Tested: The Best Booster Car Seats, According to Experts

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This article was updated in September 2023 with new products and information.

We here at Car and Driver are car experts, and our readers trust us for insight and advice—about automobiles. Child car seats, however? While they are an essential automobile accessory if you're a parent of young kids, not many of us at Car and Driver are anymore. (Or yet.) We just didn't feel comfortable picking the "best" child car booster seats and sharing uninformed opinions with our readers.

Instead, we turned to the expertise of our colleagues at the renowned Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI). Good Housekeeping has been testing and evaluating products for the home and parents for more than a century, and their testing and evaluation processes are the industry standard.

The GHI recently updated its car-seat rankings for 2023, and here are its choices for the best booster car seats for kids.

The Best Booster Car Seats

So, your child has outgrown their car seat. What next? While it won't be long until you bid farewell to the car seat, you're not in the clear yet. Even as your kid grows taller and heavier, there's still a need for a booster seat, and here's why.

When it comes to crash simulations, manufacturers assume the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts fit snugly and correctly. For most children, that ideal fit doesn't happen until they reach around four foot-nine, or between the ages of eight and 12. Booster seats adjust for that difference by lifting the body, ensuring the seat belts cross your child's waist and chest, instead of lying in the uncomfortable and unsafe position of their bellies and necks, which could spell real trouble in case of an accident.

Our list of the best booster seats for your child results from rigorous testing from the Good Housekeeping Institute, which uses a blend of lab tests, parental feedback, and category expertise to choose the best options for you. The GHI assessed safety, ease of use, proper fit, ease of installation, angle and harness adjustments, cleaning, dimension, and even installation into various vehicles. And now, for the cream of the crop, the top recommendations from Good Housekeeping for the best booster car seats. The Car and Driver gear team distilled the findings into a digestible form for our purposes.

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Monterey XT

A particular favorite among GHI testers, the Monterey XT is also well-liked by Amazon reviewers. When used as a high-back booster, it offers height and width adjustments as well as two recline positions for a more custom fit than other boosters. The back can also be removed completely, to accommodate bigger kids.

This booster safely accommodates kids up to 63 inches tall and 120 pounds. It has a wider, more comfortable seat than most of the competition. It comes in a range of colors with removable covers for machine washing (though GH testers noted they wished the removal was easier). Aluminum-reinforced side-impact protection provides extra security.

Maestro Sport Harness

Easily making the transition from a harnessed car seat to a high-back, the Maestro Sport Harness booster can suit your child from toddlerhood to big-kid status. As a five-point harness car seat, it holds kids up to 50 pounds; as a booster, it accommodates kids up to 110 pounds and 57 inches tall. The seat padding is machine washable. It also features dual cup holders to keep drinks and snacks within reach.

GHI experts found this seat to be lightweight, easy to install and remove, and, at its low price point, a great value. Shoulder guides and multiple harness slots make it easier for your child to get a secure fit. The headrest, however, is not adjustable.

KidFit 2-in-1

In its high-back form, the KidFit 2-in-1 offers 10 height positions, adjusting along the waist rather than the neck to offer more protection down the side and along the head. The back is completely removable for bigger kids; this adds 10 pounds to the weight range limit as well. The two dishwasher-safe cupholders are foldable to keep the width of this seat manageable, while still offering a place to stash snacks and drinks.

Good Housekeeping's testers loved the contoured seat, and their kids found the double-foam padding comfortable. Parent testers also appreciated that the seat and armrest covers are removable for machine washing.

Alta

The compact Alta sports a sleek look and high-quality construction without compromising functionality. It has seven(!) headrest positions and comes in four colors to suit any vehicle cabin. Plus, removable seat fabric and cupholders make it easier to clean.

Testers noted the specialized foam featured on the sides of the seat provides additional side-impact protection.

4Ever DLX 4 in 1

One of the most popular car seats on the market because of its versatility and longevity, this convertible car seat starts rear-facing for babies up to 40 pounds, transitions to forward-facing for toddlers, then converts to a high-back booster and finally to a backless booster that's suitable for bigger kids. It might be the last car seat you'll ever need to buy.

