The Best Rotating Car Seats of 2025

Chicco may have taken its time entering the rotating car seat space, but the result was well worth the wait. The Fit360 has quickly earned praise from both parents and CPSTs for its smart design, safety-forward engineering and everyday ease of use and is our pick for the best rotating car seat overall.

The first thing we noticed when testing out this seat was the simplicity of installation using the LeverLock system. “The instructions were clearer than others,” our tester Laura said. “We’ve installed a Graco Contender 65 Convertible Car Seat, Nuna Rava and a few other rental car seats on vacation, and this one was by far the most intuitive, with logical steps and identification.”

The buttons to turn the seat are easy to access and the rotation is smooth. Like most parents who use a rotating car seat for the first time, our tester was both impressed and surprised. “The rotating feature is a game changer for child entry and exit,” she said. “Not only is it easier on the caregiver, my two-year-old daughter also has fun getting in and out of the car seat now, which is something we’ve been struggling with lately.”

The features throughout the seat are both parent- and kid-forward. The Fit360 is both GREENGUARD Gold Certified and flame retardant-free if that's important to you. Easy-to-spot indicators turn green when the seat is secured in the correct position and a vented seat back circulates air to prevent overheating. The magnetic chest clip makes buckling and unbuckling less of a chore than with other seats, and there’s a flex-forward crotch buckle (a buckle that’s more rigid than most and snaps back into place) so you don't have to dig around for it every time you use the seat. And the Fit360 is one of only a few rotating seats on the market that offer additional bases, so you can switch the seat between cars instead of buying a completely new seat for every vehicle. (Just know the seat itself is pretty heavy, however.) There’s also a built-in release safeguard, so the seat only detaches from the base when you want it to.

As with many rotating seats, the Fit360 is on the larger side and takes up considerable space front to back, especially rear-facing. (Our tester actually praised the forward-facing fit in her 2024 Lincoln Aviator, reporting that her 6'7" husband was able to drive comfortably with the seat installed behind him.) Some parents also report that the magnetic chest clip is easy to open for some toddlers.

While the rear-facing limits aren’t quite as generous as some other rotating models, they’re still sufficient to keep most children rear-facing to age four or beyond. (There’s also no one-inch rule for headroom clearance, which helps extend rear-facing use.) For added safety, consider purchasing the LeverLock Door Cover to prevent tiny feet from tampering with the base’s release lever.

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: Rear-facing: 4-40 lbs, up to 43”; forward-facing: 26.5-65 lbs, up to 49”

• Weight: 33.8 lbs

Evenflo has been a leader in the rotating car seat space for the last few years, with five different models of swiveling car seats available at the time of this article’s publication. The Revolve360 Extend is my favorite of the bunch, bringing together the ease of a rotating car seat with a high rear-facing weight and height limit—the perfect combination.

As its name implies, the Revolve360 Extend turns 360 degrees on its base to make getting your baby or toddler in and out of the car exceptionally easy. The rotation feature works seamlessly—the buttons are easy to access (there’s one on either side of the seat), and I’ve never had the seat get stuck while spinning it.

Before owning a rotating seat, I could understand the premise but didn’t quite grasp how life-changing it would be. I can’t emphasize enough just how easy this seat makes getting my (constantly squirming, often wriggling, sometimes screaming) three-year-old into and out of my car every day. I love this because it makes my daily life easier, but also because it makes rear-facing—the safest position for him to ride right now—easier. And since it’s easier, I’m likely to do it longer. (The “Extend” portion of the seat’s name refers to its extended rear-facing capabilities, which go up to 50 pounds and 48 inches.)

Babylist parents agree. "[This seat is] so easy to install and use," wrote one parent in our favorite baby products survey. "As baby has gotten bigger, I don’t feel like I’m wrenching my back and arms to put him in the rear-facing position and then strap him in. I can easily place him in the seat, strap him in, and then rotate him to the rear-facing position."

The all-in-one design is built for three modes of use: rear-facing, forward-facing and as a high-back booster seat. If you use the seat belt installation method, you can switch from rear- to forward-facing mode without having to reinstall the seat (you will have to reinstall for booster mode, however), which isn’t the case with all rotating car seats. (Some rotating seats require that you uninstall and reinstall the seat when you’re making the switch from rear- to forward-facing.)

The newborn fit isn't great in this seat, so using it from birth may be difficult for some families. Be aware that it’s a taller seat front-to-back, something to be mindful of if you own a smaller vehicle, and it’s on the wider side. (For a slimmer option, check out the Evenflo Revolve360 Slim, reviewed below.)

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: Rear-facing: 4-50 lbs, up to 48”; forward-facing: 30-120 lbs, up to 57”

• Weight: 29.6 lbs

If you don’t catch a sale, many rotating car seats cost at least $400 and up. The Chili Spin SI from Joie (a newcomer brand to the US market but a mainstay across the pond) comes in at a more affordable price point but with the features and functionality of a pricier seat.

