Yakima SkyBox NX LG
16 cu ft of space, skis or boards up to 175 cm and published hatch clearance of at least 47 inches.
Best roof cargo boxes for the way you use them
For family luggage and seasonal gear on a typical raised-crossbar setup, Thule Motion 3 XL is the place to begin. Yakima SkyBox NX XL is the better pick when long skis, a short roof or tight hatch clearance limits which shell will physically fit. The matcher below screens out the hard requirements first.
Quick picks
- The best roof box for a family of four
Thule Motion 3 XXL
The catch: Among the longest and widest boxes listed here, it calls for exact checks of hatch clearance and roof length.
See price & reviews on Amazon - The best roof box for long skis
Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
The catch: Although it is low, the shell is long and still needs plenty of hatch clearance.
See price & reviews on Amazon - The best low-profile roof box
INNO Wedge 660 Black
The catch: Ordinary suitcases will not fit with only 8.25 inches of internal height.
See price & reviews on Amazon
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roof cargo box finder
What do you need from a roof cargo box?
Tap as many as apply. The list re-sorts as you go.
Match the box to bars, hatch and longest gearEnter my measurements
Take the measurements from your actual vehicle. Before showing a fit, the tool screens volume, ski length, bar spread and front clearance.
Yakima SkyBox NX XL
18 cu ft of space, skis or boards up to 195 cm and published hatch clearance of at least 50 inches.
For Thule, measure from the center of the front crossbar to where the roof meets the hatch. Do not measure to the tip of the open hatch. This narrows the list but does not replace the maker's vehicle fit guide. Only boxes with published bar-spread and hatch-clearance figures can pass. Confirm crossbar type, load limits, mounting clearance and antenna clearance before you buy.
Tap what applies to find your match
26 models listed. Thule Motion 3 XL is shown first.
Position 1
Thule, Motion 3 XL Black Glossy
Thule Motion 3 XL
Capacity is 18 cubic feet, and gear up to 200 centimeters long fits inside.
Best fortake skis along with the seats left up, and pack for a family of four
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 18 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 200 centimeters long fits.
- The documented crossbar spread runs from 21.8125 to 36.5625 inches.
What you give up
- Many medium boxes leave the hatch more room than this one does.
- The product page at Thule gives 51 lb, while the manual prints 52.7 lb. Check the weight of the box you receive before you budget roof payload or plan how to take it off.
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Position 2
Thule, Force 3 XL
Thule Force 3 XL
This box has 18 cubic feet of space and takes gear up to 200 centimeters long.
Best forbring skis without folding down the seats, and pack for a family of four
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 18 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 200 centimeters long fits.
- Documented crossbar spread is 21.875 to 36.625 inches.
What you give up
- This version comes in black matte. If you want a glossy shell, go with Motion instead.
- Per the US fit chart, front bar to hatch must measure more than 53 1/16 inches.
Position 3
Thule, Motion 3 XXL Black Glossy
Thule Motion 3 XXL
You get 21 cubic feet of space, with room for gear up to 215 centimeters long.
Best fortransport skis with the seats left up and pack for a family of four
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 21 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 215 centimeters long fits.
- Dualside access is how it opens.
What you give up
- Among the longest and widest boxes listed here, it calls for exact checks of hatch clearance and roof length.
- With a low roof rating, the empty box alone takes up a sizable share of the load allowance.
Position 4
Thule, Force 3 L
Thule Force 3 L
It offers 16 cubic feet and fits gear up to 175 centimeters in length.
Best fortake skis along with the seats left up and suit a shorter roof
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 16 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 175 centimeters long fits.
- Dualside access is how it opens.
What you give up
- Skis from 180 to 200 cm are too long for it.
- At 16.8 inches above the crossbar, it is not built for low garages.
Position 5
Thule, Pulse 2 L
Thule Pulse 2 L
Inside you get 16 cubic feet, and the length limit for gear is 175 centimeters.
Best forcarry skis with the seats left up and stay clear of the rear hatch
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 16 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 175 centimeters long fits.
- Dualside access is how it opens.
What you give up
- Many adult skis are longer than its 175 cm ski limit.
