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Best Booster Seats of 2025
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Now that your child has outgrown their first car seat, it’s time to think about headrests, recline positions, seat-belt guides, and cupholders. There’s a lot to compare, but we tackled the research for you and settled on two favorites.
The Britax Highpoint is our top choice for a high-back-to-backless convertible booster. If your child doesn’t quite meet the weight and height requirements of a traditional booster, we recommend the Chicco MyFit harness booster instead.
What are the best child booster seats?
- : Best convertible booster car seat
- : Best 5 point harness booster seat
- : Best for budgets
- : Best 3-in-1 booster seat
- : Best backless booster seat
1. Britax Highpoint: Best convertible booster car seat
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The Britax Highpoint caught our attention thanks to its unique SecureGuard Clip, an extra belt positioner that keeps the lap belt on your child’s upper thighs rather than their abdomen. We also love that it offers three layers of side-impact protection for a reasonable price.
Kids can use the Britax Highpoint booster seat for a long time since it accommodates children up to 120 pounds and 63 inches. Most brands stop at 100 pounds and 57 inches, as this is when many state laws allow children to use seat belts without any booster at all.
If a seat belt still doesn’t fit your child quite right by the time they reach 100 pounds, this Britax booster gives them a little extra time to grow and stay safe.
Advantages outweigh flaws
This Britax booster seat isn’t perfect.
- It doesn’t recline, so your child might get squirmy and uncomfortable on long trips.
- Its base is wider than competitors’, so you might struggle to fit three boosters across the backseat.
- The fabric isn’t machine washable.
We think the Britax Highpoint’s safety, price, extended life, and easy installation outweigh those inconveniences. But if you’re willing to pay a little extra to ensure your kiddo stays comfy and quiet(er) on a road trip, you’ll prefer our next pick, the Chicco MyFit.
When to use this booster seat
- Use the Britax Highpoint in highback mode after your child outgrows their forward-facing, 5-point harness car seat.
- Your child must be at least 44 inches tall and weigh at least 40 pounds to use the highback booster.
- Once they grow to at least 46 inches and 48 pounds, it’s safe to use the Highpoint as a backless booster.
2. Chicco MyFit: Best harness booster seat
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The Chicco MyFit offers everything missing from our top pick: a reclining seat, narrow base, and machine-washable fabric. But the trade-off is a higher price, trickier installation, just two layers of side-impact protection, and no backless option.
The Chicco MyFit combines a forward-facing, five-point harness car seat with a high-back belt-positioning booster. Even though it doesn’t convert to a backless booster, the Chicco MyFit can be used until your child is 100 pounds or 57 inches tall—the same upper limit of many backless boosters.
Want more? For double the price, you can upgrade to the Chicco MyFit Zip Air and get three layers of side impact protection, a breathable fabric that zips off for easy washing, an extra storage compartment, and extra-easy installation.
When to use this Chicco booster car seat
- Use the Chicco MyFit after your child outgrows a rear-facing infant car seat.
- They must be at least 2 years old and weigh at least 25 pounds to safely use this high-back booster with the 5-point harness.
- Your child can keep using this Chicco booster seat in harness mode until they’re 65 pounds and 54 inches tall.
- They can safely use the high-back booster with a seat belt once they’re 4 years old, weigh 40 pounds, and stand at least 38 inches high.
3. Evenflo GoTime LX: Best for budgets
The Evenflo GoTime LX features a comfortable base, overlapping sides for extra impact protection, seven headrest positions, two cup holders, and machine-washable fabric for around $45. It supports kids up to 120 pounds and 57 inches tall.
This budget pick does come with a few caveats. It’s not a reclining booster seat, and several user reviews talk about how tough it is to loosen the seat belt.
The Evenflo GoTime LX is also the widest child booster seat on our list, measuring nearly 20 inches across.
When to use this Evenflo booster seat
- Use the Evenflo GoTime LX after your child outgrows a 5-point harness, forward-facing car seat.
- They must be at least 4 years old, weigh 40 pounds, and stand 44 inches tall to use either the high-back or backless mode.
4. Graco Nautilus SnugLock LX: Best 3-in-1 booster car seat
The Graco Nautilus SnugLock LX offers extended use thanks to its three modes: forward-facing with a 5-point harness, high-back booster, and backless booster. It reclines for added comfort but has just five headrest positions.
We like this booster seat’s SnugLock technology for simple installation. But if that’s not your primary concern, you can save about $20 by downgrading to the Nautilus 65. You’ll also lose one cupholder.
The Graco Nautilus SnugLock also features removable armrests, which makes the belt buckles easier for your child to reach on their own.
Some users report difficulty tightening the 5-point harness on this car seat.
Graco booster seat requirements
- Use the Graco Nautilus SnugLock LX after your child has outgrown a rear-facing infant car seat.
- They must weigh at least 22 pounds and be at least 27 inches tall to use the Graco Nautilus 5-point harness.
- They can switch to the high-back booster once they’re 38 inches tall and weigh at least 30 pounds.
- The backless booster can be used once they’re 40 inches tall and weigh 40 pounds.
