9 Best Booster Car Seats so Your Little Big Kid Can Ride Safely

We updated this article in January 2023 to make sure our picks based on extensive testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute reflected the correct pricing of each booster car seat.

Before you know it, your baby will have grown out of their car seat harness and be ready for the next step. While they may be a big kid now, that doesn't mean it's safe to sit directly in your vehicle's back seat just yet. Now, it's time for a booster seat. Booster seats help keep kids safe by readjusting their seatbelt placement to the proper spot, rather than across their bellies and necks which could cause harm in an accident. Booster seats come in a variety of styles, colors and sizes so you can easily find one that fits in with your lifestyle and vehicles.

The parenting and product experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute test all of the must-haves for babies, toddlers and children, from baby humidifiers and crib mattresses to swing sets and everything in between. We've road-tested a dozen booster car seats in the past year to evaluate safety, ease of use and proper fit. To find the best booster seats, we consider ease of installation, angle and harness adjustments, ease of cleaning, dimensions and fit. We then conduct our tests in vehicles of various sizes.

Our top picks:

This roundup of the best booster seats for your car is based on Lab-tested picks, category expertise and real-life consumer feedback. At the end of this guide, you can find additional information about when to use a booster seat and the difference between the various types on the market. Looking for something for kids a bit younger? Check out our favorite infant car seats and travel systems.