Parking space sizes: how are they changing in the UK?

Parking spaces in the UK have become a hot topic amongst drivers, as modern vehicles continue to increase in size.

They have now grown to a point where many vehicles are now too large to fit in standard parking spaces.

From SUVs, to larger family vehicles, today’s models take up more room than their predecessors – creating challenges to park both on the street and in car parks.

Parking spaces are not one size fits all – with different dimensions for long stay, short stay, disabled and parent/child parking.

Whether you are navigating a multi-storey, or planning a trip, this article provides you with the practical know how guide.

Parking space dimensions in the UK

The typical car parking space measures around 2.4 metres wide and 4.8 metres long, however, these dimensions were first introduced around 50 years ago – when vehicle sizes were considerably smaller.

Since then, there has also been a rise in the use of larger vehicles, such as SUVs, estate cars, vans, and even traditionally smaller models are now larger than previous editions.

Parking bay sizes can also vary depending on their purpose and where they are located.

For example, long stay spaces are slightly wider, while short stay can be narrower. This is to allow more space for carrying more items or people – or to create more space for quick drop offs.

Disabled and parent/child parking spaces are wider and longer to accommodate wheelchair and pushchair access. They are also located closer to the front door of shops or certain destinations,

These are the recommended dimensions, set out by the Institution of Structural Engineers and Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation:

Parallel car parking space

When it comes to on-street parking, the rules differ slightly from other parking spaces in the UK.

According to the British Parking Association, the minimum width for a parallel parking bay is 1.8 metres.

Historically, this was sufficient, but for many cars today it doesn’t work on UK roads.

This is why many drivers now fold in their wing mirrors, in order to avoid any scratches or damage to the vehicles.

Regarding the length of the bay, there is no set limits – instead the responsibility falls on local councils.

• Parking on the pavement – is it illegal?
• How to appeal a Parking Charge Notice (PCN)
• Parking guide – where can you park in the UK?

Are new vehicles too wide for on-street parking?

Research by motoring campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) has found that new cars across Europe, on average, are getting 1 cm wider every two years.

The data states that the trend will continue due to the rising sales of SUVs – both in the UK and across the continent.

In fact, around half of new cars sold are already too wide for the minimum on-street parking space in many countries, including the UK.

T&E’s research into new vehicles found that the average width of new cars expanded to 180.3 cm in the first half of 2023, up from 177.8 cm in 2018.

Among the top 100 new cars sold in the EU in 2023, 52% of them were too wide for the minimum specified on-street parking space (180 cm) in major cities, including London, Paris and Rome.

Also, off-street parking is a growing problem for even the average new car (180 cm wide), while large luxury SUVs no longer fit in many circumstances. Measuring around 200 cm wide, large luxury SUVs leave space for drivers and passengers to get in and out of vehicles in typical off-street spaces – as they measure an average of around 240 cm.

When comparing to previous data from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), the results suggest the same trend has happened consistently over the two decades up to 2020.As a result, T&E stated that unless width limit for cars are introduced soon, and cities impose higher parking charges for larger vehicles, then it could result in safety issues.