5. Graco TurboBooster LX: Best backless booster
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The Graco TurboBooster LX is the perfect backless booster for family members to keep in their cars. It’s affordable, comfy, and installs with the LATCH system. Kids have easy access to a storage compartment and cupholder, and the armrests are adjustable.
Your research might turn up the slightly cheaper Graco TurboBooster (without the “LX” in its name). We don’t recommend this model because it’s an untethered booster. Nothing holds it to the seat, which means it could slide out from under your child during an accident.
Graco TurboBooster LX seat age and weight requirements
- Use the Graco TurboBooster backless booster seat after your child outgrows a front-facing car seat or high-back booster.
- Children must be at least 4 years old, 40 pounds, and 43 inches tall to use the Graco TurboBooster LX.
More booster seats we considered
Graco Tranzitions
About half the cost of the Graco Nautilus, the Graco Tranzitions doesn’t recline and features only two layers of side-impact protection. If you’re looking for an affordable 3-in-1 booster seat, this is a good choice.
Britax Grow With You Clicktight Plus
The Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus is a harness and high-back booster with no backless option. It’s wide and heavy, but it does recline to two positions and features SafeWash fabric that you can throw in the washer and dryer. This Britax ClickTight booster retails for around $350. The Chicco MyFit provides a better value.
Peg Perego Viaggio Flex
The Peg Perego Viaggio Flex is a high-back booster only. It retails for about $300 and has some interesting features, including four-way adjustments, five recline positions, and a narrow base. It’s also a portable booster seat thanks to its unique foldaway design. It has no armrests, but some users say this makes it easier for kids to buckle themselves into the seat.
Diono Monterey 4DXT
The nearly $200 Diono Monterey 4DXT boasts four side-impact layers and thick foam padding around the head and shoulders, making this a somewhat bulky car seat that may not work well in smaller cars. This Diono booster seat doesn’t recline, but the headrest adjusts to 11 positions.
KidsEmbrace 2-in-1 Harness Booster Seat
The KidsEmbrace booster seats feature superheroes, princesses, and other animated characters. Hopefully, your kiddo will be excited about sitting down and buckling up in their Batman or Minnie Mouse booster seat instead of turning into a pint-size wrestler.
When your child outgrows the 5-point harness, they can continue to use the KidsEmbrace with a seat belt. These seats don’t recline and offer just three headrest positions. On the plus side, we think it’s genius that the “capes” on these car seats double as blankets.
Final word
The best booster seat for you and your child partially depends on what kind of infant car seat you have. For example, if you bought a rear-facing car seat, you’ll want to check out the harness boosters. Our fave is the Chicco MyFit.
If your car seat converts to a forward-facing seat, you just need a highback booster with a backless option. The Britax Highpoint takes the cake in that category.
No matter which booster seat you choose, double-check the age, weight, and height restrictions to make sure it’s safe for your child.
Booster seat FAQ
There’s no all-encompassing rule here. Read your car seat’s manual to find the maximum height and weight it can support. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children ride in rear-facing seats for as long as possible.1
Once your child is riding in a forward-facing seat, use the 5-point harness as long as your child stays within the manufacturer-recommended weight, height, and age guidelines.
Three-year-olds should be in a five-point harness car seat, not a traditional booster seat. So you don’t have to buy another seat in a year or two, try a 2-in-1 like the Chicco MyFit or a 3-in-1 like the Graco Nautilus SnugLock LX.
Depending on their height and weight, some 4-year-olds may not be quite big enough for a high-back booster seat.2 Try the Chicco MyFit or the Graco Nautilus SnugLock LX. Both feature a five-point harness that will keep smaller 4-year-olds safe until they’re big enough to use these seats in high-back mode.
With four recline positions, nine headrest positions, and thick padding, the Chicco MyFit gets our vote for the most comfortable booster seat.
The Graco TurboBooster comes in an untethered version, but we don’t recommend it. It’s safer to use a tethered booster like the Graco TurboBooster LX.
Yes, some high-back boosters use the LATCH system. The Evenflo Spectrum is the only one on our list that does not.
The Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 expires after 10 years from the date of manufacture.
Graco TurboBoosters expire 10 years after their manufacture date.
A belt-positioning booster seat has built-in guides or loops that keep the vehicle’s seat belt on the child’s shoulder and upper thighs. Seat belts in the incorrect position can put too much pressure on a child’s abdomen or neck, especially during an accident. Every kids booster car seat on our list features vehicle seat-belt guides.
How we reviewed the best booster seats
We gathered data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reviewed booster seat recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, and surveyed parents to understand what they look for in a car seat.
We compared 15 specifications for around 20 booster seats to determine which ones offered the best technology and features. Finally, we read user reviews to find out what it’s really like to use these seats on a daily basis. Read more on our full methodology page.
Related articles on SafeWise
Sources
- Benjamin D. Hoffman, American Academy of Pediatrics News, “New Child Passenger Safety Seat Guidance Advises Kids to Ride Rear-Facing for as Long as Possible; Drops Age Criterion,” August 2018. Accessed December 15, 2024.
- Hannah Waizmann, Cincinnati Children’s, “Growth, Range of Height and Weight,” April 2019. Accessed December 15, 2024.
Disclaimer
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