As kids get familiar with forward facing car seat and approach age 4-5, a booster seat can become an attractive option. Most states require that children under a certain height and weight are in booster seats when riding in a vehicle. Kids age four to seven, who have outgrown car seats but who are under 80 pounds and four feet nine inches in height are required to sit in a booster seat in some states like Kansas.
Some of booster seats have backs to them, also known as high back boosters, while others are an armless seat bottom, also known as backless boosters, that sits them higher in the car, so the seat belt fits across their bodies properly. Without a booster seat, the belt can be too low and cut across the neck.
We know there’s no shortage when it comes to options, so we’ve reviewed 10 best booster seats in the market to see how they stack up.
- Modes of Use: 2
- Weight Range (lbs): 25-120
- Ease of use and comfort
- Modes of Use: 1
- Weight Range (lbs): 40-100
- Multi-layer headrest
- Modes of Use: 2
- Weight Range (lbs): 25-100
- 2 modes at a great price
- Modes of Use: 2
- Weight Range (lbs): 22-110
- 6-position height adjustment
Safety First – Top 10 Best Booster Seats Reviews
1. Britax Grow with You Clicktight Plus Harness-2-Booster Car Seat
Along with keeping safety in mind, it is comfortable for him or her to sit in for either long or short trips.
Depending on the child weight, they can wear or harness or use the vehicle’s seat belt for safety. The harness is suitable for kids that weigh 25 to 90 pounds, or they will use the car’s regular seat belts if they are 40 to 120 pounds.
The harness has nine positions, so it adjusts as the child grows. The seat also has a comfortable headrest that adjusts to protect the child’s neck and head.
- Steel frame
- Item weight – 24.6 pounds (without harness 24.2lbs)
- Dimensions – 21 x 19 x 25 inches
- Weight limits – 25 to 120 pounds
- Nine-year service life
- One-year limited warranty
- 9-position, Quick-adjust Harness & Headrest
Besides the steel frame, the seat also has two layers of side impact protection that includes foam padding that covers the frame to absorb the energy of a crash. The adjustable headrest also absorbs some of the energy. The design of the booster seat allows it to compress to help reduce the force of an impact.
The entire seat reclines in several positions for the child’s comfort, it has cup holders for drinks or snacks, and the cover comes off when it’s dirty, and it’s machine washable. The cover is available in nine colors and patterns.
- Installs quickly and easily
- The height of the harness and headrest adjusts as the child grows
- Has energy absorbing foam surrounding the steel frame
- Removable, washable seat cover
- Not compatible with all vehicles
- Shoulder width is only 12-inches
2. Evenflo Maestro
Children can graduate from a rear-facing car seat to this forward-facing booster seat with a harness when they are 22 lbs., and it will fit them until they are 50 lbs.
The five-point harness system adjusts as the child grows, and along with the weight requirement, there is a height requirement for the harness position, which is 28 to 50-inches.
Once the child has outgrown these restrictions, they must start using the belt positioning mode of the seat. The seatbelt positioning mode is for kids 40 to 120 lbs. or 43.3 to 57-inches.
- Item weight – 14.2 pounds
- Dimensions – 20.5 x 19 x27
- Weight limits – 22 to 50 pounds in harness mode; 51 to 120 lbs. in seat positioning mode
- Height limits – 40 to 57 inches
- Six-year service life
- 90-day warranty
The headrest is not adjustable, so it is only suitable for children if the tops of their ears meet or are lower than the headrest. The booster seat has a built-in seat belt guide to place the seat belt through, so it is at the right shoulder position for the child.
If the seat belt doesn’t fit well, such as being slack around the shoulder or crosses across the child’s neck, then it needs an adjustment, or they should use the harness if they are too short for the belt position.
Evenflo uses the LATCH system to install and remove the seat from the vehicle easily. It’s available in seven color combinations. This booster seat has a six-year lifespan and a 90-day warranty.
Overall, the Evenflo Maestro is a comfortable booster and one of the best options available.
- Installs quickly with the LATCH system
- Belt guide in the seat to ensure the seat belt fits properly
- The seat pad is removable and machine washable
- Suitable for children up to 120 pounds and 57-inches in height
- Head rest is not adjustable
- Warranty is only good for 90 days
- No specific information on the booster seat’s frame or other materials in the User’s Manual
3. Graco Affix Youth Booster Seat with Latch System
It also helps make them quicker and easier to install if the parents share one booster seat between vehicles.
