Best Booster Seats of 2021

The best booster seat suits kids at all stages and changes with them as they age. That’s why our top pick is the Graco Nautilus 65 which transforms from a harnessed booster (for children 22–65 lb.) to a high-back booster (30–100 lb.) to a backless booster (40–100 lb.). It costs a little bit more up front, but it’s a good deal for three car seat boosters in one.

The Graco Nautilus has a 10-year lifespan and a wide weight range, so it should last your child from their preschool years through elementary school. It’s steel-reinforced, side-impact tested, and lined with EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam too, so it’s no surprise it exceeded crash test standards.

We started by researching recommendations from professional and federal organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This laid the groundwork for how we’d compare each booster seat.

There are an overwhelming amount of options when it comes to kids’ safety seats, so we went straight to the source and asked real parents what booster seats they use. We looked further into the brands and models parents recommended first hand and narrowed our options from there.

We dug even further by watching unboxing and installation videos featuring each model we selected. Armed with this information, installation guides, and product specifications, we were able to weigh our options and find the best car booster seats. Read our full methodology to learn more about how we rate and test all the products we review.

In our research, we found that over 75% of reviewers gave the Nautilus a five-star rating. There’s a lot to love about this car booster seat, but at 22 pounds and over $200, it’s also the heaviest and most expensive. If you’re interested in this Graco car seat, we recommend you have plenty of room in your budget and back seat.

Reviewers have several concerns about this booster seat missing a LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system that locks the seat in place. The TurboBooster is still safe, but many parents might raise an eyebrow when they learn the LATCH system they’re used to isn’t present in this Graco model. Additionally, this seat isn’t compatible with lap-only belts, so you won’t be able to place it in your middle seat or on an airplane.

It uses adjustable straps with belt guides on the end that fasten to your child’s seat belt. These guides slide on and off the seat belt so easily that your kids can set it up themselves. They just need to take a seat, fasten the belt guides, and buckle up.

This unique booster seat weighs less than two pounds and is compact enough to fit in backpacks and seat pockets. We like the innovative design of this booster seat and it’s a great choice for trips or using in the babysitter’s car.

We like the ergonomic seat that keeps your most restless kid comfortably in place. This is especially important for backless boosters that use only seat guides and clips to secure your child’s seat belt. Unfortunately, because it requires a three-point seat belt, you won’t be able to take this booster seat on airplanes or place it in middle seats with lap belts.

Remember, there's no rush to transition to a booster seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends kids stay in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible (most kids grow out of them around age 4).¹ After they’ve outgrown their rear-facing car seat, kids should stay in harnessed car seats until they outgrow the height and weight limits.

Most kids won’t be ready for a booster seat until they’re around five or six. The weight and height span for the average booster seat ranges from 40 to 100 pounds and up to 57-inches tall (or around 4 ft., 7 in.). There are different types of booster seats designed for different stages of your child’s life too. Harnessed boosters use a built-in harness system for younger and smaller children, while high-backed and backless boosters work for bigger kids. No matter where your child is in life, make sure their height and weight fit within your new booster seat’s restrictions.

• Best Car Seats Buyers Guide
• Car Crash Stats: States with the Highest (and Lowest) Child Fatality Rates
• How Do I Securely Install a Car Seat?
• What Are the Child Safety Seat Laws in Each State?

1. Dennis R. Durbin, Benjamin D. Hoffman and Council on Injury, Violence, And Poison Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics News and Journals, "Child Passenger Safety," November 2018. Accessed September 1, 2020.
2. Dennis R. Durbin, Benjamin D. Hoffman and Council on Injury, Violence, And Poison Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics News and Journals, "Child Passenger Safety," November 2018. Accessed September 1, 2020.