Carports for Boats: Size, Height and Width by Boat Type
CarportBay Editorial Team Reviewed
Last verified:
A boat carport needs a leg taller than the boat on its trailer plus a margin, a width past the trailer's 8.5 ft, and a depth past the hitch-to-motor length. Neighbor lists a pontoon at 8 to 10 ft on a trailer, so a 2 ft margin calls for a 12 ft leg.
On this page
What size carport fits each type of boat?
Neighbor lists boat height on a trailer from 3 to 5 ft for a jon boat to 9 to 12 ft for a cabin cruiser, so each type needs a different carport. The carport sizing guide gives the method. See the complete carport buying guide. A boat is checked two ways: its tallest point against the leg, and its hitch-to-motor length against the depth.
| Boat type | Height on a trailer (ft) | Leg at a 1 ft margin | Leg at a 2 ft margin | Leg at a 3 ft margin | Length class and the calculator start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jon boat | 3 to 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Under 16 ft: 12x20 |
| Inflatable boat | 4 to 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Under 16 ft: 12x20 |
| Bowrider | 5 to 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 16 to 26 ft: 24x30 |
| Bass boat | 6 to 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 16 to 26 ft: 24x30 |
| Ski or wakeboard boat | 6 to 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 16 to 26 ft: 24x30 |
| Center console | 7 to 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 16 to 26 ft: 24x30 |
| Pontoon boat | 8 to 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 16 to 26 ft: 24x30 |
| Cabin cruiser | 9 to 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 26 to 40 ft: 30x40 |
Boat heights come from a storage-marketplace table, last modified 2025-01-30, and not from boat makers. Your boat can sit outside them.
Boat Size Finder
Pick a boat type or enter your own boat. The finder returns the minimum leg at each margin in print, the side room in 12 ft and 14 ft widths, the hitch-to-motor length, the depth with the buffer and the first listed footprint that clears all three. It starts on a pontoon so a result shows before you type.
How tall should a boat carport be?
A boat carport leg must clear the boat on its trailer plus a margin, so a pontoon at 10 ft and a 2 ft margin needs a 12 ft leg. The leg is the post height, and the margin is the space above the boat. Measure to the highest point, including a bimini, T-top or radar.
Four margins are in print, and none was written for a boat carport: one is for bridge clearance while towing and three are for RVs.
| Margin | Added to the boat height | Where it is printed | Leg for a 10 ft pontoon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tight | 0.5 ft | Engineered Metal Buildings wrote 6 to 12 in for RVs | 10.5 ft |
| Middle | 1 ft | Pro Metal Buildings wrote 1 to 2 ft above the roof for RVs | 11 ft |
| Wide | 2 ft | Neighbor wrote at least 2 to 2.5 ft for bridge clearance while towing a boat; American Steel Carports wrote 2 to 3 ft for RVs | 12 ft |
| Widest | 3 ft | American Steel Carports wrote 2 to 3 ft for RVs | 13 ft |
Neighbor also puts a 22 to 25 ft boat at 10 to 13 ft tall and a 30 ft boat with radar at up to 14 ft, which needs a 16 ft leg at a 2 ft margin.
| Leg height (ft) | Tallest boat at a 1 ft margin | Tallest boat at a 2 ft margin | Tallest boat at a 3 ft margin | Boat types that start to clear at a 2 ft margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 8 ft | 7 ft | 6 ft | Jon boat, Inflatable boat, Bass boat |
| 10 | 9 ft | 8 ft | 7 ft | Bowrider, Ski or wakeboard boat |
| 11 | 10 ft | 9 ft | 8 ft | Center console |
| 12 | 11 ft | 10 ft | 9 ft | Pontoon boat |
| 13 | 12 ft | 11 ft | 10 ft | No new type |
| 14 | 13 ft | 12 ft | 11 ft | Cabin cruiser |
| 16 | 15 ft | 14 ft | 13 ft | No new type (the tallest type in Table 1 is 12 ft) |
How wide should a boat carport be?
A 12 ft wide boat carport leaves 21 in on each side of a 102 in trailer, and a 14 ft width leaves 33 in. Side room is the width in inches, minus the trailer width, halved. The road width figure is 102 in, and two Load Rite trailers read are 98 in and 101 in wide.
| Carport width (ft) | Each side, 98 in trailer | Each side, 101 in trailer | Each side, 102 in trailer | Two 102 in trailers side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 11 in | 9.5 in | 9 in | Does not fit (84 in short) |
| 12 | 23 in | 21.5 in | 21 in | Does not fit (60 in short) |
| 14 | 35 in | 33.5 in | 33 in | Does not fit (36 in short) |
| 18 | 59 in | 57.5 in | 57 in | 12 in left in total |
| 24 | 95 in | 93.5 in | 93 in | 84 in left in total |
| 30 | 131 in | 129.5 in | 129 in | 156 in left in total |
Two 102 in trailers side by side leave 12 in in total at 18 ft and 84 in at 24 ft.
How long should a boat carport be?