The Graco Affix booster seat has a high back to protect a child’s head and neck, along with the rest of their body. However, depending on the child’s height and weight, it converts to a backless booster seat.
As a high back seat, it is suitable for children who weigh 30 to 100 pounds and are 38 to 57-inches tall. The backless booster seat is best for kids from 40 to 100 lbs. or 40 to 57-inches in height.
- Item weight – 9.11 pounds
- Dimensions – 15.5 x 16.5 x 26.75-inches
- Weight limits – Harness mode 30 to 100 lbs., booster seat mode 40 to 100 lbs.
- Height limits – 38 to 57-inches
- Plastic
- 10-year service life
- One-year limited warranty
The booster seat is plastic with foam padding that helps absorb the impact of crashes. The cover is removable and machine washable if it gets too dirty to clean with a sponge. It attaches to the vehicle’s backseat with the LATCH system and secures the child into the seat with the vehicle’s seat belt. The seat belt has guides to ensure it fits the child correctly across the shoulder and waist.
The Affix expires 10-years from the date of purchase, so parents may be able to use it for more than one child, but they should disassemble it and throw it away after 10-years. The seat comes with a one-year limited warranty, and it’s available in four color combinations.
- Easily installs via the LATCH system
- It is lightweight at only 9.11 pounds
- The cover is removable and machine washable
- Suitable for kids from 30 to 100 pounds and up to 57-in, tall.
- 10-year lifespan
- One-year limited warranty
- Seat structure is plastic
- No harness system for lighter, smaller children
4. Chicco MyFit LE Harness + Booster Car Seat
The bubble level will tell them when the seat is level as they install it in their car’s backseat.
The seat secures to the car’s backseat by clipping it to the car’s anchors, so it is easy to take in and out of the vehicle if necessary. The front-facing seat has a harness system for younger passengers who weigh 23 to 65-pounds. The harness has a no-thread design with a one-pull tightener for a secure fit as they grow.
The booster seat mode is for bigger kids weighing 40 to 100-lbs. The high back seat has seat belt guides to ensure the vehicle’s seat belt fits correctly and securely. The headrest adjusts in nine ways to provide comfort and protection in case the car is in an accident.
- Item weight – 25 pounds
- Dimensions – 21 x 18 x 27 in
- Weight limits – Harness mode 23 to 65 lbs., booster seat mode 40 to 100 lbs.
- Height limits – Up to 54-in. in harness mode, up to 57-in., in booster seat mode
- Rigid plastic shell
- Eight-year service life
- One-year limited warranty
The company’s DuoGuard system protects the child passenger with a rigid plastic shell construction and energy absorbing foam padding. The design is meant to take the brunt of side impacts to reduce the severity of injuries. The foam surrounds both the head and the torso.
The seat reclines in four positions to comfortably fit a child in it, and it has a lifespan of eight years. It adjusts as your child grows from toddlerhood up to 10 years old, depending on their height and weight.
This best seat is FAA approved for aircraft in harness mode, and it is available in two colors.
- Rigid structure with energy absorbing foam padding
- Small width to fit two seats comfortably in most cars
- Suitable for children 23 to 100 lbs. and up to 57- inches tall
- Seat belt cinch that tightens it with one hand
- Bubble level to ensure proper fit in a vehicle
- Warranty information isn’t readily available
5. Evenflo Big Kid High Back 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat
This Evenflo model is a convertible car seat from high-back to backless seat for big kids.
When the booster seat is in high back mode, it suits smaller kids that weigh 30 to 110 pounds and who are up to 57-inches tall. If you decide to use it as a backless booster seat to ensure the vehicle’s seat belt fits across the child’s shoulder and torso correctly, then the weight limit is from 40 to 110 lbs., and up to 57-in., tall.
- Item weight – 8.13 pounds
- Dimensions – 18 x 16 x 28 inches
- Weight limits – High back mode is 30 to 110 lbs., and backless mode is 40 to 110 lbs.