The Chili Spin is an impressive seat, but even more so when you consider the price point. Installation takes under a minute (I’ve done it at least ten times now and it’s always fast) and is really secure thanks to the lock-off panel. The rotation activators are large and easy to reach. It’s fairly compact front-to-back, with good recline options, so it fits well in most vehicles. And there’s an anti-rebound panel built into the base along with side-impact protection. 

The one downside of this seat is that you'll need to uninstall and reinstall it when you make the switch from rear- to forward-facing. (You don't attach the tether strap when installing the seat rear-facing, but it's required in forward-facing mode.) Since installation is quick and easy, it’s not a big deal, but it is something to note so you don’t forget about it when the time comes. I also find the shoulder pads on the harness to be stiff and oversized; however, the good news is that they're optional on this seat and can be added and removed as needed.

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: Rear-facing: 4–40 lbs, up to 43”; forward-facing: 30-65 lbs, up to 49”

• Product Weight: 28.57 lbs

You can't ignore this seat’s price tag. But if it fits your budget, it’s a worthy splurge. Beyond its good looks, the Callisto is impressively easy to install, packed with safety extras and and thoughtful ease-of-use features and fits a wide range of kids really well. It’s one of the seats I use regularly with my son and I love almost everything about it. 

The Callisto has three modes of use (rear-facing, forward-facing and high-back booster) and rotates in all three modes, but I find it most useful in rear- and forward-facing, making getting my little one in and out multiple times a day so much easier.

On the safety front, the Callisto stands out with an anti-rebound base for crash energy absorption, side-impact protection and a tether strap that works in both rear- and forward-facing modes. (Tether straps help limit a car seat’s forward movement in a crash, protecting your child’s head. All forward-facing convertible seats use them, but not all rear-facing seats do.)

Comfort and convenience are equally impressive. Installation is quick and there's a generous range of recline and headrest positions. The fabric is plush and breathable as well as GREENGUARD Gold Certified and flame retardant-free. There’s a smart chest clip that sends alerts if your child unbuckles or if the seat gets too hot or cold. And there’s even a canopy, something rarely found on a convertible car seat—definitely my toddler’s favorite feature. (Just note that you can’t use the canopy in booster mode.)

A few niche details to note. Not all car seats and boosters work in vehicles with non-removable headrests, but this one does in most cases. (I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee L, a vehicle notorious for its protruding, non-removable headrests, and have no issues with this seat.) It’s also a good seat for taller kids thanks to the high top harness slot height. 

The only drawback, besides price, is its size. It’s wide and long front-to-back, making it a tough fit for smaller cars, three-across setups or behind taller drivers.

Additional Specs

• Seat Modes: Infant, convertible, high-back booster

• Child Guidelines: Rear-facing: 4-40 lbs, up to 43.3”; forward-facing with harness: 26.5-65 lbs, 33-49.2”; high-back booster: 40-120 lbs, 44-57”, min 4 yrs

The swivel function is what makes rotating car seats stand out, but it’s also why they take up more room in a back seat than many traditional convertibles. (Rotating seats are wide, plus you have to ensure enough clearance in the middle to allow the seat to turn.) The Evenflo Revolve360 Slim is your best shot at making a rotating car seat work if you own a smaller vehicle, need to fit multiple car seats across or just want a little more room in your back seat.

The Revolve360 was designed with space saving in mind, shaving off about three inches of width as compared to the Extend. This slimmed-down seat measures 16.7 inches across and creates a smaller footprint without sacrificing seating space or safety. I’ve used both seats (the Slim is currently installed in our caregiver’s car), and I’m consistently impressed at just how compact it is. While you couldn’t use three Slims across the back seat of an average-sized vehicle (they might fit space-wise, but you’d lose the swivel function and defeat the purpose of a rotating seat), it's still a helpful back seat space-saver. And there's a small chance you could fit a non-rotating car seat in the middle seat and a slim on either side if you need a three-across configuration. (Just note this is pretty rare; in most instances, you'll lose the rotation functionality if there's a car seat next to a rotating seat.)

Like the OG Revolve, the Slim 2-in-1 rotates 360 degrees in all modes and works as both a rear- and forward-facing seat. You’ll only need to install it once, and installation is just as quick and easy as it is with all of the other rotating seats in Evenflo’s lineup. There are also the same thoughtful features like the machine washable cover, several recline options and extended rear-facing capabilities. Keep in mind that the Slim works only as a rear- or forward-facing convertible, while the Extend ultimately transitions to a high-back/belt-positioning booster as your child grows.

Additional Specs

• Child Guidelines: Rear-facing: 4-50 lbs, 17-48”; forward-facing: 22-65 lbs, 28-49”

• Weight: 28.2 lbs