A boat carport needs depth for hitch to motor plus a 3 to 5 ft buffer, so a 22 ft boat needs 29 to 33 ft. Hitch to motor runs from the trailer hitch to the back of the motor. Eagle Carports wrote the buffer for RVs, and a Charleston Fishing Forum poster gave the add-ons in Table 5.
| Boat length (ft) | Owner add-on (ft) | Hitch to motor (ft) | Depth with a 3 to 5 ft buffer (ft) | Listed lengths (ft) that hold the low and the high figure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 3 to 5 | 19 to 21 | 22 to 26 | 25 ft and 26 ft |
| 18 | 3 to 5 | 21 to 23 | 24 to 28 | 25 ft and 30 ft |
| 20 | 4 to 6 | 24 to 26 | 27 to 31 | 30 ft and 36 ft |
| 22 | 4 to 6 | 26 to 28 | 29 to 33 | 30 ft and 36 ft |
| 24 | 4 to 6 | 28 to 30 | 31 to 35 | 36 ft |
| 26 | 6 to 8 | 32 to 34 | 35 to 39 | 36 ft and 40 ft |
Hitch-to-motor lengths are owner reports from one forum thread and the 3 to 5 ft buffer is a seller's guidance for RVs. Measure your own trailer.
A 30 ft depth holds a boat of about 19 to 23 ft. See the 20x30 carport for a boat and 30x30 carport size pages. A 26 ft boat needs 35 to 39 ft, as on the 30x40 carport size page. A towed RV carport uses the same hitch-length logic.
How do three named boats fit under a carport?
A Tracker Pro Team 195 TXW at 18 ft 7 in is 22.6 to 24.6 ft from hitch to motor and needs 25.6 to 29.6 ft of depth.
| Boat (maker figures) | Height class (Neighbor) | Hitch to motor (ft) | Depth with buffer (ft) | Leg at 1, 2 and 3 ft margins | Each side in 12 ft and 14 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tracker Pro Team 195 TXW, length overall 18 ft 7 in, beam 98 in | Bass boat, 6 to 7 ft | 22.6 to 24.6 | 25.6 to 29.6 | 8, 9 and 10 ft | 23 in and 35 in |
| Boston Whaler 230 Vantage, length overall 23 ft, beam 102 in | Center console, 7 to 9 ft | 27 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 10, 11 and 12 ft | 21 in and 33 in |
| Bennington 24 LXFB, length overall 25 ft 9 in, beam 102 in | Pontoon boat, 8 to 10 ft | 31.8 to 33.8 | 34.8 to 38.8 | 11, 12 and 13 ft | 21 in and 33 in |
Maker pages give length and beam and no height, so each boat takes its Neighbor class height. The Whaler is listed in metres and converted here.
Does a pontoon boat fit under a carport?
A pontoon boat is the tallest common case, because Neighbor lists 8 to 10 ft on a trailer and a 12 ft leg clears it at a 2 ft margin. In a 2012 thread, Bennington 22 SLX owners reported 135 in with the cover up and 9 ft 9 in with it down. At 135 in (11 ft 3 in), a 2 ft margin needs a 13.3 ft leg.
One owner gave 29 ft from hitch to motor, above the 26 to 28 ft in Table 5, which makes 32 to 34 ft of depth with the buffer.
What are boat carports made of?
Boat carports are sold with steel frames and roofs. Carport Central lists a 20-year rust-through warranty on steel frames and a 10-year warranty on its metal paneling for the 12x26 on 2026-10-06. Roof style changes the price: AA Metal Buildings says a regular roof usually costs least, and that boxed-eave and vertical roofs cost more.
What do sellers list boat carports for?
Sellers listed boat carports from $3,429 for a 14x25x10 to $8,844 for a 30x36x12 on 2026-10-06. That is $7.16 to $15.08 per sq ft.
| Seller and listing | Size and leg (ft) | Listed price | Per sq ft | Multiple of 200 sq ft | What the listing states |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carport Central12x26 metal boat carport (12x25x10), vertical roof | 12x26x10 | $4,704 | $15.08 | 1.6 | Delivery included, installation included at no extra cost, listing says "Built to Local Code" |
| Carport Central30x36 vertical roof metal boat carport | 30x36x12 | $7,730 | $7.16 | 5.4 | Starting price; page states rent-to-own and financing |
| Dayton BarnsBob's Boat Storage | 14x25x10 | $3,429 | $9.80 | 1.8 | Listed on the Illinois boat carport page |
| Dayton BarnsOl' Reliable | 18x35x12 | $6,891 | $10.94 | 3.2 | Listed on the Illinois boat carport page |
| AA Metal Buildings30x36x12 vertical roof carport | 30x36x12 | $8,844 | $8.19 | 5.4 | Free delivery and installation, 14 gauge frame, 29 gauge panels, 20-year roofing warranty |
Prices are listed by each seller on the date shown and change often. A listed price is not a quote.
The five listings differ in size, roof and install terms.
Does a boat carport need a permit?
The five listed boat carport footprints are 1.6 to 5.4 times the 200 sq ft exemption line in IRC 2021 section R105.2. IRC is the International Residential Code, published by the International Code Council. Item 1 exempts one-story detached accessory structures of 200 sq ft or less. Local rules differ; see the carport permit rules.
