5 Best Racing Seats (2023 Guide)

Aidan Pounder is a Motor1.com product tester that has written automotive news content, car insurance guides, and extended warranty guides for HotCars, The Detroit Bureau, and other automotive sites. He spends his free time keeping up with European soccer.

Reviewed By: Charles Noyes

A well-designed racing car seat for high-performance vehicles.

An aftermarket harness that's designed for off-road use.

Two lightweight and comfortable racing seats for the price of one.

A durable racing seat that's UV-resistant and waterproof.

A high-quality racing seat that's designed to fit in any car or vehicle.

The best racing seats on the market can make your sports car feel like a Formula 1 car, keep you safe and secure on gnarly trails, or even allow you to race your car at the track. Regardless of how you want to use your new racing seat, we’ve got you covered with a range of options.

Our team of experts has delved into the fine print and minute details of racing seats so you don't have to. Below are our top picks for lightweight racing seats that keep ergonomics in mind.

To find the right racing seat for you, you’ll need to have a strong idea of how you’re going to use the seat and in what specific car you plan to mount it. If you’re truly looking for a racing seat that's similar to what you see in races such as Formula 1 or NASCAR's Daytona 500, then you’re looking for a seat that meets the highest safety standards.

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), is an association that was established in June 1904 to represent the interests of motorists and motor organizations. An FIA-approved racing seat is ultimately the highest standard of racing seat. FIA approval lasts five years from the 1st of January in the year following the date of manufacture.

While this review is focused on helping people find quality racing seats for their sports car or off-road machine, there's an equally large community of simulation racers who need somewhere to sit. If you’re a gamer, check out our picks for the best racing simulator cockpits and best sim racing seats on the market in 2023.

To select the racing seats featured in this buyers guide, we consult our network of experts for their thoughts on racing seats. These experts have over 100 years of combined experience in aftermarket auto fields ranging from detailing to accessories to tires, and everything in-between. These experts helped us identify the qualities that would be most important to someone looking for a racing seat and the standout brands in each category.

Our team then combed through dozens of resources such as DIY mechanic and auto enthusiast forums, manufacturer and racing-specific websites, instruction manuals from manufacturers, and reviews from online retailers. We pay particularly close attention to quality reviews and recommendations that highlight the quality of warranties, customer service support, build quality, materials, and overall reliability.

We also factored in the quantity and quality of online retailer reviews from websites such as Amazon, RealTruck, Advance Auto Parts, and more. We looked at factors such as notable customer reviews, prices, meaningful superlatives, and discount shipping eligibility. We did the research so you don't have to.

Since 2020, we have published over 200 auto product reviews in an effort to make shopping for auto products easier. Our team of writers, editors, researchers, and product experts collaborates to thoroughly vet top products. We try to perform in-house testing on real vehicles whenever possible before making our recommendations.

When testing is not feasible, however, our aim is to make your life easier by doing all the online research for you and presenting that research in the form of easy-to-read product comparisons and buyers guides, rather than outright recommendations. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.

The Wiilayok Racing Seat is wrapped in high-quality PVC leather and comes in a number of different color options. This waterproof racing seat features a lightweight tubular frame as well as injection-molded foam to provide a combination of comfort, performance, and durability. This racing seat is also reclinable and has dual-lock sliders for comfortable front and back adjustment.

The dual-lock sliders support 180.0-degree backrest rotation and 90.0- to 155.0-degree fold either forward or backward. To recline, this sport seat features a stock seat-like handle on the side of the seat. It should be noted that you will need to purchase vehicle-specific seat brackets to be able to mount this seat in your racing car or daily driver vehicle.

Amazon Review Score: 4.3 out of 5 based on around 400 reviews

Many customers speak to the quality of the upholstery and how much better it makes the interior of their car look. A large number of reviewers even note how comfortable these competition seats are, despite being designed for track days and drag racing.

Straightforward to install, the Aces Racing 4-Point Harness features EZ-Buckle technology to make fastening the seat belt a breeze. This automotive harness is a universal fit, designed to be compatible with Jeeps, all side-by-side (SxS) vehicles, and all utility task vehicles (UTVs). EZ adjusters allow you to quickly and easily adjust the shoulder straps to fit your body shape.

Sewn-in shoulder pads add an additional layer of comfort and are designed to minimize chafing on a racer's neck. This four-point harness is E4 certified, which is a European-issued safety certification that is recognized worldwide. It should be noted that this racing harness is designed for off-road use and off-road racing only.

