So, you’ve found an electric bike that you love and you’re ready to explore with it; now it’s time to look at finding the best bike racks for electric bikes.
The market for car bike racks is not lacking in options, but it is important to find one that can handle the extra weight and bulk that comes with e-bikes. Many bike racks were built with carrying traditional bikes in mind, which seldomly ever meant accommodating more than 50 lbs worth of bike. That can pose a problem for many e-bikes, which often tip the scales at 50 lbs or more.
Beyond weight, there are many other important variables you’ll want to consider depending on the style of e-bike you own. Did you buy an electric fat bike? Make sure your bike rack can secure those massive tires. Did you invest in a cargo e-bike that can tote you and the kids? Make sure you look at a rack that’s long enough to fit that.
Always carefully consider your e-bike’s unique features when shopping for an e-bike car rack, but perhaps the most important electric-specific feature is a rack’s carrying capacity.
There likely will never be one car rack that does it all, but there are several car racks for electric bikes that will likely work best for your style of bike and where you plan on taking it. Listed below are our picks for the best e bike car racks.
Best Bike Racks For Electric Bikes This Year: Our Criteria and Results
There are tons of bike racks out there. It’s impossible to sort and rank them all, but we’ve only listed the ones we would trust with our own e-bikes, so we’ve reviewed the ones that stand out.
Here’s a table we made listing our best bike racks for electric bikes including our top and worst picks:
| Rank | Brand | Model | Top Advantage | Top Disadvantage | Link to Purchase | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Pick |   | Thule | T2 Pro XTR | Expandable up to 4 bike trays | Hefty, pricey | Click to check price |
| Runner-Up |   | Yakima | OnRamp | RV-compatible with a long loading ramp | Clumsy bike holding abilities, complex loading process, tilt mechanism can be hard to engage | Click to check price |
| Also Consider |   | Thule | EasyFold XT2 | Integrated ramp and folds for easy storage | Expensive, questionable durability, tedious loading process, bikes with long wheelbases don’t play well | Click to check price |
  | RockyMounts | Backstage | 180 degree swing for easy access to your car’s backend | Heavy, pricey, limited tray clearance | Click to check price | |
  | Saris | Superclamp EX2 Bike | Lightweight rack, heavy-duty performance | Questionable durability | Click to check price | |
  | Hollywood Racks | Sport Rider | Can carry up to 80lbs of weight, good price | Plastic hitch adapter for 2″ receivers, need a wrench to tighten threaded lock pin in hitch. | Click to check price | |
  | Yakima | StageTwo | Can carry up to two 60 lb e-bikes and was designed with a greater emphasis on stability and user-friendliness | Expensive, heavy and bulky | Click to check price | |
  | Kuat | NV | Stylish look with a 4-bike capacity | Very pricey before any add-ons or extras (and not everyone needs all the features). | Click to check price | |
  | Saris | Door County | Comes with lift assist for easier loading | Very expensive | Click to check price | |
| Avoid these ones |   | Saris | Bones | Unique mounting legs fit over spoilers better than most trunk racks | Many women’s and kid’s bikes need a top tube adapter, which increases the cost of the rack | Click to check price |
  | Thule | Passage | Lightweight and easy to install | Will most likely snap off when you put an e-bike on it | Click to check price |
Quite a number eh? Well, they’re all good except for the last two — which are only great options when you can’t afford the rest.
How we select the best bike racks for electric bikes
There are lots of bike racks out there. It’s impossible to rank and sort them all, but we looked at the ones that feature features e-bike riders will want, and listed products we’d trust with our own.
When it came to choosing the best bike rack for ebikes, we looked closely at the following key criteria:
Max Weight Per Bike
I always start here. I have several e-bikes in my garage that weigh over 60lbs, which isn’t uncommon. That’s a lot of weight, so I want racks that can handle it.
Total Weight Capacity
The fact that a rack has three trays doesn’t mean it can handle three e-bikes. Make sure you don’t overload the tongue that goes into the hitch by adding too much weight.
