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Keep your child safe in the car for as long as possible with the right booster seat. booster headrest
As your child gets older (and, well, longer), they’ll eventually reach a point when they’ve sized out of their forward-facing car seat, and it’s time to transition them into a booster seat. Cars and seat belts are designed with adults in mind, and until your child reaches a certain height (about 4-foot-9), they need these seats to place them in a position where the seat belt does more good than harm. There are a lot of different options on the market, and we tested 18 of them with real kids in real-life situations to find the best booster seats available.
Not every booster is for every kid: Your child should feel comfortable in their booster seat, so they'll stay buckled in it! You also need to make sure the booster fits properly in your vehicle. You may want to look for certain features (five-point harnesses are the safest option for smaller kids, boosters with footrests are comfortable for taller ones), and keep portability in mind. If you’re planning on moving the seat from car to car, a high-back booster seat may not be as convenient as a backless one. With the help of two certified vehicle safety experts, we looked at all of this when selecting and testing products for this list.
Most of all, we relied on our favorite experts, the parents on our staff, to test booster seats with their kids for at least two weeks. Their feedback on the installation process, their kids’ comfort, how the seats fit in their cars, how hard it was to clean the boosters, the price of each seat, and any other stand-out design features helped us create this list of the best booster seats you can buy right now.
The longer your child wears a five-point harness, the better, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, so that means you want to keep them in one until they reach their forward-facing car seat’s height or weight limit (whichever comes first). At a minimum, children should be at least 5 years old before transitioning to a booster seat, assuming they haven’t met their car seat’s height or weight limits before then.
The AAP also recommends that children remain in a high back booster seat for as long as possible, as this provides added back and neck support. However, children may be ready to transition to a backless booster seat around age 5 or 6. They should be at least 40 pounds and at least 38 inches tall. Children should be mature enough to be able to sit still without slouching or wiggling around a lot, and the seat belt strap should fit correctly across their shoulder and not on their neck.
This high-back booster is versatile, easy to use, and comfortable for kids, making it a great value. We like that this is a multipurpose option: It can be a high-back or a backless seat, so if you need to travel with it or move it from car to car, you can detach parts to make it more portable (assuming your child is ready for this option, so check the AAP recommendations above). It can be attached with the car’s LATCH (lower anchor tethers for children) system, and our tester found the installation process to be straightforward and fast. We appreciate the comfortable features this one offers, like a snack tray, cup holder, a headrest with 10 different positions, and a footrest that especially comes in handy for taller kids. We also like how easy it is to clean the removable seat cover. We think this one is sturdy and durable, and it will stand up to years of use.
A real bonus is the cooling fabric that makes it a great option for warmer climates. Our tester noted that it really kept the air flowing in the backseat.
“A removable cover makes it really easy to clean up any messes or accidents. It zips on and off and is very easy to put back on. If you don't wash it too often I think it would hold up for a while.” — Dwyer, mom of a 7-year-old and a 4-year-old
While the footrest is comfortable for the child, it can make it harder for it to fit in a smaller car and also doesn’t leave much room for a taller driver or passenger to recline their seat. We also found that the snack cup didn’t stay in place very firmly, but didn’t feel it was a dealbreaker.
This Graco booster seat checked all of our boxes throughout testing. At just about 5 pounds, it is super light and portable. Because it sits on the seat (with no LATCH or belt attachment), there’s virtually no installation process, so it’s easy to move this from car to car. We love that this one features a wide, very padded cushion that our tester’s 8-year-old said “feels like my mattress on my bed.” We also appreciate that it comes with two convenient cup holders that can be folded into the sides of the seat when not in use.
One unusual feature adding comfort for passengers is that you can adjust the armrests on this booster, though you’ll need a screwdriver for the process. Our tester also noted that during a long car ride, an adult sat in the middle seat next to the booster and still had plenty of room. We feel that it is durable and sturdy enough to withstand years of use. Lastly, we love how easy it is to clean. The seat pad is machine washable, and the whole seat was “pristine” even after weeks of use.
“My daughter loved the seat! She was used to sitting in a booster with a much thinner pad, so this Graco seat was a welcome step up in her comfort level.” —Jason, dad of an 8-year-old
While this has been rigorously tested and meets all safety requirements, note that both experts we spoke to recommended using the LATCH system whenever possible for a sturdy installation and fit in the car, and this seat does not offer that option.
