7 Best Booster Car Seats

Chicco's KidFit is a nice price, transitions from a high back booster to a backless booster car seat and comes with comforts such as arm rests and foldable cup holders.

✔️ LAB NOTES: In its high back form, the KidFit offers 10 height positions, adjusting along the waist rather than the neck to offer more protection down the side of your child. This version is made with the brand's ClearTex fabric, which is removable and machine washable, and also boasts Greenguard Gold certification for textiles that are low in chemical emissions.

The KidFit connects to your car via a LATCH system and our Lab experts are fans of Chicco's SuperCinch one-pull tightener, which makes it easy to get this seat fitting snugly. The two dishwasher-safe cupholders are soft and can fold in if you have to fit a third passenger in your backseat and need every inch.

✔️ TESTER NOTES: If you're a road-trip family that occasionally drives for hours, this exceptionally comfortable pick might be best for you. Our testers loved the contoured seat and the double-foam cushioning. There are arm rests, too, but they are small.

Some younger tester kids had trouble buckling themselves in with the back on. But the back also removes completely for bigger kids, who then have no trouble buckling themselves.

✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: We like it for kids from kindergarten to middle school, ages 5 to 12, who will be taking occasional long trips in their booster seat.

For daily runs to school with a kid who almost fits in a regular seat belt, this bargain is a no-brainer.

✔️ LAB NOTES: Perfect for older kids, carpooling and families with multiple cars (not to mention grandparent and babysitter vehicles), this is the most narrow, minimalist and best budget booster car seat we tested. Ideal for older kids, it's got no bells and whistles, but it does boost a child up three inches so that they can buckle themselves in using the car's seat belt correctly.

Unlike every other booster on this list, the Topside does not secure to your car with the LATCH system. This seat just sits on top of the car's backseat and the weight of your child holds it down.

✔️ TESTER NOTES: If you frequently carpool kids to practices or meetings, it can be smart to keep extras of these in the trunk of your car so that everyone rides safely. This booster is also inexpensive enough that family members who drive your kid can keep one in their vehicle too.

Since the Topside only weighs about two pounds and is only 15 inches wide, it's highly portable and easy to pack if you'll be in and out of vans and ride share vehicles.

✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: We'd use this for big kids and short trips. We like it for about ages 8 to 12, but note the 100-pound weight limit and the 57-inch height limit.

Diono is favorite high back booster car seat among our pros because of the nicely padded headrest that's comfy on long trips, and it turns into a backless booster later.

✔️ LAB NOTES: That cushy headrest can be set to any of 11 positions, moving up a total of 6.5 inches to grow with your child. "My children always appear comfortable in this compared to other boosters where they have felt cramped or less supported," says former GH Institute Chief Technologist and Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman, a mom of three and a lead tester for car seats and booster seats.

In high back mode, this offers both height and width adjustments. It reclines a bit to be sure that the seat meets the pitch of your car's backseat. Once your kid no longer requires the added support, you can remove the back completely and use this as a backless booster.

The Diono seatpad is wider than some other options on this list, a plus for big kids. It attaches to your car using the LATCH system, though some online reviewers say they don't find the LATCH straps on this to be as easy to use as those on some convertible car seats.

✔️ TESTER NOTES: Kid testers appreciate the arm rests and the two retractable cup holders. This seat comes in a range of colors, including black, blue and red, with covers that remove for machine washing (though we wish the removal was a bit easier).

✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: We also like this one for elementary school to middle school, ages 5 to 12, especially if your kid is large and tall.

If you're looking for something easy but comfy for an older kid, consider a backless booster like this popular Graco model that's been out long enough to get tens of thousands of positive user ratings.

✔️ LAB NOTES: Use the LATCH system to securely connect this in the backseat. We like the TurboBooster if you will be mostly keeping it installed in one vehicle. But it's also a super portable booster seat for kids who don’t need added neck and back support.

