Carport Sizes (Standard Types & Dimensions)

Here’s our carport sizes guide, including how this car parking structure differs from a garage, different cover dimensions and the best shelter size for a truck.

There are many benefits to investing in a carport for your home, and one is that it protects your vehicle from the elements. Besides that, the extra space is a considerable advantage as they are more cost-effective, low-maintenance, offer good ventilation, and are suitable for any car.

Here, we will be talking about different carport sizes for you to consider when looking to acquire one for your home.

Standard Carport Size

A carport differs from a garage by having its two sides open, being easier to install, and being much more adaptable. Carports and garages need a permit from your local government before building, but registering to build these structures for your home is pretty straightforward and far cheaper than a garage. Read our carport vs garage comparison here.

Just like a garage, carports are created under your specifications. Requirements like how many cars and what type of car you have, your budget, and the weather conditions where you live, among other things. 

The standard carport size is the size of a one-car garage. A single car garage is standard for a family usually due to space constraints. The standard carport size has an area of 12 ft by 20 ft and a height of 6 to 7 ft high; this is 3.66 to 6.11 in meters, while a height in meters of 1.83 to 2.13. 

How Wide Does a Carport Need to Be?

The width of carports depends on their needed specifications, precisely how many cars can be accommodated by the covered driveway.

Still, for a standard-sized one car garage, the minimum width is 10 feet or 3 meters. This width is the minimum, so it is better to account for how wide your car is, especially if you drive an SUV or a Hummer since these types of vehicles usually have a broader build. 

If you are planning on designing a car parking shelter or a garage, some programs can help. Check out our list of the best garage design software to help you lay out your plan and visualize your project.

What is The Minimum Depth of a Carport? 

The depth of something is essentially the same as its height. The only distinction between the two is depth is usually measured from the top down, while height is typically measured from the ground up. A carport’s minimum depth should be 9 feet, but you can go up to 10 feet. 

1 Car Carport Dimensions

The dimensions for a 1 car carport are the same as that of the standard sizes —an area of 12 feet by 20 feet and a height of 6 to 7 feet high.

But other standard size options are common, like 12 feet by 25 feet and 18 feet by 20 feet. It can be 18 to 20 feet long with a height of 9 to 10 feet. 

2 Car Carport Dimensions

A 2 car carport can double not just as a parking structure but also as an added picnic ground for special occasions or even an outdoor workshop for your next DIY project. The versatility is endless, and you need to make sure of is it is built sturdily. 

The typical 2 car carport sizes are two smaller sports cars: a length of 22 feet or 6.7 meters, a width of 20 feet and 10 inches or 6.35 meters.

These dimensions would be perfect because they will leave a size of 2.5 feet or .76 meters between the sides of your car and the metal ports. Plus, an open space of 3 feet or .915 meters between the hood of your vehicle and the metal ports in the front.

These dimensions will also allow for a distance of 2.5 feet between the two cars, making it easy for any vehicle to go in without problems. 

3 Car Carport Measurements

We are now entering the realm of large carports by considering the dimensions for a three-car design. 3-car covered parking structures range from 26 feet wide or 7.92 meters to 30 feet wide or 9.14 meters. Triple carports are also called triple-wide shelters. 

26 foot wide carports can fit up to three compact or three sports car-sized cars, but this size would not give you much room to move, so it is recommended to go for a 30 foot wide shelter size for three cars.

This width will be perfect for accommodating a larger car like an SUV if you have one. They can span for 21 feet long, and you can add 5 feet of augmentation as you desire. The depth is customizable, too, but you can go for 10 feet or higher according to your needs. 

4 Car Carport Measurements

You can often find more oversized carports in much bigger homes. They are sometimes seen as an indicator of wealth the more cars you have, but of course, it depends on what cars the canopy structure holds. 

A 4 car carport has a width of 36 feet or 10.98 meters. This size will make it easier for all cars to move in and out of the covered parking since it will leave a space allowance for each vehicle with a size of 2.8 feet or .85 meters in between each car. 

A 4 car carport can have a length from front to back of 22 feet or 6.71 meters. This length will accommodate the size of vehicles, from the smaller sports cars to the larger sport utility vehicles. The depth for a 4 car canopy size is customizable, but the standard height is 10 feet, and you can add increments of 2 to 5 feet if you need. 

Carport Size for Truck

In order for your home or business to accommodate the size of a truck, an addition to both the length and width is needed. Add a five foot increment to the standard 21 foot length.

The commercial size for an extra-wide carport to accommodate your larger vehicles like an RV or your truck can go from 32 ft or 12.60 meters to 60 ft or 23.62 meters.

Since RVs and trucks are usually elongated, it is wise for your parking structure to be longer than it is more expansive, especially if we’re talking about parking just one truck or RV in your structure. 

See more related content in our article about portable garages here.