Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.
If you’re looking at a cold, snowy winter, it’s time to start thinking about bundling up those kiddos. To help you find the perfect mix of warmth, dryness, value, and longevity, we’ve rounded up the best winter coats for kids. Whatever you’re looking for, there’s something here that’ll work for you—and more importantly, your little ones.
What to consider when buying winter coats for kids
Size
Since winter coats can get expensive, it’s a good idea to choose something your kid will still fit into for at least another year, if possible. The good thing about a winter coat is that your kid will likely be wearing a few layers under it anyway, so even if it’s a little big at first, it won’t be falling off them.
Ease of washing
Charles Fratto, style director for ILOE Studios, recommends choosing a coat that can be easily washed, which makes a ton of sense. ‘Keeping things clean’ tends to be somewhere near the very bottom of most kids’ priority lists, so a coat that’s dry clean only isn’t going to be ideal, in most cases.
Function
“You’ll want to consider where you live and what type of weather and activities your kids will be in,” advises lifestyle and interior design expert Chantelle Hartman Malarkey, stressing that it’s important to decide if you need to protect them just from cold, or from rain and snow, too. “If this is a winter coat they’ll be wearing daily, you may want to splurge and make sure it's durable to last all season, but if this is for a short term vacation, it may not be as important to invest in the best of the best,” she adds.
Our top picks for the best winter coats for kids
Best budget winter coat for kids: The Children’s Place Puffer Jacket (boys), The Children’s Place Puffer Jacket (girls)
If you don’t live in a place with brutal winters, you don’t need to get too hardcore with your coats. For keeping out a mild chill, this puffer from The Children’s Place is more than adequate, and its elasticated sleeves and high collar will help keep out any sudden gusts of cold wind. “From a good brand with an even better price tag, this is an easy choice to make,” says Fratto.
Specifications:
- Sizes: Ages 4 - 18
- Colors: Nine
- Material: 100% polyester
- Price at time of publish: $19.99
What we like:
- Inexpensive
- Available in nine colors
What we don’t like:
- Unlikely to last more than one season
The bottom line:
An inexpensive coat that will handily do the job in milder winters.
The Children’s Place Puffer Jacket
The Children’s Place Puffer Jacket
Warmest winter coat for kids: Helly Hansen Juniors’ Vision Puffy Jacket
For a more serious winter coat, Helly Hansen’s Vision puffer is the sensible way to go. Recommended by Malarkey, it features a detachable hood, Primaloft insulation, lined hand pockets, and insulated baffles, for extra heat retention. It also comes in seven stylish colors, so your kid can feel good about choosing the one that speaks most to them.
Specifications:
- Sizes: Ages 8 - 16
- Colors: Seven
- Material: Polyester, polyamide
- Price at time of publish: $190
What we like:
- Insulated with 100% recycled polyester
- Warm and sturdy
What we don’t like:
- Not fully waterproof
The bottom line:
A warm, stylish coat for kids who want to look cool, but stay toasty.
Helly Hansen Juniors’ Vision Puffy Jacket
Best insulated winter coat for kids: Town Hall Mountain Town Winter Jacket
Designed to withstand both the chill and tumbles of a ski slope, Town Hall’s Mountain Town jacket is durable and, above all, warm. “This is a fully equipped winter staple that’s insulated for warmth and roomy enough to add extra layers for those extra cold days,” says Fratto. It’s also bright and colorful enough to ensure you won’t lose sight of them, which is always a bonus.
Specifications:
- Sizes: XS - XL
- Colors: Six
- Material: Polyester, nylon
- Price at time of publish: $195
What we like:
- Loads of pockets
- Grow cuff system to help the jacket fit them for longer
- Made from recycled materials
What we don’t like:
- If we’re nitpicking, a single-color option would have been nice
The bottom line:
A durable, warm, colorful coat for whizzing down slopes or just hurling snowballs in the park.
