The best booster seats provide kids with the support they need to be safe on the road, while allowing them to feel more grown up. These seats add enough height to put your child’s chest and pelvis in the right position for a proper seatbelt fit. Beyond that, some models also have features like cupholders, armrests and winged headrests. Our favorite is the convertible Chicco Kidfit Zip Plus 2-in-1 for its excellent features at an affordable price. That said, we also appreciate other options that made our list.
The best booster seats bring your kids up to the right height, so they can safely ride in the car ... [+] with a seat belt.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
The best booster seat for you and your family ultimately boils down to your individual needs—some prefer a seat that just adds height, while others want boosters with additional features to make time on the road a little smoother. To help inform your decision, I spoke with safety experts, relied on my firsthand booster seat experience as a parent to four children, interviewed other parents, and analyzed both the bestsellers on the market and those topping safety charts. I also noted models that received a 4- or 5-star rating for ease of use based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 5-star rating system.
With these factors in mind, here are the 10 best booster seats, in both high-back and backless categories, to keep big kids comfortable and safe in the car.
Chicco’s Kidfit is packed with features to support your child’s safety and comfort on the road. The booster has an impressive 10 positions to allow the seat to grow with your child, with special height adjustment from the waist to protect your little one’s head and torso. The seat is secured with latch connectors, and a one-pull tightener allows you to get the booster in the car and stabilized quickly. Additional belt guides get everything latched in more easily. It has a 4-star rating for ease of use from the NHTSA.
The contoured seat has double foam for plenty of comfort and support, while the backrest has two positions. If your child decides they’re over having a backrest, it can be removed and converted into a backless booster seat. It also includes a cupholder and a special storage container that doubles as a game, book or tablet holder when opened. Another nice perk: The cover unzips for removal and can be tossed in the wash in case of spills.
What parents say: Parents give this seat the thumbs up for its comfort and ease of use. “Everything is pretty simple,” shared one reviewer, calling it a “no brainer to put together.” Many parents raved about the roomy cupholders, along with how simple it is to put into and out of cars. “The removal and install can happen in seconds,” says another parent.
This is not a cheap booster seat. However, it does grow with your child, offering safety starting in the toddler years with the five-point harness and then converting to a high-back booster. So really, this is two car seats in one.
This booster features Britax’s Clicktight system, which helps you secure your child’s seat by opening, threading and buckling, and closing things up. The seat easily stretches (there are nine headrest positions) to move from a toddler seat to a booster and has soft, machine-washable fabric. Two layers of side protection help protect your child’s head, neck and torso, while a high steel frame lends extra safety. As a bonus, it earned four stars with the NHTSA for ease of use.
What our parent testers say: I snapped this up when my oldest child transitioned to a booster seat and now use a version for my 4-year-old. I’m impressed at how easy it is to adjust thanks to the Clicktight system. It’s also been spilled on countless times and cleans up nicely in the washing machine—an element I really appreciate. My daughter is a big fan of the large cupholders, which she uses for snacks, her water bottle and crayons.
Best Value High-Back Booster Seat
Relatively Affordable With High-Back And Backless Options
This lightweight, slim Graco booster seat easily converts from high-back to backless when your child is ready or just for convenient portability. The headrest has six height positions to grow with your kid, and the whole thing is easy to install. With a seat width of 16.2 inches, this is one of the narrowest booster seats, ideal if you need to fit multiple car seats into your vehicle. We also appreciate the cup and snack holders, as kids this age like to have those items handy. It’s also easy to buckle kids in, thanks to open loops at the shoulders that allows the belt to slide through.
What our parent testers say: My parents have this booster handy to help haul around grandkids and they give it high marks for its price and easy installation. “We move it between both of our cars, and I like that it latches in quickly,” my mom says. The grandkids also like to use the snack holder to house smaller toys, she adds.