This table gives general information from the code cited above. Confirm current requirements with your local building department before beginning construction.
Frequently asked questions
Match the leg to the boat's height on its trailer plus a margin, and the depth to hitch to motor plus a buffer. A 22 ft pontoon on a 102 in trailer needs a 12 ft leg at a 2 ft margin and 29 to 33 ft of depth. A 12 ft width leaves 21 in each side.
Add a margin to the tallest point of the boat on its trailer. Neighbor lists a bass boat at 6 to 7 ft and a pontoon at 8 to 10 ft, so a 2 ft margin gives legs of 9 and 12 ft. Measure to the highest point, including a bimini, T-top or radar.
Yes, when the leg clears the pontoon and the depth holds the trailer. Neighbor lists a pontoon at 8 to 10 ft on a trailer, and an owner reported 135 in with the cover up on a 22 ft model in 2012. A 12 ft leg clears 10 ft at a 2 ft margin.
A 102 in trailer leaves 21 in each side in a 12 ft width and 33 in in a 14 ft width. For length, owners report 3 to 8 ft from hull to hitch or motor, and the buffer adds 3 to 5 ft, so a 22 ft boat needs 29 to 33 ft.
A carport covers a boat from above and leaves the sides open, so Neighbor calls it less protection than a garage. Some listings include side panels, and the 12x26 listing read here has both sides closed. Check what each price covers.
Sellers listed boat carports from $3,429 for a 14x25x10 to $8,844 for a 30x36x12 on 2026-10-06, which is $7.16 to $15.08 per sq ft. Legs, sides, roofs and install terms differ between listings. A listed price is not a quote.
The five listed footprints are 1.6 to 5.4 times the 200 sq ft exemption line in IRC 2021 section R105.2. That line covers one-story detached accessory structures, and local rules differ. Confirm what applies with your local building department before you order.
Next steps
Measure your boat on its trailer at the highest point, the widest point and from hitch to motor. Add a margin to the height and a buffer to the length, then compare the three with each seller's leg, width and depth. Ask what the price covers, then request a quote. The CarportBay carport sizing guide gives the general method.
Have your boat's height, width and hitch-to-motor length ready, and ask each seller for its leg height.
Ready to move forward
Get Matched With Installers Near You
Tell us a bit about your project and we will connect you with vetted installers and manufacturers who serve your area. There is no cost or obligation to request information.
See the affiliate disclosure page for how referrals work.
Sources
Each size, margin and price above is quoted from the source named, on the page date or read date shown. Seller pages are cited by name and date. Codes, federal rules and maker pages link to their publisher.
- Neighbor.com, How Tall Is a Boat on a Trailer? (page dated 2025-01-30; read 2026-10-06)
- AceBoater, Boat Size Classifications by Length (read 2026-10-06)
- Engineered Metal Buildings, RV Carport Height Guide (page dated 2026-03-02; read 2026-10-06)
- Pro Metal Buildings, Measure Your RV for a Carport or Metal Cover (read 2026-10-06)
- American Steel Carports, RV Carport Height Guide (page dated 2025-06-18; read 2026-10-06)
- Eagle Carports, Carport Size Guide for RVs and Trucks (page dated 2025-04-11; read 2026-10-06)
- Charleston Fishing Forum, Thread "21 foot garage", poster demasb and others (read 2026-10-06)
- Club Bennington forum, Thread "22SLX overall height", posts from 2012 (read 2026-10-06)
- boattest.com, Tracker Pro Team 195 TXW specifications (read 2026-10-06)
- itboat.com, Boston Whaler 230 Vantage specifications (read 2026-10-06)
- J.D. Power, 2023 Bennington 24 LXFB specifications (read 2026-10-06)
- Hughes (Load Rite dealer), 2026 Load Rite P-Series pontoon trailer P-22/24T-3000T listing (read 2026-10-06)
- Hughes (Load Rite dealer), 2026 Load Rite galvanized tandem trailer 24T3600102TSVB1 listing (read 2026-10-06)
- Federal Highway Administration, Freight Management and Operations, Size Regulations report (read 2026-10-06)
- Florida Senate, Florida Statutes section 316.515, maximum width, height and length (read 2026-10-06)
- Grant County, Washington, Copy of the 2021 International Residential Code, section R105.2 (work exempt from permit) (read 2026-10-06)
- Carport Central, Metal Boat Carports (read 2026-10-06)
- Carport Central, 12x26 Metal Boat Carport (page dated 2026-09-11; read 2026-10-06)
- Carport Central, 30x36 Boat and RV Carport (read 2026-10-06)
- Dayton Barns, Metal Boat Carports in Illinois, IL (page dated 2026-10-05; read 2026-10-06)
- AA Metal Buildings, 30x36x12 Vertical Roof Carport (page dated 2026-02-09; read 2026-10-06)
- Legacy Carports, Metal Boat Shelters (read 2026-10-06)
- AA Metal Buildings, 2026 Metal Carport Cost Guide (page dated 2026-03-17; read 2026-10-06)
Last verified: