If you sit low in your car, you know the routine: chin up to see over the dashboard, a glance through the steering wheel instead of over it, the seat already at its highest setting. A seat booster cushion for adults is a simple fix, but only if you know how much height you need and how to set it up safely. This guide walks you through both.
Shop the range: compare our car seat cushions and seat boosters.
Start with the adjustments your car already has
Before adding anything to the seat, use what is built in:
- Seat height. Many driver seats have a lever or switch that raises the cushion. Check whether yours is already at its top setting.
- Steering wheel. If the wheel tilts or telescopes, set it so you can see the instrument cluster over the top of the rim.
- Seat position. Slide the seat back as far as you can while still reaching the pedals comfortably.
- Mirrors. Readjust all three after any change to your seating position.
If you still feel too low after all of that, a booster cushion adds height on top of the seat you already have.
Keep your distance from the steering wheel
Raising yourself should never mean moving closer to the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends keeping at least 10 inches between the air bag cover in the center of the steering wheel and your breastbone, while still being able to reach the pedals comfortably (NHTSA, Air Bags). Measure that distance once your cushion is in place, not before.
NHTSA also reminds drivers that air bags are designed to work with seat belts, not replace them. After adding a cushion, check that the lap belt sits low across your hips and the shoulder belt crosses the middle of your shoulder, away from your neck.
How much height do you need?
Sit in your usual driving position with the seat already adjusted. Ask someone to measure how much higher your eyes would need to be to see comfortably over the dashboard and the steering wheel. That number is your target.
Then compare it with the cushion. The thickness listed for any foam cushion is measured without anyone sitting on it, and foam compresses under your weight, so expect less lift on the road than the number on the label. Check your headroom too: you need clearance between your head and the roof once you are seated higher.
Sloped booster or flat cushion?
A sloped booster is thicker at the back than at the front. It raises you where your weight sits and leaves the front edge of the seat clearer, which keeps getting in and out easier.
- The RideRise™ Seat Booster Cushion is 3.5 in (9 cm) thick at the back and thinner at the front, 16.1 × 12.6 in (41 × 32 cm), in memory foam. At 12.6 in deep, it leaves the front edge of the seat clear. It comes in Black, Cognac, Gray and Pink, and lifts off when someone else drives.
- The ErgoDrive™ Inclined Car Seat Cushion runs from about 3.1 in (8 cm) at the back to 0.6 in (1.5 cm) at the front, with a rear cutout and a zippered mesh cover that comes off for washing. It is made for seats that dip toward the backrest.
Set it up safely
- Install the cushion while the car is parked, never while driving.
- Set the thick end against the backrest.
- Readjust your seat, steering wheel and mirrors, then check your distance to the pedals and to the steering wheel.
- Check the seat belt position across your hips and shoulder.
- If the cushion shifts or gets in the way of your driving position, do not use it while driving.
A booster cushion for adults is not a child car seat or booster and does not replace a certified child restraint.
Off the road: low office and dining chairs
The same problem shows up at home. An office chair that does not go high enough, or a dining chair that leaves you low at the table, can take the same cushion. RideRise also works on an office or dining chair that sits too low, or upright against the backrest as a lower-back cushion.
Frequently asked questions
Is a seat booster for adults the same as a child booster seat?
No. An adult seat booster is a comfort cushion for drivers and passengers who sit too low. It is not a child car seat or booster and does not replace a certified child restraint.
Can I share the cushion with another driver?
Yes. A loose cushion like RideRise is not attached to the seat, so you can lift it off when someone else drives and put it back when you take the wheel.
Will a booster cushion fit my car seat?
Measure the flat part of your seat cushion and compare it with the booster's footprint before you order. RideRise measures 16.1 × 12.6 in.
Ready to compare? Browse our car seat cushions and seat boosters, or see all seat cushions.
Comfort accessories, not medical devices. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. This guide is general information; always follow your vehicle owner's manual.