Best Upgrade High-Back Booster Seat
Features 12-Degree Recline And Converts To Backless
At over $400 when not on sale, the Clek Oobr isn’t cheap. But this booster seat has a lot of features to allow you to set it and forget it. That includes a latch system that locks the booster into place to give your child’s seat extra stability. It’s also built like a car with a metal substructure that includes energy-absorbing foam layers and a built-in headrest, essentially giving your child a seat within a seat. A nice perk: Your child can enjoy up to 12 degrees of recline for on-the-road snoozes.
As your little one grows, the back can be removed to turn it into a backless booster. The brand’s Greenguard Gold certified fabrics are resistant to stains, moisture and bacteria, so you can worry less about the seat getting stinky—or soiled—in the near future. Naturally, there’s a cupholder, too. It’s all made and designed in Canada.
What parents say: Owners say the Clek is the perfect mix of fashion and function, and has built up quite a fanbase. “The headrest is just as easily adjusted as my car headrest, and this positions the seatbelt properly across his shoulder and not neck,” shared one parent. Another praised the sturdiness and style. “It doesn't look like a regular booster seat. It is more like a modified special seat for your child, that doesn't look childish,” they say.
Best High-Back Booster Seat For Tall Kids
12 Headrest Positions And A 63-Inch Height Limit
Amazon
Diono Monterey 5iST Fixsafe High-Back Booster Car Seat
Kids are constantly growing and changing, and that means you’ll need to adjust your car seat frequently to make sure it’s as safe as possible. The Diono Monterey 5iST makes it easy, thanks to one-handed height and width adjustment. There are 12 headrest height adjustments. Additionally, its height limit is several inches more than many other boosters, allowing you to keep your child in this booster seat longer than most.
The seat has latch connectors to help secure it into your car. Diono made this version of its Monterey booster foldable and even attached backpack straps to make carrying a bit easier. However, it still weighs about 19 pounds, so you may not want to schlep it particularly far. It is narrower than many car seats, measuring 17 inches across at the widest part of the booster, making it a good pick for smaller cars or those who need multiple car seats in the back. The cover is also machine washable; choose from a range of bold and muted colors.
What parents say: The height adjustment and sturdiness gets praise from parents. “The seat is very sturdy, easy to snap in and remove, and more importantly, comfortable for my child,” says one reviewer. Another says it can be compact when necessary: “It folds completely into itself and makes for very easy travel.”
Best High-Back Booster Seat For Head Support
Seven Headrest Positions And Side Impact Protection
Headrests add extra support and protection for kids on the road, but not every booster seat has one. Another issue is that some seats have a fixed headrest position, which can make it tricky for growing children to get comfortable. The Uppababy Alta Booster Car Seat has an impressive seven positions for the headrest, so your child can stay supported as they grow. It easily adjusts for a good seat belt fit, while latch connections secure the seat in place. Specialized pods offer side impact protection, too. It comes with a dishwasher-safe cupholder that can be attached to either side of the seat.
What our parent testers say: My younger son rides in this booster, and we appreciate the side wings when he wants to nod off. The headrest adjustment options are impressive and easy to tweak as he grows. In addition to all the safety features, I love that the cupholder can be removed and tossed in the dishwasher. It’s an incredibly helpful feature with messy kids.
Height adjustment is fairly common in booster seats with backs, but the Nuna AACE allows for depth adjustment, too. This seat gives you three depth options, along with a “growth system” that expands up and out to accommodate your child over time.
The seat has armrests, the option to recline at a level that’s customized to your child and side-impact protect pods for extra security. You also get nine headrest height positions that are adjustable with one hand. The AACE has flame-resistant fabrics but does not contain added fire retardant chemicals. While you’re unlikely to choose a booster seat based on appearance, we like that this one looks sleek.
What parents say: Parent reviewers often mention how easy and child-friendly this car seat is. “I love how we can recline it, which allows [my] daughter to take her naps comfortably without her tilting forward,” shares one parent. A fellow fan called this seat, “extremely easy to install, clean and adjust.”
