Best Car Seats of 2024

We spent days digging up safety data on popular car seat models to help you make easy comparisons.
Best overall
Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat
Graco 4Ever DLX
  • pro
    4-in-1 (Infant to age 10)
  • pro
    Easy to adjust straps and anchors
Best infant car seat
Infant car seat
Chicco KeyFit
  • pro
    Easy-to-use infant seat
  • pro
    Machine-washable padding
Extended rear-facing pick
Britax Poplar S Convertible
  • pro
    Rear-facing up to 50 lbs.
  • pro
    Easy to use
Best convertible car seat
Graco Extend-to-Fit 2-in-1
  • pro
    Affordable
  • pro
    Rear-facing up to 50 lbs.
Best budget seat
Evenflo LiteMax
  • pro
    Infants (up to 35 lbs)
  • pro
    Lightweight and easy to carry

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Graco 4Ever DLX car seat protects your child from infancy until they're ready for a seat belt thanks to its four configurations: rear-facing infant seat, forward-facing toddler seat, highback booster, and backless booster. This long-lasting lifespan combined with the Graco 4Ever DLX's impressive third-party crash test results makes it the best car seat we've reviewed.

But we know every parent has different priorities when shopping for a car seat, so we rounded up the best-of-the-best for various categories. Check out each of our top picks plus essential car seat dos and don’ts.


Best car seats of 2024


Compare the best car seats

Car seat
Best for
Price
Type
Machine washable
Cup holders
Anti-rebound
Learn more
Best overall4-in-1
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  Light2
Icon No  LightPremier model only

Best for budgets

Infant
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Icon No  LightNo

Extended rear-facing pick

Convertible
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes, sold separately
Best convertible car seat 4-in-1
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  Light2
Icon No  LightNo

Best budget car seat

Infant
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Icon No  LightNo

Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.

Bell
How to avoid counterfeit car seats

Did you know that some online retailers sell dangerous counterfeit car seats?  To ensure your car seat is federally compliant, look for a label reading, “This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).” Also, register your seat's serial number with its manufacturer to confirm validity and receive future safety/recall information.

Best car seat reviews

1. Graco 4Ever DLX: Best child car seat

Best overall
Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Car Seat
Graco 4Ever DLX
$329.99

*Amazon.com price as of post date. See full disclaimer.

The Graco 4Ever DLX is a 4-in-1 car seat that’s meant to protect your child from infancy to around the age of 10—or whenever they reach the maximum booster weight of 120 pounds. Given its long-lasting lifespan, the Graco 4Ever’s price is one of the best on the market. It’s also extremely popular among parents and performed well in third-party crash tests despite no anti-rebound device.

pro
Pros
pro 4-in-1 car seat
pro Supports rear-facing up to 49 inches and 40 lbs
pro Machine-washable padding
pro Good crash test results
pro 2 cup holders
con
Cons
con Ease of use up for debate
con 1-year warranty on a 10-year product

We love that the Graco 4Ever accommodates children up to 49 inches and 40 pounds in a rear-facing position. It’s not the highest we’ve seen (check out the Evenflo All4One) - but it’s definitely above average.

Of the car seats that made our final list, the Graco 4Ever boasts the best chest acceleration and the third-best head injury criteria score from third-party tests.

Bell
Upgrade for an anti-rebound bar

For added safety, consider the Graco Premier 4Ever DLX. It’s more expensive and a little bit harder to find, but it has an anti-rebound bar.

Hard to install in a vehicle in rear-facing mode

In the NHTSA’s “ease of vehicle installation” category, the Graco 4Ever scored just one point out of five when tested in the rear-facing configuration. The report noted these major areas of concern:

  • An average-sized male hand may have difficulty routing the seatbelt through the LATCH system.
  • Padding must be moved to route the seatbelt.
  • The seatbelt may interfere with the 5-point harness crotch strap.
  • Labels do not explain how to use the LATCH system or show an image of a child correctly positioned in the seat.

What our surveyed parents are saying

Graco was the most common brand owned by the parents we surveyed. Many parents praised its ease of use:

“I like that the straps are easily adjustable in the front, it's easy to clip into my car, and it has a cup holder.”

“It's extremely easy to take out of the car.”

“I like the button release feature to get the car seat out. Other car seats have clips to secure it to the backseat, and they can be really difficult.”

Notepad
Looking for booster seats?

 Check out our review of the top booster seats on the market.

2. Chicco Keyfit 30: Best child car seat for budgets

Best infant seat
Infant car seat

*Amazon.com price as of post date. See full disclaimer.

