Caravan dimensions: width, height and length
A caravan can be up to 2.5 metres wide and 4.3 metres high, and the car and van together up to 19 metres long.
The width includes the awning and the height includes the air conditioner.
Published . 7 min read • Buying Guide
A caravan can be up to 2.5 metres wide and 4.3 metres high, and the car and van together up to 19 metres long.
The width includes the awning and the height includes the air conditioner. Most full-size vans sit at or near the width limit, so length is the number that varies.
- Maximum width - 2.5 metres (including the awning and mudguards, excluding mirrors)
- Maximum height - 4.3 metres (to the highest point, air conditioner included)
- Maximum length - 19 metres, car and van together (no single cap on the van alone)
The legal limits
The national design rules, ADR 43/04, set the build limits. Each state's light vehicle rules apply the same figures on the road.
| Measure | Limit | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 2.5 m | The body at its widest, awning and mudguards included. Mirrors and lights are excluded. |
| Height | 4.3 m | Road surface to the highest point, air conditioner included. |
| Car and van together | 19 m | The whole combination, loaded. |
| Drawbar | 8.5 m | Coupling to the axle group. |
| Rear overhang | 3.7 m | Behind the axle group. |
No rule caps the van alone at one length. The Commonwealth's trailer guidance, VSB1, works the drawbar and overhang limits through to a practical maximum of 12.2 metres for a conventional caravan. Nothing on a dealer's lot comes close to it, so in practice the 19 metre combination and your own driveway decide.
What makers actually build
Across the checked ranges in our catalogue, full-size vans cluster at the width limit. Length is where vans genuinely differ, which is why it leads most model names.
- Width runs from 1.74 m on small campers to 2.74 m on full-size vans, and the top of that range is the legal limit itself.
- Travel length runs from 3.7 m to 10.2 m including the drawbar.
- Travel height runs from 1.35 m on campers and pop-tops to 3.35 m on tall off-road vans.
Every checked range's own figures are on its page.Browse the catalogue and open any van to see them.
How a caravan is measured
Two lengths matter, and mixing them up is the classic driveway mistake. Body length is the box you live in, without the drawbar. Overall length adds the drawbar and rear bumper, and that is the length that has to fit where you park it.
Model names usually quote body length in feet. A 19-6 has roughly a 19 foot 6 inch body, which is about 5.9 metres before the drawbar, and the van's overall length can run a metre or more past that.
Width is measured across the widest point of the body, and the legal 2.5 metres converts to about 8 feet 2 inches. Measuring your own space, allow for opening the door and walking around the van, since a spot the van barely fits is a spot you cannot use it in.
Height is the one to watch
Width and length announce themselves the first time you tow. Height catches people later, at a carport, a service station awning or a tree over a bush track.
Measure your own van once, loaded, from the road to the top of the air conditioner, and keep the number where you can see it from the driver's seat. The figure in the brochure is a starting point. Aerials, solar panels and roof racks all sit on top of it.
Planning a rig from scratch? The tow calculator checks the weights side of the same homework.
Caravan dimension questions, answered
How wide is a caravan in Australia?
The legal maximum is 2.5 metres, and most full-size touring vans are built at or very near it. Pop-tops, campers and smaller vans run narrower, down to about 1.8 metres.
What is the average length of a caravan?
There is no one average worth planning around, because caravans run from small pods under 5 metres of body to family vans over 8 metres. Length is the dimension that actually varies between vans, so compare the specific models on your list rather than a category average.
How high is a caravan?
The legal maximum is 4.3 metres, but very few caravans go near it. Most touring vans travel at about 2.7 to 3.1 metres once the air conditioner is on the roof, and pop-tops travel lower again.
How is a caravan measured?
Two lengths matter. Body length is the box you live in, measured without the drawbar, and it is usually the number in the model name. Overall length adds the drawbar and rear bumper, and it is the number that has to fit in your driveway or storage spot. Width is measured across the widest point of the body, awning included. Height is measured from the road to the highest point, air conditioner included.
What is the standard caravan width in feet?
The 2.5 metre legal maximum is about 8 feet 2 inches. Australian model names usually quote body length in feet, so a 19-6 is a van with roughly a 19 foot 6 inch body, which is about 5.9 metres before the drawbar.
Do caravan dimensions include the awning and air conditioner?
Yes. The width limit includes protrusions such as a side-mounted awning, and the height limit includes a roof-mounted air conditioner. Mirrors, lights and reflectors are excluded from the width by the road rules.
Is there a maximum caravan length in Australia?
Not as a single number for the van alone. The road rules cap the car and van together at 19 metres, the drawbar at 8.5 metres and the rear overhang at 3.7 metres. The Commonwealth's trailer guidance, VSB1, works those limits through to a practical maximum of 12.2 metres for a conventional caravan, which is far longer than anything on a dealer's lot.
Where do these limits come from?
The national design rules, ADR 43/04, bind the maker when the van is built, and each state's light vehicle rules apply the same figures on the road. A caravan under 4.5 tonnes is a light trailer, so heavy vehicle rules and the NHVR do not govern it.