Cargo Volume Calculator
Estimate a boot or load bay in litres and cubic feet from its dimensions, with a shape factor for the space that wheel wells and curved trim steal.
Cargo volume
Boot capacity is a rough box minus the space real trim steals. Measure with the parcel shelf and seats where you’ll actually use them for the most honest figure.
A box, minus what the trim takes back
The quickest way to get a feel for a load space is to treat it as a box and multiply its length, width, and height. That works for a first pass, but it always overstates the real capacity, because no boot is a clean cuboid — the wheel arches bulge inward, the tailgate and roofline slope, and trim panels round off the corners.
The shape factor is how you claw that back: subtract a slice of the box for those intrusions and you land much closer to what you can actually pack. It won’t match a manufacturer’s block-measured litres exactly, but it’s a fair, consistent way to compare spaces and plan a custom fit-out or a set of drawers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is cargo volume estimated?
The load space is approximated as a box: interior length × width × height gives a rectangular volume. That's then multiplied by (1 − shape factor) to knock off the space taken by wheel-well intrusions and curved trim, and the result is shown in litres and cubic feet.
What is the shape factor?
It's the percentage of the plain box you subtract because a real boot is never a perfect cuboid — the wheel arches push in, the roofline and tailgate slope, and trim panels curve. A typical boot loses roughly 10–25% to these intrusions, so a shape factor in that range is a reasonable starting point.
Why don't my numbers match the manufacturer's litres?
Carmakers measure boot volume by filling the space with standard-sized blocks (the VDA method) or with liquid, and they choose whether to measure to the parcel shelf or the roof. A box-minus-shape-factor estimate is simpler and will differ — use it to compare spaces and plan a build, not to certify a spec.
Should I measure to the parcel shelf or the roof?
Measure to whatever height you'll actually load to. If you stack above the parcel shelf line, measure to the roof; if you keep loads below it, measure to the shelf. Do it with the seats in the position you'll use, since folding them changes both length and height.
How do I convert between litres and cubic feet?
One cubic metre is 1,000 litres and about 35.31 cubic feet, so one cubic foot is roughly 28.3 litres. The calculator reports both so you can compare against specs quoted in either unit.
Estimates for planning — not professional automotive or installation advice. Measure your own load space with the seats and parcel shelf where you’ll actually use them.