At less than $20, this is one of the cheapest options out there, and it doesn’t skimp on quality or safety. There is no installation required, and it weighs about 2 pounds, which makes it incredibly portable and versatile. Our tester said it was a total breeze and used it in multiple cars, rental cars, and planes. It’s sturdy, with a seat that is wide enough to accommodate children of various sizes, and it feels very stable even when they’re getting in and out of the car. There is an attached seat belt adjuster on this one that ensures the seat belt is positioned properly, although our tester never felt the need to use it. They noted that their son had a much easier time buckling himself in with this Cosco as compared with the high-back booster they’d been using.
We also found it had no wear and tear even after traveling with it for two years, without ever needing to be cleaned. Between its ease of use and the price, our tester noted, “It is almost too good to be true.”
“This seat has logged many miles over two years of testing. It has held up to drops and bumps and my children playing with it. We've also placed it in an overhead bin twice, and we had no problems. — Dwyer, mom of a 7-year-old and a 4-year-old
If you’re looking for comfortable features, this isn’t the seat for you: It has a very basic design, with no cup holders, padding, or adjustable armrests.
We found this Chicco backless booster seat to be incredibly easy to use. We like that it has a belt positioner that makes it feel like the child is more secure in the seatbelt. The positioner stays where it is, even when your child is not in the seat, so you don’t have to readjust it every time. Our tester loved that this seat is flatter than other boosters, saying their children found it more comfortable. It also has some convenient features, like the two cup holders that retract into the seat to create more space around it. It’s a great travel option due to its easy installation, light weight, and an ergonomic handle that makes it easy to carry.
“It understood the assignment,” our tester raved, saying they felt it was more than worth the money and extremely functional.
It’s also worth noting that Chicco’s Cleartex models use GREENGUARD GOLD-certified fabric, meaning they are rigorously tested by a third party to prove that they’re not made with harmful chemicals.
“The built-in handle is so easy to grab, and it really distributes the weight of the booster seat well when you carry it. I'd be happy to carry this through an airport or move it between cars.” —Ashleigh, mom of a 5-year-old
This seat is a little narrower than some other options out there, and is advertised as a good option for using three across the backseat, which is great if you need that, but if your child is a larger size, you might want something wider. Our tester also found that the arm rests, which aren’t adjustable, might be confining as kids get older.
While this backless booster that we tested didn’t use LATCH, you can purchase the Chicco GoFit Plus, which does use LATCH for installation and is about $10 more.
This Diono booster seat can be installed using LATCH, an extra layer of safety many like to have. Even though this requires a little more installation than booster seats without LATCH attachments, we still found it easy and straightforward. Our tester noted that while it seems daunting because of all of the straps, you quickly get used to it, and it becomes simpler the more you do it. We found it to be lightweight, sturdy, and sleek, with upholstery that goes the whole seat, leaving no tiny crumb-catching crevices. This makes it super easy to wipe clean.
We love the lightweight feel, the two retractable cup holders, and the armrests that double as a carry handle when moving it around. This could be a great option for older or taller kids because while most booster seats accommodate children up to 57 inches tall and 100 or 110 pounds, this one fits kids up to 63 inches and 120 pounds. It also has a seat belt positioner to ensure that your child is always buckled up properly.
“My daughter constantly drops crumbs all over the car when snacking, and this was a breeze to clean.” —Abby, mom of a 4-year-old
The narrow seat and short armrests might not be as comfortable for a larger child.
There is a lot to love about this Nuna booster seat, from the extra comfortable plush padding and unique design features to its multiple configurations. This is a high-back booster that can also transition into a backless booster with a belt positioner, so it will grow with your child. We found installation to be very simple, especially if you’re already familiar with LATCH. We love that this one has red and green indicators to show that the belt is locked in properly for an extra sense of security. Our tester said that his 6-year-old son loved this booster seat and called it “super comfy,” and it definitely has a lot of features that make it stand out. You can pull a center handle to adjust the seat depth, and when you pull the headrest up, it also widens the seat to accommodate growing kids. Vents in the back make it very breathable, too. It’s easy to wipe clean or remove the cover and put it in the wash.
We also found this to be another great option for growing kids because it can accommodate a child up to 60 inches tall and weighing 110 pounds in high-back mode and up to 60 inches tall and 120 pounds backless, which is great for taller and older kids.
This seat is a bit on the wider side, although we wouldn’t call it bulky. It’s also worth noting that this comes in at a higher price point than many other options, and while we found it to be a great option for those that can afford it, it’s still not accessible to all.
We feel like this Peg Perego booster seat is well-made and sturdy, and found it to be very easy to install. It uses LATCH and took our tester just a few minutes to do. We also really like how portable it feels, especially for a high-back booster. It folds into a compact bundle that is convenient for storage and transport in the travel bag (which you can buy separately). In testing, it wiped clean and looked barely used even after weeks of testing.
