The Scooter Size Guide: Choosing The Right Kids’ Scooter

7 min read

Last Modified 26 March 2024 First Added 26 March 2024

Scooters are a fantastic way to get kids on the move, developing crucial motor skills like balance and strength while building their confidence. When choosing a scooter for your child, it’s essential to get the right type and size for their age and ability to make sure they’re safe and comfortable.

Join us as we explore the different scooter heights, what they mean, and give you our recommendations for the best scooters for each age group.

Scooter Size Chart

User Height Approx. Age Recommended Scooter Height
95 – 112 cm 3 – 5 yr Under 70 cm
112 – 126 cm 5 – 7 yr 60 – 75 cm
126 – 138 cm 7 – 9 yr 65 – 79 cm
138 – 149 cm 9 – 11 yr 75 – 80 cm
149 – 160 cm 11 – 13 yr 75 – 85 cm
160 – 172 cm 13 – 15 yr 78 – 85 cm
Over 172 cm 15+ yr 79+ cm

Types of Scooters

2 Wheel Scooters

Two-wheeled scooters are the classic model that you’re likely to picture when you think of a scooter. These have one wheel at the front and one at the back, so they require a bit more balance to use and are typically for kids aged 5 and up. If you’re looking for a stunt scooter that can be used to do tricks like jumps and spins, a 2 wheel scooter is the one you want.

2 wheeled scooter.

3 Wheel Scooters

With more wheels comes more stability, so 3-wheeled scooters are typically designed for toddlers and younger children who aren’t quite ready for a 2 wheeler yet. Our 3 wheel scooters come in bright colours and feature characters like Bluey, CoComelon, and Disney fan favourites.

3 wheel scooter.

Scissor Scooters

For something a bit different, scissor scooters (also known as sporter scooters) have two separate legs, which you push together to power the scooter instead of pushing off the ground! Older kids will love the unique mechanism that adds a new thrill to the traditional scooter.

Scissor scooter.

Best Scooter For Each Age

The best scooter for your child is one that is the right height and has the appropriate stability features for their abilities. Most scooters have adjustable handlebars, so they can suit a height range that usually correlates with these age groups, but remember to check this measurement against your own child’s growth.

Scooters for 1-2 year olds

Globber Go Up Foldable 3 Wheel Scooter

Suitable from 15 months, this foldable scooter is a versatile option that will help teach toddlers the joys of scooting! It has 3 modes: ride on pushchair, walking bike, and solo scooter. While their little legs tire out easily, you can still push them but won’t need to buy a new model as they grow in size and confidence and want more freedom.

Early Learning Centre Zoomer Scooter

3 wheeled scooter.

This Zoomer Scooter is a classic, designed to support toddlers learning how to scoot around. It includes soft grip handlebars, adjustable height, and larger front wheels for extra stability.

Scooters for 3-4 year olds

Squish Mini Flex LED Tilt Scooter

Squish Mini Flex LED Tilt Scooter.

Brightly decorated with fun graphics and colours, the Tilt Scooter is a fantastic choice for adventurous kids who are ready for the next step. This model has a fun “tilt n turn” steering design that makes the scooter more responsive to help develop their coordination, but in a safe way so that they maintain their balance. It also comes with light-up wheels for stylish flair and extra safety when riding in the dark.

Peppa Pig Switch It Multi Character Tri-Scooter

This adorable Peppa Pig 3-wheel scooter is perfect for fans of the show to take their favourite characters out and about. It comes with four character plaques that attach to the front of the handlebars, so you can swap them out or always rep their number 1. Designed for 3 years and up, this model comes with loads of features that make it a great first scooter, like smooth sides to stop ankle knocks, soft moulded grips for little hands, and a covered rear axle to prevent injuries.

Scooters for 5-6 year olds

Scissor Scooter

Suitable from 5 years old, a scissor scooter is made for active, thrill-seeking kids who enjoy a challenge. They’ll love the unique push mechanism that means you don’t have to push off the ground to make the scooter go. This scooter will support physical skills like balance, strength, and agility, helping your little one to get out of their comfort zone.

Xootz Bubble Go Scooter

Xootz Bubble Go Scooter.

Add some whimsy with this scooter that comes with an in-built bubble machine mounted to the handlebars. Simply press the button to start making bubbles and watch the trail of bubbles form as they scoot around. With three wheels, an adjustable stem, and a wide foot plate for stability, this is a great upgrade to a classic scooter – plus, it folds down for easy storage at home or in the car.

Scooters for 7-8 year olds

Nerf Scooter With Dart Blaster

Nerf blaster scooter.

Take Nerf battles to the next level with this blaster-mounted scooter. Coming with a Nerf shooter, an attachable dart holder for quick refills, and awesome Nerf graphics across the scooter. Built for speed, it also features quick-reaction breaks, puncture-proof wheels, and an anti-slip footplate, so you don’t have to worry when they play.

Stunted Neo Morph Stunt Scooter

Neo Scooter.

Ideal for children 8 years and up, this stunt scooter is made for kids with a passion for tricks and flair. This model is all about durability and safety, so you’ll find features like ABEC 9 bearings, a pro-grade quad clamp and threadless headset, and a 6063 aluminium box deck for stability during 360 twists. Support their skills with this top-of-the-line choice that will help them push boundaries while staying safe.

Scooters for 9-10 year olds

Li-Fe Pro-Lithium Scooter

Pink Lithium Scooter.

Electric scooters are set to be the next big thing, and they’re great for older kids wanting something with more power. The Li-Fe 120w has a max speed of 7.5mph (12kmh), which is fast enough to feel like a kick but easily controlled by children 8 and over. The battery lasts 30-60 minutes, depending on speed, and can cover roughly 6-8 km in distance. It’s designed to be easy to handle and has lots of safety features, but we recommend a lot of space and practice!

Are E-scooters Legal?

Electric scooters are not legal for use on public roads except for in designated trial areas. Even then, you have to be over 16 and have a provisional driving licence to operate one. You can use e-scooters on private land as long as you have the landlord’s permission, but this means that kids can’t take them to parks, school, or around the neighbourhood.

Find out more from the government guidance on e-scooters.

Scooter Safety Tips

While slips and falls are all part of the process, we can ensure that kids know the basics of keeping themselves safe. Here are our top tips for setting them up for success.

1. Wear protective gear

Helmets are a must when riding scooters, skateboards, and bikes, even if they aren’t that cool. Protective gear can make the difference between a bruise or something more serious, so we highly recommend knee and elbow pads as well.

2. Check your scooter before every ride

While our products are made to last, it’s always important to check that everything is working properly before they set off. Make a checklist and get them to help as you do all the safety checks on parts like the breaks, bell, handling, and wheels.

3. Ride solo

It may look like fun to let a friend hop on the back, but it’s definitely not safe. Make sure you explain that this can overbalance the scooter and cause falls and scrapes.

4. Follow the rules of the road

If your child is using their scooter to travel from home to places like school, the park, or a friend’s, then they need to know the rules of the road. Make sure to show them how to travel next to cars safely, check carefully before they cross the roads, pay attention to traffic lights, and, crucially, other cyclists and pedestrians!

5. Practice in a safe space

Before taking the scooter out and about, give your child a chance to practice somewhere quiet and safe, like a garden or a large paved area. Their confidence will really affect how well they do on the scooter, and you want them to feel comfortable trying even if it’s difficult.

Shop our full range of scooters for kids to find more colours and styles.

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