How to Measure Your Car for an Auto Cover?

For the full breakdown, see our best Auto Covers guide.

Matching those three numbers to a cover maker’s size chart is how you get a fit that actually stays on in wind and doesn’t stretch at the mirrors. Grab a soft tape measure or a 25-foot retractable tape, and a helper if one is around. Park on level ground with tires at normal pressure and nothing on the roof, then take the three measurements described below.

Measuring Length, Width, And Height For A Cover

Each dimension has one correct straight-line method, and a common error that adds inches or even a foot to your numbers.

Length: Run the tape along the ground, parallel to the car, from the furthest forward point of the front bumper to the furthest rear point of the rear bumper. Include any spare-tire mounts or tow accessories that stick out. Don’t drape the tape over the hood and roof — following the body line inflates the measurement.

Width: Measure across the widest part of the body, usually the fenders or rear quarter panels. Exclude the side mirrors unless the cover brand’s sizing chart says otherwise. Custom-fit makers typically size width without mirrors, so adding them can push you into a cover that’s baggy.

Height: Measure from the ground straight up to the highest fixed point of the roof or body. Exclude antennas, shark fins, roof racks, and light bars unless the specific cover pattern provides openings for them. Different brands treat accessories differently, so follow the sizing instructions for the exact cover you’re buying.

Measuring Both Sides And Recording The Larger Value

Measure length and width on both sides of the car. A one-inch difference between side-by-side checks is normal; record the larger value. If no exact size matches your numbers, choose the slightly larger cover — a too-tight cover is hard to install and won’t accommodate mirrors or accessories.

For custom-fit covers, mark reference points with painter’s tape, then measure height, width, and length at those marks and record them on the maker’s dimension sheet. Compare the sum of your segments against a separate bumper-to-bumper check to confirm the overall length.

Common Sizing Mistakes That Ruin The Fit

Most ill-fitting covers trace back to a few repeatable errors. Skip these and your numbers will line up with the chart.

• Measuring over the hood and roof instead of straight along the ground, which adds a foot or more to the length.
• Including mirrors when the cover brand sizes width without them.
• Adding or omitting roof racks, antennas, bull bars, or spoilers without checking the brand’s own rules.
• Measuring on a slope or with the car loaded down, which shifts height and width readings.
• Taking one measurement instead of both sides and using the smaller value.

Low-profile cars get one extra check: confirm ground clearance and wheelbase as fit references, though they aren’t part of the basic three-measurement method.

Matching Your Numbers To A Cover Size

Once you have all three measurements, compare them to the maker’s chart.

The method applies the same way to sedans, coupes, wagons, SUVs, and compact vehicles: length along the ground, width at the widest body point excluding mirrors, and height to the highest fixed roof point. When in doubt, go one size up — a slightly loose cover fits better than one that fights the mirrors every time you install it.