Tested: The Best Booster Car Seats, According to Experts

The experts at Good Housekeeping have released their latest findings on child car seats. Here are their picks for the best booster seats for growing kids.

• The Best Booster Car Seats
• Do You Need a Booster Seat?
• What to Look For When Shopping for a Booster Car Seat
• Why Trust Us?

We here at Road & Track are the car experts, and our readers trust us for insight and advice. But one great thing about being an expert is the friends you make along the way. So when it came time to evaluate child car seats, we were glad to be able to rely on the expertise of our friends at the Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI) of Good Housekeeping, which, like R&T, is a Hearst publication, and share their knowledge with you.

For over 120 years, Good Housekeeping has been testing, evaluating, and rating consumer products. The GHI recently updated its car seat rankings for 2022, and here are its choices for the best car booster seats for kids.

The Best Booster Car Seats

• BEST OVERALL BOOSTER CAR SEAT Monterey XT Diono $150 AT AMAZON Read More $150 AT AMAZON
• BEST VALUE BOOSTER CAR SEAT Maestro Sport Harness Evenflo $148 AT AMAZON Read More $148 AT AMAZON
• MOST COMFORTABLE BOOSTER CAR SEAT KidFit 2-in-1 Chicco $110 AT AMAZON Read More $110 AT AMAZON
• BEST BOOSTER CAR SEAT WITH SEATBELT POSITIONER Alta UPPAbaby $180 AT AMAZON Read More $180 AT AMAZON
• BEST BACKLESS BOOSTER CAR SEAT TurboBooster LX Graco $41 AT AMAZON Read More $41 AT AMAZON
• BEST LUXURY BOOSTER CAR SEAT Oobr Clek $370 AT CLEKINC.COM Read More $370 AT CLEKINC.COM
• BEST THREE-IN-ONE BOOSTER CAR SEAT Tranzitions 3 in 1 Graco $140 AT AMAZON Read More $140 AT AMAZON
• BEST ALL-IN-ONE CONVERTIBLE BOOSTER CAR SEAT 4Ever DLX 4 in 1 Graco $330 AT AMAZON Read More $330 AT AMAZON
• BEST BOOSTER CAR SEAT FOR BIG KIDS Grow With You ClickTight Britax $264 AT AMAZON Read More $264 AT AMAZON

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While they may have outgrown their child car seat, that doesn’t mean it’s safe to let your kid loose in the back seat just yet. It’s time for a booster. Booster seats help keep kids safe by readjusting their seatbelt placement to the proper spot rather than across their bellies and necks, which could cause harm in an accident. Booster seats come in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes so you can easily find one that fits your lifestyle and vehicles.

This roundup of the best booster seats for your car is based on lab-tested picks, category expertise, and real-life consumer feedback. Good Housekeeping testers and editors road-tested a dozen booster car seats to evaluate safety, ease of use, and proper fit. To find the best booster seats, the Institute also considered ease of installation, angle and harness adjustments, ease of cleaning, dimensions, and fit. Testers then used these boosters in a variety of vehicles.

Here are Good Housekeeping’s picks for the Best Booster Car Seat. Road & Track has paraphrased their findings to reflect our purposes here.

BEST OVERALL BOOSTER CAR SEAT Diono Monterey XT

Amazon

$150 AT AMAZON $150 AT WALMART

The Monterey XT booster was a particular favorite among GHI testers (as well as Amazon reviewers). It easily transforms from a highback to backless booster seat and has a padded headrest to keep your little one comfy during long trips. As a highback booster, it offers both height and width adjustments as well as two recline positions, helping to achieve a morecustom fit than other options. For kids who no longer require the added support, you can remove the back completely.

This booster has an expanded weight and height range, safely accommodating children up to 120 pounds and 63 inches tall. It has a wide, comfortable seat and two retractable cup holders. This seat also comes in a range of attractive, rich colors with covers that remove for machine washing (though we wish the removal was a bit easier). While it is a bit wider than some of the other options on this list, the aluminum-reinforced side-impact protection helps provide reinforced security.

spec sheet

BEST VALUE BOOSTER CAR SEAT Evenflo Maestro Sport Harness

Amazon

$148 AT AMAZON

The Maestro Sport Harness booster is a no-frills option that won’t break the bank while still offering you and your child a safe ride. Transitioning from a harness car seat to a highback booster, this Evenflo option can see your child from toddlerhood to big kid status. The five-point harness holds up to 50 pounds, and once your little one outgrows that, the booster holds up to 110 pounds and kids up to 57 inches tall. The seat padding is machine washable for easy cleanup, and dual cup holders keep drinks and snacks close by while on the move.

In testing, GHI experts found this seat easy to install, lightweight, and a great value for its low price point. An easy-to-understand shoulder guide and multiple harness slots make it easier to get your child a secure fit in this seat. However, the headrest is not adjustable, so the only customizable aspect of this seat is going from harness to booster.

spec sheet

MOST COMFORTABLE BOOSTER CAR SEAT Chicco KidFit 2-in-1

Amazon

$110 AT AMAZON $110 AT BUY BUY BABY

If you’re a road-trip family that spends more than the average amount of time in the car, this exceptionally comfortable pick might be the one for you. Testers loved the contoured seat and found the double-foam padding to be comfortable for kids. In its highback 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 also removes completely for bigger kids to add an additional 10 pounds to the weight range. 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.