You won’t sacrifice safety for affordability with the Chicco Keyfit 30 (about $210). Compared to all other infant car seats on our list, the Keyfit 30 performed best in the head-injury-criteria portion of the third-party crash tests. Its chest acceleration result (51 g-units) is about average.

pro
Pros
pro Excellent crash test results
pro Relatively lightweight
pro Good stroller compatibility
pro Machine-washable padding
con
Cons
con Babies outgrow it quickly
con Instruction labels sometimes unclear

The carrier weighs 9.5 pounds, making it neither the lightest nor the heaviest infant car seat on our list. It’s compatible with at least eight strollers, which is pretty good. The padding can be washed on a cold cycle, but it should be hung up to dry.

We’re disappointed that the Chicco Keyfit only works for babies weighing 30 pounds or less. That means your baby will outgrow this model quickly, and you’ll be in the market for another car seat before you know it.

There’s also room for improvement in the Keyfit’s NHTSA ease of use score. Overall, it earned four out of five points. Most of the report’s comments refer to poor or missing instruction labels.

Notepad
What our surveyed parents are saying

“I like the extra padding to make it comfortable for infants that can be removed as [your] baby gets bigger and the removable sun shade!”

3. Britax Poplar S Convertible: Best extended rear-facing carseat

Best extended rear-facing car seat

*Amazon.com price as of post date. See full disclaimer.

The Britax Poplar S Convertible converts from an infant seat to a toddler car seat in no time. We love that it offers extended rear-facing use for kids up to 49 inches tall or weighing up to 50 pounds and includes two layers of side impact protection.

To make this car seat even safer, we recommend attaching the included anti-rebound bar accessory until your child is old enough to use the front-facing configuration.

pro
Pros
pro Extended rear-facing
pro Dishwasher safe cup holders
pro Easy to use
pro Anti-rebound bar
pro Machine washable and dryer-friendly
con
Cons
con No removable infant carrier
con On the expensive side
con No cup holders

The Britax Poplar S  includes a removable infant carrier, which is a plus..  It later transforms into a forward-facing seat to accommodate toddlers up to 65 pounds.

4.Graco Extend2Fit 2-in-1: Best convertible car seat

Best convertible car seat

*Amazon.com price as of post date. See full disclaimer.

The Graco Extend2Fit 2-in-1 is an affordable, convertible car seat that transforms from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat. Children can safely ride in the rear-facing position until they weigh 50 lbs. If your baby follows average growth and development patterns, they can travel rear-facing—the safest way to go—until they’re almost 4 years old.

pro
Pros
pro Affordable
pro Easy to use overall
pro Machine-washable seat cushion
pro Two cup holders
con
Cons
con Does not include booster
Light Bulb
Did you know?

Car-seat fabrics often include flame retardants to meet federal standards. Improperly washing and drying them ruins the flame-retardant properties. Dryer-friendly car seat padding is made of naturally flame-resistant materials.

Two cup holders

Not every toddler car seat has this nifty feature: cup holders. The Graco Extend2Fit 2-in-1 convertible has two.

5. Evenflo LiteMax Infant seat : Budget pick

Easiest car seat to clean

*Amazon.com price as of post date. See full disclaimer.

Retailing at about $130, the Evenflo LiteMax Infant car seat is the most affordable car seat on our list. And we’re happy to say that it doesn’t sacrifice features or safety for the price. It's also easy to carry weighing only 8 pounds and has a convenient stay-in-car base. As a plus, it's also easy to clean because its padding can be tossed into both the washer and dryer.

pro
Pros
pro Lightweight infant carrier (8 lbs.)
pro Washer- and dryer-safe padding
pro Tested at twice the federal crash test standard
pro Good stroller compatibility
con
Cons
con Only rear-facing (up to 35 lbs)
con Have to re-thread straps to adjust sizing

We also love that the removable infant carrier weighs just 8.17 pounds, which is only about 2.4 pounds heavier than the lightest car seat we could find.

The Evenflo LiteMax infant seat earned an overall score of four on the NHTSA’s ease of use evaluation—its only criticisms being that the harness must be rethreaded and that a headhugger or body pillow blocks the harness slots from being visible. 

More brands we recommend

Car seat
Best for
Price
Type
Machine washable
Cup holders
Anti-rebound
Learn more

Anti-rebound pick

Infant
Icon No  LightNo
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes

Easiest to use

Infant
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Icon No  LightNo

Best for stroller conversion

Infant
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes

Most luxurious car seat

Convertible
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Icon No  LightNo

*Amazon.com price as of post date. See full disclaimer.