Experts loved its 10-position headrest, six-position recline, and no-rethread harness. It also comes with two cup holders and machine-washable seat pads that can be removed in minutes without uninstalling the seat.

Maestro Sport Harness

Easily making the transition from a harnessed car seat to a highback booster, the Maestro Sport Harness booster can suit your child from toddlerhood to big kid status. As a five-point harness car seat, it holds kids up to 50 pounds; as a booster it accommodates kids up to 110 pounds and 57 inches tall. The seat padding is machine washable. It also features dual cup holders to keep drinks and snacks within reach.

GHI experts found this seat to be lightweight, easy to install and remove, and, at its low price point, a great value. Shoulder guides and multiple harness slots make it easier for your child to get a secure fit. The headrest, however, is not adjustable.

AACE

Nuna's booster seats offer a vibrant luxury with it's attractive color options (pink, teal, and dark green), yet it remains reasonably priced.

The seat fabric is Greenguard Gold certified, making it ideal for granola parents. The headrest is highly adjustable, with nine different positions. As you raise the height, the shoulder width also expands, ensuring a comfortable fit. But they don't stop there— you can also choose from three seat depths and eight recline positions, making the Nuna one of the most adaptable choices for your child's growing body.

Vibrant color options can be a big plus for parents looking to win over a child. Additional features like the cupholders and seat fabric, which are removable for easy cleaning, make it appealing to parents who must clean up the grime. For safety, the seat is secured with the LATCH system and provides energy-absorbing foam pads on the sides to enhance side impact protection in high-back mode.

Cosco Topside Backless Booster Car Seat (Leo)

Perfect for travel, carpooling, and families with multiple cars (not to mention grandparent and babysitter vehicles), the Cosco Topside is the simplest and best budget booster car seat GHI tested. The Cosco Topside is the epitome of minimalist—designed for older children who simply need a little boost for optimum belt placement.

The seat doesn't hook to the LATCH system but rather is held down by the weight of the child's body. The fact that this seat doesn't latch makes this ideal for those who frequently carpool or ride-share. The affordable price means you can keep one or two in your trunk for when an extra child needs a boost, ensuring everyone is safe. The seat weighs about two pounds, so it's easy to lug in and out of the car.

The simplicity of this car seat is what makes it such a find. There are more than 9000 five-star Amazon reviews, and it's easy to see why. It's convenient, lightweight, affordable, and installation is a breeze.

Tranzitions 3 in 1

This option from Graco can grow with your child from 22-pound toddler to self-sufficient passenger with no car seat required. Transitioning easily from a forward-facing harness to a backless booster, it has an eight-position adjustable headrest, washable seat pads, and two removable cupholders.

GHI appreciated that the headrest and harness can be adjusted together at the same time. With the open-loop belt guides that you can easily thread the seatbelt through, buckling up is a cinch for most kids.

TurboBooster LX

The LX Turbobooster is a portable booster seat that's easy to move between vehicles. It's also great for older kids who aren't quite ready to transition to sitting unaided in the car. The machine-washable seat pad makes it easier to clean, and the cupholder is great. Better still, this booster has a hidden storage compartment.

Several GHI testers noted how this seat made it easier for their kids to buckle themselves in. At $40, it's also more affordable than high-back models, while offering the height and seatbelt guidance bigger kids need.

Oobr

Definitely on the higher end of the price range, this booster seat includes a variety of great features that make it worth the money. Made with a magnesium seat frame and a winged headrest, it has belt guides, a multi-position recline, an adjustable headrest, and the option to transition to a backless booster. Plus, it comes in a range of fabric and color options. The cupholder and seat cover are removable for easy cleaning.

Lab experts at the Institute were pleased to find the unique-looking Oobr constructed of durable, high-quality materials. They also liked that it received an extremely high safety rating from IIHS.

Grow With You ClickTight

With ceilings of 120 pounds and 63 inches, both noticeably higher than the upper limits of most booster car seats, this is the best booster seat for bigger kids who are in the final stages of requiring one. It readily transitions from a forward-facing harness to a high-back booster. Good Housekeeping testers loved the nine-position headrest and multiple cup- and snack-holders; they also found it easy to install. With two layers of side-impact protection, SafeCell Technology helps absorb the energy from a crash.

