Can I fold my rear seats to make more room?

Most modern cars have a 60/40 or 40/20/40 split-fold rear seat. Folding all sections creates a flat(ish) cargo floor extending from the trunk to the front seats. Check your owner's manual — some seats fold but leave a raised lip or gap between the trunk floor and seat back.

What is the diagonal loading technique?

Place the item corner-first into the trunk, then rotate it diagonally across the cargo area. A flat item that won't fit straight in often clears the opening when loaded at a 30 to 45 degree angle. Diagonal length is always longer than either straight dimension.

Should I use a roof rack for oversized items?

Roof racks work well for long, flat items like lumber, shelving boards, or mattresses in bags. Check your vehicle's roof load rating (typically 100 to 165 lbs for crossbar racks). Secure items with ratchet straps, not bungee cords, and add a red flag to anything extending past the rear bumper.

ItemFits

About Blog FAQ Features Pricing Work with us

Home / Vehicle & Cargo Fit

Will It Fit in My Car?

Enter your item dimensions and cargo area measurements to see if it fits — trunk, backseat, or roof rack.

Trusted across thousands of fit checks · updated daily

Scan items/space

Language: English

Voice input

400 questions answered

Room Preview·Visual Results·Simulations

Whether it fits depends on measurements most people get wrong.

Key Measurement

Cargo length (seats folded) vs. item length

Standard Dimensions

Item: Varies — measure your specific item

Space: Sedan trunk: ~42" L × 44" W. Mid-size SUV (seats folded): ~72" L × 44" W

Actual clear openings are usually 1–2″ smaller than the labeled size.

Your exact dimensions probably aren't "standard." Small measurement errors cause big problems — 1 inch can be the difference between fitting and getting stuck.

Related Resources

Vehicle Guide Vehicle Cargo Dimensions

Verdicts are calculated by comparing all 6 item orientations against the space dimensions using verified building code standards. See our methodology

Takes 10 seconds · No signup needed

10,000+ fit checks run·Last check: a few minutes ago

“Confirmed my 65" TV fits in the RAV4 before buying. Would've been stuck at the store.” — Weekend project

Measure smart

What to measure.

Four numbers decide nearly every fit check. Get these right and the rest follows.

01Trunk opening vs. interior dimensions — the trunk or hatch opening is almost always 6–10" narrower than the cargo space inside, so measure both
02Folded-seat cargo expansion — folding the rear seats typically doubles usable length from 35–42" to 60–80", creating a flat(ish) cargo floor
03Diagonal loading technique — loading an item corner-first at 30–45° uses the cargo area diagonal, which is 15–20% longer than the straight length
04Fragile item padding strategy — soft items (pillows, blankets, clothing bags) should fill gaps around rigid cargo to prevent shifting and absorb vibration

Don't make these

Common mistakes.

Most “it didn't fit” stories trace back to one of these oversights.

⚠Measuring cargo length with seats up — folding the rear seats usually doubles usable length; always measure with seats in the planned configuration
⚠Assuming the trunk opening matches the interior — the trunk lid or hatch opening is typically 6–10" narrower than the cargo space inside
⚠Not accounting for wheel well intrusions — wheel wells protrude 3–6" per side at floor level, reducing usable width where it matters most for flat items
⚠Forgetting to check cargo area height — sedans have only 20" of trunk height, while SUVs offer 30–40", which determines whether boxy items fit

Frequently asked

Questions we keep getting.

Can I fold my rear seats to make more room?
Most modern cars have a 60/40 or 40/20/40 split-fold rear seat. Folding all sections creates a flat(ish) cargo floor extending from the trunk to the front seats. Check your owner's manual — some seats fold but leave a raised lip or gap between the trunk floor and seat back.
01
What is the diagonal loading technique?
Place the item corner-first into the trunk, then rotate it diagonally across the cargo area. A flat item that won't fit straight in often clears the opening when loaded at a 30 to 45 degree angle. Diagonal length is always longer than either straight dimension.
02
Should I use a roof rack for oversized items?
Roof racks work well for long, flat items like lumber, shelving boards, or mattresses in bags. Check your vehicle's roof load rating (typically 100 to 165 lbs for crossbar racks). Secure items with ratchet straps, not bungee cords, and add a red flag to anything extending past the rear bumper.
03

Related guides

Related item guides & reading.

Couch/Sofa GuideStandard 3-seat couch dimensions, doorway clearance, stairway fit checks, and expert moving tips. Find out if your sofa will fit before moving day.How Much Fits in a 10-Foot Moving Truck? Size GuideA 10-foot truck holds about 1 bedroom worth of furniture. Here's exactly what fits — and when you need to size up to a 15 or 20-footer.Cargo Van Dimensions Compared: Which One Do You Need?From the Ram ProMaster to the Ford Transit, cargo vans range from 230 to 480 cubic feet. Here's how they compare for furniture moving.Furniture Dimensions Database: Standard Sizes for EverythingStandard couch depth, mattress sizes, dresser dimensions, table heights — a complete reference of furniture measurements for moving and space planning.

