The Honda Odyssey is one of the most popular minivans available today in the United States, along with the Toyota Sienna, Kia Sedona, Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, and the new Chrysler Pacifica. It’s frequently chosen by families interested in safe and incredibly versatile way of transporting their children. However, it can be a bit confusing trying to figure out which car seats will fit in a Honda Odyssey, especially if you’re on a budget. This is why I put together the most detailed guide on the Internet regarding which car seats will and won’t fit Odysseys from the last 15 years or more.  I will also include information on puzzling combinations I’ve seen, in terms of which seats fit nicely (or not so nicely) with others in particular vehicles.

First of all, it’s worth reviewing principles to keep in mind when installing car seats in the Odyssey or any other vehicle. Here are the basics of best practices in car seat safety: rear-face as long as possible (ideally until 4!), and then forward-face as long as possible (ideally until at least 5, 6, or 7!), and then booster until a regular belt fits your child (which typically happens between 10 and 12).

However, for this information to be helpful, you need to know if a particular car seat will fit in your particular vehicle. Here are my experiences fitting a range of seats inside various years of the Honda Odyssey. I’ll periodically update each page as I try more seats in more positions.You can access the complete 3 across guide for every vehicle here and the complete list of recommended seats here. The guide for Canadian car seats is here. 3 across car seat images are courtesy of Wikipedia.

2018, 2019 Honda Odyssey

Guaranteed 3 across installations: 

2nd or 3rd row – Clek Fllo (x3).

2nd or 3rd row – Clek Foonf (x3).

2nd row – Diono Rainier (x3) (may need to alternate, e.g.,  RF, FF, RF). *

2nd row – Diono Pacifica (x3) (may need to alternate, e.g.,  RF, FF, RF). *

2nd row – Diono Olympia (x3) (may need to alternate, e.g.,  RF, FF, RF). *

Clek Oobr (x3).

Peg Perego Flex 120 (x3).

Maxi-Cosi RodiFix (x3).

2nd or 3rd row – Diono Radian R120 / RXT / R100 (x3). *

2nd or 3rd row – Combi Coccoro (x3).

2nd row – Clek Foonf, Clek Foonf, Britax Chaperone.

2nd row – Britax Frontier 90, Britax Boulevard / Marathon, Graco TurboBooster.

2nd or 3rd row – Britax Chaperone, Britax Chaperone, Britax Boulevard / Marathon.

Tips and Tricks:

The current generation Odyssey is 78.5 inches wide and 203.2 in long, or a tad narrower and longer than the previous generation. As a result, generally, any seat combination that works in the prior generation Odyssey will also work in the current generation.

It is best to install an infant seat (e.g., the KeyFit 30) in a 2nd row outboard seat instead of a convertible (e.g., the NextFit) when attempting 3 across if access to the 3rd row is required, as it will be easier to remove an infant seat from a base to provide 3rd row access than it will be to continually install and remove the convertible.

2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 Honda Odyssey

Guaranteed 3 across installations: 

2nd or 3rd row – Clek Fllo (x3).

2nd or 3rd row – Clek Foonf (x3).

2nd row – Diono Rainier (x3) (may need to alternate, e.g.,  RF, FF, RF). *

2nd row – Diono Pacifica (x3) (may need to alternate, e.g.,  RF, FF, RF). *

2nd row – Diono Olympia (x3) (may need to alternate, e.g.,  RF, FF, RF). *

2nd or 3rd row – Diono Radian R120 / RXT / R100 (x3). *

2nd or 3rd row – Combi Coccoro (x3).

2nd row – Clek Foonf, Clek Foonf, Britax Chaperone.

2nd row – Britax Frontier 90, Britax Boulevard / Marathon, Graco TurboBooster.

2nd or 3rd row – Britax Chaperone, Britax Chaperone, Britax Boulevard / Marathon.

Tips and Tricks:

The 2011-2017 generation Odyssey is 79 in wide and 203 in long, or 2 inches wider and longer than the previous generation. As a result, generally, any seat combination that works in the prior generation Odyssey will also work in the current generation.

It is best to install an infant seat (e.g., the KeyFit 30) in a 2nd row outboard seat instead of a convertible (e.g., the NextFit) when attempting 3 across if access to the 3rd row is required, as it will be easier to remove an infant seat from a base to provide 3rd row access than it will be to continually install and remove the convertible.

The 3rd row in the current generation Odyssey is ridiculously narrow; the hip room measurement is something like 49″, even though the shoulder measurement is around 60.” You can still fit 3 across back there, but I’d start with the narrowest seats and count my stars if I got anything else to fit there. Radians and Clek seats will fit. After that, it’s hit and miss.

* It’s important to note that some parents have reported trouble installing Diono seats in the center 2nd row seat of the current generation Odyssey, due to the seat moving excessively at the bight (where the upper and lower parts of the vehicle seat connect) after seemingly secure installations. While it’s possible to achieve 3 across with Dionos in the 2nd row in some vehicles, it may not be possible in yours, which is why I’d recommend a non-Diono seat in the 2nd row center position (e.g., a Fllo or a Foonf) if possible.

2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Honda Odyssey

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

2nd or 3rd row – Clek Foonf (x3).

2nd or 3rd row – Combi Coccoro (x3).

2nd or 3rd row – Diono Radian R120 / RXT (x3).

2nd row – Britax Boulevard / Marathon, Britax Boulevard / Marathon, Britax Frontier 90.

2nd row – Britax Frontier 90, Britax Boulevard / Marathon, Britax Frontier 90.

3rd row – Recaro Performance, Harmony Literider, Britax Boulevard / Marathon.

3rd row – Recaro Performance, Diono Radian R120 / RXT, Harmony Literider.

Tips and Tricks:

As with the current generation Odyssey, it is best to install an infant seat (e.g., the KeyFit 30) in a 2nd row outboard seat instead of a convertible (e.g., the NextFit) when attempting 3 across if access to the 3rd row is required, as it will be easier to remove an infant seat from a base to provide 3rd row access than it will be to continually install and remove the convertible.

Keep in mind, additionally, that it’s difficult to find seats that will work reliably in the 8th seat (center 2nd row).