Best Electric Skateboards under $300 (in 2023)

To many riders in the growing e-skating community, electric skateboards might just be the transportation mode of the future. But if this is the case, how come the prices for many models seem so firmly stuck in the past? New riders might be discouraged from getting a board of their own when they look around and see the best models listed with a price tag of $1,500 or more. As the electric longboard market expands, riders without these kinds of funds are going to need a low-cost way to get a board that works for them and hit the road. Luckily, our guide today will give you everything you need to find the ideal electric skateboard for under $300. A great skateboard should cost far less than an arm and a leg, and our tips will help you as you shop for the right device for you.

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Model

Price

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Apsuboard F3

$269

Verreal Mini

$279

Aspuboard V3

$299

Things to consider when buying an Electric Skateboard under $300

Price

If you’ve decided to start looking for budget skateboards, you should know firsthand how crazy high some boards can be priced. Cutting down on price is possible, but it might require a couple of minor sacrifices to find a solid board for under $300. The key thing we stress on all of our budget board guides is that you generally get what you pay for. Several things contribute to the price of an electric skateboard, and both the materials involved in the build and the technologies used can really drive up the cost of a given device.

Some skateboards are really too good to be true. It’s not impossible to find a board with solid performance for under $300, but don’t expect to be able to pick up one of the best boards in the whole industry for only $150. Any company claiming that their budget board performs as well as some of the top competitors are probably exaggerating the value of their devices. Always remember that you get what you pay for. Basic logic should tell us that boards cost a certain amount of money to design, manufacture, and market. A longboard using the top, most advanced technologies for its battery, motors, and wheels will clearly cost quite a bit of money. Cheaper boards can still use effective batteries, strong motors, and revolutionary wheels, but it’s important to know what you can expect when it comes to performance when you’re shopping for an inexpensive model.

One way to mitigate cost without losing too much performance might be to stray from paying the premium associated with some of the top brands. This premium won’t be surprising to anyone who’s spent time researching boards. Many riders will pay tons of money for a board just because it has the name “Boosted” or “Ownboard” on the label. Now, these companies have a great reputation for a reason. Boosted and other top companies have cultivated the value of their boards by providing excellent customer service and top-of-the-line technologies in their devices. But new companies are always trying to make a name for themselves within the ever-expanding e-skateboard industry. Lesser-known models won’t have the price markup associated with popular brands, and many of these brand new organizations might offer exceptional boards at a value that bigger companies just can’t provide. At the end of the day, it’s all about shopping around to find an excellent board are a price you can afford.

Battery Capacity and Range

Battery strength is likely one of the first considerations for anyone looking to buy an excellent electric skateboard. What do you intend to use your longboard for? One of the great things about e-boards is that they can be used for a variety of purposes. A growing number of skaters are using their devices to make the morning and afternoon commute more fun and exciting. If this is you, then you’ll surely want a skateboard with an extended range. This typically means a larger, more powerful battery. But this larger battery size can drive up both the cost and the weight of your device as well.

A smaller frame on your board might also really help to maximize range, as a small board typically requires less energy to go further. Battery capacity might also be a concern if you plan to travel with your board via airplane. Airlines generally require you to speak to them first before taking your skateboard on a plane if it uses a battery of larger than 100 Wh of power, and the FDA legally prohibits carrying a battery of larger than 160 Wh onto an airplane. If you want to travel with your device, one of the biggest considerations in whether or not it can be checked on an airplane is the power of your battery.

As you look through the boards on our list below, always be sure to consider the strength of the battery and the resultant range before making a purchase. Riders who plan on commuting or traveling longer distances on their skateboard rides should strongly consider paying for a budget board with extended range and a strong battery.

Riding Experience

Riding experience is easily the most important factor for most riders when they look for an electric skateboard. When you’re speeding along on the open road or carving up a beautiful hill, you’ll likely care little about the aesthetic appeal of your device’s deck or the specific aspects of its core technological components. What matters in the moment is how the board performs.

Top Speed and Range

The clearest initial indicators of riding experience are probably top speed and range. We discussed range and its implications in the section above, so we won’t go into it too much in this part of our guide. Top speed is even more directly associated with performance for most riders. Multiple technical components contribute to the top speed offered by a device, including the motor type and power, the weight of the build, and the effectiveness of the wheels. Many riders might not even regularly hit the top speeds offered by their skateboard, so you should consider what kind of high-speed performance you need out of your board. We strongly encourage new or inexperienced riders to look for e-skateboards with low maximum speeds.

But some riders might have the experience (or at least the courage) to shoot for a device that can hit incredible top speeds. This shouldn’t be hard to do, considering that plenty of budget boards sell for less than $300 and pack quite the punch when it comes to speed-based performance. One concern with cheaper models, however, is that a high top speed might be a liability rather than an asset, especially if the other components of the board’s performance aren’t up to par.