Town Hall Mountain Town Winter Jacket
Best puffer winter coat for kids: Big Agnes Ice House Jacket
Recommended by Fratto, this is a warm, comfortable, and versatile jacket that works as well for hikes as it does days out and about in the city. Featuring multiple pockets, zipper pullers (to make zipping up with gloves on easier), an adjustable drawcord hem, and even an interior name label to help keep track of it at school, it’ll get the job done and then some.
Specifications:
- Sizes: S - L
- Colors: Black, blue, and indigo; black and rooibos; grape leaf, apricot, and elderberry
- Material: Nylon, polyester
- Price at time of publish: $99.99
What we like:
- Warm
- Will comfortably fit over multiple layers
What we don’t like:
- Color options aren’t the most exciting
The bottom line:
A functional, roomy puffer, ideal for wearing over multiple winter layers.
Big Agnes Ice House Jacket
Best lightweight winter coat for kids: Columbia Endless Explorer (girls) Columbia Endless Explorer (boys)
If your kid hates being weighed down by a heavy winter coat, there are some more lightweight options available, like this one from Columbia. Waterproof, fleece-lined, and featuring reflective details for added safety, it’s a serious winter jacket in a lightweight package. “This jacket is a lightweight option that doesn’t compromise on performance for those blustery day adventures,” says Fratto.
Specifications:
- Sizes: XXS - XL
- Colors: Eight
- Material: Polyester, polyester microfleece
- Price at time of publish: $39
What we like:
- Waterproof
- Fleece-lined
- Inexpensive
What we don’t like:
- Sleeves don’t have the fleece lining
The bottom line:
A lightweight but highly functional winter jacket for kids who like to keep moving.
Columbia Girls Endless Explorer Jacket-
Columbia Boys Endless Explorer Jacket-
Best winter coat with hood for kids: Triple F.A.T. Goose Norden Bomber Jacket
For a more high-end hooded option, take a look at Triple F.A.T. Goose’s offerings, especially their Norden bomber. Water-resistant, windproof, and super warm, it features a zip-off hood with a removable coyote fur trim, which itself contains a shape-adjusting wire, so you can get it looking exactly how you like. The jacket itself is filled with a mix of goose down and feathers, so you can be sure they’ll stay warm all winter long.
Specifications:
- Sizes: Ages 8 - 14
- Colors: Black, navy, and olive
- Material: Two-layer twill laminate, goose down, goose feathers, coyote fur
- Price at time of publish: $260
What we like:
- Incredibly warm
- Super stylish
What we don’t like:
- Expensive
The bottom line:
A high-end winter jacket with enough features (and style) to justify the price.
Norden Girl's Bomber Jacket
Best waterproof winter coat for kids: Jack Wolfskin Actamic 3 in 1 Jacket K
It’s always kinda surprising to find a winter coat isn’t fully waterproof, since that would seem like at least half the point of the thing. That’s not the case here, thankfully, as Jack Wolfskin’s Actamic 3 in 1 jacket has a fully waterproof outer shell, which can be worn by itself, or with the insulated inner jacket zipped in. As the name implies, you get three coats for the price of one, making it one of the biggest bargains on our list despite the higher price tag.
Specifications:
- Sizes: Ages 5 - 14
- Colors: Night blue
- Material: Polyester
- Price at time of publish: $189.95
What we like:
- Great value for money
- Warm and waterproof
What we don’t like:
- Only available in one color
The bottom line:
A warm, waterproof, and highly versatile jacket that can be worn three different ways.
Jack Wolfskin Actamic 3 in 1 Jacket K
Best winter coat for kids on Amazon: Amazon Essentials Heavyweight Hooded Puffer (girls), Amazon Essentials Heavyweight Hooded Puffer (boys)
Fratto’s pick for an Amazon buy is this water-resistant, heavyweight puffer, which features an internal snow skirt, storm cuffs with thumb holes, and zippered hand warmer pockets. It comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, from basic navy blue to shiny silver or cheetah print, so you should be able to find something your kid can get excited about.
