A hoverboard is one of the most-wanted Christmas presents for kids and teens, and one of the easiest to get wrong. The right board depends far more on the rider’s age, weight and where they will ride than on lights or speakers. Here are our picks by age, plus the safety checks to make before you wrap it.
The age ranges below are our guidance, based on each board’s speed, wheel size and weight rating. Always check the manufacturer’s minimum age and the minimum and maximum rider weight printed on the box, because those are the limits the board is designed for. Every board here is listed as UL 2272 certified, the US safety standard for hoverboard electrical and battery systems.
Quick picks by age
| Who it’s for | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Young kids up to 80 lb, first board | Hover-1 My First | Slow (up to 5 mph) and light, built for small first-time riders |
| Ages 6–12, room to grow | Gyroor G13 | Capped speed, off-road tires and a 176 lb rating |
| Ages 8 and up, lights and music | Hover-1 Helix | LED wheels and a speaker on a 6.5-inch board for smooth ground |
| Teens, mixed surfaces | Gyroor Warrior G2 | 8.5-inch all-terrain wheels and a 265 lb rating |
| Teens and adults, grass and gravel on a budget | Hover-1 Titan | 10-inch air-filled tires for bumpy paths |
| Teens 16+ and adults, easiest to learn | Segway Ninebot S2 | Knee-control bar and the longest range here |
Best hoverboards for ages 6 to 8
For a first board, slower is better. A six- or seven-year-old needs a low top speed, small wheels that are easy to balance on, and a board light enough for an adult to carry back home. Plan on supervised rides on smooth, flat ground to begin with.
Representative photoHover-1 My First Hoverboard
Built for small first-time riders: a gentle 5 mph top speed, small 6.3-inch wheels and a light 12 lb frame. It is rated for riders up to 80 lb, so it suits younger children rather than tweens, and its short range rarely matters for first rides.
Best for: Young children (up to 80 lb) learning to ride
- Wheels
- 6.3" solid
- Max rider
- 80 lb
- Top speed
- Up to 5 mph
- Range
- Up to 3 mi
- Certification
- UL 2272
- Slow 5 mph top speed for first rides
- Light 12 lb board that is easy to carry
- LED headlights
- 80 lb limit, so children outgrow it
- Short 3-mile range
- About 5 hours to charge
- Smooth, flat surfaces only
Manufacturer-advertised figures as quoted in our review; real-world range and speed are usually lower.
Representative photoGyroor G13
Our pick for children who will want to ride on paths and short grass as well as pavement: a capped top speed, chunkier off-road tires and a weight rating that leaves room to grow into it.
Best for: Children roughly 6–12 riding under supervision
- Wheels
- 6.5" off-road
- Max rider
- 176 lb
- Top speed
- Up to 7.75 mph
- Range
- Up to 8 mi
- Certification
- UL 2272
- Speed is capped at a level that suits beginners
- Treaded tires cope with short grass and driveways
- Self-balancing start-up mode
- 176 lb limit rules out most adults
- Range figures vary between listings
Manufacturer-advertised figures as quoted in our review; real-world range and speed are usually lower.
Best hoverboards for ages 8 to 12
By eight or nine, most kids who have ridden before want a little more speed and a board with some personality. A 6.5-inch board is still the right size for smooth surfaces; if they will mostly ride on grass, gravel or broken pavement, look at the all-terrain picks in the next section instead.
Representative photoHover-1 Helix
A 6.5-inch board with LED wheels and a Bluetooth speaker from a widely stocked brand. Best for smooth pavement and indoor riding rather than grass or gravel.
Best for: First boards on smooth pavement and indoors
- Wheels
- 6.5" solid
- Max rider
- 220 lb
- Top speed
- Up to 7 mph
- Range
- Up to 4 mi
- Certification
- UL 2272
- Low price from a brand with US support
- Light enough for kids to carry
- LED wheels and built-in speaker
- Small solid wheels struggle on grass and cracks
- Short range on a single charge
Manufacturer-advertised figures as quoted in our review; real-world range and speed are usually lower.
Not sure which wheel size suits your child? Our 6.5 vs 8.5-inch hoverboard guide explains the difference, and our full kids’ hoverboard guide covers more options.
Best hoverboards for teens
Teenagers are heavier, ride further and want to go off the pavement. That makes the weight rating and the wheels the two things that matter most: 8.5-inch all-terrain wheels or 10-inch air-filled tires handle grass, gravel and cracked pavement far better than small solid wheels.
Representative photoGyroor Warrior G2
Our most-recommended all-rounder: 8.5-inch all-terrain wheels and a 265 lb rating cover most teens on pavement, grass and packed dirt.
Best for: Teens and adults who ride on mixed surfaces
- Wheels
- 8.5" solid all-terrain
- Max rider
- 265 lb
- Top speed
- Up to 10 mph
- Range
- 7.5–9.5 mi
- Certification
- UL 2272
- Bigger tires than a 6.5-inch starter board, so grass and gravel are manageable
- Higher rider limit than most boards at this size
- Bluetooth speaker and app on most listings
- Heavier to carry than a 6.5-inch board
- Our articles quote different speed and rider-limit figures for different Warrior versions — check the exact listing
Manufacturer-advertised figures as quoted in our review; real-world range and speed are usually lower.