The "athleisure fabric" upholstery that covers the seat is removable, and there are many colors and styles to choose from. However, this model is a bit more expensive than other options.

Maestro Sport Harness

Easily making the transition from a harnessed car seat to a highback booster, the Maestro Sport Harness booster can suit your child from toddlerhood to big kid status. As a five-point harness car seat, it holds kids up to 50 pounds; as a booster it accommodates kids up to 110 pounds and 57 inches tall. The seat padding is machine washable. It also features dual cup holders to keep drinks and snacks within reach.

GHI experts found this seat to be lightweight, easy to install and remove, and, at its low price point, a great value. Shoulder guides and multiple harness slots make it easier for your child to get a secure fit. The headrest, however, is not adjustable.

How the Good Housekeeping Institute Tested Booster Car Seats

The Good Housekeeping Institute's engineering and parenting pros tested a dozen booster seats over the past year using a combination of in-Lab and at-home tests with both expert and consumer reviewers. They perform tests to evaluate car seats based on their ease of installation, perceived kid comfort, ease of getting kids in and out of the car, advanced features, harness adjustments, height and weight limits, stability, and more. Good Housekeeping works with real parents to test booster seats in a variety of vehicle sizes and types.

Do You Need a Booster Seat?

Booster seats do a great job of providing a safe way for bigger kids to ride around in the car before they're ready to sit directly in the seat. 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 seatbelt secured at the right areas of their body. Unlike other car seats, boosters help by ensuring the seatbelt is positioned correctly on your child to provide safety without injuring them.

A child is likely ready to sit in the back seat without a booster once they are tall enough (usually 57 inches), old enough (at least eight years old), and the seatbelt is positioned correctly on their body. The shoulder strap should go across the center of their shoulder and chest (NEVER over their neck or face), and the lap belt should go over their upper legs or hips. If they don't meet these requirements, a booster seat will be necessary.

Check your local regulations to ensure your child meets height, weight, and age requirements before transitioning them out of a booster.

High-back vs. Backless Booster Seats

High-back booster seats offer shoulder and head support similar to a car seat. Rather than a harness, they use your vehicle's seatbelt to clip your child in. The booster appropriately guides the seatbelt across your child's chest and over their legs at the top of the thighs. When your child is big enough that they no longer need the shoulder guide, they may be ready for a backless booster seat. Many booster seats transition from high-back to backless, which usually means they have a larger height or weight range and can be used for longer.

You can also purchase a convertible car seat, an all-in-one that adapts to be the only car seat you ever need to buy your child. Convertible seats can be used as an infant back-facing car seat, then a forward-facing car seat, and finally a booster seat.

What to Look For When Shopping for a Booster Car Seat

• Height and weight limits: All booster seats come with minimum and maximum height and weight specifications. To ensure proper seatbelt placement and optimal security, make sure your child fits within those ranges.

• Seat adjustments: For the safest and most comfortable ride, look for a booster seat that offers neck or back height adjustments. Some models also feature width adjustments to offer a more custom fit.

• Easy cleaning: Regardless of age, spills happen. Luckily, like many infant and convertible car seats, most booster seats offer removable machine-washable seat covers and padding.

• Design: Many seats come in a range of colors and patterns to choose from, as well as accessories like cupholders and snack trays that allow kids to keep their items close.

• Safety: If you want to get even more information on your seat, check its safety ratings on IIHS.

Why Trust Us?

With a combined 206 years of automotive publishing experience, Hearst Autos—Car and Driver, Road & Track, and Autoweek—knows cars better than just about anyone. The Gear Team is committed to delivering honest evaluations, hands-on tests, and product reviews driven by decades of knowledge and experience. We get our hands on almost every product, tool, and piece of gear we feature; we evaluate gear on its own merits, and tell you the truth.

If we can't get our hands on the gear, we rely on the combined wisdom of our writers and editors, as well as auto experts we trust. We'll never say anything is "the best" if we wouldn't recommend it to our friends or buy it ourselves, and we won't claim we've tested something if we haven't. Learn more about our product testing here.

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