Cars & Vehicles

Car Dimensions: Average Sizes by Class, Popular Models and Garage Fit

For checking whether a car fits a garage, a parking space or a driveway, or comparing classes before buying. Figures are body dimensions from manufacturer specifications, with mirrors excluded unless stated.

Quick answer

A typical midsize sedan is about 192 in long, 72 in wide and 57 in tall (4.9 × 1.83 × 1.45 m). Compact cars are about 15 ft (4.6 m) long, compact SUVs about 15 ft long and 5.6 ft (1.7 m) tall, and full-size crew-cab pickups about 19-20 ft (5.9-6.2 m) long and 80 in (2.03 m) wide. Mirrors add roughly 8-12 in (20-30 cm) to the width.

Midsize sedan
16 × 6 ft (4.9 × 1.8 m)
Compact SUV
15.3 × 6.1 ft
Full-size pickup
19-20 ft long
US parking space
9 × 18 ft typical
On this page
  1. Car dimensions by class
  2. Dimensions of popular models
  3. Parking space sizes
  4. Garage sizes and how much room a car needs
  5. Turning circles and road widths
  6. Interior and fit details
  7. Frequently asked questions

Car dimensions by class

Ranges cover current models in each class, body only (no mirrors). Height excludes roof racks and antennas.

Average car dimensions by vehicle class
ClassLengthWidthHeight
Small sports car / city car150-165 in (3.8-4.2 m)65-69 in (1.65-1.75 m)48-60 in (1.22-1.52 m)
Compact car175-185 in (4.45-4.7 m)70-72 in (1.78-1.83 m)55-58 in (1.40-1.47 m)
Midsize sedan190-196 in (4.83-4.98 m)72-74 in (1.83-1.88 m)56-58 in (1.42-1.47 m)
Compact SUV / crossover178-188 in (4.52-4.78 m)72-76 in (1.83-1.93 m)63-68 in (1.60-1.73 m)
Midsize 3-row SUV194-200 in (4.93-5.08 m)76-79 in (1.93-2.01 m)68-72 in (1.73-1.83 m)
Minivan203-206 in (5.16-5.23 m)78-79 in (1.98-2.01 m)69-71 in (1.75-1.80 m)
Full-size SUV210-227 in (5.33-5.77 m)80-82 in (2.03-2.08 m)75-78 in (1.91-1.98 m)
Full-size pickup (crew cab)230-250 in (5.84-6.35 m)80-82 in (2.03-2.08 m)75-80 in (1.91-2.03 m)

Cars have grown steadily: today's compact cars are about the size of midsize sedans from the 1990s. Size classes used by the US EPA are based on interior volume, not exterior size, so a "midsize" label on a window sticker says nothing about whether the car fits your garage.

Rounded to the nearest inch from manufacturer specifications for recent model years. Height and length can vary by an inch or two with trim, wheels and roof rails.

Length × width × height of popular vehicles (without mirrors)
ModelInchesMetersLength (ft)
Mazda MX-5 Miata154 × 68 × 493.91 × 1.73 × 1.2412.8
Toyota Corolla sedan182 × 70 × 574.62 × 1.78 × 1.4515.2
Honda Civic sedan184 × 71 × 564.67 × 1.80 × 1.4215.3
Tesla Model 3185 × 73 × 574.70 × 1.85 × 1.4515.4
Toyota Camry193 × 72 × 574.90 × 1.83 × 1.4516.1
Honda Accord196 × 73 × 574.98 × 1.85 × 1.4516.3
Toyota RAV4181 × 73 × 684.60 × 1.85 × 1.7315.1
Honda CR-V185 × 74 × 674.70 × 1.88 × 1.7015.4
Tesla Model Y187 × 76 × 644.75 × 1.93 × 1.6315.6
Toyota Highlander195 × 76 × 684.95 × 1.93 × 1.7316.2
Toyota Sienna204 × 78 × 695.18 × 1.98 × 1.7517.0
Chevrolet Tahoe211 × 81 × 765.36 × 2.06 × 1.9317.6
Chevrolet Suburban226 × 81 × 765.74 × 2.06 × 1.9318.8
Ford F-150 SuperCrew, 5.5-ft bed232 × 80 × 775.89 × 2.03 × 1.9619.3
F-150 SuperCrewToyota Camry
F-150 SuperCrew 232 × 77 inToyota Camry 193 × 57 inHonda CR-V 185 × 67 inMazda MX-5 154 × 49 in
Side profiles as length × height, drawn to scale from a shared corner.

A pickup's length depends on cab and bed. The F-150 with the 6.5-ft bed is about a foot longer than the version above; bed sizes for each truck are in the truck bed size guide.