It’s narrow enough to fit nicely in a car but still comfortable. Our tester really appreciated that it has a padded headrest and reclines without moving the seat, which makes it comfortable for longer car rides. The headrest, backrest, side protections, and seat can all be adjusted independently for a more personalized fit. Added safety features like kinetic pods to absorb impact force and a reinforced aluminum back provide a nice sense of security.
One feature our tester wasn’t thrilled with was the retractable cup holders. “They have no base and instead rely on the bottom of the cup sitting on the cushion of the seat,” our tester explained. This made them less than ideal for smaller cups, and our tester just didn't love the design, especially for this booster's luxury price point.
We like that this seat features the option of a five-point harness, something that both of our experts noted is ideal for younger kids’ safety. Because with the harness it’s safe for kids as little as 25 pounds, and without the harness, it can fit kids up to 63 inches and 120 pounds, this seat has the longest span of usefulness for parents and caregivers. It’s also fairly easy to install using LATCH. We also liked that it was easy to clean, with very few nooks and crannies and a fabric that was easy to wipe down or remove for more thorough cleaning.
There are also four snack and cup holders and two different recline positions. Our tester noted that this definitely feels more high-quality than other booster seats she’s tried.
“There is no doubt about this feeling well-built and sturdy.” —Jodi, mom of a 5-year-old
Our tester felt this one was a little bulky and didn’t feel it would fit comfortably in a sedan, and also noted that they wouldn’t really use the leg rests since that might make it even bulkier. They found that the process of removing the five-point harness was cumbersome and also did not find it to be easily portable.
The design of this seat was sleek and narrow, making it an optimal choice for caregivers who need to fit multiple car seats or booster seats into one row of their vehicle. It was comfortable enough for our tester’s tall child to sit in (and nap in) happily. Assembly was easy and took only 15 minutes, and we think it is lightweight enough to move from car to car. There are two hideaway cup holders and adjustable head and armrests. The seat cover was easy to remove and throw in the wash, and then easy to place back on without any shrinkage. During testing, we didn’t notice any change in appearance and found it easy to spot clean too.
We think this Graco booster seat is a fairly priced and ideal option for someone on a budget.
Our tester noted that the car seat material seemed “adequate,” and that it “wasn’t the sturdiest, but got the job done.” We also felt the headrest could have been more padded because it didn’t seem to support our tester’s son's head when he was napping.
The storage drawer in this seat makes it an ideal option for families who go on a lot of road trips. It’s a perfect place to stash small toys or books, with open areas on either side for pencils and trinket toys. Our tester noted that her daughter loved this part of the seat. The seat also feels sturdy and well-made, and comes with comfortable features like a padded headrest and a cup holder.
It’s fairly lightweight and because it doesn’t use LATCH, it’s very portable. It’s easy to clean, with a removable cover that can be machine washed, and the storage compartment can also be removed and cleaned.
We didn’t love that you have to move the seat out of place to change the position of the headrest. Our tester noted that it was not intuitive, and they always felt like they were going to break it. It’s a bit narrow, so it might not be ideal for larger kids, and we wish it had more than one cup holder.
While these booster seats didn’t make our top picks list, we did still find them worth mentioning.
To find the best booster seats on the market, we spent a total of 13,950 hours testing 18 different products. We had parents and staff members test the booster seats at home in their own cars for at least a two week period of time. Here are the attributes we tested:
Throughout the testing and research process, we consulted two experts for their insight and advice on booster seats:
There are several different types of booster seats available. What you choose will depend on your child’s age, height, and weight, as well as your vehicle and your personal preferences.
“The most important thing is that parents find a booster seat that works for their kid and their vehicle,” Dr. Jermakian says. “Booster seats lift the child up, [steepen] the lap belt angle, and help engage the pelvic bones in a crash. They also shorten the seat cushion length, so the child can sit comfortably, and [they prevent] the child from slouching. Booster seats also position the lap and shoulder belt properly so that it sits snugly across the middle of the shoulder and snugly across the hips.”
The AAP recommends children stay in a booster seat until they are big enough for a seat belt to fit them properly and/or once they’ve reached the height or weight limit for the booster. They are big enough when:
Jessica Booth is a freelance writer who covers parenting, shopping, wellness, entertainment, and wedding content. She has been freelance writing since 2017 and before that, worked as an editor at an online publication for seven years. She has written for sites such as Brides, People, Insider, Bustle, Romper, Refinery 29, Cosmopolitan, Delish, The Daily Beast, Reviewed, She Knows, Scary Mommy, The Knot, and What to Expect. She also has two young daughters and has been through her fair share of strollers and car seats.
isofix seat fixing Car seats: information for families. HealthyChildren.org. 2024.