Acceleration Rate

One way to mitigate the impact of a high top speed is to look for board models with gradual acceleration. The combination of an extremely quick rate of acceleration with a high top speed can be dangerous, particularly if you’re a newer rider. The preferred rate of acceleration is a pretty variable concern, and different riders have different views on the best rate of acceleration. At the end of the day, it’s up to you, and only you can know how fast of an acceleration you can handle. The important thing is to remember is that you should avoid biting off more than you can chew when it comes to acceleration rate, especially if the device you choose can quickly hit very high speeds.

Acceleration rate is one performance factor that can be listed clearly on a board’s website. But some companies don’t directly outline acceleration curves for their models. When this is the case, it might be helpful to look to outside resources. The e-skating community is filled with excellent sources of information to help you chart and predict a device’s performance. Try looking through blogs, YouTube Channels, and Reddit to fill in the gaps of performance as you search for the best board for you.

Braking

Braking is another performance indicator that goes hand-in-hand with top speed. If your skateboard can quickly accelerate to exhilarating speeds, then the last thing you need is is a braking system that fails to work when you need it most. Brakes that are too gradual when slowing down a board are a problem for obvious reasons. Not being able to quickly slow down can pose a serious danger, especially if you’re barreling quickly towards a vehicle, pedestrian, or another obstacle while on the road. A solid braking system is always a good thing, but brakes that stop completely on a dime could also be dangerous. Brakes that work too good might throw you off as you stop quickly.

Much like with acceleration, you might need to look through various online resources, such as blogs or social media groups, to learn more about the performance of the brakes of your preferred electric skateboard.

Drive Train and Motor Type

While we mentioned above that the performance of a board on the road will typically matter a bit more than the technical elements of its build, you should still be very informed about the nature of the motorized power system that makes your device work. There are typically three main types of motors used in electric skateboards: direct drive, belt systems, and hub motors. This guide will only include hub motors, which are usually generally considered the standard for budget boards. However, it’s still in your best interest to have a developed understanding of the three main types of motors as you shop around.

Belt

Belt drive motors are capable of delivering some of the highest performances in the skateboarding industry. These motors are pretty loud, although some riders say that they actually enjoy the noise generated by this type of powering system. The two big advantages of the belt drive system are that they offer an extremely smooth ride and they generally allow riders to swap out the wheels, meaning these boards provide a pretty variable and customizable riding experience. Concerning cost and long-term expenditures, belt-drive motors often make it possible for experienced riders to change out and swap specific parts out, rather than replacing the whole motor system. This might help to cut down on cost, although frequent replacement parts can quickly add up.

Hub Motors

By contrast, hub motors are a bit less customizable, but they still offer a pretty stable ride. Additionally, hub motors are quieter than belt systems. They’re also far quieter than belt drive systems, which appeals quite a bit to many commuting riders.

Direct Drive Motors

Direct drive systems are relatively new, although they’re quickly gaining traction and popularity among manufacturers in the industry. This kind of motor is similar in performance to the belt drive system. The major drawback to a direct drive system is usually that these models have motors that get close to the ground, which can cause disaster if you frequently hit debris which could lodge into the frame of the motorized system.

Costumer Service

The long-term success of any e-skateboard company is highly dependent on the customer service that they offer. Brands like Boosted and Ownboard accrued quite the following for their awesome customer support. And customer support can easily help to cut down on costs for you, the rider. Especially in the case of a warranty-covered problem with your device, the quality of your manufacturer’s customer service team can make the difference between out-of-pocket repair and a cheap, hassle-free warranty process.

Read up on reviews online to get a good feel for the customer support offered by a given company. YouTube reviewers, bloggers, and other sources of information should give you a pretty solid idea of the quality of service you can expect from an organization you plan to do business with.

Portability and Weight

The weight of a board is pretty straightforward. Net weight impacts several parts of performance. Smaller boards might be able to reach higher speeds, although a smaller frame might make high-speed riding a bit uncomfortable and shaky. Weight is especially important for commuters, as well as other riders who might frequently have to pick up and carry their boards around. You wouldn’t want to carry a 30-pound device on your lap or in your arms on the train, bus, or even in your car.

Weight should be of minimal concern if you’re looking primarily at the boards on our list below. These boards are all very low weight, especially compared to some of the bigger models on the market today. With weight largely out of the equation on these inexpensive models, you can focus on other aspects of performance while you look for the ideal board.

Deck

A board’s deck should not be underestimated as a valuable component of its cost and performance alike. The appearance of your board’s deck is important, especially if you care a lot about the device’s aesthetic. However, the most important aspects of a deck have much more to do with its materials and composition than its paint job.