Ease Of Use
Is it easy to fold down the rack? How easy is it to secure the bikes with the arms? How easy is it to use?
Where It Secures The Bike
Electric bikes start at around $1,000 and can go up to $10,000 or more. Therefore, any rack we recommend will protect your car and investment.
Additional Features
Some bike racks go above and beyond to transport your bike reliably.
Here are some extras we love:
Lock Features
It’s a good idea to have a locking mechanism on the rack since e-bikes aren’t cheap.
Ramps
You’ve heard us say it a lot: e-bikes are heavy. Ramps make it easier to lift bikes on racks without having to lift them yourself.
Fail-Safe Measures
It’s always good to have redundancies when it comes to securing the bike, or the rack, to the hitch.
These bike racks range from first-hand experience on our own cars to reputable manufacturers with specs & features that are more than enough to meet the needs of e-bikers.
Check them out below.
Bike Racks for Heavy e Bikes: Off With Those Flimsy Racks
It seems to me that electric bikes take all the good things about regular bikes and crank them up a notch.
The challenge with e-bikes is transporting them.
The trunk rack I owned before I bought my e-bike was perfectly capable of holding my hybrid. That lightweight trunk rack was no match for my new e-bike. You’re probably aware that electric bikes need something a little more durable.
Can I put an electric bike on a bike rack?
Yes, you can put an electric bike on a bike rack as long as its weight capacity doesn’t go under the eBike’s weight. Not just any bike rack though, it has to be a well-secured bike rack. Preferably a bolt-on bike rack, so it doesn’t come loose, or snap off during a rough ride.
What bike rack is best for eBikes?
There are a lot of good eBike racks out there, but our favorite is Thule’s T2 Pro XTR 2. With no additional accessories or extensions, it fits most bikes with 5-inch tires and 29-inch wheels.
You don’t need to worry about transporting heavier bikes since each bike rack can handle 60 pounds (120 pounds total).
There’s also the Kuat NV 2.0, which has more features but is a bit more expensive. A built-in repair stand makes the NV worth the money if you do repairs and adjustments away from home.
Thule Bike Rack: The Best Option for Multiple Bikes
Eric Thulin founded Thule in Sweden in the early 1940s.
In 1992, the company launched its first bike carrier after earning a reputation for premium ski racks and rooftop cargo boxes. A cult-like following has developed among cyclists around the world because of Thule’s high-quality towbar-mounted carriers.
Check out their products below.
Thule T2 Pro XTR
Pros
- It’s easier to transport and store with rolling wheels
- Secures rack to the receiver with an integrated cable lock
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a ramp
- Short cable locks
Thule T2 Pro XT/XTR has plenty of room for larger e-bikes. It has a zero-contact design to keep bike frames safe. Even though the T2 Pro rack isn’t the cheapest option on our list, it’s still a great deal.
There’s a lot of debate between the Thule T2 Pro XT/XTR and the Kuat NV 2.0, which we reviewed too. Quality, dependability, and features aren’t cheap, but you get what you pay for.
You can load two 60-pound bikes on the Thule rack for a maximum of 120 pounds. There’s a maximum 29-inch wheel and tires up to 5-inches wide. You can also safely transport carbon fiber frames and fat e-bikes.
Interested in this bike rack? Click the link below to check the price.
If not, check out the next one.
Thule EasyFold XT2
Pros
- Has a ramp built in
- Loads easier with heavy ebikes
Cons
- Ramp isn’t very long (just 36 inches)
- Frame clamps don’t cover the whole frame
The EasyFold XT is most similar to the Yakima OnRamp because it also includes a ramp for e-bikers to get their heavy bikes up onto their racks, but I personally prefer the EasyFold XT. Thule has thought of so many little ways to make the process easier and get rid of little annoyances.
Let’s start with the ramp. It’s wider than Yakima’s ramp and fits my hybrid tires just fine. Although the EasyFold XT ramp is a bit shorter, you’ll definitely want the extra-long loading ramp if your hitch is more than a foot off the ground.
