Best Booster Car Seats 40 lbs and up

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2023 @ 1:20 pm.

Best High Back Booster Car Seat: Graco Affix

When it comes to booster car seats for kids that weight 40 lbs. or up, you have two basic choices: high back or no back boosters.

As the name implies, high back boosters (also called belt-positioning boosters) are designed for younger kids (who are still under 40 lbs.). They correctly position the safety belt across a child’s shoulder and torso. High back seats also provide some additional side impact protection.

No back boosters are best for older kids that just need a boost up. We’ll discuss those seats later in this article.

For the best high back booster seat, we pick Graco’s Affix seat. This excellent seat hits all the right notes: comfortable, easy to use and easy on the wallet. Graco’s track record in this category is also excellent—we like their overall safety and engineering.

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• LATCH to keep the seat secure to the vehicle. One major issue for booster seats: when unoccupied, they can fly about the vehicle in a crash. The Graco Affix has a LATCH system that keeps the seat secure when your child isn’t in the vehicle.

• Comfy cushions.

• Easy to use.

• Affordable.

• Integrated cup holder.

• Slide out storage tray.

• Side impact protection.

• Converts to backless booster for extra use.

What Needs Work

• Your child has to be mature enough to sit in the seat. Unlike car seats with five-point harnesses, this seat is easy for kids to unbuckle by themselves. That is true for all high back boosters, of course. If your child can’t be trusted to stay in their seat, a five-point harness solution might be a better bet.

Best Backless Booster Seat: Graco TurboBooster Backless

As we mentioned earlier, backless booster seats are designed for older kids who just need a small boost so the vehicle seat belt fits correctly. 

We tried out a dozen backless booster seats and asked our readers for their favorites before deciding the Graco TurboBooster is the best bet for most folks. 

The TurboBooster comes in two versions: high back and backless. The latter is what we are referring to here—this seat is well designed and very easy to use. And yes, there are two cup holders. 

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Good brand track record.

• Affordable.

• Easy to use.

• Lightweight: great for carpools.

• Cup holders that fold away!

What Needs Work

• No LATCH system. That means you should store the seat in a trunk when not occupied by a child. If not, the seat could fly about the cabin in the case of an accident.

Best For Long Road Trips: Britax Skyline

If you’ve got a long road trip planned and need an upgraded booster seat that is super comfy, we’d recommend the Britax Skyline.

Yes, this is the same Britax brand that has many top-rated convertible seats. And even though the Skyline costs a bit more than other booster seats, we think it is worth the investment.

The big headline here is the added side impact protection and overall seat engineering. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• LATCH system to keep seat in place in vehicle when unoccupied.

• Converts to backless booster for extended use.

• Push-on LATCH connectors.

• Plush padding more comfy for longer trips.

• Cup holders!

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability. When we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money. 

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!

Best Booster Car Seats 40 lbs and up