✔️ TESTER NOTES: The TurboBooster gets kids to the right height for the seat belt, but lets them feel "bigger" and less babyish. Several of our testers noted how this made it easier for their kids to buckle themselves in.

For parents, we found the machine washable seat pad to be easy to clean. The integrated cupholder and hidden storage compartment are a way to keep a drink and snacks (or a small toy) handy.

✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: This is a great pick for preteens not quite ready to transition to sitting unaided in the car, but looking for more independence.

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You can get a younger kid started in a booster seat if you use one that begins with a five-point harness, such as this Britax.

✔️ LAB NOTES: This booster is a little different in that it crosses over into the convertible car seat world. It can accommodate children as small as 25 pounds with the harness, then up to 120 pounds as a belt-positioning booster — a noticeably wider spread than most booster car seats. Expect to use it from preschool through elementary school, which helps justify the price.

✔️ TESTER NOTES: Our testers said the nine-position headrest was easy to adjust. Both our Lab experts and parent testers also love the Britax ClickTight system, which makes it a snap to lock this booster car seat in place in your backseat when it's in harness mode. The seat fabric is removable and can go in both the washing machine and the dryer.

With three layers of side-impact protection and the brand's SafeCell Technology that helps absorb the crash energy, you know this is among the safest booster seats. However, this a heavy, wide booster car seat. Expect to keep it in your main vehicle; it doesn't lend itself much to swapping between cars.

✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Families who want to invest in a booster that will take them from preschool to middle school. It's got a wide weight range, from 25 to 120 pounds.

RELATED: Best All-in-One Car Seats

Nuna's booster has a high-end look and thick padding. It's a good choice for a booster that stays in your car, and it turns into a backless booster later.

✔️ LAB NOTES: The seat's fabric is Greenguard Gold certified. The headrest adjusts to nine different positions; as you push it upwards, the shoulder width moves out as well, so it expands as your child grows (accommodating up to 120 pounds). You can even choose from three seat depths and eight recline positions, making this seat among the most customizable to your child's size.

The cupholder is not integrated (it just hooks on), but because it removes easily, you can put it through the dishwasher. The fabric comes off as well for washing and the seat connects with a LATCH system. Energy-absorbing foam pads on the sides of the seat help with side-impact protection when this is in high back mode.

✔️ TESTER NOTES: This is so large it almost looks built-in. It comes in gray and black, to match most car interiors. Online reviewers rave about how sturdy it feels, and say that their kids can get themselves buckled in.

Because this fits a preteen up to 120 pounds and five feet tall, it can be another great choice for larger kids. It does have arm rests, but they are small.

✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Kids from kindergarten to middle school, approximately ages 5 to 12, and parents who plan to keep the high-back booster in their vehicle for some years.

Clek's Oobr is an ergonomic car seat with a slightly pared-down profile. The Ober goes from high back booster to backless booster.

✔️ LAB NOTES: Numerous safety measures impress our Lab experts, including the fact that Clek meets Canadian safety standards, which go above and beyond what is needed in the United States (read more about Clek's testing). The Oobr, which is manufactured in North America, is made with rigid LATCH connectors and a winged headrest for increased stability.

The Oobr has clear belt guides to make sure the seat belt rests over your child’s body in the correct places. It's also easy to tell whether or not the seat is properly in place since you'll hear an audible click when secure.

✔️ TESTER NOTES: "This booster seat feels solid, though it's still comfortable for my child," says Lexie Sachs, a mom of two and the GH Institute Executive Director, Strategy & Operations. The headrest adjusts to any of 11 positions and the seat can recline 12 degrees. It also has a removable cup holder and a removable seat cover for easy cleaning.

When your child is ready, you can take off the back and use this as a backless booster. When you're completely finished with it, you can look into Clek's recycling program in partnership with CarSeatRecycling.com.

✔️ WHO IT'S BEST FOR: It's recommended for ages 4 to 10, and we agree; this is a good booster from kindergarten through elementary school.