Best-Rated Booster Car Seats That Keep Your Kid Comfy and Won't Make a Preteen Cringe

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A convertible car seat harness only works for a child up to about 65 pounds in the forward-facing position. After that, it's time for your child to use the vehicle seat belt. A booster seat helps by literally boosting them up so that the seatbelt can be placed in the proper spot across their shoulder and not across their neck, which could cause harm in an accident.
The parenting and product experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have tested 25 booster car seats in the past five years. We rate ease of installation, angle and headrest adjustments, as well as ease of cleaning and overall fit for a child. Our list of the best booster seats is based on Lab-tested picks, category expertise and real-life consumer feedback.KidFit ClearTex
Chicco's KidFit is a nice price, transitions from a high back booster to a backless booster car seat and comes with comforts such as arm rests and foldable cup holders.
✔️ LAB NOTES: In its high back form, the KidFit offers 10 height positions, adjusting along the waist rather than the neck to offer more protection down the side of your child. This version is made with the brand's ClearTex fabric, which is removable and machine washable, and also boasts Greenguard Gold certification for textiles that are low in chemical emissions.
The KidFit connects to your car via a LATCH system and our Lab experts are fans of Chicco's SuperCinch one-pull tightener, which makes it easy to get this seat fitting snugly. The two dishwasher-safe cupholders are soft and can fold in if you have to fit a third passenger in your backseat and need every inch.
✔️ TESTER NOTES: If you're a road-trip family that occasionally drives for hours, this exceptionally comfortable pick might be best for you. Our testers loved the contoured seat and the double-foam cushioning. There are arm rests, too, but they are small.
Some younger tester kids had trouble buckling themselves in with the back on. But the back also removes completely for bigger kids, who then have no trouble buckling themselves.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: We like it for kids from kindergarten to middle school, ages 5 to 12, who will be taking occasional long trips in their booster seat.
$109.99 at amazon.comTopside
For daily runs to school with a kid who almost fits in a regular seat belt, this bargain is a no-brainer.
✔️ LAB NOTES: Perfect for older kids, carpooling and families with multiple cars (not to mention grandparent and babysitter vehicles), this is the most narrow, minimalist and best budget booster car seat we tested. Ideal for older kids, it's got no bells and whistles, but it does boost a child up three inches so that they can buckle themselves in using the car's seat belt correctly.
Unlike every other booster on this list, the Topside does not secure to your car with the LATCH system. This seat just sits on top of the car's backseat and the weight of your child holds it down.
✔️ TESTER NOTES: If you frequently carpool kids to practices or meetings, it can be smart to keep extras of these in the trunk of your car so that everyone rides safely. This booster is also inexpensive enough that family members who drive your kid can keep one in their vehicle too.
Since the Topside only weighs about two pounds and is only 15 inches wide, it's highly portable and easy to pack if you'll be in and out of vans and ride share vehicles.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: We'd use this for big kids and short trips. We like it for about ages 8 to 12, but note the 100-pound weight limit and the 57-inch height limit.
$47.84 at amazon.comMonterey 2XT
Diono is favorite high back booster car seat among our pros because of the nicely padded headrest that's comfy on long trips, and it turns into a backless booster later.
✔️ LAB NOTES: That cushy headrest can be set to any of 11 positions, moving up a total of 6.5 inches to grow with your child. "My children always appear comfortable in this compared to other boosters where they have felt cramped or less supported," says former GH Institute Chief Technologist and Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman, a mom of three and a lead tester for car seats and booster seats.
In high back mode, this offers both height and width adjustments. It reclines a bit to be sure that the seat meets the pitch of your car's backseat. Once your kid no longer requires the added support, you can remove the back completely and use this as a backless booster.
The Diono seatpad is wider than some other options on this list, a plus for big kids. It attaches to your car using the LATCH system, though some online reviewers say they don't find the LATCH straps on this to be as easy to use as those on some convertible car seats.
✔️ TESTER NOTES: Kid testers appreciate the arm rests and the two retractable cup holders. This seat comes in a range of colors, including black, blue and red, with covers that remove for machine washing (though we wish the removal was a bit easier).
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: We also like this one for elementary school to middle school, ages 5 to 12, especially if your kid is large and tall.
$159.99 at amazon.comTurboBooster LX
If you're looking for something easy but comfy for an older kid, consider a backless booster like this popular Graco model that's been out long enough to get tens of thousands of positive user ratings.
✔️ LAB NOTES: Use the LATCH system to securely connect this in the backseat. We like the TurboBooster if you will be mostly keeping it installed in one vehicle. But it's also a super portable booster seat for kids who don't need added neck and back support.
