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Quick List: Best Car Seats for 3 Across
After comparing and reviewing 15 narrow car seats within 18 inches wide, we can reveal that the best car seats to fit 3 across (ordered by width) are:
1. Best overall: Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with Quick Clean Cover – 16.75″, 360 degrees rotation, 50-lb rear-facing weight limit, easy-to-remove cover, $349.99 (get it on Amazon).
2. Best infant 3 across car seat: Chicco KeyFit 30, 16.75″, $199.99 (get it on Amazon).
3. Best convertible 3 across car seat: Graco SlimFit3 LX – 16.75″, $279.99 (get it on Amazon); Diono Radian 3R – 17″, $199.99 (get it on Amazon).
4. Best 3 across booster seat: Chicco MyFit – 17.5″, $199.99 (get it on Amazon); Century Booster On – 17.5″, $59.99 (get it on Amazon).
See Our Top Picks
Find the best car seats for 3 across from 16.75"
Best By Bonus
See the best car seats for 3 across by bonus (e.g. extended rear-facing, rotate, etc).
Comparison
Compare key performance stats of the best 3 across car seats.
I also list the narrowest car seats to fit 3 across by width in these three categories for a quick view.
Best Car Seats for 3 Across
There are some other narrow car seats for 3 across between 16 to 18 inches wide. We have reviewed and compared them so that you don’t need to.
Car Seats to Fit 3 Across by Bonus Features
Cheapest:
- Narrow All-in-one Car Seat – Diono Radian 3R($199.99)
- Narrow Booster Seat – Century Booster On ($54.99)
Further Information
Lightweight
- Narrow infant car seat – Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 (7.5 lb)
- Narrow booster seat – Century Booster On (8.38 lb)
Best for Travel
- Narrow infant car seat- Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller (folding design with wheels)
- All-in-one – Diono Radian 3R (foldable design)
5-point Harness up to 100-120 Pounds
- Narrow all-in-one car seat – Graco SlimFit3 LX (100 pounds)
- Narrow all-in-one car seat – Diono Radian 3R (120 pounds)
Further Information
Best Narrow Infant Car Seats for 3 Across
#1 Best Infant Car Seat for 3 Across
Chicco KeyFit 30
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-30
- Height limits: 30"
- Stage: 1st
- Lifespan: 6 years
- Suitable: Birth to 9-12 months old
The Good
- Lightweight for carrying and switching
- Most popular for preemie
- Large and removable canopy
The Bad
- A bit pricey
$199.99
With a width of 16.75 inches and a lightweight body of 9.5 pounds, the Chicco KeyFit 30 is the perfect car seat fitting 3 across from vehicle to vehicle. The 30-pound weight limit and 30-inch height range deliver comfort and enough usage to ride newborn boys or girls to their 9 months.
For less than $200, your baby will get excellent rides with safety and protection.
Why We Recommend It:
Fitting 3 across in the back seat is unlike other installations; you may need a few additional conditions from the vehicle to the car seat itself. The Chicco KeyFit 30 handles this by combining maneuvering with an impressive narrow width that lets you effortlessly place three car seats in a row in the back seat.
Typically, child restraints for 3 across require a narrow width of around 17-inch. The KeyFit 30, on the other hand, achieves this feat with an ultra slender 16.75-inch width. That’s even better than the Diono Radian R series’ 17-inch.
Similarly, the whole piece is compact and lightweight. Measuring 27.5 (D) x 16.75 (W) x 24 (H) inches when folded the handlebar and weighing 9.5 lbs, it’s portable and can easily be switched from vehicle to vehicle.
Not only is the Chicco KeyFit 30 an incredibly practical infant car seat with its 16.75-inch narrow width and a compact-sized and lightweight 9.5-pound body, but it also has lots of safety features. Its ergonomic design, impressively compatibility, and low 4-pound weight requirement mean it’s great to look at and friendly for newborns, even preemies. No other infant car seat at this price provides this combination of specs and features.
