Best Car Seats Under $250
You don’t have to compromise on safety to find a seat that fits your budget
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If there’s one thing that decades of child car seat testing have shown us, it’s that you don’t have to pay top dollar to get a safe, high-quality car seat. Many of the top-performing seats in CR’s car seat ratings cost less than $250, from infant car seats to convertible car seats to high-back booster seats you’ll use with your older child. (CR’s car seat ratings are free for everyone, and you can filter by price to shop within your budget.)
Parenting is expensive, to put it mildly, and widespread tariffs have resulted in prices rising even more for all the baby gear you need for your little one, including strollers, cribs, and, yes, car seats. Finding ways to save on these bigger purchases is even more of a priority than ever.
A good car seat should be simple to use and easy to install, and it should keep your child safe in the car—without costing a small fortune. Here are our Top Picks for wallet-friendly car seats that perform well in CR’s rigorous car seat testing.
Best Infant Car Seats Under $250
Best All-in-One Car Seats Under $250
Best Convertible Car Seats Under $250
Best Booster Car Seats Under $250