Representative photoHover-1 Titan
The budget way into big 10-inch air-filled tires, which smooth out bumpy paths and gravel.
Best for: Grass, gravel and dirt paths on a budget
- Wheels
- 10" pneumatic
- Max rider
- 265 lb
- Top speed
- Up to 7–8 mph
- Range
- Up to 8 mi
- Certification
- UL 2272
- Big air-filled tires for the money
- Comfortable for adults up to the rated limit
- Three ride modes for beginners to experienced riders
- Slower than the Warrior
- Short 90-day warranty quoted in our review
Manufacturer-advertised figures as quoted in our review; real-world range and speed are usually lower.
Our hoverboards for teenagers guide compares more boards by terrain and size.
For older teens and adults
If the gift is for an older teen or adult, or for a family that will share one board, check the weight rating first. Riders over about 220 lb should look at the Gyroor Warrior G2 or Hover-1 Titan above, which are rated to 265 lb.
Representative photoSegway Ninebot S2
Segway’s current self-balancing board: the knee-control bar makes steering intuitive and gives nervous beginners extra stability, and it has the longest advertised range in our picks. Segway rates it for riders aged 16 to 50.
Best for: Teens 16+ and adults who want stability and range
- Wheels
- 10.5" tubeless pneumatic
- Max rider
- 220 lb
- Top speed
- Up to 11.2 mph
- Range
- Up to 21.7 mi
- Certification
- UL 2272
- Knee-bar steering is quick to learn
- Longest advertised range of our picks
- Height-adjustable bar fits riders 4’3" to 6’6"
- App with a learning mode
- Rated for riders 16 to 50 only
- Costs considerably more than classic hoverboards
- 220 lb rider limit
Manufacturer-advertised figures as quoted in our review; real-world range and speed are usually lower.
See our hoverboards for adults guide for more options.
Six checks before you buy a hoverboard gift
- UL 2272 certification. Look for the UL 2272 mark on the box and the board itself, and buy from a reputable seller. Our guide to spotting a fake hoverboard shows what a genuine listing looks like.
- Rider weight, both minimum and maximum. Many boards list a minimum rider weight as well as a maximum. A child below the minimum may not be able to control the board properly. Our weight limit guide explains why both numbers matter.
- Top speed and a learning mode. For younger children, a lower top speed or an app-controlled speed limit is worth more than any extra features.
- Wheel size versus where they will ride. 6.5-inch wheels for smooth pavement and indoors; 8.5-inch all-terrain or 10-inch air-filled tires for grass, gravel and rough ground.
- Recalls. Search the model name on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall site (cpsc.gov) before you buy, especially if it is a lesser-known brand.
- Warranty and returns. Keep the box and receipt until after the holidays, and register the warranty once it has been unwrapped.
Complete the gift with safety gear
A helmet should be part of the present, not an afterthought. Choose a properly certified helmet that fits snugly, and consider wrist guards and knee pads for the first few weeks, when most falls happen. Our hoverboard helmet guide covers sizing and certification.
See a certified kids’ helmet on Amazon
Christmas morning: getting it ready
- Charge it before the big day. Boards usually arrive only partly charged. Charge it fully a day or two before Christmas, while you are at home, and unplug it once the charger light turns green.
- Store it indoors. Keep the wrapped board somewhere at room temperature, not in a freezing garage or car trunk; cold is hard on lithium batteries.
- Read the manual together. Find the power button, the learning or beginner mode, and how to calibrate the board if it ever feels uneven.
- First rides indoors or on a flat driveway. Use a hard, flat surface, have an adult spotter, and keep first sessions short. Our guide to how to ride a hoverboard walks a beginner through getting on, balancing and stopping.
For the ground rules that keep riding fun, see our hoverboard safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
What age is a hoverboard suitable for?
Many hoverboards are designed for riders from about age 6 to 8 and up, but the manufacturer’s minimum age and rider weight on the box are what count. Our guide to what age hoverboards are suitable for goes through it by age group.
Are hoverboards safe for kids?
A UL 2272-certified board from a reputable brand, ridden with a helmet and adult supervision on suitable ground, is a reasonable gift for most children old enough to balance. Our safe hoverboards for kids guide covers the details.
Is a hoverboard or a scooter better for a 6-year-old?
For a child who has never ridden either, a kick scooter is usually the easier start. If they are confident on a scooter and keen on a hoverboard, a slow 6.5-inch board is a good next step. Our scooters for 6-year-olds guide compares the options.
What size hoverboard should I get for a 10-year-old?
A 6.5-inch board suits smooth pavement and indoor riding; choose 8.5-inch all-terrain wheels if they will ride on grass, gravel or rough paths. Check that their weight sits comfortably inside the board’s rating.
Does a new hoverboard need charging before use?
Yes. Most arrive partly charged, so give it a full charge before the first ride and follow the charging time in the manual. Never leave it charging overnight or unattended.