The Premium LATCH connectors also aid the KeyFit 30’s easy installation. This is a type of rigid LATCH outperforming common LATCH for a tight installation, reducing the chance of wiggling. Plus, the SuperCinch tightener works as a second confirmation to make sure your KeyFit 30 is installed tightly and properly., and RideRight helps to indicate that your car seat is placed at the perfect angle for safety and comfort.
With a decent padding
When using the Chicco KeyFit 30 for newborns and small infants, you need to know that your little one benefits from the best protection and max comfort. The KeyFit 30 achieves this with a few impressive features.
It has plenty of EPS energy-absorbing foam for decent padding to provide the little one max comfort, with a large canopy protecting him or her from UV and UPF. The frame is made from reinforced steel which ensures a reliable build and that the car seat can withstand daily wear and tear.
Plus, the included infant insert can provide head and body support for babies between 4 and 11 pounds. It’s removable and offers extra space for growing infants until they reach the size limits: 30lbs/30″.
For future models, we would like to see the KeyFit premium models spread the size limit for a longer rear-facing.
This comes true. The Chicco company launched the 35 version later.
There are a few higher-end siblings with the same 30-pound-30-inch limitation, but with superior fabrics and sales at a higher price.
| Car Seats Comparison | Chicco KeyFit 30 | Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip | Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip Air |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $229 | $239 |
| Weight limits (lb) | RF:4-30 | RF:4-30 | RF:4-30 |
| Rear Facing Weights | Up to 30" | Up to 30 | Up to 30 |
| Newborn positioner | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Machine-washable fabrics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Large canopy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quick-remove seat pad | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cozy all-season boot | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Premium zipper features | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3D AirMesh breathable backrest | - | ✓ | ✓ |
#2 Best Infant Car Seat for 3 Across
UPPAbaby MESA
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-35
- Height limits: 32"
- Stage: 1st
- Lifespan: 7 years
- Suitable: Birth to 12 months old
The Good
- Lightweight for carrying and switching
- Made of high-end materials
- Two naturally fire resistant options through innovative use of Merino wool
The Bad
- A bit pricey
$299.99
The UPPAbaby MESA offers exceptional value for money.
If you like the 17-inch width to fit three across, the choice of premium features to deliver safety and comfort, and a top size limit for infants growing to 12-18 months old, then look no further. The UPPAbaby MESA also ticks the portability box and can easily be carried and connected to VISTA and CRUZ strollers for a complete travel system.
At an affordable price and packed full of features, it quickly became one of the most popular infant car seats and is the perfect companion for a small infant.
Why We Recommend It:
If you’re looking for something new and are always passionate to try new brands with innovative technologies like the Internet companies, the UPPAbaby MESA could be exactly what you’re looking for.
The standout feature of this infant car seat is that it’s narrow enough to fit 3 across. The 17-inch width is exactly the same as the Diono Radian 3R, which is one of the most popular 3-across car seats from the Diono Radian Series. This means the UPPAbaby MESA should be as great as them to fit 3 across in most vehicles.
Even better, this narrow infant car seat is more compact than the Diono Radian car seats -primary with a short car seat height (24-inch vs 28.5-inch). This means the UPPAbaby MESA would be suitable for more situations, including small cars like Toyota Camry.
It’s a bit wider than the 16.75-inch Chicco KeyFit 30 but narrower than Doona (17.3″). But all these three narrowest infant car seats are good choices if you have a new baby to ride in the back seat.
The 17-inch width is also responsible for fitting growing babies along with the 26.4” length and 23” height. This is a bit bigger than the Chicco KeyFit 30; however, this allows the MESA infant car seat to accommodate your baby for a longer rear-facing. The MESA has a greater size limit than the KeyFit 30 (35lbs/32″ vs 30lbs/30″).
That means the MESA can be used for older infants, probably up to 12 or even 18 months old. The 35lbs/32″ size is very common for most of infant car seats, even the heavier Doona features the same.
All three are the safest car seats for infants. As the classic model from each manufacturer, they come with a few exclusive safety features.
The UPPAbaby MESA is equipped with a unique tightness indicator, along with the self-retracting rigid LATCH connectors. Parents can easily get a fast, tight, and proper installation for the MESA.
