How to Measure Your Car for a Car Cover | Get The Right Fit

To size a car cover, measure your car’s overall length, width, and height in straight lines on level ground, then match those numbers to the manufacturer’s fit chart.

For the full breakdown, see our best Affordable Car Covers guide.

Buying a car cover that’s too small is a waste of money, and one that’s too large will flap and scratch the paint. The fix for a perfect fit isn’t guessing your car’s “class” — it’s taking three simple measurements and comparing them to the cover maker’s chart. Most covers use length as the primary size, but width and height matter for accessories and tall vehicles.

What Three Measurements Do You Need?

You need the vehicle’s overall length, width, and height, taken as straight lines on level ground. Don’t trace the curves of the body with the tape — measure the distance between the outermost points in a straight line.

• Length: From the front-most point of the front bumper to the rear-most point of the rear bumper, parallel to the ground. Don’t drape the tape over the hood or roof.
• Width: Across the widest part of the body. Most sizing charts, including those from O’Reilly Auto Parts, exclude the side mirrors, but some manufacturers include them — check the specific chart you’re using.
• Height: From the ground to the highest fixed point of the car. If the cover must clear a permanent accessory like a roof rack, measure to its top, not the roof.

This method for taking the three key dimensions aligns with guidance from Halfords’ car-cover help center.

How to Measure Your Car Accurately

Set up the car properly before you measure. Park on level ground, close all doors, the hood, the trunk, and the windows, and remove anything temporary that won’t live under the cover, like a bike rack.

Here’s the step order that works:

1. Measure length first: run the tape from the front bumper’s leading edge to the rear bumper’s trailing edge.
2. Measure width at the widest point of the body panels, typically near the doors or fenders.
3. Measure height from the ground to the highest fixed point (the roof, or the top of a rack).
4. Note any fixed accessories: spoilers, antennas, shark fins, light bars, or spare tires.
5. Compare your three numbers to the manufacturer’s sizing chart, not to a generic “large” or “XL” label.

Dimension bands vary widely by brand — one major support chart from Coverking groups Sedans and Coupes into sizes for vehicles up to 13 ft, 16 ft 8 in, 19 ft, and 22 ft. That’s why matching the chart matters more than a universal size name. Use a soft tape measure or a retractable one, and grab a helper to keep the tape straight on long vehicles.

How to Choose the Right Cover Size

Match your measured numbers to the size band that fits closest, and confirm your width and height fall inside that same band. If a vehicle sits right at a size boundary, go up to the next size so the cover isn’t stretched tight over the bumpers.

Universal charts sometimes use body width without mirrors while others use mirror-to-mirror width, so you need to follow the specific manufacturer chart. If you have a roof rack, oversized antenna, or light bar that stays on the car, you’ll likely need a larger size or a custom cover to clear it — Coverking notes these accessories can affect fit if left on the vehicle.

Most quality covers are water-resistant and help shield the paint from sun and debris, but a cover that’s too tight can scratch the finish, while one that’s too loose will flap in the wind. For dependable, budget-friendly options that fit the dimensions you measure, check out the best affordable car covers in our tested roundup.

FAQs

Do I Measure With or Without Side Mirrors?

That depends entirely on the cover brand’s sizing chart. Some manufacturers measure body width only, excluding mirrors, while others use the full mirror-to-mirror width. Read the specific chart or product description before you measure. When in doubt, measure both the body width and the full mirror width, then compare both numbers to the chart to see which one the brand expects.

What Happens If the Cover Is Too Big?

A cover that’s a few inches too long will often drape over the bumpers, where it can flap in the wind and rub against the paint. Most universal covers include tie-down straps or elastic hems to help hold them in place, but a noticeably oversized cover can still shift and cause scratches. If your car falls between sizes, consider going up one size only when a custom or semi-custom option isn’t available.

Should I Remove My Roof Rack Before Measuring?

Only remove a roof rack if it won’t stay on the car while the cover is installed. If you keep the rack on, measure the vehicle height from the ground to the highest point of the rack and include that number when comparing to the sizing chart. Leaving the rack on a car without accounting for its height can make the cover fit too tightly or tear over the mounting hardware.