Parking space sizes

Local zoning codes set parking dimensions, so they vary by city. Common values:

Typical parking space dimensions
SpaceWidthLength
Standard US space (90°)8.5-9 ft (2.6-2.7 m)18 ft (5.5 m)
Compact-only US space7.5-8 ft (2.3-2.4 m)15-16 ft (4.6-4.9 m)
US accessible space (ADA)8 ft (2.44 m) + 5 ft (1.52 m) aislePer local code
US van-accessible space (ADA)11 ft + 5 ft aisle, or 8 ft + 8 ft aislePer local code
Parallel space (US)8 ft (2.4 m)20-24 ft (6.1-7.3 m)
UK bay (traditional)2.4 m (7.9 ft)4.8 m (15.7 ft)

A 9 × 18 ft space leaves about 1.5 ft (46 cm) on each side of a 72 in sedan and about 1 ft in front and behind a 192 in one. A full-size pickup at 80 in wide and 19-20 ft long fills the width and overhangs the length, which is why it often parks with its nose or tailgate in the aisle. UK bays of 2.4 m leave only 28 cm a side for a 1.83 m wide car before the mirrors.

Garage sizes and how much room a car needs

  1. Width: body width plus about 3 ft (90 cm) on each side you need to open a door fully and get out. A front door swings out roughly 3-3.5 ft.
  2. Length: vehicle length plus 3 ft (90 cm) to walk around the front or rear, more if there is a workbench or storage.
  3. Height: check both the door opening and any obstructions inside (door track, opener, lights) against the vehicle height including roof rails, racks or a roof box.
Common garage sizes and what they hold
GarageInside sizeFits comfortably
One-car, minimum12 × 20 ft (3.7 × 6.1 m)One compact or midsize car
One-car, generous14 × 24 ft (4.3 × 7.3 m)One SUV or crew-cab pickup with a short bed
Two-car, minimum20 × 20 ft (6.1 × 6.1 m)Two compact cars, tight door opening
Two-car, recommended24 × 24 ft (7.3 × 7.3 m)Two midsize vehicles with room to open doors
Three-car32-36 × 24 ft (9.8-11 × 7.3 m)Three vehicles, or two plus storage

Residential garage doors are usually 8-9 ft (2.4-2.7 m) wide for one car and 16 ft (4.9 m) for two, and 7 ft (2.13 m) tall, with 8 ft (2.44 m) as the upgrade for tall trucks and vans. See the garage door size guide for all standard openings.

Roof loads and garage height

Crossbars and a cargo box together add roughly 18-22 in (46-56 cm) to a vehicle's height. A 68 in SUV with a roof box can reach 86-90 in, more than a 7 ft (84 in) door. Check the roof rack guide for added heights.

Turning circles and road widths

  • Turning circle: compact cars typically need about 35-38 ft (10.7-11.6 m) curb to curb; midsize SUVs around 38-40 ft; full-size crew-cab pickups often 45-50 ft (13.7-15.2 m). A long wheelbase is the main reason pickups need three-point turns in cul-de-sacs.
  • Lane width: US Interstate lanes are 12 ft (3.66 m) wide. An 80 in pickup centered in the lane leaves about 2.7 ft (0.8 m) on each side; a 72 in sedan about 3 ft (0.9 m).
  • Legal width limit: US federal rules allow commercial vehicles up to 102 in (8.5 ft, 2.59 m) wide excluding mirrors; the EU limit is 2.55 m. Passenger vehicles are far below both.

Interior and fit details

Exterior size does not predict cabin or cargo space well. A few dimensions worth checking:

  • Rear seat width for car seats: whether three child seats fit across depends on the rear hip-room figure in the spec sheet and on each seat's width. The car seat size guide lists seat widths.
  • Cargo volume: sedans' trunks are typically 14-17 cu ft (400-480 L); compact SUVs about 36-39 cu ft (1,020-1,100 L) behind the rear seat.
  • License plates: US plates are 12 × 6 in, EU plates 520 × 110 mm; mounting space differs, see the license plate size guide.
  • Tires and wheels: the tire size on the door placard sets ride height and fender clearance; see the tire size chart.

Frequently asked questions

How long is an average car?

Most passenger cars and crossovers sold today are 14.5-16.5 ft (4.4-5.0 m) long. Compact sedans and SUVs are about 15 ft (4.6 m), midsize sedans about 16 ft (4.9 m). Full-size SUVs and pickups are longer: 17.5-20 ft (5.3-6.1 m).

Which vehicles are longer than 20 feet?

Mainly full-size crew-cab pickups with a 6.5-ft bed (about 240-245 in for half-tons) and heavy-duty crew-cab models with 8-ft beds, which are longer still, and extended-length vans such as long-wheelbase Ford Transit and Mercedes Sprinter models. Even the longest mainstream SUVs, such as the Chevrolet Suburban at about 226 in (18.8 ft), are under 20 ft.

How wide is a car with mirrors?

Add about 8-12 in (20-30 cm) to the body width. A midsize sedan that is 72 in (1.83 m) wide is roughly 80-83 in (2.0-2.1 m) across the mirrors. Pickups with towing mirrors extended can exceed 100 in.

Will my car fit in a 7-foot garage door?

A standard 7 ft (84 in, 2.13 m) door clears nearly every car, crossover and stock full-size SUV or pickup, which top out at about 77-80 in. Lifted trucks, vans with high roofs and any vehicle with a roof box or roof-mounted bikes may not fit.

What size is a car in meters?

A compact car is about 4.6 × 1.8 × 1.45 m, a midsize sedan about 4.9 × 1.83 × 1.45 m, a compact SUV about 4.65 × 1.85 × 1.7 m and a full-size SUV about 5.4 × 2.06 × 1.93 m.