You’ll know that you have installed this 3-across car seat accurately while the tightness indicator turns green. This visual confirmation works for both installation methods. So no matter which you have chosen, LATCH or seat belt, it keeps working to help you get a proper installation.
Given that this 3 across car seat has a similar size (only slightly wider), it won’t come as a surprise that it’s as lightweight as the KeyFit 30, weighing 9.9 pounds (only the carrier). In the world of infant car seats, this is considered to be light. Most moms and dads will be able to carry it easily, although those with smaller hands might find gripping the handlebar a little tricky due to the extra weight with a baby in it which makes it significantly heavier.
Considering its light and compact, the MESA manages to maintain a solid construction. The metal frame and descent of padding reduce any chances of wiggling when meeting any incidents.
Alongside the reliable build of its frame, superior materials increase the comfort when your little one sits in it, also the price. Positioned as a high-end infant car seat to fit 3 across, the MESA is almost $100 more expensive than the KeyFit 30.
However, new parents would find it better matches their tastes with the convenience that the MESA provides.
And it’s not that expensive compared to Doona, which costs $550 or more with a few color options.
It’s a pity that the MESA does not have bright colors like pink or purple for girls. Only one white and gray mixture is more suitable for girls, but it’s much easier getting dirty. Among the four colors, the JORDAN is the most popular one. It’s unisex.
Narrow Convertible Car Seats to Fit 3 Across in a Row
Rotatable Narrow Car Seat for 3 Across
Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with QCC
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-50 (RF): 22-65 (FF)
- Height limits: 17-48"(RF); 28-49"(FF)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Suitable: Birth to 4-5 years old
- Rotating: 360 degrees
- Base: Built-in base
The Good
- 50 lb weight limit for extended rear-facing
- 360-degree rotational
- Slim design to fit 3 across
- Affordable price
- US car seat
The Bad
- A bit heavy
$329.99
Can’t believe that a rotating car seat that fits 3 across? Well, the Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with Quick Clean Cover will blow your mind. It has a very narrow profile, only 16.75 inches wide, making it the narrowest 360-degree rotational car seat.
Same as the Graco SlimFit3 LX, the Revolve360 Slim with Quick Clean Cover is a good convertible car seat for 3 across. Since its release in 2023, it now becomes my #1 of the best car seats that fit three across.
Let me tell you why.
First, without a doubt, its 360-degree rotation appeals. More and more parents choose this type of car seat because it’s really convenient (and most effortless) to get their kid in and out of the car seat, especially when you should put the kid in a rear-facing position. You don’t need to bend your back now, just swivel the car seat towards the door. It’s one of our best 360 car seats.
Second, it has a higher rear-facing weight limit. Yes, Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with Quick Clean Cover and its siblings are good car seats that rear face to 50 lbs. That’s 10 pounds higher than the Graco SlimFit3 LX, meaning longer time riding rear-facing.
Plus, it features an easy-to-remove seat pad – Quick Clean Cover, saving time and energy. Don’t need to feel struggled in taking the seat pad off now!
Of course, this 360-degree rotating narrow car seat is more expensive than SlimFit3 LX ($349.99 vs $279.99) – it’s still the cheapest model among the rotating car seats. Also, the Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with Quick Clean Cover does not support the booster stage, meaning if your kid outgrows the 65 lbs/49″ size limit, you’ll need to purchase another booster seat (which means extra cost).
If budget is not your first consideration, the Revolve360 Slim with Quick Clean Cover would definitely be the best car seat for 3 across.
Narrowest All-in-One Car Seat for 3 Across
#1 Narrow All-in-one Car Seat for 3 Across
Graco SlimFit3 LX -16.75 Inch
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 5-40 (RF): 22-65 (FF); 40-100 (Booster)
- Height limits: ~49" (RF&FF); ~57” (Booster)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 10 years
The Good
- Slim design to fit 3 across
- Going through three car seat stages
- Improved breathable mesh AirFlow materials
- Rapid Remove pad for easy taking off to clean
- 10 years of lifespan
The Bad
- Not foldable
$279.99
A great first narrow car seat option. Affordable and safe, the Graco SlimFit3 LX has a kid-friendly size limit from birth to big kids with safety and comfort features for long-time riding, will keep parents happy with a smart seat cover design that makes it an excellent choice for busy parents.
