5 Best Car Seat Covers to Match Your Interior and Keep It Looking New
A set of durable car seat covers prevents wear and tear and makes cleaning up crumbs and dog hair a lot easier.
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Car seats are notoriously difficult to keep in shape. From sun damage, snack crumbs, and dog hair to the physical stress of passengers sliding in and out, a disheveled interior can feel almost inevitable. But the messes you prepare for are the easiest to fix, and that's where car seat covers come in. Many are made from durable, easy-to-clean material that prevents damage from abrasion, fading from sunlight, and a myriad of stains.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we conducted hours of research reading specs and reviews to zero in on the best car seat covers. In the Lab, we evaluated each car seat cover's quality of stitching, resistance to abrasion, and aesthetic appeal, consulting with the experts in our Textiles Lab. These are our five choices for the best brands on the market now.
Pros
- Durable and sturdy
- Foam backing is comfy and may improve breathability
- Fits front seats with removable headrests
Cons
- Large logo design
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Drivers looking to add comfort and durability to their car seats without spending a lot of money, and who aren't so concerned with the logo look.
WHAT WE LOVE: Caterpillar, famed for its construction equipment, is known for durability, and these car seats deliver. They are constructed with 100% polyester paneling that hugs the covers' mesh-and-foam seats and seat backs. These are designed to fit the front seats of most vehicles with removable headrests.
These sturdy car seat covers demonstrated minimal signs of wear after 15,000 rubs in our abrasion tester. Analysts noted the foam backing makes the covers comfortable to sit on and may improve the seat covers' breathability, so you can stay cool and comfortable in your vehicle when the weather gets hot.
Caterpillar currently only offers designs with large brand logos, so a more modest shopper might shy away, but we appreciate the seats' sleek color blocking. You can also buy the brand's solid-colored back seat cover.
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| Covers in the set | 2 front seat covers |
| Colors | Black, gray, beige, brown, navy blue |
Pros
- Lowest price on our list
- Wide color selection
- Abrasion resistant
Cons
- Not a lot of padding
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Those who want to add a fun, bright color to the interior, or anyone who wants an inexpensive but decent car seat cover.
WHAT WE LOVE: With an under-$30 price and about a dozen color options, including brights like pink, yellow, and red, these car seat covers are an easy way to spiff up your front seats while protecting them. Choose a color to match your favorite sports team, or just a shade that's going to make you smile every time you slide in.
Analysts were impressed by these covers' durability, given the price. In abrasion testing, they performed better than some more expensive models, showing minimal damage after 15,000 passes.
Analysts did, however, note that the fabric is thin, meaning that although they held up well against abrasion, a puncture or tear might ruin them. They also don't offer a lot of additional padded comfort, but they can do a good job of protecting the seats from hair, crumbs, and messes.
The brand also sells a set with front and back seat covers, but it's available in fewer colors.
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| Covers in the set | 2 front seat covers |
| Colors | 13 colors, including black, blue, red, pink, teal, and more |
Pros
- Beautiful embroidered seats
- Luxe-looking faux leather
- Very comfortable to sit on
Cons
- Less durable than other models we tested
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Drivers looking to add comfort and enhance the look of their interior with a leather look.
WHAT WE LOVE: These car seat covers are straight-up beautiful to look at. The diamond-embroidered faux leather gives the appearance of tufting, and the sleek design creates a feeling of luxury. There are several other patterns too, including embroidered triangles.
They're constructed with a thick polyurethane foam backing, placing them among the most comfortable covers we tested. Thousands of Amazon reviewers praised the look, fit, and comfort. The brand also sells a set that is just the bottom seat covers but for both the front and the back.
Though the car seat covers scored high in our aesthetic evaluation, they may lack some sturdiness. After abrasion testing, the pleather showed signs of mild to moderate wear. That said, the wear wasn’t overtly noticeable in most lighting conditions, so if your primary objective is to own aesthetically pleasing car seat covers, these could be ideal for you.
| Covers in the set | 2 front seat covers |
| Colors | Black, gray, beige, brown, blue, red |
Pros
- Custom fit for dozens of vehicle makes and models
- Many sets include front and back set covers
- Foam backing for comfort
Cons
- Priciest option
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Discerning drivers who want practical car seat covers that don't look obvious—and who would like to cover both the front and back seats.
