How do I measure my boot for a cargo organiser?

Steps

1. Empty the boot, remove any loose parcel shelf items, and put the rear seats in their normal upright position.
2. Measure length along the boot floor from the inside of the tailgate sill to the base of the rear seat back, in millimetres. If the seat backs recline, choose their normal upright angle.
3. Measure width at two points: the tailgate opening (edge to edge across the sill) and between the wheel arches at the mid-point of the boot. The between-arches figure is almost always smaller.
4. Measure height from the boot floor to the underside of the parcel shelf at its lowest point, and separately at the rearmost point where the tailgate closes.
5. If the boot has an adjustable floor, note which position each measurement was taken in. Redo the depth measurement in the alternative position if you might use it.

What you need

• A tape measure with a lock, at least 2 metres.
• The owner's handbook, for the position adjustment of the boot floor and any load rating.
• A torch for the wheel-arch cutouts on dark carpet trim.
• A pencil and paper, or a note app, to record all four figures side by side.

Common mistakes

• Using the manufacturer's litre figure. Boot litres are measured with a specific test procedure and do not translate to a rectangular usable footprint.
• Measuring width only at the tailgate opening. The hourglass narrowing between the wheel arches is where a rigid organiser wedges.
• Forgetting that the tailgate closes at an angle. Hatchback and estate roofs drop rearward, so the usable height at the very back is lower than in the middle of the boot.

Frequently asked questions

Should I measure with the parcel shelf in place?

Yes. Interior height under the parcel shelf is what limits any organiser with rigid walls, so measure from the boot floor to the underside of the shelf. If the organiser will only ever be used with the shelf removed, measure to the underside of the tailgate at its lowest closed position instead.

Why does the wheel arch matter so much?

Because a rectangular organiser that fits the boot at the tailgate opening can hit the wheel arches when slid forward. Boots are hourglass-shaped in plan view, and the narrowest point is between the arches. Measure both the tailgate-opening width and the between-arches width, and choose an organiser that fits the narrower figure.

The car has an adjustable boot floor, which position do I measure in?

Whichever position you intend to use with the organiser installed. Adjustable floors typically have a high position that hides the spare wheel well and a low position that maximises depth. Depth in the low position is often 100 to 150 mm greater. Measure both if you are undecided, so you can compare the fit in each.

Do I need to account for the tailgate closing on the organiser?

Yes, if the organiser has rigid walls taller than the tailgate opening at its highest point. A hatchback tailgate closes at an angle and the roofline drops toward the rear, so an organiser that fits under the parcel shelf may still catch the tailgate as it closes. Measure the interior height at the rearmost point, not just at the mid-boot.