- Its central locking is more basic than the SlideLock feedback system on the Motion.
Position 6
Yakima, SkyBox NX 16 LG
Yakima SkyBox NX LG
Volume is 16 cubic feet, and it takes gear up to 175 centimeters long.
Best forcarry skis while the seats stay up, and keep clear of the rear hatch
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 16 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 175 centimeters long fits.
- The documented crossbar spread runs from 24 to 36 inches.
What you give up
- Skis of 180 to 200 cm will not go in.
- Lifting the 47-pound shell on or off by yourself can be awkward.
Position 7
Yakima, SkyBox NX 18 XL
Yakima SkyBox NX XL
You can fit gear up to 195 centimeters long in its 18 cubic feet.
Best forkeep the seats up while carrying skis, and pack for a family of four
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 18 cubic feet.
- It accepts gear up to 195 centimeters long.
- The documented crossbar spread runs from 24 to 40 inches.
What you give up
- 200 cm Nordic skis are a little longer than its 195 cm ski limit.
- Empty, it weighs 53 pounds, so watch low-rated roofs and removing it solo.
Position 8
SportRack, Vista XL SR7018
SportRack Vista XL
It has 18 cubic feet of space and opens at the rear.
Best forfit a shorter roof and pack for a family of four
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 18 cubic feet.
- The box uses rear opening access.
- Its published exterior size is 63 x 38 x 19 inches.
What you give up
- The rear opening can be awkward on a tall SUV, and you cannot load from both sides.
- The 63-inch shell is short, so think luggage rather than long skis.
Position 9
Thule, Motion 3 XXL Low Black Glossy
Thule Motion 3 XXL Low
It holds 18 cubic feet and accepts gear as long as 215 centimeters.
Best forleave the seats up for skis and keep the rear hatch clear
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 18 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 215 centimeters long fits.
- Dualside access is how it opens.
What you give up
- Although it is low, the shell is long and still needs plenty of hatch clearance.
- With just 13 inches of interior height, tall luggage does not suit it.
Position 10
Thule, Motion 3 L Titan Glossy
Thule Motion 3 L
Its 16 cubic feet can take gear up to 180 centimeters long.
Best formove skis with the seats left up while keeping the rear hatch clear
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 16 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 180 centimeters long fits inside.
- Dualside access is how it opens.
What you give up
- Skis of 200 cm do not fit.
- For a trip with four people, 16 cubic feet leaves less slack than the XL or XXL does.
Position 11
Thule, Force 3 M
Thule Force 3 M
It holds 14 cubic feet, and the longest gear it accepts is 155 centimeters.
Best forsuit a shorter roof and stay clear of the rear hatch
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 14 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 155 centimeters long fits.
- Dualside access is how it opens.
What you give up
- Most adult skis are longer than its 155 cm limit.
- With its tall 17.4-inch profile, it adds more garage height than low-profile boxes do.
Position 12
Thule, Pulse 2 M
Thule Pulse 2 M
This box offers 14 cubic feet, and gear can be up to 155 centimeters long.
Best forfit a shorter roof and leave the rear hatch free
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 14 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 155 centimeters long fits.
- Dualside access is how it opens.
What you give up
- Ordinary adult skis longer than 155 cm will not fit.
- Fourteen cubic feet goes fast once four travelers pack their luggage.
Position 13
JEGS, 555-90098
JEGS 18 Cubic Foot Rooftop Cargo Carrier
The documented crossbar spread is 24 to 35 inches, and the box has 18 cubic feet of space.
Best forhandle a family of four's packing on a shorter roof
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 18 cubic feet.
- The documented crossbar spread runs from 24 to 35 inches.
- It opens from both sides.
What you give up
- Its wide, short shape suits luggage and camping gear, and skis are out.
- On certain vehicles you have to drill new mounting holes, strictly as the instructions permit.
Position 14
INNO, BRM660BK
INNO Wedge 660 Black
It offers 11 cubic feet and opens from both sides.
Best forcarry skis with the seats up and clear a low garage
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 11 cubic feet.
- It opens from both sides.