- Height limits – Up to 57-inches tall
- Six-year service life
- 90-day warranty
The booster seat is very lightweight at only 8.45 pounds. The structure of the seat is plastic, and it has a padded cover for the child’s comfort. As they grow, the headrest has six positions that parents can adjust with one hand. It also has seat belt guides to ensure the belt fits across the child correctly.
The seat pad is removable and washable, so the booster is easy to keep clean. It has cup holders for drinks and snacks, so parents can keep their eyes on the road instead of reaching back to try to give their child a drink. There is a 90-day warranty, and it is available in four colors.
- Bigger kids can use it in the high back mode
- It is lightweight
- Easily transfers to another vehicle
- Six positions for the headrest
- Machine washable seat pad
- Safety is of paramount importance
- Plastic construction
- Warranty is only for 90 days
6. Evenflo Chase Harnessed Booster
It has a high back to protect their body, head, and neck. The chair is suitable for children that weigh 22 to 110 pounds, which is from toddlerhood to about 10 years old.
It has a five-point harness that fits kids from 22 to 40 pounds and a height of 28 to 50-inches, and it has a belt-positioning mode for kids that weigh 40 to 110 lbs., with a height of 43.3 to 57-inches tall. The recommended age to begin using the booster is four years old.
- Item weight – 11 pounds
- Dimensions – 18 x 18.5 x 29.5-inches
- Weight limits – Harness mode 22 to 40 lbs., seat belt positioning mode 40 to 110 lbs.
- Height limits – Harness mode from 28 to 50-in., seat belt positioning mode 43.3 to 57-in.
- Six-year service life
- 90-day warranty
The design of the Chase helps it withstand an impact if the vehicle is in an accident. The company crash tests it at twice the energy of the federal standard, and they test side impacts as well. The seat installs quickly via the LATCH system, and there is a pull at the front of the seat to tighten the harness.
It has a removable toddler head pillow, and the seat pad is also removable and machine washable. The seat is available in five colors, and it has a 90-day warranty, as well as a six-year expiration date.
- It has a harness mode for smaller children
- The booster seat is suitable for children from 22 to 110 pounds
- The chair has a high back and side protection to help prevent injuries
- The installation is quick and easy due to the LATCH system
- It only has a 90-day warranty
- The booster seat is lightweight plastic
7. Clek Oobr
The frame of the seat is metal, and it has side wings as head and neck support. Energy absorbing foam wraps around the metal structure of the seat.
The design allows it to go from a full-back seat to one that is backless. The seat attaches to the vehicle’s backseat via the rigid LATCH system, so the seat stays in place during abrupt stops or accidents.
In full-back mode, the seat is suitable for children weighing 33 to 100 pounds who are 38 to 57-inches tall. In backless mode, it is for children who weigh 40 to 100 lbs., and who are 40 to 57 in., tall.
- Item weight – 20 pounds
- Dimensions – 16 x 17 x 28 inches-inches
- Weight limits – Full-back mode 33 to 100 lbs., backless mode 40 to 100 lbs.
- Height limits – Full-back mode 38 to 57-in., seatbelt positioning mode 40 to 57-in.
- Nine-year service life
- One-year manufacturer’s warranty
The service life for this product is nine-years and, it is recyclable, so parents don’t need to throw it in a landfill when it’s time to dispose of it. However, a long life allows the parents to use it for more than one child, possibly.
The seatback reclines 12-degrees, and the headrest is adjustable for the comfort of the child. The seat cover is hand washable. It comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty.
- The seat has a metal structure
- It is suitable for kids four and over, who are 33 to 100 lbs., and 38 to 57-ins., tall
- It installs easily and quickly using a rigid LATCH system
- It is lightweight for a seat with a metal frame, weighing 20 lbs.
- Nine-year service life
- This best booster has good feedback from parents
- No harness system for lighter, smaller children
8. Graco Backless TurboBooster
Graco has a backless Turbo Booster seat that is suitable for children that are between 40 and 100 pounds and up to 57-inches tall. The ages Graco recommends is from four to 10 years old.
The seat helps children sit at the right height, so that car seat belts fit them properly to help prevent injuries in case of an accident. The seat has a clip to ensure the vehicle seat belt fits over the shoulder, so it doesn’t rub against the child’s neck and end up choking them in an accident.