WHAT WE LOVE: For those who want their seat covers to mesh almost seamlessly with the original design of their vehicle, EKR has a solution. The company offers front and back seat cover sets for a wide range of car makes and models that are tailored to mimic the factory style. This link is for the Toyota Rav4, but you can shop for many makes of cars including Subaru, Honda, Lexus, Ford, Chevrolet, Jeep, and more.
The covers are constructed from polyester and foam, like many of the other seat covers we considered, so you can expect similar durability. One Amazon reviewer commented that these covers "feel more like leather than the actual leather seats of the car."
These car seat covers are pricier than some of our other recommendations, but we can't help but admire the effort it takes to emulate so many different car seat styles so specifically. And with many of the brand's sets, you are getting covers for both the front and back seats.
| Covers in the set | Varies, but many include both front and back seat covers |
| Colors | Varies, but black and gray are consistent options |
Pros
- Sets with matching front and back covers
- Widest color selection on our list
- Machine washable, according to the brand
- Polyester is more breathable than other fabrics
Cons
- Slightly involved installation
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Anyone looking for full-coverage, front and back, and who wants car seat covers that stay breathable in hot weather.
WHAT WE LOVE: If beating the heat is a concern, these car seat covers are ones to consider. They're constructed from polyester, as opposed to leather or faux leather, which can aid in breathability. The company also claims the covers are machine washable, which can help reduce time and effort spent cleaning your car, especially when it comes to summertime sweat or sand from a beach trip.
Designed to fit nearly any bench design—be it 40/60, 50/50, or 60/40—the covers can help guard your rear seats from damage and debris from babies, kids, and dogs. BDK offers covers for multiple bench seat setups and a wide range of color choices.
Though some Amazon reviewers noted that installation involves a bit of work, we appreciate how many car models these seats may work for, and we can understand why that extra elbow grease is necessary.
| Covers in the set | Front and back seat covers |
| Colors | 18 colors, including 2 shades of gray, 2 shades of blue, beige, red, pink and many others |
How we choose car seat covers
When choosing car seat covers, we look at the design of the cover, consider its aesthetic appeal, and evaluate its durability by researching the specs and reading through online consumer reviews. We also consult with the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab experts to appraise the construction of the cover.
When it comes to testing in the Lab, we place swatches of car seat covers in our abrasion machine (shown), which rubs the fabric against a rough surface 15,000 times to simulate wear and tear. Then, we try the covers in our own cars to see how comfortable they are to sit on and note the ease of installation.
What to look for when shopping for the best car seat covers
✔️ Material: Car seat covers are typically made of leather or synthetic fabrics, like polyurethane. We recommend synthetic leathers and fabrics because they're easy to clean. They also tend to be less expensive, so if a cover gets stained, it's easier to replace.
✔️ Size: Many car seat covers are designed to be "universally fitting," meaning they're supposed to fit a wide range of seat types found in different vehicles. Some, however, are designed for specific makes and models of cars. Be sure to check if a car seat cover is intended for a specific car type before purchasing to avoid having ill-fitting covers.
✔️ Durability: A durable car seat cover means longer protection for your seats. Choose a car seat cover with quality stitching to prevent tears along the seams with continued use, and one with a foam backing offers comfortable cushioning while protecting the seat. Opting for a machine-washable and dryer-safe style will streamline the cleaning process and keep them looking new.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
For more than a hundred years, the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have tested consumer products to see if they live up to their claims. They also work with the pros at Car and Driver every year to rank the best family cars.
Nikolas Greenwald is the data engineer at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Having worked in some of the most well-known labs in the country, he's no stranger to rigorous, methodological testing. For this story, he spent more than 30 hours researching, abrading, and sitting on different car seat covers to select the best of the best.
He also consulted with Emma Seymour, who has been working in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab for seven years and has a Bachelor of Science degree in fiber science from Cornell University.
As a data engineer in the Good Housekeeping Institute, Nik (he/him) works with all of our Labs to develop testing protocols and manage data collection and analysis. Before joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Nik worked in the labs of MIT and Regeneron, working on projects ranging from chemical inventory and reporting to the development of bioassays. He holds a degree in chemical engineering from Northeastern University.
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