- Published exterior dimensions are 80 x 33 x 11 inches.
What you give up
- Ordinary suitcases will not fit with only 8.25 inches of internal height.
- Family packing calls for more room than Eleven cubic feet, which fits a specialized ski and low-profile load.
Position 15
SportRack, Horizon L SR7016
SportRack Horizon L
SportRack lists skis up to 178 centimeters long, and the box offers 16 cubic feet.
Best forkeep the seats up when carrying skis and suit a shorter roof
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 16 cubic feet.
- Skis up to 178 centimeters long are listed in the US manufacturer specification.
- It opens on the passenger side.
What you give up
- It opens only on the passenger side, which is a hassle in a garage or tight parking space.
- Skis longer than the published 178 cm allowance need a different box.
Position 16
SportRack, Horizon Alpine SR7011
SportRack Horizon Alpine
Gear up to 210 centimeters long fits in its 11 cubic feet.
Best forcarry skis with the seats up and stay under a light roof-load limit
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 11 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 210 centimeters long fits.
- It opens on the passenger side.
What you give up
- Its narrow 11-cubic-foot interior rules it out as a family luggage box.
- Loading only from the passenger side is less flexible than opening on both sides.
Position 17
INNO, BRA240BK
INNO Ridge Cargo Box
It holds 8 cubic feet and opens on the passenger side.
Best forsuit a shorter roof and stay under a light roof-load limit
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 8 cubic feet.
- It opens on the passenger side.
- Published exterior dimensions are 55.1 x 27.6 x 13.4 inches.
What you give up
- For a family's packing list, eight cubic feet is too little.
- Integrated clamps with dual-side access are handier than the passenger-side-only opening and U-bolt hardware here.
Position 18
Rhino-Rack, RMFT440
Rhino-Rack MasterFit 440L
Gear up to 180 centimeters long goes into its 15.5 cubic feet.
Best forcarry skis with the seats up and fit a shorter roof
Why it suits you
- The box holds 15.5 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 180 centimeters long fits inside.
- The documented crossbar spread runs from 24.4 to 36.6 inches.
What you give up
- At 38.6 pounds, it takes more effort to get onto the roof than a lighter box would.
- The separate RUBK-MF fitting kit is required with some heavy-duty bar systems.
Position 19
Rhino-Rack, RMFT530A
Rhino-Rack MasterFit 530L
You get 18.7 cubic feet, with space for gear up to 210.8 centimeters long.
Best forstow skis with the seats up while packing for a family of four
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 18.7 cubic feet.
- Gear up to 210.8 centimeters long fits.
- Documented crossbar spread is 21.7 to 39.4 inches.
What you give up
- With an 85-inch shell, hatch and roof length both need careful checking.
- On a roof with a light rating, its 47.4-pound empty weight cuts into the cargo allowance.
Position 20
Yakima, 8001171
DeepSpace 10 Cargo Box
Its documented crossbar spread is 32 to 46 inches, and capacity is 10 cubic feet.
Best forwork with widely spaced bars and leave space for a bike rack
Why it suits you
- Capacity is 10 cubic feet.
- Documented crossbar spread is 32 to 46 inches.
- Wide-angle opening is how you get in.
What you give up
- The 60-inch shell is too short for long skis, and ten cubic feet is a modest amount for a family.
- It cannot mount to Yakima's EXO hitch system, and it requires a 32 to 46 inch crossbar spread.
Position 21
Thule, 645650
Force 3 L Sport
Built for smaller loads that share the roof with other gear, this narrow box uses the Force 3 mounting and locking hardware.
Best forLeaving space on the crossbars for a bike carrier
Why it suits you
- Advertised volume of 11 cubic feet
- Published maximum ski length of 175 cm
- Measures 75.2 by 24.7 by 16.7 inches outside
What you give up
- Longer touring and Nordic skis exceed its 175 cm ski limit.
- With a 20.2-inch interior that is narrow, wide suitcases fit poorly.
Position 22
Thule, 645950
Force 3 XXL
The biggest Force 3 offers 21 cubic feet and a 215 cm ski allowance, at the cost of a long, heavy shell.