A flexible board is generally more stable if you’re planning on riding over changing terrains. But if you plan on hitting top speeds quite often, you’ll want the stability offered by a thicker and stiffer deck. This is mostly a matter of personal preference, and it should be relatively easy to figure out the type of deck you’re dealing with by reading up about a skateboard on the device’s website. Additionally, extra add-ons like soft grip-tape can really go a long way to mitigate the shakiness of your skateboard.

Wheel Type and Size – Comfort of Ride

Wheel size can seriously impact the performance of a board. With the wrong wheels, even the best board can be too shaky to operate effectively. You can read a more comprehensive guide to wheel types on our guide here.

As a general rule, larger wheels are going to be more effective at all-terrain riding or riding over rough surfaces. Large rubber wheels are the standard when it comes to off-road devices. Riders who want to switch between off-road and urban riding might consider looking for boards with variable wheel capabilities. Large trucks should be able to accommodate a wider variety of wheels than smaller trucks, and many boards offer a unique selling point of variable wheel compatibility.

Best Electric Skateboards under 300 Dollars

Apsuboard V3

Two powerful 250 Watt motors help to give this device a very impressive top speed of 28 miles per hour. It comes with a reduced range of only 10 miles, but the 144 Wh battery’s small recharge time of only 2-2.5 hrs makes it possible for commuters to recharge a depleted power storage system while they work during the day. At just 14.7 pounds, the Apsuboard V3 is extremely lightweight, and it offers a surprisingly high max weight capacity of 330 pounds for its size. 90 mm wheels are decently sized and should provide for a smooth ride, although riders consistently hitting top speeds might experience some shakiness as they breeze through the streets or down a hill. Speaking of hills, riders should note that this device only has a hill climb rating of 15%, which is a bit lower than the other models on our list.

Overall, the price of $299 seems like an excellent value for the high top speed, moderate range, and efficient charging system offered by this model.

Review

Specs and Features

Top Speed28 mph (45 km/h)
Range10 miles (16 km)
Battery Size144 Wh
Motor Power2 X 250 Watts
Weight14.7 lbs (6.7 kg)
Max weight capacity330 lbs (150 kg)
Hill climb15 %
Recharge time2 – 2.5 hours
Water resistanceyes – but no IP rating
Wheel / Tyre Size90 mm
Warranty3 months
Link to Websiteapsuboard.com/v3
Price$ 299
$ 319 – Hobbywing ESC

Apsuboard F3

The F3 model of the Apsuboard offers an identical range (10 miles) and battery size (144 Wh) to the above model, but a reduced top speed of 17 mph. This is likely partly the result of a single-motor (250 Wh) model. Dual motors are the standard in much of the e-skateboarding industry, and with good reason. So consumers should take note that this particular low-price model is only equipped with a single motor. The device’s battery can be charged in only two hours, and the 90 mm wheels are also pretty effective. The F3 is also even smaller than the model above, weighing in at only 12.3 pounds.

The price of the Apsuboard F3 is $269, and it also offers a superior hill climb rating to the V3.

Specs and Features

Top Speed17 mph (28 km/h)
Range10 miles (16 km)
Battery Size144 Wh
Motor Power1 X 250 Watts
Weight12.3 lbs (5.6 kg)
Max weight capacity264 lbs (120 kg)
Hill climb20 %
Recharge time2 hours
Water resistanceyes – but no IP rating
Wheel / Tyre Size90 mm
Warranty3 months
Link to Websiteapsuboard.com/f3
Price$ 269

Verreal Mini

Verreal is a bit more well-known as an e-skateboard company than Apsuboard. The Verreal Mini comes in two options; riders can choose between either the single motor or the dual-motor version. Because dual motors provide such a boost to overall performance in most models, we recommend that users who can afford the increase in price (from $279 to $318) splurge for the two motor option. The website outlines that the Verreal mini can achieve a top speed of 18.6 miles with a range of 10 miles on a single charge. The Verreal Mini is a bit heavier than the other two models on our list, but it’s still extremely lightweight at 15.4 pounds. Riders should also note that it comes with a maximum weight of 220 pounds, which might keep some riders from climbing aboard.

Specs and Features

Top Speed18.6 mph (30 km/h)
Range10 miles (16 km)
Battery Size144 Wh
Motor Power1 x 250 Watts
2 x 250 Watts
Weight15.4 lbs (6 kg)
Max weight capacity220 lbs (100 kg)
Hill climb20 %
Recharge timeno info
Water Resistanceyes – but no IP rating
Wheel / Tyre Size90 mm
Warranty3 months
Link to Websiteverrealboards.com
Price$ 279 – Single Motor
$ 318 – Dual Motor

Final Thoughts

While the above boards are excellent options for great skateboards selling for under $300, this should be just the start of your shopping experience. Using our tips, you should have no trouble finding a solid electric skateboard for under $300. Always keep in mind the most important rule when it comes to searching for the perfect board: you get what you pay for!

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