Also, the EasyFold has a wide platform, which (in my opinion) takes away from its sleek look, but makes loading it easier, since your bike won’t slip out of the wheel cradles.
It’s also easy to tilt the rack away from your car with the lever on the front. My foot or knee can hit a giant lever while I’m holding the bike upright, so there are no pinchy pins.
It has little things like clips that keep the wheel straps out of the way so they don’t get trapped under your wheel while you load, ratchets so you can tighten down the straps for extra security, and AutoAttach so you don’t have to line up the hitch pin hole when you load. When you use the rack all the time, these are the kinds of things that add up.
Interested in this bike rack? Click the link below to check the price.
If not, check out the next one.
Thule Passage
Pros
- Lightweight, and easy to install
- Great for transporting super light e-bikes (without their batteries attached)
Cons
- Not recommended for fat tire bikes or heavy ebikes
- Strap-on attachment may not be secure
An easy-to-install, family-oriented trunk rack carrier with value-added features makes the Thule Passage Bike Trunk Mount Carrier the perfect choice for an aspiring cyclist.
A great way to store up to three bikes on the back of your car with rubber cradles that protect the frames and keep them secure, patented FitDial hub adjustments to make sure your bike fits perfectly, arms that twist down when not in use, anti-sway features to make sure you don’t touch your bike, and narrow cradle arms for smaller bike frames.
Two and three bikes can be carried in the Thule Passage 2-Bike and 3-Bike Trunk Mount Carriers. With Thule’s FitDial hub adjustment system, you can get a perfect fit for your vehicle exterior, install it in a flash, and attach and detach carrier arms with the push-button feature, so they’re out of your way when you’re not using them.
Interested in this bike rack? Click the link below to check the price
Can a Thule bike rack hold an electric bike?
Yes, a Thule bike rack can hold an electric bike. But that depends on the model. I would suggest Thule’s heavy-duty, or multi-bike capacity bike racks.
Is a Thule bike rack worth it?
Yes, according to our own experience, and many reviews on the web, Thule bike racks are definitely worth it. Just, please don’t get their strap-on racks for your heavier e-bikes.
Do Thule bike racks go on sale?
Yes, Thule bike racks do go on sale, but not usually in their official store or site. For the best prices on Thule bike racks, always check our amazon links up on the table, and on every Thule product we review.
Best Hollywood Bike Rack for Electric Bikes
If you’re looking for a bike rack with great build quality at an affordable price, Hollywood is a great option. Their simple, strong design will keep your bikes safe on your vehicle, even though they’re not as fancy as some of the higher-end racks.
Hollywood Racks Sport Rider
Pros
- Overbuilt and powder coated instead of painted
- Loading and unloading your bikes is a breeze once you’re set up
Cons
- Over time, hooks can scratch bike frames
- When not in use, it takes up a lot of space
In essence, the Hollywood Sport Rider SE4 is a two-piece rack. If you need another 2-bike extension, you plug it into it. You get two racks in one. Due to the fact that I ride solo most of the time, I don’t always need a full 4-bike rack.
All you need is a 2″ hitch receiver to use this rack. It wouldn’t be safe with a smaller hitch anyway, given the weight of the full rack and the payload it can handle.
Hooks clamped to the top of the frame hold bikes firmly in place. The wheels are held in place by Velcro straps as a secondary measure. Both of these systems make sure your bike is still there when you get there.
There’s a maximum tire width of 3″ and it holds up to 50 pounds per bike. When it’s extended out 43″ from the hitch, it fits four bikes.
Interested in this bike rack? Click the link below to check the price
If not, check out the next one.
Kuat Bike Rack: Springfield’s Best Electric Bike Carrier
Kuat NV 4-Bike Rack
Pros
- Has a built-in work stand
- Sleek look
Cons
- Difficult assembly
- No tray adjustability
The NV 2.0 is Kuat’s top-end hitch rack.
It’s feature-rich and built to last, it works with a variety of bikes and sizes, and it’s been proven to be durable and reliable even after extensive use in the wet and muddy Pacific Northwest. Despite the eye-watering price, the two-bike model with the two-bike add-on offers excellent quality, styling, and performance.