With a 16.7-inch width, the Graco SlimFit3 LX is a great car seat to fit 3 across, making it one of the best narrowest car seats for growing families. This 16.7-inch width makes Graco SlimFit3 LX even narrower than the 17-inch width of Diono Radian 3R which is well-known for its 3 cross fit.
If you have a newborn twin, slim-fit car seats are the best choice. The Graco SlimFit3 LX is the narrowest all-in-one car seat and it has a wide weight range to accommodate newborns till they grow into big kids at 7 or 8 years old. The 40lbs/49″ rear-facing size limit makes it ranks top on the list of extended rear-facing car seats, good for toddlers between 2 and 3 years old.
Constructed with a high-strength steel frame and energy-absorbing foam, the SlimFit3 LX definitely performs well in protecting your child for safe rides. Plus, it uses the company’s exclusive ProtectPlus technology to enhance the protection, ensuring your child won’t get injured in any incidents, even crashes from the front, side, rear, and cases of rollover.
Not only is it a great option for children, but the Graco SlimFit3 LX is also friendly for busy parents.
Made of machine washable fabrics, you don’t need to spend much time hand washing the seat pad. What’s more appealing, the seat cover can be quickly removed for machine washing. The SlimFit3 LX is cleverly designed with a ‘Rapid Remove’ cover, which can be found in premium Graco car seats, including the 4Ever DLX 4 in 1 car seat. You can easily take off the cover and release the snaps to remove the pad in seconds.
This smart seat-cover-removal design is very similar to the ‘zip-off design like the Chicco NextFit Zip (a 19-inch wide narrow car seat but not for 3 across) and its higher-end siblings. Removing the seat cover can be a big challenge for short moms. The Graco SlimFit3 LX (and other Graco car seats with Rapid Remove) and Chicco NextFit Zip outperform other toddler car seats in this aspect, increasing your trustworthiness that it’s a valued car seat for 3 across.
Graco SlimFit3 LX is the best-recommended car seat to fit 3 across at an affordable price tag of under $300. With so many great safety and practical features, it’s a few bucks cheaper than the high-end 4Ever DLX. The latter is one of the best car seats with a 5-point harness for up to 120 pounds and provides a backless mode to save money for a backless car seat.
Multiple colors are available for this 3 across car seat, the Katrina (similar to purple) makes it one of the best purple car seats for toddler girls. When choosing a color on Amazon, you should pay special attention to the style selection. Make sure the SlimFit with 3-across fit is checked. The other SlimFit option may not fit 3 across.
Yes, the SlimFit3 LX is an upgraded version from the SlimFit and is more than 2 inches slimmer than the old sibling. The SlimFit is 19 inches wide, which is not a good car seat for 3 across. My friend Emma made this mistake and returned the wider one and then got slimmer. She has twin girls and chose Katrina based on my recommendations.
#2 Narrow All-in-one Car Seat for 3 Across
Diono Radian 3R - 17"
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 5-40 (RF): 22-65 (FF); 40-100 (Booster)
- Height limits: ~49" (RF&FF); ~57” (Booster)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 10 years
The Good
- Slim design to fit 3 across
- Cheaper price tag
- Going through three car seat stages
- FAA approved foldable seat with great portability
- Extended warranty up to 36 months
The Bad
- Lacking head and body insert
- Less reclines
- Not fit well in small car seats in rear facing
$199.99
Who does not know the Diono Radian series? If not, you should learn about this brand and this series of all-in-one car seats now.
The Diono Radian series include the narrowest car seats to fit 3 across. Diono is the first brand to notice and focus on satisfying the need to install multiple car seat side by side for multi-kids families. It released the Radian series.
All products in this series are 17-inch wide in the hip pad section, making them the best car seats for 3 cross fit. The shoulder width might be different based on different models; some may be wider than the 17-inch. Make sure they don’t overlap on the widest part when installing three Radian car seat side by side in a row.
