Standard carport dimensions
| Carport | Width × depth | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 3m × 6m | 1 car / bakkie |
| Double (side-by-side) | 6m × 6m | 2 cars |
| Double (tandem) | 3m × 12m | 2 cars in line |
| Triple | 9m × 6m | 3 cars / boat bay |
| Four-bay | 12m × 6m | 4 vehicles |
Once the footprint is settled, the other question is whether to buy the steel or buy the finished structure - set out under carport kits vs supplied and installed.
Size your carport
Width, depth and height rules of thumb
Allow 3 m of width per car for comfortable door-opening, 2.5 m at an absolute minimum. Keep 6 m of depth so a car sits fully under cover with the boot up; a bakkie or a long SUV wants 6.5 m. For height, measure your tallest vehicle and add 300 mm — a standard 2.1 m beam clears a sedan, while a 4x4, a bakkie with a canopy or a roof box needs 2.4–2.7 m. These dimensions feed straight into the carport prices in Pretoria, and the roof style that fits the size is in carport designs.
Once the size is settled, the price bands for carports in Pretoria at that size are the next thing to check.
Sizes settle the structure; the money question is what that size costs. Bands for every size are on the Pretoria carport price list, the 6m × 6m case is worked through under double carports, and the entry size under single carports. Where the driveway is narrow, a cantilever carport changes what will fit.
Bay spacing is the number that catches people out on the larger frames — see triple carports and four-bays for how three and four vehicles are actually laid out, and cantilever carports for what changes when no post may land inside the bay.
Once the footprint is settled the other question is whether to buy the steel or buy the finished structure, which is set out under carport kits vs supplied and installed.
Common questions
What is the standard size of a double carport?
A standard double carport is 6m × 6m for two cars side by side. Where the driveway is narrow, a tandem double of 3m × 12m covers two cars in line. Both are 6 m deep to clear a parked car with the boot open.
What height should a carport be for a bakkie or 4x4?
A carport for a bakkie with a canopy or a 4x4 needs a beam height of 2.4–2.7 m, against 2.1 m for a sedan. Measure your tallest vehicle and add 300 mm of clearance.
How much width does each car need under a carport?
Allow 3 m of width per car for comfortable door-opening, or 2.5 m at an absolute minimum. So a double carport is 6 m wide and a triple 9 m wide.