If you commute by bike, a folding electric bike that's lightweight could be just the ticket, especially if you have to carry it onto a train or up stairs.
That’s why we’ve pulled together this list of our favourites bikes that are easy to carry. These are all folding electric bikes that we’ve tried and tested and weigh under 20kg. Our overall guide to best folding electric bikes is less focused on weight and commuting - this guide leaves out the heavier folders and also includes a light, cheap option.
There are different types of bike to consider at different price points, and all the bikes listed here have their own unique strengths. We’ll highlight those strengths, touch on their weaknesses and explain what kind of bike would suit you the best.
- ADO Air 20 - £1,099.00
- Rydbike Aero 16 - £1,306.19
- ADO Air Carbon - £1,799.00
- Hygge Virum - £1,399.00
- Estarli e20 X - £1,895.00
- Volt lite - £2,899.00
ADO Air Carbon, £1,799
Weight: 12.5kg | Range: up to 62miles | Wheel Size: 20 inches
The ADO Air Carbon is the lightest folding ebike we’ve tested, and it shows. With its carbon fibre frame and sleek lines, it feels more like a high-end city bike than an electric one. But press the pedals and the smooth assist from the BAFANG motor kicks in, making climbs effortless. The torque sensor gives you precise control, while the hydraulic brakes and belt drive keep things quiet and refined. Add in smart features like GPS tracking and movement alerts via the ADO app, and it’s one seriously clever commuter.
Its only drawback is that it’s not the smallest folder when packed down, but I think that its weight and riding feel definitely make up for that.
(Use code 'ADOELECTROHEADS' at checkout for a discount!)
Rydbike Aero 16 - £1,306.19
Weight: 14kg | Range: up to 37miles | Wheel Size: 16 inches
Read our full review of the Rydbike Aero 16.
The Ryd Bike Aero 16 is a beautiful looking bike with a sleek design and great lighting features and a rear rack for carrying up to 25kg worth of extra cargo. You also get a tie-down strap so that you can attach cargo to your rack straight away without having to buy any extras.
I did find that when you get up to about 20km/h on Level 5 Assist you do start to get a bit of a ghost pedal, meaning that your legs are spinning with minimal resistance and it can make you feel disconnected from the bike. The feeling of disconnect might not bother some riders who don't want to break a sweat or have a leisurely route but for those on busy urban roads it might reduce your feeling of being in control and subsequently your confidence to be able to react quickly.
I used this bike on my commute in London and it was really nimble as we were able to easily carry it upstairs and quickly fold it down on the platform in three simple moves. It then also fit neatly under the luggage rack and didn't get in the way of other commuters.
Overall this bike is simple and handy for commuters, prioritising that light weight, low maintenance ease rather than riding experience but that is not necessarily a bad thing for a folding ebike for commuters.
(Use code "ELECTROHEADS" at checkout for an extra discount)
Hygge Virum - £1,399.00
Weight: 18kg | Range: up to 37miles | Wheel Size: 20 inches
The Virum Folding E-Bike is 18kg. It’s easy to carry and folds down in seconds, making it perfect for commuters with limited storage. On the road, the 250W motor offers smooth assistance up to 15.5mph, while the Shimano 8-speed gears and Tektro hydraulic brakes add quality touches you don’t always see at this price. The 36V Samsung battery, cleverly hidden in the seat post, offers a decent range for daily rides.
It doesn't claim the longest range out of the bikes in this list, but in our experience it's the most honest range claim, with the bike easily achieving the 60km (37 miles) of range it claims to be able to deliver. Many other ebike companies can exaggerate their range claims, so we appreciate the accuracy from Hygge.
(Use code "ELECTROHEADS" at checkout for an extra discount)
Volt Lite - £2,899.00
Weight: 18kg | Range: up to 50miles | Wheel Size: 20 inches
The Volt Lite packs a powerful punch! The central crank/mid-drive Bafang M820 motor delivers smooth power through the carbon belt drive, and an impressive power delivery of 75Nm of torque, higher than you'd normally find on a bike of this size.
The battery is integrated into the seat post, making it easy to remove and take with you for security reasons, or to charge the battery inside without having to take the whole bike with you.
This is not a cheap e-bike but the comfort of the saddle and the riding position, how compact it is, as well as the power that it gives you means that this bike is everything that you pay for.
Estarli E20.X, £1,850
Weight: 18kg | Range: 31 miles | Wheel Size: 20 inches
See the full review of the estarli e20.X
This British-built folding bike easily ranks among our favourites, as it seems to tick all the right boxes for urban commuters. The Estarli e20.X is impressively light, starting at just 14.8kg, making it effortless to carry up stairs, onto a train, or tuck away neatly at home or work. It packs plenty of punch with its 250-watt motor and two-speed automatic gearing, which handled everything we threw at it – from bustling city streets to steep inclines – with no trouble at all.
Estarli quotes a range of 50km (around 31 miles), and we found this more than enough for most of our daily rides. There's also a zero-assistance mode, letting the e20.X function like a traditional folding bike, which we found handy for coasting along flat stretches or when we wanted to save battery. The battery itself is cleverly integrated into the seat tube and can be removed quickly for charging or to make the bike less tempting to thieves when locked up.
The e20.X folds down in seconds, making it super practical for city living. Its spec is equally impressive: hydraulic disc brakes for reliable stopping power, a responsive cadence sensor for seamless starts, and 20-inch wheels with tyres that handled rough urban roads surprisingly well. Additions like the high-definition TFT display, integrated lights, and optional puncture-resistant tyres show how much thought has gone into the design. Overall, it’s an excellent all-rounder that feels built for life on the go.
ADO Air 20, £1,199
Weight: 18kg | Range: 60 miles | Wheel Size: 20 inches
Read our full review of the Ado Air 20
The ADO Air 20 packs some brilliant features into a virtually maintenance-free package. It’s one of the favourite bikes in our office for commuting in cities and comes at a scarcely believable price considering the specification.
With a 250-Watt motor in the rear hub and up to five levels of assistance it’s got plenty of oomph, combined with a single-speed belt drive that means no maintenance and no need to change gears. You’ll never need to worry about your gears getting knocked out of alignment and there’s no chain to lube.
The downside with a single-speed arrangement is that it can lack flexibility on hilly terrain, as you don’t have the ability to knock the bike into an easier gear. But ADO has addressed this by using a torque sensor instead of a cadence sensor. This means it adds electric assistance as soon as you press the pedals, rather than waiting for them to start turning, and we found this works beautifully.
Those tackling very steep hills might prefer a geared bike, but for many commuters the Air 20 has all the performance you’ll need. Mix that with a light weight (18kg), a 100km/62-mile claimed range from the removable battery, which is integrated into the seat post, and chuck in hydraulic disc brakes that feel great to use, and you’ve got a lot of bike for a great price. It folds down quickly and easily and rides really well through tight turns or at a cruise.
(Use code 'ADOELECTROHEADS' at checkout for a discount!)
How we test
Our expert testers ride all the bikes we get in to review, and we assess them against a range of criteria on road, off-road and in our testing rooms. For this guide, we particularly focused on carrying - ease of handling as well as how heavy they are. Reviews by Phill Tromans and Richard Beech.
Fact check: Price and specs checked March 2026.