The 3R is an entry-level 3 across car seat from the Diono Radian series. It’s the cheapest, under $200, but lacks advanced features compared to premium siblings and higher-end models in the same series. But it’s still a good option for budget-tight families that want the narrowest all-in-one car seat to fit 3 across.
It has a great rear-facing size limit: 50lbs/44″, good for tall babies for extending the rear-facing rides. This weight and height limit combination outperforms most car seats on the market and extends rear-facing for toddlers between 2 and 3 years old, or even 4 years old kids would comfortably sit in it facing the rear.
However, if you plan to install it rear-facing, the center seat is better than the seats on the side. As high as 28.5 inches, the Diono Radian 3R will take up some space from the front seat, driver, or passenger. It needs a bit more space than the Graco SlimFit3 LX (24.5 inch high). The lack of reclines makes it worse for this situation. You can’t pull it upright for a perfect angle to balance the space between the front seat and the rear-facing car seat.
Weighing up to 26 pounds, you can’t say that the Diono Radian 3R is a lightweight slim fit car seat. It’s heavier than most of the all-in-one car seats, like the Graco SlimFit3 LX (25.9 pounds vs 19.2 pounds). But this does not affect its great portability. The Diono Radian 3R is one of the most portable car seats on the market, just like the Doona.
It comes with a foldable design that makes it easy to carry. You can fold it up through the seat pad and take it through the airports like a backpack.
So if your family likes to travel around the world like others on the go, you should try the Diono Radian 3R. Don’t worry about the safety when using it on a plane. This foldable design is FAA approved for air travel.
Diono Radian 3R provides multiple color options. Besides the most popular black jet, pink blossom and red cherry are good options for girls. The pink blossom makes the 3R one of the best pink car seats for toddler girls.
It’s a pity that no infant insert is included in the package. That means less stability for the baby in the car seat, even though it has a 5-point harness for optimal protection. No additional head support on the top section means that your child may experience a tough time if they fall asleep in the car seat. These are really painful for newborns and kids who like to sleep in their car seats.
That’s why the company launched upgraded versions – the 3RX and 3RXT, which has a head and/or body support and a removable cup holder. We don’t recommend the Safe+ version. It boasts of an anti-rebound bar and 6 layers of side impact protection but is almost $100 more expensive than the Diono Radian 3RX/3RXT.
Look at the comparison table to check what improvements is included in the premium and higher-end models in the Radian series.
Radian Series: 3R vs 3RX vs 3RXT vs 3QX vs 3QXT
| Car Seats Comparison | Radian 3R | Radian 3RX | Raidan 3RXT | Raidan 3QX | Radian 3QXT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $269 | $329 | $369 | $449 |
| Weight limits (lb) | RF:5-50 / FF: 22-120 | RF: 5-50 FF: 22-120 | RF: 5-50 FF: 22-120 | RF: 4-50 FF: 22-120 | RF: 4-50 FF: 22-120 |
| Rear Facing Weights | Up to 50lb | Up to 50lb | Up to 50lb | Up to 50lb | Up to 50lb |
| Newborn Protection | - | - | 2-in-1 | Advanced 3-in-1 | Advanced 4-in-1 |
| Safe+ Engineering | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head Support | - | 12 Positions | 12 Positions | Safe+ 12 Positions | Safe+ 12 Positions |
| Cup Holder | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fit 3-across | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Width (in.) | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Best 3 Across Booster Seats
#1 Best 3 Across Booster Seat
Chicco MyFit - 17.5"
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 25-65 (FF); 40-100 (Booster)
- Height limits: 54" (FF); 38"-57” (Booster)
- Stage: 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 8 years
The Good
- Longer harness time
- Armrest on both sides
- Comfortable padding
The Bad
- A bit price
$199.99
Chicco Myfit is a combination car seat if you want to use this harness booster seat to fit 3 across. It’s not as narrow as others on this list, even though the manufacturer boasts that it’s a good car seat to fit 3 across.