You can assemble and attach the Kuat NV 2.0 in no time. Using the included bolts, align and tighten the front and rear tire trays, attach the pivot lever, and lock the Trail Doc repair stand in place.
Interested in this bike rack? Click the link below to check the price
If not, check out the next one.
Yakima Bike Racks: Your Bike’s Best Pal from California
Yakima Racks have been protecting outdoor enthusiasts’ most prized possessions since 1979. The kind of gear that’s 3-4 times more valuable than the vehicle it’s sitting in.
Yakima OnRamp
Pros
- Simple and sturdy
- Easy to load heavy bikes with the ramp
Cons
- The loading process is complicated
- It can be hard to engage the tilt mechanism
It weighs 42.60 pounds. Unlike traditional hitch-style bike racks that are much heavier and bulkier, this rack can easily be folded up and stored in smaller places when not in use.
You can fit two bikes each weighing up to 66 pounds on this hitch-mounted bike rack. This rack is only rated for 44 lbs, so it’s a little tricky for off-road use. So what’s the deal? You’ll have to slow down if you’re going down a dirt road with potholes with the Yakima OnRamp loaded up.
Interested in this bike rack? Click the link below to check the price
If not, check out the next one.
Yakima StageTwo
Pros
- Sturdy and stable
- High weight capacity
Cons
- Quite pricey
- Takes up a lot of space when not in use
With two trays that can fit up to 60 pounds each, the Yakima StageTwo can carry 120 pounds for on-road use. Most e-bikes can be carried on that size hitch rack, so it’s pretty standard. In addition, the rack is high enough to handle most heavyweight e-bikes (some commuters and fat-tire e-bikes can push 65 lbs or even 70 lbs) without the battery.
The StageTwo can carry four bikes with an optional add-on, but that reduces the StageTwo’s carrying capacity to 40 pounds per tray.
Interested in this bike rack? Click the link below to check the price
If not, check out the next one.
Saris Bike Racks: For Easy Clip-on & Go
Now we head into the more expensive options. But don’t worry, with Saris bike racks, a huge setback in your wallet now can save you a bigger setback in the long run. Well known for super-expensive bike racks that deliver even more than their value, Saris takes the cake as your best option for transporting expensive e-bikes.
Saris Superclamp EX2 Bike
Pros
- Fits bikes with wheelbases up to 50″
- Dual wheel-clamping hooks make loading fast and easy
Cons
- The pivot feature makes bikes wobble when you drive
- Not RV-approved
Are you looking for a tilting bike rack for your Subaru or other hatchback-style SUV? You’ll love this Saris Bike Rack. The Saris SuperClamp EX 2 Bike Rack is easy to use and easy to setup out of the box.
Saris SuperClamp EX 2-Bike Rack fits both 2″ and 1.25″ trailer hitch receivers.
If you’re not using the rack, simply take it off and store it when not in use. You’ll probably have to bend down (ideally kneel) to get the rack off the hitch, so be mindful of the weight. For extra safety, Saris included a lock and keys to secure the SuperClamp if you plan to leave it on.
Make sure your bike has reflective wheel trays if you’re leaving it on overnight. The perfect touch for driving in the city or on empty mountain roads.
Interested in this bike rack? Click the link below to check the price
If not, check out the next one.
Saris Door County
Pros
- Bike lock with lobster claw, ideal for bikes with fenders or e-bikes with downtube batteries.
- Even with a full load, the tilt feature lets you get to the back
Cons
- Durability is questionable
- I wouldn’t recommend it for heavy ebikes
A Saris Door County bike rack is your best bet if you’re looking for the best electric bike rack for lightweight electric bikes.
The Door County electric bike rack uses your vehicle’s 7-pin connection to connect electric bikes to your vehicle. eBikes are effortlessly lifted into transport position by turning the key and pressing a button. With glowing tail lights, including running, braking, and turn signals, Door County keeps the electric vibe going.
