KQi Air and Apollo Go have self-healing tubeless tires, the E3 Pro has tubeless, and the KQi 100F and XR Ultra have tubed tires.
• Water resistance. IP55 (KQi Air), IP66 (Apollo Go), IPX5 (E3 Pro and 100F) and IP54 (XR Ultra). See my waterproof guide for what the codes mean.
• Rider limit. 265 lb on the E3 Pro, 100F and Apollo Go, 220 lb on the XR Ultra. See the weight limit guide.
• Brakes. The XR Ultra has a rear disc only, which may wear faster. My brake guide covers adjustment and pad changes.

EScooterNerds noted a third-party report of a battery malfunction in rain on the GoTrax GXL V2, against no problem in its own light rain test. That is one anecdote, but it shows why I'd read owner reports and the warranty terms before buying. The most durable-looking option on paper is the Apollo Go, because of its IP66 rating, self-healing tires and 265 lb limit, but that is my reading and not a test.

Prices and where the sources disagree#

Prices in my sources conflict, and I'd treat each as a rough guide.

Other disagreements: EScooterNerds lists the Levy scooter's range as 20 miles in the text and 15 in the spec. It lists the E-TWOW GT climb angle as 25 degrees in the text, 20 in its test and 15 in a third-party test. If a scooter you're considering has a spread like that, trust the lowest tested number. See my budget guide for cheaper options.

Safety and rules#

A light scooter still has a large battery. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission counted at least 208 micromobility fire or overheating incidents in 39 states between January 2021 and November 2022, with at least 19 deaths, 5 of them involving e-scooters, in a December 2022 CPSC news release. It asked manufacturers to certify to UL standards, including UL 2272. I couldn't verify certification for these models, so check the box or the maker's page.

Light scooters have small wheels and shorter wheelbases, which makes them more sensitive to potholes and cracks. Wear a helmet, and keep your speed down on rough pavement. I haven't summarized state or city rules on where scooters may ride, because they vary and I couldn't find reliable official summaries.

Frequently asked questions#

What are the best lightweight foldable electric scooters 2027?#

The NIU KQi Air (26.4 lb, 24.2 mi tested) is my pick for most people. The Apollo Go is better if you need power and hills and can carry 46 lb.

What are the best lightweight electric scooters 2027?#

The KQi Air, Apollo Go, Segway E3 Pro, E-TWOW GT and GoTrax XR Ultra are the ones I found with usable data. The 100F is the one I'd skip.

What are the lightest electric scooters 2027?#

The GoTrax G2 at 21 lb (maker spec) is the lightest I found, then a group at about 26 to 26.5 lb: KQi Air, XR Ultra, E-TWOW GT and GXL V2. Only the KQi Air and E-TWOW GT have tested range above 24 miles.

What are the best lightweight portable electric scooters 2027?#

Portable means carryable, so I'd stay under 30 lb for stairs. That points to the KQi Air or the E-TWOW GT.

What are the best lightweight durable electric scooters 2027?#

I found no long-term durability tests. On tires, IP rating and rider limit, the Apollo Go looks strongest, but that is my reading.

What are the best foldable electric scooters 2027?#

The KQi Air and E-TWOW GT fold the smallest, at roughly 42 to 45 inches long.

What are the best foldable electric scooters for travel 2027?#

Any of the folders fit a car boot, but the FAA battery limits on its lithium page (100 Wh, 101 to 160 Wh with approval) are below the batteries in these scooters, so check the airline before you fly.

What are the best foldable electric scooters for city commuting 2027?#

The KQi Air for stairs and short rides, the Apollo Go for hills and longer routes.

How light can an electric scooter be?#

About 21 lb in my sources (GoTrax G2, maker spec), with real range only at about 26 lb and up.

Do light scooters climb hills?#

Poorly. ERideHero measured 6 to 7.9 mph on its hill for the 100F, E3 Pro and KQi Air, and the 100F failed a 17 percent hill.

Can I take an electric scooter on a plane?#

The FAA lithium page I read doesn't cover scooters. The scooter batteries here are all above 160 Wh, so check the airline.

Are lightweight scooters worth it?#

If you carry yours daily, yes. If you ride long distances or hills, a heavier scooter will serve you better.

The bottom line#

If you want one answer, buy the NIU KQi Air for the best lightweight scooter I could back with tests, the Apollo Go if you need hills and speed and can carry 46 lb, or the E-TWOW GT if you want the most battery in an ultralight and can confirm its price and rating. Pick your scooter by what you'll do with it: if you carry it daily, the number to watch is weight; if you ride it far, it's the battery.

Prices and models change, so check the current price and specs on the maker's page before you buy. Since I haven't ridden or carried these scooters, treat my picks as a well-sourced shortlist and read a hands-on review of the one you choose. For the full range of scooters, see the best electric scooters.

Written by Paul Gendry. Last checked October 9, 2026. This is general information, not professional advice. Specs, prices and rules change, so confirm them on the maker's page and with local authorities.