Best Affordable Car Seats – Best Cheap Car Seats 2022

We know — if there’s one baby item you don’t want to skimp on, it’s a car seat. But you don’t have to shell out big bucks to keep your baby safe.

In fact, all car seats that are sold in the United States are designed to meet strict government safety standards. And the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) tells parents that there’s no “safest” seat — rather, the best one for your child is the one that fits her properly and is installed correctly.

Finding the right type of car seat for your little one depends on a few things. To start, the car seat should be appropriate for their height and weight. You’ll also want to think about your car setup: Do you have multiple children who use car seats? If so, you may want to prioritize slimmer car seats so everyone can fit comfortably. Will your child be a passenger in a few different cars? Then you may want to look for car seats that are light and easy to install. 

Types of car seats

• Infant car seats: These car seats, which face the back of the vehicle’s seat, typically come with a car seat base that remains in the vehicle. They’re designed specifically for infants, who should ride rear-facing, and these seats can only be used until your baby reaches the maximum weight or length for the car seat — which might be before they turn 12 months old.

• Convertible car seats: Used as a rear-facing seat while your baby is small, these car seats can later be converted to a forward-facing seat after your child grows. Unlike rear-facing-only car seats, convertibles don’t usually come with a car seat base or feature a carrying handle. Some can be used from birth.

• Booster seats: Designed to give kids a “boost,” booster seats help position your child so the seat belt falls across them properly. Some have high back seats, while others are backless.

• All-in-one car seats: Also known as 3-in-1 seats, these car seats can be converted from a rear-facing seat, to a forward-facing seat, to a booster seat as your child grows.

How to choose an affordable car seat

Choosing an affordable car seat will largely depend on your budget. Once you land on that number,you should ask yourself a few questions to narrow down your selections:

• Does the car seat have longevity? If you want to stretch your dollar, then you want to look for a convertible or all-in-one car seat. Unlike infant car seats, which can only be used until your child reaches the maximum weight or length for the car seat, convertible car seats and all-in-one car seats can be used once your child enters the forward-facing stage (as well as the booster phase, in the case of the all-in-one option.) These may cost slightly more upfront, but will cost less than having to buy a new car seat in the future. 

• What are the weight and height regulations? The larger the weight and height range, the longer your child will be able to use the car seat. 

• How easy is it to install? A cheaper car seat may lack the lower anchors or locked seat belts that make more expensive models easier to install. (Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean they are less safe. All car seats sold in the U.S. must meet the same federal safety and crash performance standards.) If you have trouble installing your car seat, then you may end up spending money to have someone else do it for you. This handy chart from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rates the ease of use for various car seats.

How we chose the best affordable car seats

To help you find an affordable car seat, we considered all options that were less than $250, the only exception being the best cheap infant car seat and stroller combo, which is more expensive due to the fact that you’re getting two items. For this category, we set a price limit of $350. From there, we turned to the millions of moms in our What to Expect community, who share their honest first-hand experiences — pros and cons — when it comes to buying and actually using an affordable car seat. 

Here are the affordable car seats on the market that get the highest marks.