6. Primo Viaggio Nido: Anti-rebound pick

Anti-rebound pick
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio

*Amazon.com price as of post date. See full disclaimer.

Made in Italy and retailing for about $400 (or higher, depending on the color), the Primo Viaggio Nido costs a bit more than the average car seat but includes a load leg and an anti-rebound bar. Its built-in sunshade will also keep your kiddo cool and comfortable inside the car and out.

pro
Pros
pro Good performance in crash tests
pro Relatively lightweight carrier (10 lbs.)
pro 7-year expiration
con
Cons
con Average ease of use score
con Poor stroller compatibility
con Hand-wash only

In third-party tests, the Primo Viaggio Nido exceeded federal standards for head injury criteria by about 55% and exceeded chest acceleration standards by over 20%.

The Primo Viaggio Nido suits children up to 35 pounds or 32 inches tall. It’s relatively lightweight as an infant carrier, weighing around 10 pounds.

Could be easier to use

The Primo Viaggio Nido’s main flaw is that it’s not the easiest to use, at least according to the NHTSA. Its report mentions that some labels are missing and that some parts come loose during the rethreading process.

Without clear labeling, your family and friends run the risk of installing the base or car seat incorrectly—or even improperly securing your child—if they’ve never been trained to do it.

Hand-wash only

We think a hand-wash-only car seat liner like the Primo Viaggio Nido is really inconvenient for busy and tired parents. But if you already have a routine for hand-washing items, perhaps you’ll be undeterred. Otherwise, check out the EvenFlo LiteMax.

7. UPPAbaby Mesa V2: Easiest to use

Easiest to use

*Amazon.com price as of post date. See full disclaimer.

The UPPAbaby Mesa stands out for its ease of installation. If you’re dreading the thought of wrestling with a car seat, this is the one for you. The innovative SmartSecure system is designed to allow for installation in seconds.

pro
Pros
pro Install in seconds Perfect score on NHTSA’s ease of use evaluation
pro Removable infant insert
pro Relatively lightweight infant carrier (9.9 lbs.)
pro UPF 25+ hideaway canopy
con
Cons
con Average crash test scores

The UPPAbaby Mesa V2 is a rear-facing car seat with a removable infant carrier weighing about 9.9pounds. Children can use the UPPAbaby Mesa until they’re 32 inches tall or weigh 35 pounds, which is the most common height and weight limit that we found in rear-facing car seats.

With an expiration date of seven years, your UPPAbaby Mesa V2 will be ready to go if you welcome another kiddo home in the future.

Average safety ratings

Like all car seats for sale in the US, the UPPAbaby Mesa V2 passed federal safety standards. But compared to other car seats on the market, this model’s just average. 

Decent stroller compatibility

The UPPAbaby Mesa V2 works with select UPPAbaby, Thule, and Mima.

Machine wash cold, dry flat

The good news? The UPPAbaby Mesa V2’s padding is machine washable on a cold cycle. But you’ll need to lay it flat to dry. If you’re in solo parenting mode, that means you’re stuck at home while the padding dries.

8. Doona Infant Car Seat: Best for stroller conversion

Best for stroller conversion

*Amazon.com price as of post date. See full disclaimer.

If simple stroller conversion sounds like heaven-on-wheels to you, the Doona Infant Car Seat is really the only choice out there. The stroller wheels tuck up under the infant carrier, and boom—car seat. It’s also easy to use, earning an overall usability score of five from the NHTSA.

pro
Pros
pro Machine-washable padding
pro Car seat and stroller in one
pro Easy to use
con
Cons
con Doesn’t dramatically exceed safety standards
con Heavy

We’re disappointed to see the Doona barely squeaked past the minimum federal safety standards according to third-party testing. While it is technically safe because it does meet those standards, other car seats have performed better in crash tests.

Still, the Doona has some noteworthy safety features, including an anti-rebound bar to prevent the car seat from lurching toward the rear of the car. It also includes two layers of plastic and foam for side impact protection.

Good value: It’s a two-in-one product

Don’t let the nearly $550 price tag make you skip this one automatically. You do get two products in one for that price: a car seat and a stroller. You won’t want to use this car seat as a carrier, though, since it weighs a hefty 16.5 pounds. That shouldn’t be too much of a problem since it always has wheels ready to go.

