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If you drive a small car, or need to fit a car seat next to another seat or an adult, width matters. The narrowest seats we carry measure 16.9 in (42.9 cm) across, and there's one at every stage: the Clek Liing infant seat, the Clek Fllo and Foonf and the Evenflo Revolve360 Slim convertibles, and the Diono Solana backless booster. Width is only one measurement, though. Front-to-back space, anchor positions and buckle access decide the fit just as much. The widths below come from the manufacturers' specifications on our product pages.
Car seat widths by stage
| Seat | Type | Width | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clek Liing | Infant seat | 16.9 in (42.9 cm); base 13.2 in | $629.99 |
| UPPAbaby Mesa V3 | Infant seat | 17 in (43.2 cm); base 14.5 in | $439.99 |
| UPPAbaby Aria V2 | Infant seat | 17 in (43.2 cm); base 14 in | $479.99 |
| Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Urban Mobility | Infant seat, no base | 17 in (43.2 cm) | $379.99 |
| Cybex Aton 2 | Infant seat | 17.25 in (43.8 cm) | $398.97 |
| Nuna PIPA Urbn and PIPA Lite | Infant seat | 17.5 in (44.5 cm) | $680 and $640 |
| Cybex Cloud G Pro | Infant seat | 17.6 in (44.7 cm) | $699.95 |
| Clek Fllo | Convertible | 16.9 in (42.9 cm); base 13 in | From $529.99 |
| Clek Foonf | Convertible | 16.9 in (42.9 cm); base 13 in | From $774.99 |
| Evenflo Revolve360 Slim 2-in-1 | Rotating convertible | 16.9 in (42.9 cm) | $749.99 |
| Romer Veni | Convertible | 17 in (43.2 cm) | $724.99 |
| Nuna RAVA | Convertible | 19 in (48.3 cm) | $810 |
| Cybex Callisto G 360 | Rotating all-in-one | 19.5 in (49.5 cm) | $999.95 |
| Evenflo Revolve360 Extend | Rotating all-in-one | 19.8 in (50.3 cm) | $499.97 |
| Diono Solana | Backless booster | 16.9 in (42.9 cm) | $49.99 |
| UPPAbaby Alta V2 | High-back booster | 17.5 in (44.5 cm); seat pan 11 in at its narrowest | $289.99 |
| Clek Oobr | High-back booster | 18 in (45.7 cm) at the back, 15.5 in at the front; 20 in with the cup holder | $439.99 |
For an infant seat, the carrier width matters when you click it in, and the base width matters on the vehicle seat. Some seats we carry, including the Maxi-Cosi Kani, which Maxi-Cosi says is designed to fit three across in most back seats, don't list a width on our product page, so they aren't in the table.
Width isn't the only measurement
A narrow seat can still be a poor fit. Before you choose, check these too:
- Front-to-back room. A rear-facing seat takes up space between the back seat and the front seat. Clek, for example, lists the Fllo at 32.5 in (82.6 cm) front to back when rear-facing with its anti-rebound bar, and 29 in (73.7 cm) without it. Transport Canada says it's okay if a rear-facing child's legs touch the vehicle seat back, but the seat still has to sit within the angle range shown on its label or in its manual.
- Room to rotate. A rotating seat needs space to turn. Evenflo's advice for the Revolve360 Slim is to check the seating position and the rotation clearance in your own vehicle.
- Anchors. Your vehicle manual shows which seating positions have lower anchors (UAS) and a top tether anchor. Transport Canada says to always attach the top tether for a forward-facing seat, so a forward-facing seat needs a position with a tether anchor.
- Buckles for everyone else. In a tight row, a car seat can cover the buckle that the person or booster next to it needs. Make sure every passenger can still reach and fasten their own seat belt.
- Front seat. Transport Canada says to always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat.
Measure before you shop
- Measure across the back seat at cushion height, in the space where the car seat will go: from the door to the next seat or passenger.
- Set the front seats where the driver and passenger actually sit, then measure from the back seat to the front seat.
- Note which positions have lower anchors and tether anchors, and where the seat belt buckles are.
- Compare your numbers with the seat widths above, and check each seat's manual for its rules on installing next to other seats.
Narrow seats we'd look at first
- Infant seat: the Clek Liing is the narrowest, at 16.9 in with a 13.2 in base. The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Urban Mobility is 17 in wide and installs without a base, which helps if the seat moves between cars.
- Convertible seat: the Clek Fllo is 16.9 in wide and rear-faces up to 22.7 kg (50 lb). The Foonf is the same width with rigid lower anchor connectors for forward-facing use, but it's heavier: 38 lb rear-facing, compared with 28 lb for a Fllo with its anti-rebound bar. The Evenflo Revolve360 Slim is also 16.9 in and rotates toward the door, but it has no booster mode. The Romer Veni is 17 in.
- Booster: the Diono Solana backless booster is 16.9 in. For a high-back booster, the UPPAbaby Alta V2 narrows to 11 in at the seat pan, and the Clek Oobr is 15.5 in at the front. Our booster seat guide compares them in more detail.
If you need three seats in one row, our 3-across guide and our Foonf and Radian comparison cover that setup. For the bigger picture, see how to choose a convertible seat for your installation space, or compare our all-in-one car seats.
Check the fit in your car
Our car seat terms guide explains the stages and limits. We offer car seat installation and check-ups by appointment at our Richmond and Burnaby stores, free for seats bought from us and $50 for other seats. Here's what happens at a car seat check. Prices were current when we wrote this. If you'd like to see a seat before you buy, call the store ahead of your visit to ask which ones are on display.
Neo W. is a BCAA-certified Child Passenger Safety Educator at baby enRoute (BCAA CPS Educator II Course).