Related fit checks.

Will a TV Fit in My Car?Check if a 55", 65", 75", or 85" TV box fits your car, SUV, or minivan. Free calculator compares TV box dimensions to your exact trunk opening and cargo area.Will a Loveseat Fit in a Car?Check if your loveseat will fit in your car, SUV, or hatchback. Measure cargo space, door openings, and seat fold options before moving.Will a Bike Fit in My Car?Check if your bicycle will fit inside your car with the front wheel removed. Covers sedans, SUVs, and hatchbacks with seat-fold configurations.Will a Mattress Fit in a Pickup Truck Bed?Check if your mattress will fit in a pickup truck bed. Covers twin through king sizes for short, standard, and long bed trucks.Will a Mattress Fit Around a Hallway Corner?Check if your mattress will fit around a hallway corner. Twin, full, queen, and king — calculate the turning radius needed for 90° corridor turns.Will It Fit in My Trunk? Free CalculatorFree trunk fit calculator checks whether a box, suitcase, TV, stroller, or piece of furniture will fit in your car trunk, SUV cargo area, or hatchback. Enter dimensions and your vehicle and get an instant fit verdict.

Unlock stair simulation, AR visualization, and more.

Will it fit? Know before you buy.

Open the calculator and check any item against any space.

Open the fit calculator

ItemFits

About Blog FAQ Features Pricing Work with us

Home / Vehicle & Cargo Fit

Will It Fit in My Car?

Enter your item dimensions and cargo area measurements to see if it fits — trunk, backseat, or roof rack.

Trusted across thousands of fit checks · updated daily

Scan items/space

Language: English

Voice input

400 questions answered

Room Preview·Visual Results·Simulations

Whether it fits depends on measurements most people get wrong.

Key Measurement

Cargo length (seats folded) vs. item length

Standard Dimensions

Item: Varies — measure your specific item

Space: Sedan trunk: ~42" L × 44" W. Mid-size SUV (seats folded): ~72" L × 44" W

Actual clear openings are usually 1–2″ smaller than the labeled size.

Your exact dimensions probably aren't "standard." Small measurement errors cause big problems — 1 inch can be the difference between fitting and getting stuck.

Related Resources

Vehicle Guide Vehicle Cargo Dimensions

Verdicts are calculated by comparing all 6 item orientations against the space dimensions using verified building code standards. See our methodology

Takes 10 seconds · No signup needed

10,000+ fit checks run·Last check: a few minutes ago

“Confirmed my 65" TV fits in the RAV4 before buying. Would've been stuck at the store.” — Weekend project

Measure smart

What to measure.

Four numbers decide nearly every fit check. Get these right and the rest follows.

01Trunk opening vs. interior dimensions — the trunk or hatch opening is almost always 6–10" narrower than the cargo space inside, so measure both
02Folded-seat cargo expansion — folding the rear seats typically doubles usable length from 35–42" to 60–80", creating a flat(ish) cargo floor
03Diagonal loading technique — loading an item corner-first at 30–45° uses the cargo area diagonal, which is 15–20% longer than the straight length
04Fragile item padding strategy — soft items (pillows, blankets, clothing bags) should fill gaps around rigid cargo to prevent shifting and absorb vibration

Don't make these

Common mistakes.

Most “it didn't fit” stories trace back to one of these oversights.

⚠Measuring cargo length with seats up — folding the rear seats usually doubles usable length; always measure with seats in the planned configuration
⚠Assuming the trunk opening matches the interior — the trunk lid or hatch opening is typically 6–10" narrower than the cargo space inside
⚠Not accounting for wheel well intrusions — wheel wells protrude 3–6" per side at floor level, reducing usable width where it matters most for flat items
⚠Forgetting to check cargo area height — sedans have only 20" of trunk height, while SUVs offer 30–40", which determines whether boxy items fit

Frequently asked

Questions we keep getting.

Can I fold my rear seats to make more room?
Most modern cars have a 60/40 or 40/20/40 split-fold rear seat. Folding all sections creates a flat(ish) cargo floor extending from the trunk to the front seats. Check your owner's manual — some seats fold but leave a raised lip or gap between the trunk floor and seat back.
01
What is the diagonal loading technique?
Place the item corner-first into the trunk, then rotate it diagonally across the cargo area. A flat item that won't fit straight in often clears the opening when loaded at a 30 to 45 degree angle. Diagonal length is always longer than either straight dimension.
02
Should I use a roof rack for oversized items?
Roof racks work well for long, flat items like lumber, shelving boards, or mattresses in bags. Check your vehicle's roof load rating (typically 100 to 165 lbs for crossbar racks). Secure items with ratchet straps, not bungee cords, and add a red flag to anything extending past the rear bumper.
03

Related guides

Related item guides & reading.

Related fit checks.

Unlock stair simulation, AR visualization, and more.

Will it fit? Know before you buy.

Open the calculator and check any item against any space.

Open the fit calculator