Two bikes, up to 60 pounds, can be transported in Saris Door County. Integrated locks come with each bike. A lobster claw-style bike hold on the Door County easily adjusts to accommodate fenders and downtube-mounted batteries on electric bikes. The Door County lobster bike claws are brutal in name only. They’re gentle on your bike’s paint and make you feel confident as you ride. You can fold it up for storage and roll it away when you’re done.
Interested in this bike rack? Click the link below to check the price
If not, check out the next one.
Saris Bones
Pros
- Unlike most trunk racks, it fits over spoilers
- The ratcheting straps are narrow and pliable, so they’re easy to move around
Cons
- Adapters are needed for a lot of women’s and kids’ bikes, so the rack costs more
- Pedals or wheels can easily hit the rear of your car with a rack and bikes so close to it
Saris Bones bike trunk racks have been best-sellers for years. The Bones makes getting to the trails attainable for a lot of families thanks to its arced rack arms and high-quality construction.
Since it doesn’t require a hitch to install, the Bones is appealing to bike riders. These Saris Bones 2 and Saris Bones 3 are perfect for small families or big families with small bikes that can fit in the trunk.
Interested in this bike rack? Click the link below to check the price
If not, check out the next one.
RockyMounts Bike Racks: A Rocky Solid Option
RockyMounts Backstage
Pros
- Super easy to load and unload the bikes
- High-quality materials, bombproof design.
Cons
- When you’ve got two bikes or a heavy ebike on the rack, it’s a little hard to use the tilt mechanism
- There’s a lot of weight to the rack and it’s awkward to carry
You can swing out the BackStage 180 degrees, making it the only swing away platform hitch rack on the market. This rack is perfect for people who need open access to their back ends, whether they have trucks, SUVs, or campers. The RockyMounts Backstage is based on their successful MonoRail platform.
With the RockyMounts BackStage, you can access the rear of your vehicle no matter how many bikes you’ve got on board. However, the BackStage can only carry two bikes and isn’t expandable to three, but it can carry up to 54kg!
You can tilt the Backstage, but you can also twist it. The Backstage will have you jigging around like you’re at the local barn dance on a Saturday night. The Backstage tilts down 30 degrees so you can access your vehicle’s rear hatch, but the 180-degree twist puts up resistance. Backstage is known for this kind of stuff.
Interested in this bike rack? Click the link below to check the price
Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Bike Rack for Your eBike
Whether you’ve just got a new electric bike or you’ve been looking for the perfect one for you, you’ve come to the right place.
While riding an electric bike around town isn’t a big deal, it’s less efficient over long distances and on uneven terrain. You can use your car to cover long distances with ease if you hook up your electric bike to a decent bike rack.
A lot of adrenaline junkies ride their bikes up mountains or to distant locations to find the most adventurous paths. Because you’ll need one sooner or later, you should also think about buying a bike rack for your electric bike right now.
It can be confusing if you don’t know which one to pick. For your convenience, here’s a buying guide for the best bike rack for ebikes.
Weight Capacity
While you’re browsing multiple options in your budget, the bike rack’s weight carrying capacity will be the most important factor. Since electric bikes have additional components like gears and batteries, they’re heavier than standard bikes. Because electric bikes need a solid and sturdy mount, mounting them becomes more difficult.
Furthermore, a failed bike rack has far more repercussions than a standard bike rack. Thus, you need to be extra careful when choosing a bike rack. If you want to be safe, pick a bike rack whose weight carrying capacity is at least a few pounds more than your bike’s weight. It also tells you whether you can attach one or more bikes without compromising the bike rack’s safety.
Mounting Options & Security
To determine whether a bike rack is the right choice for you or not, it is important to know what mounting options a rack offers. Most bike racks have tire mounts, hitch mounts, clamp mounts, power grips, and other mounting options. You also have to think about where you want to mount your bike rack.
Typically, bike racks go on the back of cars. But some people prefer trunk mounts, tailgate mounts, or even roof mounts depending on their weight. You’re best off buying an electric bike rack that has versatile mounting options. Choosing the right mounting option for your bike is easier this way and you can try out different methods until you find the right one. If you ever want to upgrade your electric bike, it lets you change the mounting position.