The widest point measures up to 17.5 inches, on the shoulder. Luckily, the seat pad section is obviously narrower. This matches the seat in a vehicle’s design: the hip room is a bit narrower than the shoulder room.
It is probably to achieve 3 across fit in some large-sized car seats, but not in small cars.
The Chicco MyFit earns a position on this list of best car seats to fit 3 across for its 54-inch harness height limit and comfort.
If you’re a parent who wants to keep your kid in a 5-point harness for as long as possible (same reason as keeping rear-facing for as long as possible) because a 5-point harness is considered safer than a seat belt, the Chicco MyFit would be the best option of harness booster seat for 3 across.
It has the highest 54 inches five-point harness height limit. That’s 5 inches higher than the average of other car seats with a 5-point harness up to 100-120 pounds.
The only down point is the price. It’s $40-$60 more expensive than other harness booster seats like the Graco Tranzitions. It does not support the backless mode as the latter.
#2 Best 3 Across Booster Seat
Century Booster On
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 40-120 (Booster)
- Height limits: 57"(Booster)
- Stage: 3rd
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Suitable: 4 to 8 years or older
The Good
- Ultra budget price around 50
- Fits 3 across in most vehicles
- Lightweight and portable design
- Easily washable fabrics
The Bad
- Limited padding
- Lack advanced additional features
$54.99
You may think: won’t booster seats be all 3 across car seats? Not really. Backless booster seats are compact and slim enough to be good three across car seats, but not all high-back boosters have a narrow profile.
Century Booster On is a narrow high-back booster, only 17.5 inches wide. If you want to install it in the middle seat, which is the narrowest spot in the car, this width would fit well. Make sure there is a lap-shoulder seat belt system in the middle seat for tight and proper installation.
Weighing 8.38 pounds, the Century Booster On is very lightweight and a good travel car seat for big kids older than 4 years. Also, it’s one of our best recommendations of pink car seats for girls. Blue color is also available for boys.
Best Car Seats to Fit 3 Across by Performance
By Width
| Width | Price | Weight Limit | Car Seat | Height Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.75" | $199.99 | Chicco Keyfit 30 | 30 pounds | 30 in. |
| 16.75" | $349.99 | Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with Quick Clean Cover | 65 pounds | 49 in. |
| 16.75" | $279.99 | Graco Slimfit3 LX | 100 pounds | 57 in. |
| 17" | $199.99 | Diono Radian 3R | 100 pounds | 57 in. |
| 17" | $299.99 | UPPAbaby MESA | 35 pounds | 32 in. |
| 17.3" | $550 | Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller | 35 pounds | 32 in. |
| 17.5" | $199.99 | Chicco MyFit | 100 pounds | 57 in. |
| 17.5" | $54.99 | Century Booster On | 100 pounds | 57 in. |
By Weight and Height Limits
| Weight Limit | Car Seat | Price | Height Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 pounds | Chicco KeyFit 30 | $199.99 | 30 in. |
| 35 pounds | UPPAbaby MESA | $299.99 | 32 in. |
| 35 pounds | Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller | $550 | 32 in. |
| 65 pounds | Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with Quick Clean Cover | $349.99 | 49 in. |
| 100 pounds | Century Booster On | $54.99 | 57 in. |
| 100 pounds | Diono Radian 3R | $199.99 | 57 in. |
| 100 pounds | Graco Slimfit3 LX | $279.99 | 57 in. |
| 100 pounds | Chicco MyFit Harness Booster | $199.99 | 57 in. |
Best Car Seats to Fit 3 Across by Price
| Rank | Price | Weight Limit | Car Seat | Height Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $54.99 | Century Booster On | 100 pounds | 57 in. |
| 2 | $199.99 | Chicco MyFit | 100 pounds | 57 in. |
| 3 | $199.99 | Chicco Keyfit 30 | 30 pounds | 30 in. |
| 4 | $199.99 | Diono Radian 3R | 100 pounds | 57 in. |
| 5 | $279.99 | Graco Slimfit3 LX | 100 pounds | 57 in. |
| 6 | $299.99 | UPPAbaby MESA | 35 pounds | 32 in. |
| 7 | $349.99 | Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with QCC | 65 pounds | 49 in. |
| 8 | $550 | Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller | 35 pounds | 32 in. |
FAQs on Slim Car Seats for 3 Across
Can you fit 3 car seats in a row?