✔️ TESTER NOTES: The TurboBooster gets kids to the right height for the seat belt, but lets them feel "bigger" and less babyish. Several of our testers noted how this made it easier for their kids to buckle themselves in.
For parents, we found the machine washable seat pad to be easy to clean. The integrated cupholder and hidden storage compartment are a way to keep a drink and snacks (or a small toy) handy.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: This is a great pick for preteens not quite ready to transition to sitting unaided in the car, but looking for more independence.
RELATED: Good Housekeeping Institute Car Seat Reviews
$40.99 at amazon.comGrow With You ClickTight+
You can get a younger kid started in a booster seat if you use one that begins with a five-point harness, such as this Britax.
✔️ LAB NOTES: This booster is a little different in that it crosses over into the convertible car seat world. It can accommodate children as small as 25 pounds with the harness, then up to 120 pounds as a belt-positioning booster — a noticeably wider spread than most booster car seats. Expect to use it from preschool through elementary school, which helps justify the price.
✔️ TESTER NOTES: Our testers said the nine-position headrest was easy to adjust. Both our Lab experts and parent testers also love the Britax ClickTight system, which makes it a snap to lock this booster car seat in place in your backseat when it's in harness mode. The seat fabric is removable and can go in both the washing machine and the dryer.
With three layers of side-impact protection and the brand's SafeCell Technology that helps absorb the crash energy, you know this is among the safest booster seats. However, this a heavy, wide booster car seat. Expect to keep it in your main vehicle; it doesn't lend itself much to swapping between cars.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Families who want to invest in a booster that will take them from preschool to middle school. It's got a wide weight range, from 25 to 120 pounds.
RELATED: Best All-in-One Car Seats
$349.99 at amazon.comAACE
Nuna's booster has a high-end look and thick padding. It's a good choice for a booster that stays in your car, and it turns into a backless booster later.
✔️ LAB NOTES: The seat's fabric is Greenguard Gold certified. The headrest adjusts to nine different positions; as you push it upwards, the shoulder width moves out as well, so it expands as your child grows (accommodating up to 120 pounds). You can even choose from three seat depths and eight recline positions, making this seat among the most customizable to your child's size.
The cupholder is not integrated (it just hooks on), but because it removes easily, you can put it through the dishwasher. The fabric comes off as well for washing and the seat connects with a LATCH system. Energy-absorbing foam pads on the sides of the seat help with side-impact protection when this is in high back mode.
✔️ TESTER NOTES: This is so large it almost looks built-in. It comes in gray and black, to match most car interiors. Online reviewers rave about how sturdy it feels, and say that their kids can get themselves buckled in.
Because this fits a preteen up to 120 pounds and five feet tall, it can be another great choice for larger kids. It does have arm rests, but they are small.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Kids from kindergarten to middle school, approximately ages 5 to 12, and parents who plan to keep the high-back booster in their vehicle for some years.
$300.00 at crateandbarrel.comOobr
Clek's Oobr is an ergonomic car seat with a slightly pared-down profile. The Ober goes from high back booster to backless booster.
✔️ LAB NOTES: Numerous safety measures impress our Lab experts, including the fact that Clek meets Canadian safety standards, which go above and beyond what is needed in the United States (read more about Clek's testing). The Oobr, which is manufactured in North America, is made with rigid LATCH connectors and a winged headrest for increased stability.
The Oobr has clear belt guides to make sure the seat belt rests over your child's body in the correct places. It's also easy to tell whether or not the seat is properly in place since you'll hear an audible click when secure.
✔️ TESTER NOTES: "This booster seat feels solid, though it's still comfortable for my child," says Lexie Sachs, a mom of two and the GH Institute Executive Director, Strategy & Operations. The headrest adjusts to any of 11 positions and the seat can recline 12 degrees. It also has a removable cup holder and a removable seat cover for easy cleaning.
When your child is ready, you can take off the back and use this as a backless booster. When you're completely finished with it, you can look into Clek's recycling program in partnership with CarSeatRecycling.com.
✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: It's recommended for ages 4 to 10, and we agree; this is a good booster from kindergarten through elementary school.
$319.99 at amazon.comHow we test booster car seats
The Good Housekeeping Institute's engineering and parenting pros have tested 25 booster seats over the past five years using a combination of in-Lab and at-home tests with both experts and consumer reviewers. We study ease of installation, kid comfort, ease of getting kids in and out of the car, headrest adjustments, height and weight limits, stability and more.