Specifications:
- Sizes: 12 months - 4T
- Colors: Ten
- Material: Polyester
- Price at time of publish: $34.30 - $46 (depending on color choice)
What we like:
- Ten different color options
- Inexpensive
What we don’t like:
- A minority of customer reviews noted sizing issues
The bottom line:
An inexpensive, convenient winter jacket in a variety of colors and patterns.
Amazon Essentials Girls' Heavyweight Hooded Puffer Jacket, Pink, Medium
Amazon Essentials Boys' Heavyweight Hooded Puffer Jacket, Black, Small
Best winter coat for toddlers: The North Face Toddler Freedom Jacket
Getting your toddler into a winter coat can be a battle, so tempt them with one of these bright, colorful North Face options. Fully waterproof, insulated, and featuring a hood, multiple pockets, and a glove keeper system so they don’t lose their mittens, it’s lightweight and roomy enough for them to not feel constricted, while still more than capable of keeping them warm and dry.
Specifications:
- Sizes: Ages 2 - 7
- Colors: Four
- Material: Polyester
- Price at time of publish:
What we like:
- Colorful
- Warm
- Waterproof
What we don’t like:
- Some customer reviews complain that it runs small
The bottom line:
A warm, waterproof, and colorful coat for keeping toddlers happy outdoors.
The North Face Toddler Freedom Jacket
Best winter coat for babies: The North Face Baby North Down Hooded Jacket
The last thing you want is a chilly baby, so invest wisely when buying them a winter coat. “The North Face Baby North Down Hooded Jacket is insulated, so it will do the job to keep the baby warm and cozy,” says Malarkey. “The fleece lining will make it comfortable, and I also love that it has a hood to keep your baby’s head warm, which is so important for extreme cold!”
Specifications:
- Sizes: Ages 0 - 24 months
- Colors: Black, rose, wolf print
- Material: Polyester, waterfowl down
- Price at time of publish: $110
What we like:
- Insulated
- Includes a hood
What we don’t like:
- A small minority of reviews note that the arms run a little long
The bottom line:
An ideal winter jacket for newborns, but also suitable up to two years old.
How we chose the best winter coats for kids
We made our selection through a combination of personal experience, thorough research (particularly when it came to checking out customer reviews), and consulting with our expert sources, to ensure all of our picks offered value for money.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Should you size up in kids’ coats?
“There are many different opinions on what size to buy for a child, and there is no one right answer,” muses Fratto. “But if you look at each buying situation, you may have a better understanding of which size will work best. The biggest question to ask yourself is if this coat is for one season only, or if you want the coat to stretch its wear for a couple seasons. If it's a one season coat, get it true to size to the child. If it's the latter, go one size up–this season will be a little oversized, but still very much wearable. Next season should be true to size. If you can make it to a third season of wear then it will be just a little too small but again, it should still be comfortably wearable.”
How many winter coats should a child have?
“Two should be plenty, or even one, depending on the style,” says Fratto. “One should be for playing and general wear from day to day, another should be for those occasions that call for a little more dressed up attire. But then again, depending on the style of the coat you might find one that will work in both scenarios.”
How much should I spend on a good winter coat for kids?
Whether you’re buying a smartwatch for kids or clothing, oddly enough, the same advice rings true: You need to take into account your child’s age and the use they’ll get out of it. “Among different factors, the expected cost of a child's winter coat really depends on the age of the child that you’re buying for,” says Fratto. “The younger the child, the smaller the size and the amount of fabric needed, so the lower the cost. With that being said, expect to pay anywhere from $25 to around $150.”
Do kids need a new winter coat every year?
Again, this really depends: If you bought a size up last year, then hopefully not, but you can never entirely predict your kids’ growth spurts, so it’s a good idea to check how it fits at the start of each season.
The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.