Answer: The average hoverboard can go around 7 miles per charge while the top hoverboards can go anywhere between 10-15 miles per charge.
Hoverboards are powered by a battery-and-motor system. The battery juices the motor, and as you use the board, the battery goes down. That means it’s time for a recharge. Battery range varies significantly, so when you’re shopping, be sure to investigate the hoverboard battery life. You should also pay attention to factors that affect your hoverboard battery, and obey any safety precautions.
First things first: how far can hoverboards go on a single battery charge? Companies will usually tell you how many hours their boards can go, as well as how many miles. Depending on the board, it could travel for just 45 minutes, while others can go for 3-4 hours.
In terms of distance, you’ll see up to 10-15 miles in high-quality boards. You can also check out the voltage specs on the hoverboard battery, though for most of us, those numbers don’t really mean much. In short, higher voltages mean a more powerful battery, which probably means a better range.
A powerful battery doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the full time and distance every time on every charge, however. The battery life is affected by a number of factors, including your speed, the terrain, and the rider’s weight.
The faster you go, the faster the hoverboard battery drains. This is because the motor system is working harder, requiring more energy from the battery. If you wanna ride off-road, it will also require more energy from the battery, as does a heavier rider. If you want to go a long distance on your hoverboard, don’t go as fast as possible.
If you want speed, you’ll be sacrificing miles. Think about your top priorities when choosing a hoverboard; if you want to go for long rides, you probably won’t need a board that goes 12 mph. Fast hoverboards can drain faster if you use their full speed potential.
It is also worth noting, that a lot of cheap hoverboards don’t have the mileage to go very far. You’ll have to pocket out additional money to get something that goes the extra mile (literally).
While we’re talking about batteries, let’s take a step back and learn a bit about them. Pretty much all hoverboards use lithium-ion batteries, which are popular for electronics because they pack a big punch in a small package.
However, they are unstable, which is why the very first hoverboards kept exploding. Now, luckily, safety standards have significantly improved, and there are more tests companies can choose to give their boards.
To get the safest hoverboard, be sure to get one that’s been UL-2272 certified. This certification applies to the whole operating system – the battery, motor, and charger – and not just individual parts. That’s because how the parts interact with each other can cause fires, so they need to be tested altogether before they’re considered safe.
To charge your hoverboard, simply plug the correct end of the charger into the board, and plug the other end into an outlet. Once the board is charged, the battery life light will be green.
Make sure the charger you’re using has the right voltage (most hoverboards include a charger, so use what your board came with), and don’t use knockoffs. These might not be UL-certified, and there’s a fire risk. For more on chargers, see: Best Hoverboard Chargers of 2023.
Charging a hoverboard is easy, though how long it takes can vary. Hoverboards with premium batteries often charge faster; it’s part of their appeal, so your board can be ready in as little as 1 ½ hours. Most take around 2-3 hours. In general, the larger the board, the longer it takes to charge.
Never leave your hoverboard plugged in overnight or for longer than necessary. This can actually overcharge it and can damage the battery, so it doesn’t hold a charge well. Once charged, the hoverboard shouldn’t sit around for very long. Take it out for a short ride and get it down to 90% or so if you know you aren’t going to be using it for a while.
Is your hoverboard battery not performing as well as you like? Maybe you aren’t able to go on rides for very long before the light starts beeping and turning red? If you’ve had your board for a while, it could be because the battery is wearing out a little with age.
To treat your battery well, you can take certain steps, like not letting the battery drain all the way down. Once it hits 20%, plug it in it. You can let the battery go down all the way once a month or so, but more than that isn’t a great idea. You should also be careful about heat.
Don’t store the hoverboard in an area that gets hot, and if it’s a really hot day and your hoverboard is old, maybe don’t ride it on the hot blacktop for very long. By treating your hoverboard well, you can enjoy great rides on every charge.
Rasmus is the creative lead at ERideHero. As a jack of all trades, Rasmus handles videography, photography and review write-ups as well as website development. He has tested more than 100 personal electric vehicles of all sorts across more than 6,000 miles.