Of course yes. There are a few infant and toddler car seats with a slim design, making 3-across fitting in the back seat possible.
The optimum vehicles are certainly great for installing more than two car seats, like minivans, full-size and midsize SUVs, and full-size cars.
If you want to install 3 car seats in a row in small vehicles, you’d better check the hip room of the back row in vehicles and compare it to the width of the potential fitting-3-across car seats.
In this post, we recommend these narrowest car seats between 16-18 inches wide, like the Doona infant car seat (17.3”) and Diono Radian 3R (17”).
How do you fit 3 car seats in a small car?
First, you should make sure your small car provides pretty room for fitting 3 car seats. Compare the hip room or width between the car seat width.
If the width of your selected slim car seat is less than the width of the narrowest seat in the back row, it’s okay to install 3 car seats. Otherwise, you’d better have another larger vehicle, or choose one of the narrowest car seats.
Then you should follow the installation guide to place the seat in the back row.
Check this video to fit 3 car seats if you have a small car,
Does Graco SlimFit fit 3 across?
No, the Graco SlimFit (18.5-inch) comes with a slim design, but it’s not as good as its successor – SlimFit3 LX, which is one of the narrowest car seats to fit 3 across in the back seat.
Featuring a width of 16.7-inch, the Graco SlimFit3 LX saves space without compromising on the safety you trust and features you need to ride a boy or girl safely.
It’s even a bit slimmer than the Diono Radian 3R that comes from a well-known brand for its 3-across-fit car seat series, even though you can’t distinguish the difference by eyes (16.7 inches vs 17 inches).
Does Chicco MyFit fit 3 across?
Yes, the Chicco Myfit harness booster is as wide as 17.5 inches, making it one of the narrowest booster seats to fit 3 across. The MyFit is comfortable, safe, and has a narrow profile. You can do 3 across with ease with it.
How wide is a slim car seat?
The width is not settled. Commonly, the Diono Radian R series is considered the best slim car seat to fit 3 across. They come with a width of 17-inch.
There are a lot of child restraints that feature this 17-inch width or even narrower.
Infant car seats include Chicco KeyFit 30 (16.75”), UPPAbaby MESA (17”), and Doona (17.3”)
Safety 1st Jive is a 2-in-1 convertible with a very slim width- 17.5”.
Graco SlimFit3 LX is an all-in-one car seat but it is even as narrow as an infant car seat – only 16.75”.
However, if you have a large SUV with more space in the back row, a large car seat may fit 3 in a row as well.
What is the slimmest Graco car seat?
The SlimFit3 LX should be the slimmest Graco car seat. It’s as narrow as 16.75 inches wide.
To provide more space to install more than one car seat in a row, Graco designed the SlimFit series with unique, rotating cup holders that simply rotate away, making the seat 10% slimmer.
But it’s still not as narrow as Diono’s Radian R series. So the manufacturer improved the width performance and finally launched a slimmer one – Graco SlimFit3 LX at 16.7-inch width, which is the slimmest Graco car seat.
Can 3 car seats fit in a CRV?
The CR-V with a new design that is wide enough to fill up the back seat with kids in car seats. It’s not a big problem even if you need to do 3-across, thanks to its 73-inch wide back seat.
However, if you have an older version like models in 2017, it’s not possible to place 3 car seats in the back row.
What car seat can you fit 3 across?
There are a few car seats with a narrow design, but not all of them are good car seats for 3 across. So we make this list to include all the narrowest car seats in different types to help you find a perfect car seat to fit 3 across.
If you want the narrowest infant car seat to fit 3 across, the Chicco KeyFit 30 (16.7 inches) is the best option; UPPAbaby MESA (17 inches) and Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller (17.3 inches) are good choices as well; especially the Doona. It’s the only car seat with wheels for strolling and the most portable car seat with a folding design.