- Item weight – 5.1 pounds
- Dimensions – 15 x 16 x 8.5 inches
- Weight limits – 40 to 100 pounds
- Height limits – 43 to 57-in.
- 10-year service life
- One-year limited warranty
The seat cushion is padded to be comfortable to sit on for short trips to the store or school, as well as longer excursions across the country. Parents can remove the seat pad if it gets dirty and toss it in a washing machine.
The armrests on each side adjust to a child’s height, so he or she is comfortable when riding on it. The seat also has two cup holders that hideaway in the sides and can hold water bottles or small travel cups so that they can get a drink at any time.
This seat has a lifespan of 10 years from the date of purchase and a limited one-year warranty. It is available in four colors or patterns.
In conclusion, it is one of the best options for backless booster
- Seatbelt clip to keep the belt in the proper position
- Suitable for children 40 to 100 pounds and from 43 to 57-inches tall
- 10-year expiration date
- Lightweight construction
- Built with safety in mind
- High quality
- Booster has no back or neck support
- Warranty information is challenging to find in manual
9. Evenflo AMP Select Car Booster Seat
Unfortunately, the laws in most states require children to ride one until they meet height and weight restrictions, The restrictions could mean that your child could be 10 years old before they no longer need to ride in a booster seat.
The design of this backless booster seat by Evenflo may make it a little easier to convince a child to ride on it. It is available in eight colors and patterns, including Blue Flames and other bright colors that you can match to their personality.
- Item weight – 3.8 pounds
- Dimensions – 16 x 15 x 11 inches
- Weight limits – 40 to 110 pounds
- Height limits – 40 to 57-in.
- Six-year service life
- 90-day warranty
The AMP booster step is suitable for kids that weigh 40 to 110 pounds and who are 40 to 57-inches tall. The company tests it in crashes that have twice the energy that federal law requires. To keep a child safe while in the seat, it has a seatbelt clip, so it fits properly across their shoulder. Otherwise, the shoulder strap could cut across their neck and not provide good protection during an accident.
The seat is plastic, so you can wipe it down with a damp cloth when it gets dirty. The seat pad is easy to remove, and it is machine washable. It has two cup holders, with elastic straps, for convenience. Since the booster seat doesn’t attach to the vehicle’s backseat, it is easy to transfer from one car to another. It has a 90-day warranty in case of defects.
- Easy to transfer between vehicles
- A shoulder seatbelt clip to fit the belt properly
- Suitable for kids 40 to 110 pounds, who are between 40 and 57-inches tall
- Lightweight construction
- Doesn’t attach to the vehicle seat
- The armrests are not adjustable
- This booster has only a 90-day warranty
10. Mifold Grab-and-Go Car Booster Seat
It is a portable seat that folds to be approximately the size of a clutch so that it can go into a suitcase, backpack, or shopping bag.
Although the seat looks flimsy, the company tests it and it meets or exceeds the requirements of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration FMVSS 213, but only in the United States. However, it isn’t for use in an aircraft. The company makes a version of the booster seat for the European market.
- Item weight – 1.7 pounds
- Dimensions – 1 x 13 x 7 inches
- Weight limits – 40 to 100 pounds
- Height limits – 40 to 57-in.
- Seven-year service life
- One-year limited warranty
The safety features of the foldable booster seat include lap belt guides and a seatbelt clip to ensure the belt fits the child properly. These guides help prevent injuries to the abdomen and neck because they make sure the seatbelt is in the correct position. The seat is suitable for children who weight 40 to 100 pounds and who are 40 to 57-inches tall.
If it gets dirty, the seat pad should be wipe down by hand with mild soap and water. It’s available in 13 colors, and they are available in single or double packs. A one-year limited warranty covers it and it expires seven years after the date of purchase.
- Compact for taxis, buses, and friends’ cars
- Easy to carry and store in a shopping bag, backpack, or suitcase
- Suitable for children 40 to 100 pounds who are between 40 and 57-inches tall
- Seven-year lifespan
- Shoulder clip and lap seat belt guides
- Only the vehicle seat belt protects the child
- Doesn’t boost the child very high in a car’s backseat
Questions and Answers On Booster Seats
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers.
It depends on the manufacturer and whether the car seat has a high back or is backless. The structure of a high back seat may be metal or rigid plastic with energy absorbing foam padding surrounding the areas of the head and torso. A backless seat often includes a plastic base with foam padding to make it comfortable.
