Once your toddler graduates from his or her convertible car seat, the next step is a booster seat. There are several types of booster seats, but the thing they all have in common is that the boost your child up until they’re tall and heavy enough to use just the car’s seatbelt. Depending on your state, you might need to keep your child in a booster until he or she reaches a certain age or a certain height. In general, most kids remain in a booster seat of some sort until they are between 8 and 10 years old.
We took a look at dozens of high back boosters, low back boosters, and boosters with harness straps to bring you the best of the best in each category. We considered parental ratings, how easy the boosters are to use, and how appealing they are to children.
Our favorite booster seat overall is the Graco TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat. It is designed for children weighing between 40 and 100 lbs, and it will grow along with your child. Use it as a high-back booster and then, later, when your child is ready, you can transition it to a backless booster to make playdates, visits with relatives, and field trips more convenient.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Booster Seats
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Booster Seat Overall | Graco TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat | 4.7 |
| Best Booster With Harness Straps | Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat | 4.6 |
| Best Budget Booster | KidsEmbrace Backless Booster Car Seat | 4.8 |
| Best Portable Booster Seat | Mifold Grab-and-go Car Booster Seat | 4.3 |
| Best Booster With a High Weight Limit | Evenflo Big Kid AMP Booster Car Seat | 4.6 |
*Ratings are from Amazon and might change over time.
Best Booster Seat Overall: Graco TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat
The Graco TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat made the very top of our list of the best booster seats. Graco is a highly trusted company when it comes to baby- and child-care products and has creating safe and effective solutions for over 60 years. This high-back booster seat is high-quality and, most important of all, can keep your child safe in the car.
Use it as a high-back booster seat or, if you prefer and your child is ready, transition it to a backless booster. The high-back booster has an easy-to adjust headrest and soft head and body support, so your child will be comfortable. There are also two hideaway cupholders to keep a snack and a drink within reach, and the padded armrests will make sitting and napping more comfy. The open-loop guides will keep the seatbelt in place and prevent it from sitting on your child’s neck, where it is both annoying and unsafe.
Graco TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat Key Features:
- For children 40 to 100 lbs
- Two modes: high-back and backless
- Adjustable headrest
- Soft head and body support
- Cupholders
- Padded armrests
- Seatbelt guides
Best Booster With Harness Straps: Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat
The Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat is our favorite booster seat with harness straps. It can be used after your child outgrows his or her infant seat, as long as they weigh at least 30 lbs. Use the seat with the five-point harness, then when your child is ready (and weighs between 40 and 65 lbs), remove the harness and use the seat as a booster. You can use it until your child is 100 lbs.
This is a fairly narrow seat, and you should be able to fit three of them across a back seat in most cars. How convenient for growing families with three little ones! The fabric is comfortable against sensitive skin, and there’s a removable cupholder that can hold your child’s favorite drink. In addition, this seat is lightweight and easy to transfer from car to car, so playdates and family visits are a snap.
Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat Key Features:
- Harness fits kids 30-65 lbs
- Booster mode is for kids 40-100 lbs
- Narrow seat
- Comfortable fabric
- Removable cupholder
- Lightweight
Best Budget Booster Seat: KidsEmbrace Backless Booster Car Seat
Looking for an easy-to-use booster that is also easy on the wallet? We’ve got you covered with the KidsEmbrace Backless Booster Car Seat. This one has the Batman logo, but some of the other characters featured include Batgirl, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Choose the one that your little superhero likes best and you won’t need to ask them twice to get in the car and buckle up.
This booster fits kids weighing between 40 and 100 lbs. The seat cushion is contoured for comfort, and there’s a cup holder to keep a drink in place. There is a seatbelt clip included, too, to help keep it off of your child’s neck and positioned properly. This seat is certified safe and meets or exceeds the regulations of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
KidsEmbrace Backless Booster Car Seat Key Features:
- Various superhero logos available
- For kids between 40 and 100 lbs
- Comfortable, contoured seat cushion
- Cupholder
- Seatbelt clip
- Certified safe
Best Portable Booster Seat: Mifold Grab-and-go Car Booster Seat
The Mifold Grab-and-go Car Booster Seat is the portable, foldable booster seat that we liked best. Just put it in your child’s backpack or in your purse, and you will have a ready-to-use booster seat at your fingertips. This is great for taxicab rides, babysitters, vacations, and carpools. This model is pink but it also comes in blue and gray, so choose the one that your child likes best.
This is a backless booster that is designed for children weighing between 40 and 100 lbs. It works a bit differently than other booster seats: Rather than boosting your child up, it controls the position of the seatbelt so that it sits properly across your child’s lap and across his or her chest. It installs within a couple of minutes and is easy to remove from the car, too.
mifold Grab-and-go Car Booster Seat Key Features:
- Foldable booster
- Comes in several colors
- For children 40-100 lbs
- Controls the position of the seatbelt
- Installs easily
Best Booster With a High Weight Limit: Evenflo Big Kid AMP Booster Car Seat
If you are looking for a booster with a higher weight limit than most others, our top choice is the Evenflo Big Kid AMP Booster Car Seat. It has a weight limit of 110 lbs, which is 10 lbs higher than most boosters on the market. It can be used as a high-back booster or a backless booster, depending on your child’s needs.