If you want the narrowest convertible car seat to fit 3 across, the Safety 1st Jive (17.5 inches) is the best. Narrow car seats include Britax Marathon (18.5 inches) and Graco Extend2Fit (19 inches) may not be as good to fit 3 across.
The narrowest all-in-one car seats include the Graco SlimFit3 LX (16.7”) and Diono Radian 3R and its premium siblings (17”). Both (All) are excellent car seats to fit 3 across.
How do you fit 3 car seats in a small SUV?
Can 3 car seats fit in an SUV?
Very probably if you have a large-size SUV.
SUVs are more spacious in the back seat and they are preferable to fit 3 car seats in a row. Compact SUVs like the Subaru Forester have plenty of space to fit three car seats across the back bench without being overwhelming.
If you have a compact SUV and want to fit 3 car seats, make sure the total width of three car seats is not more than the hip room in the rear seat.
The best option is to choose the narrowest car seats like the Chicco KeyFit 30 and Graco SlimFit3 LX. Both are 16.75 inches wide.
Car seats with 17-inch width are also great if your SUV is not as compact as a sedan.
Subaru Forester Interior Dimensions:
- Head Room, Front 990 – 1041
- Head Room, Rear 935 – 1010
- Leg Room, Front 1092
- Leg Room, Rear 965
- Hip Room, Front 1346 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1346 mm (53 inches)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1448 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1422 mm (56 inches)
Can you fit 3 baby seats in a row?
Yes, of course, if you have three slim baby seats and a spacious car.
The slimmest car seats include Chicco KeyFit 30 (16.7”), UPPAbaby MESA (17”), Doona (17.3”), Graco SlimFit3 LX (16.7”), and Diono Radian 3R (17”).
For the spacious car options, minivans, full-size and mid-size SUVs, and full-sized cars are good.
Can a Rav4 fit 3 car seats?
Probably not. 2022 Toyota RAV4 interior dimensions include:
- Front Headroom: 37.7 inches
- Rear Headroom: 39.5 inches
- Front Shoulder Room: 57.8 inches
- Rear Shoulder Room 56.4 inches
- Front Hip Room: 54.3 inches
- Rear Hip Room: 47.7 inches
- Front Legroom: 41 inches
- Rear Legroom: 37.8 inches
It’s a pity that the 2022 Toyota RAV4 is not spacious enough to fit 3 car seats in the rear row, even the narrowest Graco SlimFit3 LX is not good for three across.
How do you set up 3 car seats?
Get the narrowest car seats if you have a compact car. For the best chance to easily secure three seats, look for a vehicle with a flat rear seat. Deep contours for the outboard seats or raised center humps can limit the flexibility to move car seats side to side.
Check this video to find how to set up 3 car seats,
Can you fit 3 car seats in a Toyota Camry?
Let’s check the dimensions of the Toyota Camry first, the Shoulder Room (Front/Rear): 57.7 / 55.7 inches. Headroom (Front/Rear): 37.5 / 38 inches. Legroom (Front/Rear): 42.1 / 38 inches. Hiproom (Front/Rear): 55.4 / 54.7 inches..
Fitting 3 car seats in a Toyota Camry is not a big problem if the car seats are narrow enough. Good options include the Chicco KeyFit 30 (16.75” wide), Graco SlimFit3 LX (16.75″ wide), and Diono Radian 3R (17” wide).
Can 3 car seats fit in a sedan?
It’s dependable to fit 3 car seats in a sedan. If you have full-size sedans with spacious rooms in the back row, along with the slimmest car seats, then it’s not a big problem to fit three car seats in your backseat.
Measure the back seat hip room to find which one is the narrowest and compare it to the width of these narrowest car seats.
The shoulder room is also worth your consideration. Some narrow car seats may have a wider shoulder rest, Diono Radian 3RXT/3QXT for example.
Is RAV4 big enough for two car seats?
RAV4 is big enough for two car seats on the back row.
It may also work adjacent or 3-across with similarly the narrowest car seats. Since the RAV4 is a compact vehicle, like any small car or SUV, it may require trial and error and additional effort if you are attempting to install side-by-side or three-across car seats.