The rest of the components are usually plastic to make the item lightweight. Not only is a high back seat with a metal frame heavier than one with a plastic frame, but they usually have longer service lives as well. Many companies that manufacture seats with metal frames give them a nine or 10-year expiration date from the time the customer buys it.
The outside of the seat cover is usually a durable, washable material like polyester that parents can keep clean. On some seats, the cover or seat pad is removable and is machine washable. However, it’s essential to read the manual to clean the booster seat correctly, so it still provides the protection a child needs when riding in a vehicle.
The LATCH system makes it easier to properly install a car seat without using the vehicle seat belts. LATCH is an acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. Cars and infant car seat or regular car seats, whether they are front facing or rear facing car seat, manufactured after September 1, 2002, must have the LATCH system in place.
A booster seat that uses the LATCH system, which is usually those with high backs, has straps with hooks on them that attach to tether anchors in the car. It’s not a requirement for booster seats to have a LATCH system built into it if they are belt-positioning. However, if they have a harness, then they will usually have LATCH.
The tether anchors help keep the safety seat from moving forward in the vehicle if it’s involved in car crashes. Backless booster seats are belt-positioning so that they won’t use the LATCH system and they depend on the child’s body and the vehicle’s seat belts to hold the seats safely.
If you’ve been researching, then you may notice information about an expiration date on all children’s car seats and booster seats. Although they are not perishable like food, they have a service life that’s usually six to 10-years from the date of purchase, depending on the company.
The expiry date exists because the parts and materials of the seat will wear with use, just like most things will, which can make them less safe for the child using it. If a harness would fail due to wear during a car accident, then the child could fly out of the seat and be severely injured.
The date also discourages parents from buying a used car or booster seats because they may be unsafe due to normal wear and tear of the materials, anchors, and tethers that attach them to the vehicle’s backseat. If you’re not sure what the expiration date of the seat is, look for a manufacturer’s label on the side or base of the seat. It will list the manufacture and expiration dates.
Each of the 50 states has laws governing when a child should be in booster seats. In general, they will refer to the manufacturer’s weight and height restrictions, but some state laws are particular about what ages should be in a booster or car seat.
For example, Texas requires that children under eight years old be in the appropriate safety seat depending on their height and weight. To be in booster seats, a child should be between four and eight years old and under four feet nine inches tall. If they are over the height limit, then they can use the vehicle’s seat belt system for protection.
In New Mexico, only one state over from Texas, the child must be five or six years old to use a booster. Any child who weighs less than 60 pounds, but more than 40, must also use a booster. So, if you’re taking a road trip to another state, make sure you’re complying with the safety seat requirements for your child. Read each state’s safety seat requirements here.
Conclusion
Of the 10 reviewed seats, we believe the best booster seat in the market is Britax Grow with You Clicktight Plus Harness-2-Booster Car Seat given its safety features, ease of use, and reasonable price point. However, it is crucial to choose the right one for your child when they reach the height and weight requirements of your state for a booster seat. A booster seat with a high back is usually suitable for children from 4 to 10 years old who meet a manufacturer’s height and weight requirements for using their model.
Generally, if your children weigh at least 22 pounds but under 100, they can use a booster seat that adjusts with them as they continue to grow. However, it also depends on their height. The design of most high back booster seats is for kids under 57 inches tall. If they are over that, then they can use the vehicle’s seatbelt system for sitting in the car or truck safely.
For toddlers, the high back booster seats will use a harness to protect them while in the seat, but for older kids, the seat is usually belt positioning. Belt-positioning means using the vehicle’s seat belt, along with the shoulder clip and seat belt guides to ensure it fits over the child properly.
Backless booster seats are usually for big kids because of the weight and height requirements of the manufacturer. If the child is over 40 pounds, but less than a 100, then they can usually use a backless seat. However, most backless seats do not attach to a car’s backseat with the LATCH system, and it depends on the seat belt and the child weight to keep them safely in place.
When selecting the best , look for sturdy construction, an FMVSS 213 certification, and one that is suitable for your child’s height and weight. Some are convertible car seats from a high back to a backless, so your child will fit in it until they grow enough not to need it anymore.
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