This seat has six height positions, so it will grow along with your child. The energy-absorbing foam liner makes the seat safer in a crash and will make your little one comfortable during daily riding. There are two cupholders and several designs to choose from. The pad is machine-washable, so it’s easy to take care of spills, crumbs, and various mishaps.
Evenflo Big Kid AMP Booster Car Seat Key Features:
- For children age 4 or older
- Weight limit is 110 lbs
- Can be used as high-back or backless seat
- Six adjustable height positions
- Energy-absorbing foam liner
- Machine-washable pad
Who Should Buy a Booster Seat
If you have a child who will be outgrowing his or her convertible car seat, then it’s time to switch him or her to a booster seat. You can also switch from an infant seat to a booster seat with a five-point harness if your child meets the weight requirement. Use the five-point harness until he or she is old, big, and mature enough to sit properly in a booster; at that point, you can remove the harness and use the booster seat with just the seatbelt.
Other reasons to buy a booster seat include being a grandparent or caregiver to a child who rides in a booster or purchasing an extra booster to have on hand for when you host playdates (or when your child goes on a playdate). As long as your child is the right weight for it, you might consider having that extra seat be a low-back booster or even a portable booster. If you need a different type of car seat, you can check out our list of the best car seats for some ideas.
Important Features to Consider
All car seats, including booster seats, should have some features that will help keep your child safe and comfortable. There are also some features that are nice extras to have. Here are some considerations to keep in mind.
- Weight limit. Every booster seat has a minimum and maximum weight limit. Make sure that your child fits within those parameters.
- LATCH. Some booster seats will use a LATCH clip to keep it stable during use. Other booster seats will be held down by your child’s weight in conjunction with the seatbelt. Think about whether your car has a LATCH system and also whether your child is heavy enough to keep the seat weighed down easily when deciding which type you’d rather have.
- Backless vs high-back. A high-back booster will keep the seatbelt positioned properly with the use of guides. A backless booster will generally not; instead, it relies on your child’s height and his or her ability to stay still. Decide whether your child is tall and mature enough for a backless booster before purchasing (or before converting your high-back booster into a backless booster, if that’s an option).
- Height of your car’s seats. One function of a high-back booster seat is to protect your child’s neck and head. If, while in a backless booster, your child’s ears are above the headrest of the car, then his or her neck might not be protected in a crash. Be sure that there’s enough neck support before switching to a backless booster.
- Width. If you need to fit three car seats or boosters across your backseat, you will need to look for a narrow booster seat. Measure the space available and check the measurements in the listings of the seats you are considering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a booster seat?
A booster seat works with your seatbelt to restrain your child in the car. They are used for young children who have outgrown their infant or convertible seats. It works by boosting your child up so that the seatbelt fits correctly.
What age can a child use a booster seat?
Booster seats are for children who no longer fit in their convertible car seats. Depending on your car seat, this will probably be between four and six years of age, but you need to follow the weight recommendations of both the car seat and the booster seat. If your child is not ready for a booster seat yet, check out our list of the best convertible car seats.
Booster seats are used until the child fits properly in the seat using just the seatbelt. The criteria for being ready to get out of the booster seat include being at least 4’9″, being able to bend the knees naturally without slouching, having the seatbelt going across the chest (as opposed to across the neck), and being able to sit still without slouching over. Talk to your child’s pediatrician if you are not sure whether he or she is ready for a booster or ready to use just the seatbelt.
When can a child use a booster seat without a back?
Check the weight limits and recommendations on the booster seat itself to decide whether your child is ready to use a booster without a back. His or her head should still be supported by the headrest of the car; if not, then it is not safe to use a backless booster. Also, the seatbelt should go across your child’s chest, not his or her neck.
Are high back booster seats safer than backless?
In general, high-back booster seats are safer because they position the seatbelt properly and support your child’s head and neck. A backless booster is, however, safer than no booster at all if your child is not ready to be in just the seatbelt, particularly if your child is able to sit with the seatbelt positioned correctly and as long as his or her head and neck are supported by the headrest.
Other Booster Seats We Reviewed
In addition to the booster seats that made our top 5 list above, we reviewed 20 others. These are split up by type so you can evaluate the ones that are the right style for your child. The information you need to compare them is included with each listing.
Booster Seats With Harness Straps
As your toddler grows into a preschooler and beyond, you can change this forward-facing harnessed seat into a high-back booster.
Key Features:
- For kids 25 to 120 lbs
- Mesh fabric with good airflow
- Easy to install
Cost: $310
Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster
Two modes keep your little one safe and secure even after he or she isn’t so little anymore. This seat has lots of recline and headrest options.
Key Features:
- For kids 25 to 100 lbs
- Easy to install
- Double foam padding
Cost: $200
You can use this seat as a rear-facing infant seat, a forward-facing toddler seat, and, finally, a booster seat for your big kid!
