Best Booster Seats of 2021

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

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.

• 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. 

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. Others also mentioned that the snack drawer can be difficult to open and close. 

The Evenflo Spectrum is also the widest child booster seat on our list, measuring nearly 20 inches across.

• Use the Evenflo Spectrum 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.

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.

• 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.

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.

• 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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

• If My Child and I Were in an Accident, Should I Replace the Car Seat?
• Are Child Safety Seats Required on Airplanes?
• What Are the Child Safety Seat Laws in Each State?
• When Can I Turn My Baby Around to Face Forward in the Car?
• How Long Do Car Seats Last?

1. 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 September 27, 2021. 
2. Hannah Waizmann, Cincinnati Children’s, “Growth, Range of Height and Weight,” April 2019. Accessed September 27, 2021.