Parent testers also appreciated that the seat and armrest covers are removable for machine washing, so spills and crumbs are easier to clean up.

spec sheet

BEST BOOSTER CAR SEAT WITH SEATBELT POSITIONER UPPAbaby Alta

Amazon

$180 AT AMAZON

With a relatively compact design, the Alta features a sleek look without compromising functionality. It offers seven headrest positions and a belt routing system that guides both the shoulder strap and the lap belt to rest safely and securely. This helps kids learn how to buckle up on their own and ensures the straps are in the right place. Plus, it comes in four attractive colors.

We also appreciate the specialized foam featured on the sides of the seat that provides additional side impact protection. The removable seat fabric and cupholders make it easier to clean up messes. Testers noted that this seat has high-quality construction. “We appreciated the wide shoulder support and the adjustable head positioning,” one said.

spec sheet

BEST BACKLESS BOOSTER CAR SEAT Graco TurboBooster LX

Amazon

$41 AT AMAZON $41 AT WALMART

If you’re looking for something that you can switch between cars easily, consider the LX Turbobooster. Graco’s backless option offers a super portable booster seat for kids who don’t need added neck and back support. At $40, it’s also more affordable than highback models, and it still offers the height and seatbelt guidance your child needs to stay safe.

The machine-washable seat pad makes it easier to clean up those crumbs, and the easy-to-install cupholder is great for storing drinks and snacks. Plus, this booster has a hidden storage compartment for keeping snacks or toys safe while en route. With a front-adjust LATCH system, installation is a piece of cake. Several GHI testers noted how this made it easier for their kids to buckle themselves in. This booster is great for older kids who aren’t quite ready to transition to sitting unaided in the car.

spec sheet

BEST LUXURY BOOSTER CAR SEAT Clek Oobr

Clek

$370 AT CLEKINC.COM

This unique and sleek-looking booster seat is definitely on the higher end of the price range, but it includes a variety of great features that make it worth it. Its numerous safety measures make sure you’ll rest easy once you buckle your child in. This booster seat ismade with a magnesium seat frame, rigid LATCH attachment, a winged headrest for increased stability, and it has belt guides to make sure the seatbelt rests over your child’s body in the correct places. While testing, the lab experts at the Institute found the Oobr easy to install and were pleased to find it is made of durable, high-quality materials. They also liked that it received a very high safety rating from IIHS.

For comfort, this seat offers a multi-position recline, an adjustable headrest, and the option to transition to a backless booster. It also has a removable cup holder and a removable seat cover for easy cleaning. Plus, it comes in a range of fabric and color options.

spec sheet

BEST THREE-IN-ONE BOOSTER CAR SEAT Graco Tranzitions 3 in 1

Amazon

$140 AT AMAZON $140 AT BED BATH AND BEYOND $160 AT ALBEEBABY.COM

Transforming from a forward-facing booster with a harness to a highback or backless booster, this option from Graco can grow with your child from the time they are a 22-pound toddler until they’re ready to graduate from the booster seat completely. For the most comfortable fit, it has an eight-position adjustable headrest, as well as machine-washable seat pads and dual removable cup holders.

The no-rethread harness makes it simple to adjust the seat to your little one’s correct size as they grow, and GHI appreciated that the headrest and harness can be adjusted together at the same time. With the open-loop belt guides (open spaces that you can easily thread the seatbelt through), buckling up is easier than ever.

spec sheet

BEST ALL-IN-ONE CONVERTIBLE BOOSTER CAR SEAT Graco 4Ever DLX 4 in 1

Amazon

$330 AT AMAZON $330 AT WALMART $330 AT BUY BUY BABY

This convertible car seat transitions from a rear-facing car seat for kids up to 40 pounds to a forward-facing car seat to a highback booster to a backless booster for kids up to 120 pounds, allowing your child to fully utilize the 10-year lifespan of the product. Experts love that it installs easily with LATCH connectors and is highly adjustable with a 10-position headrest, six-position recline, and a no-rethread harness.

While testing, the testers appreciated how easy it was to use. Plus, it’s simple to adjust both the harness and headrest in a single motion, making it easier than ever. It also comes with two cup holders and machine-washable seat pads that can be removed in minutes without uninstalling the seat. The integrated belt lock-off helps lock the seatbelt without any extra effort.

spec sheet

BEST BOOSTER CAR SEAT FOR BIG KIDS Britax Grow With You ClickTight

Amazon

Now 20% off

$264 AT AMAZON $264 AT WALMART $330 AT MACY’S

This booster seat transitions from a forward-facing harness to a highback booster. It safely accommodates children up to 120 pounds and 63 inches tall, both noticeably higher than the upper limits of most booster car seats. Good Housekeeping testers loved the highly variable nine-position headrest and multiple cup and snack holders and found it easy to install. The “athleisure fabric” that makes up the seat is removable for easy cleaning, and there are many colors and styles to choose from.

With two layers of side-impact protection, SafeCell Technology helps absorb the energy from a crash. However, this model is a bit more expensive than other options.

spec sheet

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 seat belt secured at the right areas of their body. Unlike other car seats, booster seats help by ensuring that the seatbelt is positioned correctly on your kid to provide safety without injuring them.

A child is likely ready to sit in the back seat without a booster seat once they are tall enough (usually 57 inches), old enough (at least 8 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.

Highback vs. Backless Booster Seats

Highback 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 highback 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 cup holders and snack trays that allow them 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.

From: Car and Driver

Jon Langston Senior Commerce Editor The Senior Commerce Editor for Hearst Autos, Jon Langston is an avid motorcyclist and gear collector whose work has appeared in Men’s Journal, The Drive, Rider, Iron & Air, Cycle World, and more.

Keyword: Tested: The Best Booster Car Seats, According to Experts