Your baby can use the Doona as a car seat until they’re 32 inches tall or weigh 35 pounds. The padding can be washed on a cold cycle but shouldn’t be thrown in the dryer. 

9. Babyark Convertible Car Seat: Most luxurious car seat

Most Luxurious Car Seat

One of the more expensive car seats on the market, the Babyark is one of the most thoughtfully designed as well. As a convertible car seat, the Babyark never expires, has military-grade hardware and lifesaving smart integration. It appears Babyark has thought of everything, including magnets that hold up the harness while putting baby in the seat and the zip off cover for easy washing. The price tag is steep at $990, but you will get what you pay for. 

pro
Pros
pro Outperforms leading competitors by 230% in head injury criteria in crash test Free replacement involved in crash
pro Load leg
pro Removable infant insert 100-day try and buy policy
pro Never expires
con
Cons
con Hard to find
con Expensive
con The Babyark includes 14 sensors embedded in the smart base, which will alert you to the following in real-time through its mobile app:
● If the car seat is installed properly or not (with foolproof guiding lights)
● If the child is buckled or not
● If the child is forgotten in the vehicle
● If the car seat is unusable after a crash

More car seats we considered

Britax One4Life

As a 4-in-1 car seat, the $400 Britax One4Life’s main competition is the Evenflo All4One. Both child car seats have excellent extended rear-facing capabilities and machine-washable padding. But you’ll pay more for the Britax One4Life, and we’re just not convinced it’s worth it. Its other main competitor—the Graco 4Ever —scored better on third-party crash tests.

Graco SnugRide SnugLock

The Graco SnugRide SnugLock (about $230) is a rear-facing-only infant car seat that scored quite well on the chest-acceleration portion of the third-party crash tests (46 g-units) but showed average results in the head-injury criteria portion (606).

We appreciate that it’s easy to use, can accommodate taller kids (up to 35 inches) and has machine-washable padding. But you can only use it with Graco or Joovy strollers.

For the price, you might as well spend a little bit extra and go for the Graco 4Ever. It will last nearly 10 times longer and offers even better crash-test results.

Clek Foonf

The Clek Foonf is meant for children weighing at least 14 pounds. This makes it impractical in our book because you’ll have to buy another car seat for your newborn anyway. And the Clek Foonf retails for about $580. It doesn’t make sense to pay more money for reduced use.

To be fair, the Clek Foonf does have the best third-party test results in terms of chest acceleration. If it also had the best head-injury criteria results, we’d have to give it a closer look. But many other car seats outperform it in that regard. We think your money would be better spent on a different car seat.

Types of child safety restraints

As your little ones grow up, they need a car seat that fits them correctly. There are convertible car seats that shift and change with your child’s growth stages, or you can purchase a new car seat for every phase. Either way, the car seat needs to be easy to install and hold your child securely. No matter what stage your child is at, the best car seat is a properly installed car seat.

Infants to 3 years old: Babies and toddlers need to sit in a rear-facing seat until they reach the weight limit on the car seat. You can find convertible car seats that fit from infancy to 3 years old. Infant car seats have a shorter life span, fitting babies up to 12 months, while convertible models can fit older children up to 35 pounds (depending on the car seat model).

4 to 7 years old: Once your child reaches preschool age, they can typically sit in a forward-facing car seat. These seats generally fit kids from 40 to 60 pounds. When installing these seats, it’s especially important to fasten the top tether of your car seat to the vehicle’s seat. This can reduce head and neck injuries in case of a crash.

8 to 12 years old: This is typically when your child can transition from a forward-facing car seat to a booster seat. Depending on your child’s weight and height, they can use a belt-positioning booster or a backless booster seat. These seats are best for kids between 40 and 80 pounds and up to 4 feet 9 inches. See our recommendations for the best booster seats.

12 years and up: Until your kids are 13, the back seat is the best place for them to sit. Once your kiddos reach 4 feet 9 inches, they are generally big enough to use an adult seat belt in the back seat of your vehicle. This could be the back seat’s lap belt or lap and shoulder belt.

Final word

Our pick for best child car seat is the Graco 4Ever DLX, but the other car seats on our lists are worth your consideration as well.

Every car seat passed the federal safety tests, but we love seeing extra features like a load leg or anti-rebound bar. And we know how important it is to have an easy-to-install seat with padding that washes up well.

That’s why we’re thrilled to see a variety of car seats that offer this blend of safety and convenience at different price points.

Car seat FAQ

Only infant car seats detach from the base, which means you don’t have to disturb your sleeping baby. But your kiddo will outgrow an infant seat in about one year, making it the more expensive choice in the long-run and unsuitable for extended rear-facing use.