Graco’s backless booster gives your child some extra creature comforts on the road while relying on your own car’s seat back for added support. The booster has a one-handed latch system to attach it to the vehicle seat, along with front adjustment for that just-right fit. There’s also a cup holder and hidden storage cup for snacks and small toys that can be tucked into the seat when it’s not in use, and built-in arm rests add extra comfort. In case of spills and accidents, the fabric cover is easily removed and tossed in the wash. It also earned four stars from the NHTSA for its ease of use.
What our parent testers say: I own several Turboboosters; they’re my go-to for quick trips and carpools. It’s incredibly easy to pull it out of the car and install it in another one, and at just 5 pounds, it’s simple to tote around. I leave a spare in my trunk in case we need to quickly pick up one of my kids’ friends, and it doesn’t take up much space at all.
Deputy editor and mom Kari Molvar adds, “I love how compact, light and efficient it is—it's a no-frills basic option that gets the job done. It's affordable and easy to clean. We even traveled with it to Florida (Disney), and it was a breeze.”
Best Value Backless Booster Seat
At $40 Or Less, It's Also Ideal If You Need Extras
Don’t feel like spending a ton on a booster? This popular Cosco option gives you what you need—added height for your child—without features like a cup holder or removable cover that can add to the cost. The booster is lightweight (just 2 pounds), compact and doesn’t need to be secured to the car seat, making it easy to move from vehicle to vehicle.
Our deputy editor uses this seat for travel and car pooling. Just a heads up: The seat’s cover needs to be hand-washed, so if your child tends to get messy with snacks in the car, this may not be the best choice. Also, because it’s so lightweight, a squirmy kid could tip around in it—so be sure your child is mature enough to sit up properly before using this booster. All said, it earned a perfect 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA’s ease of use rankings.
What our parent tester says: “We own several of these lightweight, backless booster seats, and they’ve been perfect for impromptu carpools for our older kids and even travel,” says deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala. “They’re inexpensive and work in a pinch. We stow them in the trunk of our minivan.”
Booster seats are important when you’re away from your own car, too. Inflatable seats aren’t our top choice if you drive with your child on a daily basis, but they can be useful for travel. The Hiccapop Uberboost is an inflatable seat that can be blown up in 20 seconds using just your breath. It’s a great option for taxis, Ubers and vacations.
It folds up small enough to stash in your bag or suitcase when it’s not in use, plus it weighs under 1.5 pounds. It’s also extra narrow at 14.5 inches across, making it easy to fit more than one car seat in the back seat, and positioning clips help your child’s seat belt secure in the right spot. We also appreciate the brand’s limited warranty for any manufacturing defects, and there’s no expiration date, so this travel booster seat might make it through quite a few trips (and children). The machine-washable cover makes it easy to keep clean.
What our parent tester says: The Hiccapop UberBoost is a favorite of many traveling parents, including deputy editor Jane Sung. “This inflatable booster seat has been indispensable for international travels with our 5-year-old, whether we're taking local taxis or renting a car,” she says. “It inflates in seconds and can be set up on the seat in under a minute—helpful for getting in and out of cars quickly. It folds up and easily fits into a backpack with plenty of room to spare.” I also used it on a cross-country trip with my kids and was shocked at how fast it inflated.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted parenting writers are experts in the space, having spent countless hours researching, testing and reporting on the best products to create our library of kids and baby gear recommendations.
Korin Miller, author of this story, is a mom of four kids, ranging in age from one to 10. Miller used several booster seats to help keep her kids (and their friends) safe on the road, and has hands-on experience with many of the seats featured in this list. She’s also a regular Forbes Vetted contributor and has written dozens of parenting articles.
We gathered feedback on the booster seats that other parents—both those in our social circles and parents on our staff—have used and recommend. The latter group of parents includes deputy editors Kari Molvar, Rose Gordon Sala and Jane Sung.