Best forCarrying long skis and bulky family luggage, provided the vehicle passes the fit guide
Why it suits you
- Advertised volume of 21 cubic feet
- Published maximum ski length of 215 cm
- Measures 91.4 by 35.2 by 17.9 inches outside
What you give up
- Hatch clearance and roof length both need careful checking with a 91.4-inch shell.
- Because the official installed-height field contradicts the overall dimensions, measure garage clearance directly.
Position 23
Thule, 639450 Black Glossy
Thule Motion 3 XL Low
This 14 cu ft box opens on both sides and takes skis up to 200 cm. It stands 12 inches above the crossbar by its published figure and has less internal height than the regular XL.
Best forHolding a long ski load closer to the crossbars
Why it suits you
- Maximum ski length is 200 cm, with 14 cu ft of capacity.
- Dual-side opening and PowerClick mounts.
- Product page figure: 12 inches above the crossbar.
What you give up
- Next to Motion 3 XL, the low shell loses packing height and four cubic feet.
- The product page and the manual list different internal heights, so confirm the actual cargo clearance in the manual.
Position 24
Yakima, 8007368
Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
This 12 cu ft box handles skis up to 195 cm. At 26.5 inches wide, it leaves more room beside it than the full-width SkyBox NX XL does.
Best forLong skis, with space left for another roof carrier
Why it suits you
- Maximum ski length is 195 cm, with 12 cu ft of capacity.
- Empty weight 43 lb, size 84 x 26.5 x 16 inches.
- Crossbars 24 to 40 inches apart.
What you give up
- Though overall length is the same 84 inches, it holds 12 cu ft against the 18 cu ft of the NX XL.
- At 43 lb, it is heavy enough that the manual says to get help putting it on or taking it off the rack.
Position 25
Yakima, 8007371
Yakima SkyBox NX XXL
This 22 cu ft box opens on both sides and takes skis up to 215 cm. Check its 60.5 lb shell and longer hatch-clearance requirement before you pack.
Best forLong skis and bulky family gear, on a roof that passes the load and hatch checks
Why it suits you
- Maximum ski length is 215 cm, with 22 cu ft of capacity.
- Empty weight 60.5 lb, size 90.5 x 36 x 19 inches.
- Crossbars 24 to 40 inches apart.
What you give up
- A big part of the roof-load allowance goes to the empty shell alone, at 60.5 lb.
- By Yakima's method, hatch clearance must be 55 inches, which is five inches more than the NX XL needs.
Position 26
SportRack, SR7020
SportRack Sidekick
This 8 cu ft box opens on the passenger side and weighs 19.85 lb. Its manual warns of a 50 lb minimum load for higher-speed travel, so look at that restriction before you plan a light highway load.
Best forA compact load that satisfies the manual’s weight restriction for highway use
Why it suits you
- Passenger-side opening and 8 cu ft of capacity.
- Empty weight 19.85 lb, size 54 x 25 x 15.5 inches.
- Cargo capacity is rated at 75 lb on the current product page.
What you give up
- Above 40 mph, the manual advises against traveling empty and wants at least 50 lb in the carrier for higher-speed use.
- Go by the stricter 75 lb cargo rating on the current page, and confirm the vehicle and rack limits too.
Buying advice
What to look for in a roof cargo box
These factors change which model suits you.
Start from the maker's fit guide
A box can be ruled out by roof shape, factory bars or clamp clearance, even if the basic measurements seem close enough.
Measure hatch clearance from the front bar
Take the distance from the middle of the front crossbar to where an open hatch would meet the box.
Cubic feet say nothing about shape
Equal cubic feet can still mean different gear fits, as with a short, tall box versus a long, low one.
The smallest load limit rules
The vehicle, crossbars and box each carry a load limit. Whichever published number is lowest sets the cap.
Long gear depends on interior length
A shell's outer length overstates how much room skis and boards get inside.
Opening on both sides earns its keep
On a wide vehicle, loading from the curb side, whichever it is, is easier and safer.
Guides
Narrow it down
Weigh two popular models against each other, or start from a shortlist built for one job.