Key takeaways
- Best overall: Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat ($230 – $280).
- Best value: Graco TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat ($50 – $80).
- Check the safety standard for your country and your car's fitting system.
In this article
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Choosing car seats in the US is easier when someone has already sorted the good from the overpriced. Below are the car seats we would buy right now, the ones worth a second look and the ones we would skip, each with a typical price and the reason behind the call.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price.
Quick answer
- Best overall: Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat ($230 – $280)
- Best value: Graco TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat ($50 – $80)
- Premium pick: Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Car Seat ($330 – $400)
Car seats compared
| Product | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat | Buy | 8.9/10 | $230 – $280 |
| Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Car Seat | Buy | 8.7/10 | $330 – $400 |
| Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat | Buy | 8.6/10 | $280 – $330 |
| Graco TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat | Buy | 8.0/10 | $50 – $80 |
| Nuna RAVA Convertible Car Seat | Consider | 8.5/10 | $450 – $550 |
| Doona Car Seat & Stroller | Consider | 7.6/10 | $500 – $600 |
Our picks in detail
Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat
Newborns and infants · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.9/10 · Typical price: $230 – $280
Why we like it: Easy, level installs with a rear-facing infant fit.
Pros: Bubble level and spring-loaded leveling foot help a correct install · Rear-facing from 4 to 35 lb · Anti-rebound bar on the base · Clicks into Chicco strollers
Cons: Outgrown in the first year or two · Heavier to carry than some rivals
Buy it if you want a well-reviewed infant seat that clicks into a base and many strollers, and is easy to install correctly.
Skip it if you want one seat to last from birth to booster; a convertible seat costs less over time.
Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Car Seat
Easiest seat-belt install · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.7/10 · Typical price: $330 – $400
Why we like it: ClickTight makes seat-belt installs simpler.
Pros: ClickTight system simplifies seat-belt installs · Rear-facing up to 50 lb · Britax lists 10 years of use · Steel frame
Cons: Heavy · Pricey
Buy it if you want an all-in-one seat with one of the simplest seat-belt installs, and you switch cars often.
Skip it if you want the lightest or narrowest seat for a compact car.
Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat
One seat for the long haul · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.6/10 · Typical price: $280 – $330
Why we like it: Four modes from rear-facing to backless booster.
Pros: Rear-facing to backless booster in one seat · Graco lists 10 years of use · Machine-washable cover · Good value for its lifespan
Cons: Large and heavy to move between cars · Not a carrier for newborn outings
Buy it if you want one seat that goes from rear-facing to booster and stays usable for years.
Skip it if you need a newborn seat you can carry, or have a very small car.
Graco TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat
Big kids who have outgrown a harness · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.0/10 · Typical price: $50 – $80
Why we like it: Low-cost belt-positioning booster.
Pros: Inexpensive · Converts to backless for older kids · Light and easy to move for carpools
Cons: No harness, so not for younger kids · Basic padding
Buy it if your child has outgrown the forward-facing harness limits and needs help fitting the adult seat belt.
Skip it if your child still fits a harnessed seat; keep them harnessed until they reach its limits.
Nuna RAVA Convertible Car Seat
Verdict: Consider · Score: 8.5/10 · Typical price: $450 – $550
Our verdict on Nuna RAVA Convertible Car Seat is consider: a decent option, but compare it with the picks above before paying $450 – $550.
Doona Car Seat & Stroller
City parents and travel · Verdict: Consider · Score: 7.6/10 · Typical price: $500 – $600
Why we like it: Infant car seat with built-in fold-out wheels.
Pros: Wheels fold out from the seat itself · Great for quick trips and travel · Rear-facing infant fit with a base or seat-belt install
Cons: Expensive for a short-lived seat · Heavy to lift as a carrier · Tiny storage
Buy it if you ride in taxis and rideshares or fly often and want an infant seat that turns into a stroller in seconds.
Skip it if you want value; it is outgrown in the first year or so and costs about twice a standard infant seat.
What to check before you buy
- Check the safety standard for your country and your car's fitting system.
- Rear-facing as long as possible is safest for young children.
- Easy installation reduces fitting mistakes.
What to skip
Common mistake: Using a second-hand seat with an unknown history.
When to buy
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November. All-in-one seats last from baby to booster.
Compare more options
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Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What are the best car seats in the US?
Our top pick is Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat (typically $230 – $280). For the best value, choose Graco TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat (typically $50 – $80).
What should I check before buying car seats?
Check the safety standard for your country and your car's fitting system. Rear-facing as long as possible is safest for young children.
When is the best time to buy car seats in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
What is the most common mistake when buying car seats?
Using a second-hand seat with an unknown history.