How wide is the average car?
Average and typical car widths by body type, comparing sedans, SUVs, pickups, and the widest production trucks on the road in 2026.
The average passenger car in the US is 5.8 to 6.0 ft wide (70 to 72 in), not counting mirrors. SUVs add another 2 to 4 in. Half-ton pickups are typically 6.5 to 6.8 ft (78 to 82 in). The widest factory passenger vehicle is the Ram 3500 dually at 8.2 ft (98.7 in) at the rear fenders. Standard US lane width is 12 ft, so even a dually leaves about 22 in of clearance on each side at center lane.
Cars have gotten wider. A 1995 Honda Accord was 70.1 in across. The 2025 Accord is 73.3 in. That trend is consistent across nearly every model line: trucks 4 to 8 in wider than 20 years ago, sedans 2 to 4 in wider, SUVs about the same as trucks.
Average widths by body type
| Body type | Typical width (in) | Typical width (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Subcompact (Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Versa) | 65 to 67 | 5.4 to 5.6 |
| Compact (Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla) | 70 to 72 | 5.8 to 6.0 |
| Mid-size sedan (Camry, Accord) | 72 to 74 | 6.0 to 6.2 |
| Full-size sedan (Charger, Avalon, Lucid Air) | 75 to 78 | 6.2 to 6.5 |
| Compact SUV (RAV4, CR-V) | 73 to 76 | 6.1 to 6.3 |
| Mid-size SUV (Highlander, Pilot, Pathfinder) | 76 to 79 | 6.3 to 6.6 |
| Full-size SUV (Suburban, Expedition Max, Wagoneer) | 81 to 84 | 6.8 to 7.0 |
| Mid-size pickup (Tacoma, Frontier, Colorado) | 74 to 78 | 6.2 to 6.5 |
| Full-size half-ton (F-150, Silverado 1500, Ram 1500) | 79 to 84 | 6.6 to 7.0 |
| Heavy-duty pickup (F-250, Silverado 2500, Ram 2500) | 80 to 87 | 6.7 to 7.3 |
| Heavy-duty dually (F-350 dually, Silverado 3500HD dually, Ram 3500 dually) | 95 to 99 | 7.9 to 8.2 |
| Cargo van (Transit, ProMaster, Sprinter) | 80 to 84 | 6.7 to 7.0 |
| Full-size sports car (Corvette, R8) | 76 to 80 | 6.3 to 6.7 |
| Supercar (Aventador, GT3) | 80 to 83 | 6.7 to 6.9 |
Width does not include mirrors. Towing mirrors on heavy-duty trucks add roughly 12 to 18 in to either side when extended.
Specific vehicles at the extremes
Narrowest production passenger car in the US. The Mitsubishi Mirage at 65.5 in (5.46 ft) is among the narrowest passenger vehicles you can buy new. The Chevy Spark, often cited as the narrowest, was discontinued after 2022.
Widest passenger vehicle in the US. The Ram 3500 dually with the wide-track rear axle at 98.7 in (8.2 ft) at the fender flares. Ford F-350 dually is 96 in (8.0 ft). Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD dually is 95.6 in (8.0 ft).
Widest full-size SUV. Cadillac Escalade ESV at 81.1 in (6.76 ft). The previous “Escalade is widest” line is from earlier-generation trucks. The current Lincoln Navigator L is similar at 79.9 in.
US lane and parking standards
| Standard | Width |
|---|---|
| Interstate lane | 12 ft (144 in) |
| Urban arterial lane | 10 to 12 ft (120 to 144 in) |
| Residential street lane | 9 to 10 ft (108 to 120 in) |
| Standard parking space (US) | 8.5 to 9 ft (102 to 108 in) |
| Compact parking space | 7.5 to 8 ft (90 to 96 in) |
| Single-car garage door | 8 to 9 ft (96 to 108 in) |
| Double-car garage door | 16 to 18 ft (192 to 216 in) |
A dually pickup at 98.7 in fits in a standard 9 ft parking space with 9 in of clearance. It does not fit in a compact space.
Single-car garages built in the 1940s and 1950s often have 7 to 8 ft doors, designed for cars under 70 in wide. A modern Tahoe or F-150 may not fit through one of these doors with the mirrors folded.
Width and lane mirrors
The actual width that matters in traffic is body width plus mirrors. For a half-ton truck:
- Body: 80 in
- Mirrors folded: +4 in (84 in total)
- Mirrors deployed: +12 in (92 in total)
- Tow mirrors extended: +18 in (98 in total)
A 12 ft lane (144 in) leaves about 46 in of margin for a half-ton with mirrors deployed, 23 in to each side. A heavy-duty truck with tow mirrors extended on a 12 ft lane has about 23 in total margin, with cars in adjacent lanes typically only 12 in inside their lane line. There is real risk of contact, especially on older interstates with narrower lanes.
How to look up your own vehicle’s width
VIN decoder. Enter your VIN on the manufacturer’s site or a service like NHTSA’s VIN lookup. The factory dimensions sheet lists width.
Owner’s manual. The vehicle dimensions section lists width with and without mirrors, sometimes the wheelbase and overhangs as well.
Manufacturer spec sheet. Available on the manufacturer’s website by trim level. Width can vary 1 to 2 in between base and off-road trims (wheel flares add width).
Measure it. Lay a tape measure across the widest part of the vehicle (usually the rear fender flares on pickups, the door panel on cars). Hold the tape level and run it perpendicular to the vehicle. Skip mirrors unless you want the deployed total.
Why cars keep getting wider
A few practical reasons:
- Safety regulations. Crash structures, side curtain airbags, and pedestrian-impact standards add inches to body width.
- Tire width. Modern tires are wider (225 to 285 mm common where 195 was standard in the 1990s).
- Comfort. Hip room and shoulder room ratings drive marketing claims.
- Power and capability. Wider track improves handling and gives more room for engine cooling and transmissions.
The downside is that older parking lots, garages, and narrow roads (especially urban arterials) get tighter every model year.