Build Quality
It’s all about the strength of the bike rack itself and its ability to withstand heavy outdoor use that determines the safety of your electric bike on a bike rack. Bike racks made of alloy steel or carbon steel are the only ones that can handle this. As well as being strong enough for a standard electric bike, such materials also resist damage caused by constant fatigue from outdoor use.
You also need to consider corrosion resistance since you’ll be using the bike rack year-round. That happens when it gets wet or snowy. It makes it a worthwhile purchase since you won’t need to replace the bike rack for quite a while since a durable bike rack fits most electric bikes on the market.
Supported Tire Size & Wheelbase
In addition to all the other features we listed above, this specific parameter can make sure your bike rack is compatible with your bike. The size of electric bikes varies a lot, as you might have noticed when looking for one. Specific factors that make these units different are their tire sizes and wheelbases or the distance between their tires.
Likewise, bike racks made for these bikes do the same. Based on your bike’s wheelbase, an extremely compact bike rack probably won’t fit your bike. On the other hand, if the bike rack is too big, it’ll just impede your driving since its length will exceed your car’s width. Pick a bike rack based on the tire size and wheelbase of your electric bike to avoid such problems.
Summary: Our Final Results and Picks for the Best Bike Racks Per Section
| Top Pick | | Thule | T2 Pro XTR | Expandable up to 4 bike trays | Hefty, pricey | Click to check price |
| Runner-Up | | Yakima | OnRamp | RV-compatible with a long loading ramp | Clumsy bike holding abilities, complex loading process, tilt mechanism can be hard to engage | Click to check price |
| Also Consider | | Thule | EasyFold XT2 | Integrated ramp and folds for easy storage | Expensive, questionable durability, tedious loading process, bikes with long wheelbases don’t play well | Click to check price |
There are a lot of electric bike racks out there, so we’ve figured out what the best price points are for each category. If you’re interested in a bike rack, click the link to check the price because it’s probably on sale right now.
Do eBikes need special bike racks?
Since fat tire and electric bikes are heavier and bigger than most traditional bikes, including full suspension mountain bikes, they need a special rack.
Most carriers, including SUV bike racks, can’t hold bikes as big as platform hitch racks. Platform hitch racks make adding and removing eBikes much easier.
Over the last few years, ebikes have become hugely popular. The electric bike market will grow by 130 million between 2020 and 2023, according to Statista.
Demand for racks that can transport fat tires and electric bikes is rising as more cyclists discover the thrill.
Some platform hitch racks work with 1.25-inch receivers; most work with 2-inch receivers. Not sure which receiver you have? For specifics, check your owner’s manual or the hitch label.
How do you transport ebikes on a car?
A hitch mount platform carrier works best for transporting electric bikes (not to be confused with hitch mount luggage carriers). Heavy bikes, including beach cruiser electric bikes, are secured by their wheels, so they’re less likely to get damaged.
It’s hard to load and unload an e-bike from the roof of your car because they’re usually between 30 and 70 pounds.
You can instantly reduce the weight of your electric bike by removing the battery. Besides, it’s a good idea to do this before transporting the bikes, since batteries may drain faster in extreme heat or cold.
Summary: Our Last Verdict and Top Choices for the Best Bike Racks In Every Section
| Top Pick | | Thule | T2 Pro XTR | Expandable up to 4 bike trays | Hefty, pricey | Click to check price |
| Runner-Up | | Yakima | OnRamp | RV-compatible with a long loading ramp | Clumsy bike holding abilities, complex loading process, tilt mechanism can be hard to engage | Click to check price |
| Also Consider | | Thule | EasyFold XT2 | Integrated ramp and folds for easy storage | Expensive, questionable durability, tedious loading process, bikes with long wheelbases don’t play well | Click to check price |
There are a lot of electric bike racks out there, so we’ve figured out what the best price points are for each category. If you’re interested in a bike rack, click the link to check the price because it’s probably on sale right now.
