Use this Guide to find the right Sizing for your Carport/Shade
The first step to the perfect structure to cover your vehicle is choosing from the many aluminum carport sizes available today. Most people choose carports by vehicle types, but there’s a little more to consider. You also need to add extra space to both the width and length for easier access and storage space. Here are the most common carport sizes and some tips on sizing a carport to the vehicles you need to store.
Popular Carport Sizes
Some of the most popular, widely sold carport dimensions include:
- 12 by 20 feet, or around the size of a one-car garage
- 18 feet by 24 feet, wide enough for two cars or trucks
- 24 by 36 feet, a large and wide structure for storing multiple vehicles or unusually shaped equipment.
What You Need to Know When Sizing a Carport
Aside from considering your personal needs for the aluminum carport, you’ll also need to know what limitations your local county or municipality sets on carport depth and length. Not only may there be limitations on size, but local codes may limit where you place the carport on your property.
Carport Sizes by Number of Vehicles
Carports are generally sized according to the number of vehicles you want to store inside them. Each category has a range of sizes that tend to work well for storing one, two, three, or even more cars at once.
One (1) Car Carport
You’ll need to start with a minimum width of 12 feet to accommodate even a single compact car. Without enough width, you’ll find it impossible to open the doors of the car while it’s inside the carport without damaging the doors. The question of depth is a lot more flexible. It’s possible to build a carport as short as just 9 to 12 feet if you have a small car. But it’s far more recommended to choose a depth of 14 to 18 feet instead to give plenty of space for pulling in and closing the door without risking damage to the carport. A few extra feet also provide more storage space and make the carport more valuable in general.
Two (2) Cars Carport
The minimum size for storing two cars in one carport is around 24 by 20 feet. Small cars may fit side by side in an 18-foot wide design, but 20 to 24 feet in width is highly recommended, especially if one vehicle is larger than the other. Consider extending the carport’s depth to at least 20 feet to accommodate a wider range of vehicles.
Three (3) Cars Carport
You can fit three cars within the same carport if you extend it to a 30-foot width or more. This will work well for three smaller cars like sedans or sports cars. Storing a whole fleet of trucks or vans may require a carport sized for four or more just to ensure there’s extra space for doors to open without clashing. Make sure to choose a depth of 20 to 22 feet to match the dimensions needed for storage.
Four (4) Cars Carport
There’s no need for extra depth when expanding to a 4 cars carport, but you’ll need a 36-foot width or more. You may only be able to support two to three doors on the frame even if you plan to pull four different vehicles in all at once. Consider wider double doors that let you pull two vehicles in at a time.
Five (5) Cars Carport
For a massive carport storing 5 cars or more, you’re looking at dimensions starting at 40 feet and going as high as 52 feet. Definitely consider bumping up the depth for this kind of design since it will double as space for getting out of the weather or organizing holiday decorations.
Carport Sizes by Vehicle Types: Do you have, an RV, or a Boat?
Of course, not just cars are stored in carports. They can work wonders for protecting boats, RVs, ATVs, and other outdoor equipment. Sizing an RV carport definitely requires a raised height over the average 7 to 8-foot height of most standard carport designs. Depending on the RV, you may need a height of 12 feet or above to accommodate its roof. Sizes for a 1 car and an RV carport tend to start around 36 feet wide and at least 24 to 28 feet deep, with a height from 9 to 12 feet. For a 1 car and a boat carport, you may need a width of 36 feet or more and depths of 30 feet and up for larger hulls.
Car Carport Size for a Truck:
Whatever the capacity of your carport you have you can consider adding five feet increment to the standard length.
You should also consider increasing the width from 32 feet to 60 feet. It’s also advisable to plan extra length since you may want to have an attach a door and a cabin to place your toolbox and equipment.
Single Car Carport Size
A single carport is generally 12 by 18 feet or larger. That’s the minimum possible size to comfortably fit a small sports car, hatchback, or sedan with room to get out. The height may be as short as just 6 to 7 feet to give you clearance to get out without having to waste any unnecessary headroom.
What are the Minimum and Maximum Sizes for a Carport?
Minimum sizes begin at the single car size since there’s little use for a smaller structure aside from temporary storage. When it comes to carport depth, the minimum is only 9 to 10 feet for the car to pull in fully and close any attached doors. However, this gives you very little space to move around, so 12 to 14 feet is a better depth to start with. The minimum width begins at around 12 feet. Maximum sizes are quite high, ranging around 60 to 70 feet for depth and 45 to 60 feet in width. If you need something even larger, that are engineering tricks that can help you get a metal structure of any size.
How High Can a Carport Go?
The carport height is larger limited by the building codes of your area, which are determined based on average wind speeds. A taller carport will need more bracing since it is at a higher risk of lifting up or breaking apart. In general, carports aren’t built much taller than 14 to 16 feet without special engineering. If you need a 20-foot height for a particularly challenging sailboat storage solution or tour bus with a raised upper floor, there are options for reinforced designs.