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Quick Picks
- Mid-height box: Yakima SkyBox NX 16, 16 in tall with 16 cu ft of space. See the height table below for lower and taller options.
- For taking the box off between trips: RAD Sportz Cargo Box Hoist, which lifts the box to the garage ceiling.
A cargo box that fits your Subaru’s roof can still hit your garage. Whether it clears comes down to four numbers: your Subaru’s height, how high your crossbars sit, the box’s height, and the lowest point of your garage opening. This guide gives you the real numbers for the first and third, from Subaru’s and the box makers’ specs, and shows you how to measure the other two.
Step 1: Your Subaru’s Height
These are Subaru’s official stock heights, measured to the top of the roof rails.
| Model and years | Trim | Height |
| Crosstrek 2018-2023 | Trims with roof rails | 63.6 in |
| Crosstrek 2024-2026 | Premium, Sport, Limited | 63.0 in |
| Crosstrek 2024-2026 | Wilderness | 63.6 in |
| Forester 2019-2026 | Trims with roof rails | 68.1 in |
| Forester 2022-2025 | Wilderness | 68.9 in |
| Forester 2026 | Wilderness | 69.3 in |
| Outback 2018-2025 | Most trims | 66.1 in |
| Outback 2022-2025 | Wilderness | 66.9 in |
| Outback 2026 | Most trims | 67.5 in |
| Outback 2026 | Wilderness | 68.3 in |
Bigger tires or a lift add to these numbers, so measure your car if it isn’t stock.
Step 2: Measure to the Top of Your Crossbars
Crossbars add height above the rails, and how much depends on your feet and bars. Rather than guess, install the bars and measure from the ground to the top of the bars. That one measurement replaces two numbers you’d otherwise have to estimate.
Step 3: Add the Box Height
Here are exterior heights for common boxes, from the manufacturers’ specs, lowest to tallest.
| Cargo box | Exterior height | Capacity |
| Thule Vector Alpine | 12.5 in | 13 cu ft |
| Thule Motion 3 XL Low | 14 in | 14 cu ft |
| Yakima SkyBox 16 Carbonite (2014-2023) | 15 in | 16 cu ft |
| Yakima SkyBox NX 16 | 16 in | 16 cu ft |
| Thule Motion 3 XXL Low | 15.2 in | 18 cu ft |
| Thule Motion 3 L | 16.5 in | 16 cu ft |
| Thule Motion 3 XL | 17 in | 18 cu ft |
| Thule Motion XT M | 18.1 in (46 cm) | 14 cu ft (400 L) |
| Thule Motion 3 XXL | 18.1 in | 21 cu ft |
Adding the box’s full exterior height to your bar-top measurement gives a slightly safe, high number, because most boxes sit a little down around the bars. Thule lists the Motion 3 XL Low as 14 in tall but only 12 in above the crossbar.
Step 4: Compare It to Your Garage’s Lowest Point
Measure the lowest point you have to pass under, not the door’s listed size. That’s often the bottom edge of the door itself when open, the opener rail, a light, or a storage rack. Then leave a margin of a couple of inches for driveway slopes, suspension bounce, and measuring error.
A worked example
Take a 2026 Forester at 68.1 in. Say your crossbars top out about 3 in above the rails, at 71 in (measure yours). Add a Thule Motion 3 XL at 17 in, and you’re at about 88 in. Even a Thule Vector Alpine at 12.5 in puts you around 83.5 in.
Most residential garage doors are 7 ft (84 in) tall. So with a typical door, a Forester or Outback with bars and nearly any box lands right at the limit or over it. A Crosstrek at 63 in, with a low box, is the model most likely to clear a 7 ft door. On an 8 ft door, all three usually clear with most boxes, but measure first.
What Counts as a Slim Box
- Low (14 in or less): Vector Alpine, Motion 3 XL Low. The best chance of clearing a tight garage, but they take soft bags and duffels better than bins or coolers.
- Mid (15 to 16.5 in): SkyBox 16 Carbonite, SkyBox NX 16, Motion 3 XXL Low, Motion 3 L. A balance of space and height.
- Tall (17 in and up): Motion 3 XL, Motion XT M, Motion 3 XXL. Most room for bulky gear, and the most likely to hit a garage.
Capacity and height aren’t the same thing. The Motion 3 XXL Low holds 18 cu ft but is shorter than the 16 cu ft Motion 3 L, because it’s longer and flatter. On a longer roof like the Outback’s, a long, low box is often the best way to get space without height.
Check the Hatch Inside the Garage Too
Once you’re parked inside, open the rear hatch all the way. The top of the hatch rises as it opens and can hit the opener rail or the garage door itself. Also make sure the box sits far enough forward that the hatch clears it. See How Far Forward Should a Cargo Box Sit?.
Low-Profile Crossbars
Factory Subaru crossbars sit close to the roof. If you’re adding aftermarket bars, aero bars on low feet keep the stack lower and quieter: Thule WingBar Evo, Yakima JetStream, or Rhino-Rack Vortex. See OEM vs Aftermarket Crossbars for when an upgrade is worth it.
If the Box Has to Come Off Between Trips
Plenty of owners with a 7 ft garage door simply take the box off between trips. Most boxes weigh roughly 40 to 55 lbs, so it’s manageable, but awkward alone. A ceiling hoist like the RAD Sportz Cargo Box Hoist lifts the box up and out of the way, and a hitch step or a folding step stool makes reaching the roof easier, especially on a Forester.
Common Mistakes
- Going by the door’s listed size. The opener rail, lights, or the door edge are often lower.
- Forgetting the crossbars. They add height before the box goes on.
- Assuming bigger capacity means taller. Long, low boxes can hold more and still sit lower.
- Measuring on level ground only. A sloped driveway can tip the front of the car up as you pull in.
- Using a spec sheet on a lifted car. Tires and lifts change the real height.
FAQs
Will a cargo box fit in my garage with a Subaru?
On a standard 7 ft (84 in) door, a Crosstrek with a low box often clears. A Forester or Outback with crossbars and a box usually lands right around 84 in or over it. Measure your car with the bars on, add the box height, and compare it to your garage’s lowest point.
How tall is a Subaru Outback with a cargo box?
Most 2018-2025 Outbacks are 66.1 in to the top of the rails. Add your crossbars (measure them) and a 14 to 18 in box, and you are typically in the 83 to 88 in range.
What is the lowest-profile cargo box?
Of the boxes listed here, the Thule Vector Alpine at 12.5 in and the Thule Motion 3 XL Low at 14 in are the lowest.
Is the Thule Motion XT M a low-profile box?
No. At 18.1 in (46 cm) tall, it is one of the taller boxes.
How much clearance should I leave?
At least a couple of inches beyond your measured height, for slopes, suspension movement, and measuring error.
Final Thoughts
Garage clearance is simple math once you have real numbers: your Subaru’s height, your measured bar height, the box height, and your garage’s lowest point. With a 7 ft door, plan on a low box, a Crosstrek, or taking the box off between trips. With an 8 ft door, you have far more choice.
Sources: Subaru trim comparison specifications (2018-2026) for vehicle heights; Thule and Yakima product specifications for box dimensions.
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