As a final check we research online reviews to be sure we aren't missing any real-world factors, good or bad.What to look for when shopping for a booster car seat
Here's how to choose a booster seat:
✔️ Height and weight limits: All have minimum and maximum height and weight specifications. To ensure proper seat belt placement and optimal security, make sure your child fits within those ranges. If you have a convertible car seat with a booster-seat mode, or a booster that transitions from high back to backless, hold onto the user manual (or check on the brand's website) so you know when it's time to safely switch.
✔️ Seat adjustments: For the safest and most comfortable ride, look for a high back booster seat that offers neck or back height adjustments. Some models also feature width adjustments for a custom fit.
✔️ High back vs. backless: Oftentimes an older child is vocal about how a seat looks to their friends, which is why in the preteen years you're probably going to want to switch to backless mode, or get a backless booster. But it's nice for comfort and safety to have elementary school kids in a booster with a high back, side support and head support.
✔️ Easy cleaning: Regardless of age, spills happen. Luckily, most booster seats offer removable machine-washable seat covers and padding.
✔️ Accessories: Cup holders and hidden drawers allow kids to keep their items close.
✔️ Installation: We prefer booster seats that attach to your backseat via LATCH connectors, so the booster does not slide around.
✔️ Ease of use: You want the seat to be simple to install and use. Lucia Sanchez, Director of Media Relations for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), stresses that, "The right car seat for your child is one that fits your child, fits your vehicle and that you will use correctly every time."How to properly use a booster seat
Booster seats provide a safe way for kids to ride in the car before they're tall and heavy enough to sit directly on the seat. However, children vary by weight, height and readiness and many may be best off in their convertible car seat longer, moving to a booster seat (or booster mode, if their convertible car seat offers one) at age 6, 7, 8 or older.
Use the NHTSA's car seat finder to determine what's best for your child's current weight, height and age. Then double-check the manufacturer specifications to be sure your child is within a seat's size guidelines.
It's important that you don't rush a child into using the car's seat belt. They are safest in a five-point harness until they hit the Lower Anchor Weight Limit, which NHTSA sets at 65 pounds minus the weight of the car seat unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer. Most manufacturers say you can use their five-point harness to 65 pounds.
"The best practice recommendation is that children should remain in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether until they reach the maximum height or weight allowed by the car seat's manufacturer," Sanchez says. "Once children outgrow the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it's time to travel in a booster seat. A booster seat positions the child so the seat belt fits properly, with the lap belt worn low across the hips and the shoulder belt comfortably crossing the chest and shoulder and away from the neck and face."
Depending on your state's car seat laws, children may be required to use a safety seat until they're large enough to sit in the car with the seat belt secured at the right areas of their body. A child is likely ready to ditch the booster seat once they are tall enough (usually 57 inches), old enough (at minimum 8 years old) and, when they sit on the car's seat, the seat belt fits across their shoulder and over their upper legs or hips.
Final note from NHTSA: Kids are safest riding in the backseat up until age 13.Harness vs high-back vs. backless booster seats
If you have an all-in-one car seat, you might not need a booster at all. But if your child is in a convertible car seat, you'll need to size up. These are the possible configurations:
✔️ Harness booster seats look the most like regular car seats because they secure your child in a five-point safety harness. For this reason, you can transfer your child to a harness booster seat at a preschool age. You can only keep them in that five-point harness until they hit about 65 pounds or whatever the Lower Anchor Weight Limit is set by the seat manufacturer. After that, you'll need to transition your seat to high back mode, and use the seat belt.
✔️ High-back booster seats offer neck and head support. However, with one of these, you use your vehicle's seat belt to secure your child rather than a harness. Expect to thread the seat belt through for your child at first, especially when they are still young. Most of our favorite high back booster seats have clear guides that help you find the path for the seat belt.
✔️ Backless booster seats rely on your child leaning back on the regular car seat and using the car's seat belt. They are the closest thing to your child sitting like an adult; they're just boosted up from below so that the seat belt hits them in the right spot.
By the time a preteen has graduated to a backless booster, they can likely buckle themselves in. Many high back boosters transition to a backless booster (you literally just remove the back), but you can also buy a backless booster on its own. Backless boosters are inexpensive and lightweight, great for travel and car pooling.Why trust Good Housekeeping?
For more than 100 years the Good Housekeeping Institute has provided expert reviews and advice on virtually everything that families buy, including gear for babies and kids. Each year the GH Institute publishes its annual Parenting Awards.
This article was most recently updated by Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn, who has covered the juvenile-products market for several decades, first at American Baby magazine and then at Parents. She's a mom of two and lives in Brooklyn.
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