7 Best Portable Car Seats 2023

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Many of our picks are airplane certified.

Having kids doesn't mean the end of travel, though it does mean you'll want to get savvy about the ways to make it more manageable. The key to keeping the adventures going is finding the right travel gear for you and your whole family. Enter: The portable car seat. Unlike your regular day-to-day car seat, a portable car seat is designed to be more lightweight, compact and easy to take with you on the go. Safety is always the number one priority, and these car seats make it possible to keep your little one safer in all types of vehicles, from airplanes to taxis.

Aside from requiring a lot more gear, traveling with kids can be quite stressful, and in between packing your luggage, remembering your sunscreen and making sure you grab their favorite toy, there's not a lot of mental energy for anything else. That's why our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Parenting Lab have been testing car seats for decades including the best car seat and stroller combos, the best convertible car seats and the best booster seats. We test each car seat based on safety features, functionality, ease of use and value. Our picks are decided based on tests done in-Lab by our experts, evaluations from our consumer testers and extensive research.

Head to the end of this guide to find more information on how we test, whether or not you should use a car seat on a plane, what to look for when shopping for the best portable car seats and more. Looking for something else to help make traveling with kids as easy as possible? Check out our favorite lightweight strollers and diaper bags and the winners of our first annual Family Travel Awards.

The Doona car seat is one of our absolute favorite travel systems, one of our 2020 Parenting Award Winners, and it has a dedicated fan following to back it up. You no longer need to worry about finding room for both a car seat and a stroller or lugging around more than one at a time. The Doona makes it easy to switch between car seat and stroller mode in seconds even with baby still inside. While this does mean the Doona is one of the heaviest car seats on this list, the convenience of not having to carry around or pack a stroller alongside a car seat makes it all worth it. "This is the easiest stroller to maneuver through airport security and in an airport terminal," says one tester who's a mom of two kids under 5.

Rachel Rothman, the Good Housekeeping Institute's Chief Technologist and mom of three, notes that this car seat is particularly great for traveling families and likes that it can be easily installed in taxis, Ubers or Lyfts using the car's seat belts. Keep in mind, if you are planning on bringing the Doona onto an airplane, some of our testers have found it to be a little large for some airplane seats, but note it's easy to roll around the airport and gate-check it right before you get on your flight.

At 10.4 pounds, this lightweight, simple car seat is perfect for travel without breaking the bank. Featuring a variety of colors and patterns, a removable cupholder and seat pad, it's as easy to clean as it is to buckle your kid in. The five heights and three buckle locations on the harness help customize the seat to your little one's size, making it a great option for toddlers, especially because it easily switches between forward-facing and rear-facing modes.

While it can't exactly offer everything the luxury car seats can, this classic option is one of our favorite convertible car seats and still has built-in side impact protection that provides peace of mind while getting from point A to B. Plus, while testing, we found this car seat to be especially light and slim (the brand claims that three can fit across a back seat and while testing, we were able to validate this in certain vehicles).

Older kids will appreciate the comfort of this booster seat just as much as parents will appreciate its ability to fold down to a fraction of its size. This booster has an exceptionally large weight range, functioning for kids up to 120 pounds. While it's a bit pricier than some other booster options, its compact design makes it perfect for folding up and storing in the overhead bins while in-flight or quickly sliding into the taxi seat.

The Viaggio Flex's unique design lets you customize the seat to your kid's fit in four ways by adjusting the headrest, upper backrest, side wings and seat. The aluminum-reinforced backrest and kinetic pods that divert force away from your child in the event of a collision ensure you can provide the safest travel option for your whole family. Plus, it comes in a few different colors and designs so your kid can join in and help pick which one they like the most.

This easy-to-use pick not only has an exceptionally large weight range (from 4 to 120 pounds) but also grows with your little one from a rear-facing infant car seat to a backless booster. While it's a bit heavier than some of our other picks at 23 pounds, its versatility means that it may be the only car seat you ever have to buy. While testing, we appreciated how easy this car seat was to install and use, making it pretty difficult to mess up due to user error. We also particularly like how highly adjustable it is, with a six-position recline, 10 harness and headrest positions and a no-rethread harness. You can also bring this pick on the airplane in the cabin with you as long as you're using the harness.

The easy-to-remove washable seat pads make it simple to clean up after your little one without uninstalling the seat. If you're taking it with you on the road and can't use the LATCH installation system, parents will like the integrated belt lock off on the back of the seat that helps make seat belt installation as simple as possible.

Big kids still need a bit of help ensuring that the seatbelt is hitting their body just right, so this backless booster is perfect for giving that extra height. With two hide-away cupholders, machine-washable seat cushions and padded armrests, kids can ride in style while still staying as safe as possible. Plus, its wallet-friendly price is more affordable than other highback booster options, not to mention the over 22,400 five-star reviews on Amazon and rave reviews from our own testers and Lab experts.

While it isn't airline approved — all booster seats require both a lap and shoulder belt which you won't find on an airplane — its compact size makes it incredibly simple to slide into your overhead bin and use in taxis, Ubers or other vehicles once you get to your destination. While testing, we found this booster car seat helped little ones exercise their own independence by letting them hop in and buckle themselves up all on their own.

While many caregivers choose to hold their infant on their lap while on a plane, opting for an infant car seat like the KeyFit 35 will help ensure that your baby is as safe as possible while in flight. This style of car seat is one of the easiest to install on airplanes by simply threading the belt through the seatbelt guide on the front of the car seat. The KeyFit 35 was chosen by our experts as one of the best infant car seats on the market, and we particularly like the ease of installation and added anti-rebound bar that increases safety.

