Yakima SkyBox 16 on a Subaru: Fit Guide (Carbonite and NX 16)

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The Yakima SkyBox 16 is one of the most common mid-size cargo boxes on Subarus. There are two versions: the original SkyBox 16 Carbonite, which Yakima lists as its 2014-2023 model, and its replacement, the SkyBox NX 16 (sold as the NX LG). New listings today are the NX 16. This is a fit guide built from Yakima’s published specs, covering both versions, how each fits a Crosstrek, Forester, and Outback, and the one measurement that tells you whether your rear hatch will clear.

Quick Picks

Current version: Yakima SkyBox NX 16. 16 cu ft, the size that suits most Subarus.
More room: Yakima SkyBox NX 18 (XL). 18 cu ft, but longer, so check hatch clearance.
Largest: Yakima SkyBox NX XXL. For long trips and bulky gear; the tallest of the three.

Silver Subaru Forester with a roof cargo box, front three-quarter view — Photo: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

SkyBox 16 Carbonite vs SkyBox NX 16: Specs

Spec	SkyBox 16 Carbonite (2014-2023)	SkyBox NX 16 (LG)
Exterior (L x W x H)	81 x 36 x 15 in	75.5 x 35 x 16 in
Weight	47 lbs	48 lbs
Capacity	16 cu ft	16 cu ft
Hatch clearance needed (front crossbar to open hatch)	47 in (made after May 2020), 52 in (made before)	47 in
Max ski length	185 cm	Not listed

The NX 16 is shorter and a little taller than the Carbonite, with the same capacity. If you are buying used, the Carbonite’s build date changes how much hatch clearance it needs, so check the label or ask the seller.

The Hatch Test: Will It Clear Your Rear Hatch?

Yakima publishes a simple test. Open the rear hatch fully, then measure across the top of your crossbars from the center of the front crossbar to the edge of the open hatch. That distance has to be at least the box’s clearance number:

SkyBox NX 16, or a SkyBox 16 Carbonite made after May 2020: 47 in
SkyBox 16 Carbonite made before May 2020: 52 in
SkyBox NX 18 (XL): 50 in
SkyBox NX XXL: 55 in
SkyBox 12, 18, and 21 (Carbonite line): 57 in

If you come up short, move the front crossbar forward if your bars adjust, then slide the box forward in its clamps before tightening. If you are still short, a shorter box is the fix. For positioning in general, see How Far Forward Should a Cargo Box Sit?.

Side view of a Subaru with a roof cargo box and open rear hatch showing the hatch test distance from the front crossbar to the hatch edge

How It Fits Each Subaru

Crosstrek

The shortest roof of the three, so run the hatch test before buying. At about 48 lbs, the box uses almost a third of the 150 lb roof limit on a 2018-2023 Crosstrek, or the 165 lb limit on 2024-2026 models, before you add crossbars or gear. The upside is height: a Crosstrek at 63 to 63.6 in, plus crossbars, plus a 16 in box usually lands around 82 to 83 in, which can clear a standard 7 ft (84 in) garage door with little to spare. Measure yours.

Forester

Fit is usually straightforward, but the Forester is the tallest of the three at 68.1 in, so the box sits high. Expect to use a step to reach the center of the box, and plan on it not clearing a 7 ft garage door once the bars and box are on. See Cargo Box Garage Clearance for Subarus for the full height math.

Outback

The longest roof gives the most room to slide the box forward, so the hatch test is easiest to pass here. Most 2018-2025 Outbacks have a 150 lb roof limit, so the box takes about a third of it; the 2026 Outback is rated at 220 lbs.

Crossbars and Spread

The box clamps to factory Subaru crossbars or aftermarket aero bars. What matters is spread: the Carbonite’s product page lists 24 to 34.5 in between the bars. If your factory bars don’t let you reach the hatch-clearance number, adjustable aftermarket bars like the Thule WingBar Evo or Yakima JetStream give you more room to position the front bar. Pick the length your vehicle’s fit guide calls for; see Crossbar Length for Subaru Crosstrek, Forester, and Outback.

SkyBox Sizes Compared

Box	Exterior (L x W x H)	Weight	Capacity	Hatch clearance
SkyBox NX 16 (LG)	75.5 x 35 x 16 in	48 lbs	16 cu ft	47 in
SkyBox NX 18 (XL)	84 x 36 x 16.5 in	53 lbs	18 cu ft	50 in
SkyBox NX XXL	90.5 x 36 x 19 in	60.5 lbs	Not listed	55 in
SkyBox 12 Carbonite	92 x 24 x 16 in	41 lbs	12 cu ft	57 in
SkyBox 16 Carbonite	81 x 36 x 15 in	47 lbs	16 cu ft	47 or 52 in
SkyBox 18 Carbonite	92 x 36 x 16 in	52 lbs	18 cu ft	57 in
SkyBox 21 Carbonite	92 x 36 x 18 in	62 lbs	21 cu ft	57 in

The pattern: every step up in size adds length, and length is what decides hatch clearance. On a Crosstrek, the 16 is usually the practical ceiling. On an Outback, the 18 is often workable if you pass the hatch test.

Top-down scale drawing of seven Yakima SkyBox sizes on a Subaru roof with each box length, width and hatch test distance

Packing

Like most boxes, the SkyBox tapers toward the ends, so the most usable space is in the middle. Soft gear packs best: duffels, sleeping bags, jackets. The Carbonite’s interior is about 70 in long and 24.5 to 29 in wide between the latches, which fits skis up to 185 cm. Hard-sided luggage and coolers are harder to fit.

Installing and Removing

The clamps tighten around the crossbars from inside the box, without tools. At 47 to 48 lbs, one person can do it, but the size makes two people easier, especially on a Forester. If the box comes off between trips, plan where it lives: a wall rack or a ceiling hoist keeps it off the garage floor.

Noise and Fuel Economy

Expect some wind noise at highway speed and a drop in fuel economy while it’s on. Most of the noise usually comes from the crossbars; see How to Stop Roof Rack and Cargo Box Wind Noise on a Subaru and Do Cargo Boxes Affect MPG?.

FAQs

What is the difference between the SkyBox 16 Carbonite and the SkyBox NX 16?

The NX 16 is the newer version. It is shorter (75.5 vs 81 in) and slightly taller (16 vs 15 in), with the same 16 cu ft capacity, and needs 47 in of hatch clearance.

Does the SkyBox 16 fit a Subaru Crosstrek?

Usually, but run Yakima’s hatch test first: at least 47 in from the center of the front crossbar to the edge of the open hatch.

Will the SkyBox 16 block the rear hatch on an Outback?

Rarely. The Outback has the longest roof, which gives the most room to slide the box forward.

How much does the SkyBox 16 weigh?

47 lbs for the Carbonite and 48 lbs for the NX 16. That counts toward your roof limit, along with the crossbars and your gear.

Will a Subaru with a SkyBox 16 fit in my garage?

A Crosstrek often clears a 7 ft door with little room to spare. A Forester or Outback usually does not. Measure your car with the box on.

Final Thoughts

The SkyBox 16 is the size that suits most Subarus. If you are buying new, you’ll get the NX 16. Either way, the hatch test tells you in two minutes whether it will work on your car, and your roof limit tells you how much gear you can put in it.

Sources: Yakima SkyBox specifications and Yakima’s cargo box hatch clearance guide; Subaru trim comparison specifications for roof limits and vehicle heights.