Electric scooter helmet guide: types, safety standards, fit and when to replace

The three helmet types

Helmets for electric scooter riders come in three broad shapes, each built for a different speed and risk.

• Bicycle helmet. A light, vented foam shell, often with a fit dial at the back. It covers the top, front and sides of the head and leaves the face open. The Segway NB-400 adult helmet, with a PC shell over EPS foam and a spin dial, and the Hiboy adult helmet, with 24 vents and a rear knob, are this type. AOTOS sells an electric bike helmet with a wide visor.
• Commuter or half shell helmet. A rounder, harder shell that comes lower at the back and sides, often with fewer vents and a visor. The Segway half face helmet covers the top, back and sides and adds a flip-up clear visor. Motorcycle half helmets, like the NANROBOT half helmet, are built for motorcycle impacts but still leave the face and chin open.
• Full face helmet. A chin bar wraps the jaw and face. Full face bicycle helmets are light and vented for downhill mountain biking. Full face motorcycle helmets, like the NANROBOT full face helmet, are heavier and built for motorcycle crash energy. A modular helmet, like the modular flip-up full face helmet, has a chin bar that lifts.

Why the chin matters on a scooter. Small wheels can stop dead in a pothole or on a curb edge and pitch the rider forward, so the face and chin are exposed in a fall. The faster you ride, the more a chin bar earns its weight.

Which type for which speed

Choose for the fastest speed you will actually ride. Then check the maker’s top speed for your scooter in the table below.

• Up to about 20 mph, such as the Segway F2 at 18 mph: a bicycle or commuter helmet with a CPSC label.
• About 20 to 30 mph, such as the INMOTION S1F at 25 mph: a commuter helmet with more coverage, or a full face bicycle helmet. Some e-bike helmets are tested to NTA 8776, a Dutch standard written for fast e-bikes that covers more of the head than a bicycle test.
• Above about 30 mph, such as the NAVEE NT5 Ultra X at 40 mph: a full face motorcycle helmet with the DOT symbol, plus gloves and body armor. Our electric scooter safety gear guide covers the rest of the kit.

Maker figures, checked September 2026. Real range and speed depend on rider weight, terrain, temperature and riding mode.

What CPSC, DOT and other labels mean

A safety label tells you which test the helmet was built to pass. Look for it on a sticker inside the shell or, for motorcycle helmets, on the back.

• CPSC. Every bicycle helmet sold in the US must meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission bicycle helmet standard and carry a label saying so. The test drops the helmet onto flat, rounded and curb-shaped anvils at bicycle crash speeds and checks that the strap holds.
• DOT. Motorcycle helmets sold in the US must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 and carry the DOT symbol on the back. The test uses higher impact energy and adds a penetration test. The maker certifies the helmet, and the government buys samples to check them.
• ASTM F1952. A standard for downhill mountain bike helmets, which are usually full face bicycle helmets with a tested chin bar.
• NTA 8776. The Dutch standard for fast e-bike helmets, with more coverage at the temples and back of the head.
• ECE 22.06 and Snell. The European motorcycle standard and a private US foundation standard. Some motorcycle helmets carry one of them alongside DOT.

Some helmets also add a low-friction layer such as MIPS to reduce twisting forces in angled impacts. That is a feature, not a standard, so look for a CPSC or DOT label as well.

Measure your head and pick the size

Helmet sizes go by head circumference. Wrap a soft tape measure around your head about an inch above your eyebrows and just above your ears, over the widest part at the back. Measure twice, keep the larger number and compare it with the maker’s chart. These are the ranges listed for helmets we stock:

• Segway NB-400 adult helmet, S/M: 21.65 to 22.83 in.
• Hiboy adult helmet: M 21.3 to 22.8 in, L 22.4 to 24 in.
• NANROBOT full face helmet: XL 23.2 to 23.6 in, XXL 24.0 to 24.4 in.
• NANROBOT half helmet: XL, 24.0 to 24.4 in.
• Kids: the Segway NB-410 kids helmet in XS fits 19.69 to 21.65 in, and the NAVEE kids helmet fits 48 to 55 cm, about 18.9 to 21.7 in.

If you fall between two sizes, try the smaller one first. The padding in a full face helmet beds in with wear, so it should feel snug on day one.

Checking the fit

Our safety gear guide covers the basic check: level on your head, straps in a V under each ear, one finger under the buckled strap. Add these:

• The roll test. Buckle up and push the back of the helmet up and forward. It should not roll down over your eyes. Push the front up; it should not uncover your forehead.
• Full face fit. The cheek pads should press on your cheeks, and the chin bar should clear your chin and lips.
• Wear it for 15 minutes at home. A pressure point that aches by then means the shape is wrong for your head, not just the size.
• Glasses and hair. Try it with your glasses on and your hair the way you ride.
• The adjuster. Spin dials, like those on the Segway helmets, rear knobs, like the Hiboy’s, and quick-release buckles, like the NANROBOT full face helmet’s, should hold their setting on a bumpy ride.

When to replace a helmet

A helmet protects you by crushing its foam liner, and that works once.

• After any crash where your head hit something, even if the shell looks fine. The damage is often inside the foam.
• After a hard drop onto concrete, check the shell and foam closely, and replace the helmet if you find a crack or dent.
• When it shows wear: a cracked or chalky shell, foam that is dented or flaking, padding that no longer holds it snug, or a frayed strap or a loose buckle.
• At the maker’s age limit. Many helmet makers suggest a new helmet every three to five years, even without a crash, because the materials age. Follow the advice in your helmet’s manual.

Care keeps it working until then. Store it away from heat, such as a parked car in the sun. Clean it with mild soap and water, and do not paint it or wipe it with solvents, which can weaken the shell. Never buy a used helmet, because you cannot know whether it has been in a crash.

Helmet rules

Helmet laws for electric scooter riders vary by state and city, and often by age. Many places require helmets for younger riders, some require them for everyone, and a faster scooter or moped-style ride can be classed as a moped or motorcycle, which brings its own helmet rule in many states. Check your state motor vehicle agency and your city website, and read electric scooter laws: what to check before you ride. Wear a helmet either way.

Riding off-road? Goggles, boots and armor join the list in our guide to electric dirt bike gear. Still choosing a scooter? Our guide to the motorized scooter for adults explains speeds and types. Browse every helmet in accessories; orders ship free to the lower 48 states.

Questions riders ask