While testing we also found that this seat has a variety of bells and whistles that truly do make a difference, like the large canopy and compatibility with a wide variety of strollers. If you're using it in your personal vehicle, this seat is simple to install with LATCH, but if you're bringing it on the road, you can use the on-the-go belt routing system to strap the carrier in via three points of contact for a secure fit.

Nothing says luxury like the Urbn Infant car seat and self-folding stroller travel system by Nuna. Combined, this duo makes traveling a breeze between the compact size of the stroller and the easy-to-install car seat. While we haven't gotten our hands on this specific travel system yet, our experts are big fans of many of the other car seats and travel systems by Nuna. We've often seen lightweight designs, high-quality products and luxury finishes from the brand.

This style of car seat is especially simple to install on airplanes, making it one of the best options for airplane car seat travel. The Pipa Urbn can be installed without a base using the seat's built-in LATCH system and set of included anchor guides. It can be released from the stroller and car one-handed, according to the brand. The lightweight and compact stroller is perfect for stowing away in the overhead bin while on an airplane or tucking into the backseat of the car while traveling. If you're in the market for a car seat without the stroller, the Nuna x Babylist Pipa Rx Infant Car Seat is another great option that comes with a load-bearing leg as an additional safety feature.

The Good Housekeeping Institute's engineering and parenting pros have reviewed dozens of car seats over the past two years, including portable car seats. Our Lab experts work with real parents to test these car seats on a variety of vehicles of different brands and sizes to ensure that you can find the right car seat for your family's lifestyle.

First, we make sure that each car seat we consider has passed Federal Safety Standards. Then we perform tests both in the Lab and at home to evaluate each product's safety, ease of installation, stability, ease of adjustments, stroller compatibility and ease of portability. To accomplish this, we set up each car seat in a variety of vehicles and strollers and use an 8-pound baby "dummy" to simulate putting a child in the car seat. We evaluate how easy it is to secure the "baby" using the harness as well as how difficult it is to install the car seats.

✔️ Height and weight limits: All car seats come with minimum and maximum height and weight specifications. To ensure proper seatbelt placement and optimal security, make sure your child fits within those ranges. Once they meet the maximum in either height or weight, it's time to switch. If you have an adjustable car seat or a booster that transitions from highback to backless, look at the labels on the car seat, check the user manual if you held on to it or contact the manufacturer so you know when it's time to switch modes.

✔️ Weight: The most portable car seats are the easiest ones to travel with, and the heavier they are, the more difficult it will be to tote around to and fro various locations. We recommend taking a close look at the weight of each car seat before picking the right one.

✔️ Easy cleaning: Regardless of age, spills happen. Luckily, like many other car seats, most portable seats offer removable machine-washable seat covers and padding.

✔️ Design: Traditional car seats can be overly bulky and have a ton of extra features that seem exciting, but can take up even more space. The best design for a portable car seat is a slim, streamlined design that doesn't take up too much space while carrying around or in your vehicle. Folding seats are a great option.

✔️ Ease of installation: Since you will be re-installing the car seat each time you put it in a new car or aircraft, it's important to find a car seat that is so easy to install it won't take more than a few minutes. The easiest car seats for traveling can be installed without a car seat base.

✔️ Safety: Before you bring your car seat on a trip, check to make sure it can safely be installed into all of your travel vehicles, including aircraft or taxis. It's best practice to check the safety ratings on IIHS for any car seat you plan on purchasing before you get it, or if you want even more information on a seat you currently own.

While it is not mandatory to strap your little one into a car seat on the plane while traveling, some parents opt to do so since it can be both a safer and more comfortable means of travel for your kid. Plus, it's recommended to do so for younger children by the FAA and AAP. The airplane lap belt is not always the most secure harness for kids since it usually will not fit over the correct part of their body. If you do choose to bring a car seat, make sure to check your airline's policy on installing car seats on the aircraft and check your seat's sticker to guarantee that it's aircraft approved. It is also a good idea to bring along your car seat manual to help ensure that you're properly installing the seat on the aircraft, or practice at home in your car using the lap belt. Many car seats can easily be installed without a base by threading through a seatbelt.

The average airline seat is about 17 inches wide and measures 30 inches from the back of the seat to the seat in front of you — but size can vary depending on which airline you are flying on. Because of this, it's best to pick narrower, compact car seats like the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat (only 16.5 inches wide).

For those who are traveling with a car seat who don't plan to use it while on the plane, many airlines will check the car seat (or a stroller) for free. Keep in mind that it might be a good idea to purchase a car seat travel bag to help avoid any unnecessary damage while en route.

The Good Housekeeping Institute provides expert reviews and advice on everything a parent needs, including portable car seats. For more than 15 years, Rachel Rothman, the Chief Technologist & Director of Engineering at the Institute, has put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing and writing about parenting products. She leads our efforts in both the auto space and most juvenile products, including car seats, meaning each year she installs over 100 car seats in vehicles. Plus, as a mom to three kids under six, she's personally used many of the products we recommend in real life for longer-term testing with her own children.

In her role as Parenting & Pets Reviews Analyst, Jamie Spain brings years of experience to the Institute, having reviewed a variety of parenting products for Good Housekeeping from baby strollers to diaper bags.

Jamie (she/her) is a parenting and pets reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she spends her time testing, researching and writing about pet and family products. Prior to starting at GH in 2021, she worked at BuzzFeed and People, covering a combination of product reviews and lifestyle content. She's a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology and a master’s degree in journalism.

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