Amazon Review Score: 4.7 out of 5 based on around 1,200 reviews

A large number of reviewers speak to this harness's perfect fit in their Jeep. Several reviewers mention how easy this harness is to install and the fact that they don't need to continually readjust or retighten the straps. Customers love that this harness is compatible with so many performance seats.

The ModifyStreet Reclinable Racing Seats is the Best Two-for-One racing seat option on the market, as you’ll receive two seats for the same price you’d typically pay for one. A steel frame bolsters injection-molded foam padding to give your chair durability while still providing a comfortable driving experience.

The manufacturer recommends that you get these lightweight seats professionally installed, as no installation instructions are included in the packaging. It should also be noted that these racing seats do not come with mounting brackets, meaning you’ll need to separately purchase these parts or pay for a professional installation.

Amazon Review Score: 4.3 out of 5 based on over 100 reviews

A huge number of reviewers mention how high-quality these racing seats are for the price. An individual reviewer claims he had no issues with installation, as all of the mounting holes lined up in his 1987 Jeep Wrangler. Negative reviews complain that the bolts they received were low-quality and already stripped upon arrival.

Above all else, customers praise the fact that they received a new seat for their car's passenger side while paying the cost of just the driver's seat.

Ergonomically designed, the Ikon Motorsports Universal Racing Seats are meant to be comfortable, practical, and offer reliable support. A thick steel frame is covered by injection-molded foam padding for a fast rebound and minimal distortion. PU and carbon leather combined with suede make up the front of this seat, while the back is fully made from carbon leather. This racing seat's material is scratch- and wear-resistant, as well as waterproof.

A reclining design means dual-lock sliders are featured on this racing seat, allowing the seat to adjust forward or backward between 90.0 and 180.0 degrees. Furthermore, this seat is designed to provide neck, back, and lumbar support while you’re behind the steering wheel. It should be noted that this racing seat does not come with a bottom mount bracket for installation.

Amazon Review Score: 4.1 out of 5 based on over 100 reviews

The Ikon Motorsports Universal Racing Seats have received rave reviews from customers on Amazon. Reviewers speak to this racing seat's hardware and how well-made it is. An individual reviewer claims this racing seat won't fit a C5 Corvette without modifications to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) seatbelts and covers. Negative reviews are sparse, but some complain about the quality of the seat.

The NRG Innovations FRP-310 Bucket Seat is a solid, one-piece racing seat that is designed in a way that it won't allow for movement or failure under high-impact situations. This racing seat is reinforced with steel brackets on the side and a fiberglass back to add rigidity and strength. Apart from the harness featured in this review, this seat also comes in at an astounding $290, which is substantially below the competition.

Made of high-quality fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), the seat is designed to increase durability on the tracks. This universal fit racing seat is sure to keep you comfortable as well, as it provides neck, back, and lumbar support. It should be noted that you will need to separately purchase mounting brackets and sliders to install this racing seat in your vehicle.

Amazon Review Score: 4.4 out of 5 based on over 150 reviews

Reviewers speak to the high build quality of this racing seat. An individual reviewer notes this is a great budget-friendly alternative to expensive racing seats from brands such as Sparco, MOMO, Kirkey, Recaro, or OMP. Negative reviews complain the chair was warped in the box when it arrived from the manufacturer.

Ultimately the best racing seat depends on your needs. The most obvious consideration for potential buyers is whether or not the racing seat you like will fit in your car. If you’re looking to use your new racing seat at a local track day, be wary of their track's rules and regulations. For those who simply want a performance seat in their vehicle, you’ll have more freedom of choice.

By design, racing seats are not meant to be comfortable for daily driving. Racing seats are meant to be secure, lightweight, safe, and strong. For professional racing drivers, this means their seat is custom fit to their body size.

NASCAR uses racing seats that are SFI 39.1 approved. Parts that carry an SFI approval have been deemed safe for racing as they’ve met certain safety standards and requirements made by The SFI Foundation, Inc.

In short, no, racing bucket seats are not particularly comfortable. If you’re not limber and/or have lower back problems, bucket seats are certainly not for you. Additionally, bucket seats will be particularly uncomfortable on long car rides.

Yes, racing seats are worth it. Racing seats are specially designed to keep you secure at high speeds and prevent sliding in corners. Additionally, integrated headrests are a standard design feature of racing seats which minimize the likelihood of a driver suffering whiplash or a concussion in the event of an accident.

Yes, racing seats are some of the safest seats available. Racing seats are safer than OEM or factory seats and many have been crash tested and/or have safety certifications.

*Data accurate at time of publication.