Each car seat attaches to your car differently, so it’s essential that you read all the instructions along with your vehicle’s manual. These manuals can make installation and adjusting the car seat easier for you and safer for your little one. You can also find important information like safety specs, compatibility with airline seats, and more.

If you need some help or just want confirmation you’ve installed the car seat correctly, you can take it to your local fire or police department to get help from a certified Child Passenger Safety technician. 

Read more: How Do I Securely Install a Car Seat?

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests children ride in a rear-facing seat as long as possible. Most rear-facing car seats have a weight range up to 40 pounds and allow your kiddo to ride in this position until they’re roughly two years old.

Read more: When Can I Turn My Baby Around to Face Forward in the Car?

Most infant car seats are compatible with FAA standards, but it’s best to check your manual. Once you convert a car seat into a booster seat, you may not be able to take it on an airplane since these seats need a cross-body belt to function properly.

Read more: Are Child Safety Seats Required on Airplanes?

Follow the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines for both cleaning (removing germs, dirt, and impurities) and disinfecting (using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces). Use disposable gloves.

  1. Remove the car seat. Shake it upside down and vacuum to remove all crumbs.
  2. Check your manual for which parts can be removed or machine-washed. Don’t machine-wash the harness.
  3. If machine-washing is off limits, scrub cloth surfaces with detergent or warm soap and water. Don’t use bleach. Avoid soaking materials enough to risk mold or rust.
  4. Wipe all plastic and metal surfaces with disinfecting wipes.
  5. Clean the straps and buckle with warm water and gentle soap. Avoid vigorous scrubbing or harsh chemicals, as both can compromise strap strength.
  6. Air dry all pieces of the car seat completely before reinstalling it in your car.

How we reviewed the best car seats

  • 60 hours of research
  • 55 parents surveyed
  • 30+ car seat models scrutinized
  • 17 data points compared
  • 10 years of NHTSA data reviewed
  • 1 huge spreadsheet
  • 0 tears

We spent about 60 hours researching empirical data about car seat safety and usability, compiling it into a monster spreadsheet, and looking for stand-out winners for various categories. We also surveyed 55 parents and read hundreds of car seat reviews to understand how each model performs in the real world.

Understanding crash test results

The NHTSA conducts crash tests on car seats to determine if they’re safe enough to be sold in the US. If too much force is exerted on the dummy’s head or chest during the crash test, the car seat is deemed unsafe and never hits the shelves.

According to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213), too much force occurs if the chest area accelerates faster than 60 g-units within 3 milliseconds. The head’s acceleration is measured over the course of 36 milliseconds and run through a mathematical calculation to determine the “head injury criteria” (HIC). The resulting HIC number must be less than 1,000. 

In other words, lower crash test numbers are better.

The NHTSA keeps its crash test data under wraps, but we found and compared third-party data to help you better compare the relative safety and performance of each car seat. Although there’s no guarantee that a child will be totally unscathed after a car accident in any car seat, we believe crash test data will help parents make more informed decisions.

Understanding the ease of use results

The NHTSA created an “Ease of Use” rating system for car seats and publishes its findings every year.

We tracked down those reports and sifted through the data for you. Because the NHTSA recommends discarding car seats more than 10 years old, we only looked at data from the past 10 years.

The NHTSA evaluates child restraint ease of use across four categories:

  1. Usability of labels
  2. Usability of manual
  3. Ease of securing the child
  4. Ease of installation in a vehicle

Each car seat is given a category and overall rating on a scale of one through five, with one being the lowest and five being the highest. Ratings are weighted, which in this case means “ease of installation in a vehicle” is the most significant factor contributing to a car seat’s overall rating, and “usability of manual” is the least important factor.

Related articles on SafeWise


Additional sources

Disclaimer

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Cathy Habas
Written by
Cathy Habas
With over eight years of experience as a content writer, Cathy has a knack for untangling complex information. Her natural curiosity and ability to empathize help Cathy offer insightful, friendly advice. She believes in empowering readers who may not feel confident about a purchase, project, or topic. Cathy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Indiana University Southeast and began her professional writing career immediately after graduation. She is a certified Safe Sleep Ambassador and has contributed to sites like Safety.com, Reviews.com, Hunker, and Thumbtack. Cathy’s pride and joy is her Appaloosa “Chacos.” She also likes to crochet while watching stand-up comedy specials on Netflix.

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