We consulted two car seat experts for their guidance on what to look for in booster seats: Michelle Pratt, a nationally certified child passenger safety expert and the founder and owner of Safe In The Seat; and Dr. Benjamin Hoffman, M.D., a professor of pediatrics in the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine.
The Forbes Vetted editorial team frequently reviews this story to make sure our recommendations are still in stock and relevant based on the latest developments in the kids and baby gear space. It was last updated in April 2024.
How We Chose The Best Booster Seats
To curate best booster seats, we drew on personal experience as parents who have spent plenty of hours using booster seats. We spoke with two car seat experts, and thoroughly reviewed each product’s safety ratings before they made the cut.
We researched and evaluated the most popular boosters on the market, paying particular attention to those that repeatedly rated the safest and easiest to use based on guidelines by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
We have recommended booster seats based on our personal experiences and polled other parents to share their favorite picks, including three editors on the Forbes Vetted staff.
Each pick was evaluated for safety features, adjustability, ease of installation, ease of cleaning and value.
We only chose picks with high buyer ratings of at least 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Should My Child Be In A Car Seat Or A Booster?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that children can safely transition to a booster seat starting once they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. If you’re unsure, the NHTSA has a tool you can use to give you personalized advice based on your child’s birthdate, height and weight.
While the NHTSA says some children can safely move to a booster seat as early as age 4 (if they’ve met the height and weight requirements), this is not the case for every kid. Moving to a booster seat also requires maturity from the child to sit up properly in their seat, so many parents leave children in a harness as long as they continue to meet the weight and heigh maximums of their forward-facing car seat.
How Long Should Child Be In A Five-Point Harness?
It’s best to keep a child in a five-point harness “as long as possible,” says Michelle Pratt, nationally certified child passenger safety expert and founder and owner of Safe in the Seat.
“The bottom line is that, for every stage of child passenger safety, what the child is in now is safer than the next step,” says Dr. Benjamin Hoffman, M.D., a professor of pediatrics in the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine. “Keep the child in what they're in for as long as possible.”
When Can My Kid Move To A Booster Seat?
Again, it’s best to keep your child in a harnessed toddler car seat for as long as possible. “When a child is in a harnessed seat, the harness is doing the work to keep the child in place,” Pratt says. “In a booster, the child has to keep themselves in the optimal position in the event a crash occurs.”
Look at your car seat’s max height and weight limits when deciding when to make the switch to a booster seat, and also consider your child’s age. “Many seats can harness up to 65 pounds or 49 inches,” Pratt says. “The absolute minimums for moving to a high-back booster would be 5-years-old, at least 40 pounds and the child should be mature enough to sit properly all the time.” Because of this, “some kids will be closer to 6 or 7 before they are mature enough to move to a booster,” Pratt says.
Where Do I Install A Booster Seat?
Like other child car seats, a booster seat should be installed in the back seat. Children should not be allowed to ride in a front seat until at least age 12, according to the CDC.
Is A Backless Booster Seat Safe?
A backless booster is “absolutely safe,” Hoffman says. However, he adds, “a booster with a back will provide a little better positioning of the shoulder belt.” For children who tend to fall asleep in the car, a booster with a back can help position them better than a backless option, he says.
Are Inflatable Booster Seats Safe?
Pratt points out that all car seats sold in the U.S. must meet federally-regulated safety standards. “Car seat manufacturers self-certify that their products adhere to these regulations, and inflatable booster seats are no exception,” Pratt says. But a computer model study published in 2022 by the University of Virginia and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that inflatable boosters have a high likelihood of a child “submarining,” or sliding under the lap belt in the event of a crash.
In Canada, “inflatable booster seats are not permitted due to their failure to pass the booster compression deflection test,” Pratt says, noting that the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does not include a booster compression deflection test in the regulations. As a result, she recommends sticking with a traditional booster seat as much as possible. “Reserve inflatable boosters for specific travel situations,” she says. “Non-inflatable boosters offer the same level of portability, are lightweight, can be conveniently stored and easily fit in overhead compartments or under airplane seats.”
