What You'll Need
Just a tape measure. A helper makes things easier but isn't required. Give yourself about 10 minutes and you'll have precise measurements you can use for years. Write them down or save them in your phone — you'll be surprised how often they come in handy.
Step-by-Step Measurement Guide
Step 1 — Measure Cargo Length with Seats Up
Open your rear hatch or trunk. With the rear seats in their normal upright position, measure from the back of the rear seat cushion to the inside of the tailgate or cargo opening. Measure along the floor, not diagonally. This is your "seats up" length — the space available when passengers are in the rear seats.
Step 2 — Measure Cargo Length with Seats Down
Fold your rear seats completely flat. Now measure from the back of the front seat back all the way to the tailgate opening. This is your maximum cargo length and what lets you transport sofas, lumber, large appliances, and other long items. Note: if the seats don't fold perfectly flat, your usable length may be slightly less than your tape measure suggests.
Step 3 — Measure Cargo Width at the Narrowest Point
This is where most people make mistakes. Don't measure the widest point inside — measure the narrowest point, which is almost always the cargo door opening or the area around the wheel wells. An item might fit inside the cargo area but not be able to get through the opening. Measure at floor level from inner panel to inner panel at the rear opening.
Step 4 — Measure Cargo Height
Measure from the cargo floor straight up to the lowest point of the headliner or any overhead obstruction. Do this at the rear opening first, then again about two feet inside — some vehicles have a lower roofline toward the back. Use the smaller of the two numbers as your effective cargo height.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Measuring at the widest point instead of narrowest: Always measure where the space is tightest — usually the opening or around wheel wells.
- Forgetting about the opening dimensions: Even if your item fits inside the cargo area, it still needs to fit through the opening to get there.
- Not accounting for wheel well intrusions: Many SUVs and vans have wheel wells that reduce the effective floor width deeper inside the cargo area.
- Measuring with seats that aren't fully flat: Some vehicles have seats that only partially fold. Make sure yours are as flat as they'll go before measuring.
- Not leaving any clearance: A measurement that matches exactly often doesn't work in practice. Always aim for at least an inch of clearance on each side.
How to Measure an Item You Want to Transport
Measuring the item correctly is just as important as knowing your cargo dimensions. For furniture and large items:
- Measure the longest dimension (length), the widest dimension (width), and the tallest dimension (height)
- For irregularly shaped items, measure each dimension at its maximum extent
- If the item can be tilted, measure the diagonal dimension too — sometimes tilting an item slightly allows it to fit through a tighter opening
- For fragile items, add 1-2 inches on each side to account for padding and blankets
Understanding Cargo Space by Vehicle Type
SUVs and Crossovers
Most SUVs have folding rear seats that significantly increase cargo length. The difference between seats-up and seats-down is often 30-40 inches. Always check both configurations before deciding whether something will fit. Larger SUVs like the Tahoe or Expedition offer the most cargo space, while compact crossovers like the RAV4 or Escape are more limited but still surprisingly capable.
Pickup Trucks
Pickup truck cargo is measured in the truck bed. Standard short beds are typically 60-67 inches long, while long beds run 78-98 inches. Truck bed width is generally 50-66 inches. The key limitation with trucks is height — items need to be loaded over the sides or through the tailgate, which limits how tall items can be when loading.
Sedans
Sedans have the most limited cargo space due to the trunk configuration and the limited opening size. Most sedan trunks are 13-15 inches in height at the opening — this is often the binding constraint. Some sedans have fold-down rear seats that connect the trunk to the passenger area, but the opening through the seat back is typically small.
Minivans
Minivans are dramatically underrated for cargo hauling. The Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna both offer over 90 inches of cargo length with seats removed or folded, and their tall rooflines mean items up to 48 inches tall can often fit. The wide sliding doors also make loading much easier than a traditional SUV hatch.
Why We Built Will It Fit?
We built this tool because we got tired of making trips to pick up furniture only to find out it wouldn't fit. Our database uses exactly the measurement methodology described in this guide — cargo length with seats up, cargo length with seats down, width at the narrowest point, and height at the opening — for hundreds of vehicles across all makes, models, and years.
Instead of doing the math yourself, just enter your item's dimensions and select your vehicle — we'll tell you instantly whether it fits, won't fit, or fits with overhang out the back.
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