Key Features:
- For newborns up to 100 lbs
- Available in many colors
- Narrow design
Cost: $175
Evenflo Chase Harnessed Booster
This seat installs easily thanks to the LATCH system, and it’s sturdy and safe with side impact protection that’s important for kids of all ages.
Key Features:
- For children 22 to 110 lbs
- Side-impact protection
- Easy to clean
Cost: $65
Graco Tranzitions 3 in 1 Harness Booster Seat
This seat goes from a harness seat to a high-back booster to a backless booster, so once you turn your toddler forward-facing, you won’t need another seat.
Key Features:
- For children 22 to 100 lbs
- Easy to adjust the height of harness
- Dual cup holders
Cost: $100
KidsEmbrace 2-in-1 Harness Booster Car Seat
Your little princess will love this harness booster seat! Use it as a harness seat for young children, and switch it to booster mode when she’s a little bigger.
Key Features:
- For children 22 to 100 lbs
- Three harness positions
- Safety certified
Cost: $125
Safety 1st Grand Booster Car Seat
This is a great narrow booster (you can fit three across most cars) that will hold kids up to 120 lbs, making it an excellent value.
Key Features:
- For kids 30 to 120 lbs
- Lightweight
- Adjustable headrest
High-back Booster Seats
Baby Trend Yumi Folding Booster Car Seat
This high-back booster is very customizable, with a 10-position headrest and a 3-position shoulder belt guide. It will grow along with your child.
Key Features:
- For kids 30-100 lbs
- Side-impact head protection
- Easily removed pad
Cost: $65
Britax Midpoint Belt-Positioning Booster Seat
This seat will help your child stay nice and cool, thanks to the breathable and moisture-wicking fabric. It has side-impact and head protection for safety.
Key Features:
- For children 40 to 100 lbs
- 10-position head restraint
- Excellent side impact protection
Cost: $120
Chicco KidFit Zip Plus 2-in-1 Belt Positioning Booster
In its high-back booster mode, this seat provides great side-impact protection. You can also remove the high back and use it as a backless booster.
Key Features:
- For kids 30 to 110 lbs
- Dishwasher-safe cup holder
- Energy-absorbing foam
Cost: $130
This is an expandable seat with 11 headrest positions, so it will suit your child from toddlerhood on to middle childhood.
Key Features:
- For kids 40 to 120 lbs
- Transitions to backless booster
- Super lightweight
Cost: $110
Evenflo Big Kid Sport High Back Booster
This seat will grow along with your child, transitioning from a high-back booster to a backless booster with a seatbelt-positioning guide.
Key Features:
- For kids 40 to 100 lbs
- Dual cup holders
- Machine washable fabric
Cost: $40
Graco Affix Highback Booster Seat
You can rest easy that your booster seat won’t slip or tip over thanks to the LATCH installation. It has energy-absorbing foam for extra safety.
Key Features:
- For kids 40 to 100 lbs
- Multi-layered headrest
- One-hand LATCH installation
Cost: $80
Hifold Fit-and-Fold Highback Booster Seat
This is a very portable booster, as it folds down and is easy to just toss in a carry-on or tote bag. It is also extremely adjustable with over 200 possibilities.
Key Features:
- For kids 33-100 lbs
- Can be adjusted in four areas
- Has a multi-fold system for portability
Backless Booster Seats
BubbleBum Inflatable Backless Booster
Take your child’s booster seat on the go easily with this inflatable backless booster. It contains memory foam and meets all US and EU safety regulations.
Key Features:
- For kids 40-100 lbs
- Can fit three across most back seats
- Easy to fold and carry
Cost: $30
This backless booster is easy to use with a lap belt guide and a shoulder belt clip. It’s well-padded for your child’s comfort.
Key Features:
- Removable pad
- Integrated cup holders
- Built-in carry handle
Cost: $40
Clek Ozzi Backless Booster Car Seat
Use your car’s LATCH system to lock this booster into place for foolproof use every time. It has comfortable armrests and good padding.
Key Features:
- For kids 40-120 lbs
- Extra padding for comfort
- Compatible with LATCH
Cost: $60
Cosco Topside Backless Booster
With a low price and lightweight handling, this booster is great to use every day or to keep on hand for carpools and grandparent visits.
Key Features:
- For kids 40 to 100 lbs
- Extra plush padding
- Narrow and lightweight
Cost: $15
Diono Solana 2 Backless Booster Seat
This booster installs with LATCH to keep the seat in place and features a cup holder and a lightweight design for your convenience.
Key Features:
- For kids 40 to 120 lbs
- Lightweight design
- Two cup holders
Cost: $40
Graco TurboBooster LX Backless Booster
This is the backless version of our top booster seat. It installs with LATCH to keep the seat steady, and it includes a cup holder and arm rests.
Key Features:
- For kids 40 to 100 lbs
- Installs with LATCH
- Easy-clean cushions
Cost: $30
