Is 16ft wide enough for two cars?

[DelBrantley]

A 16-foot wide garage is the absolute bare minimum for parking two standard sedans side-by-side, but it results in a tight fit with limited door clearance. For comfortable, daily use with mid-size or larger vehicles, a width of 18 to 24 feet is the widely recommended standard. The feasibility of a 16-foot width hinges entirely on your specific vehicle dimensions and your tolerance for carefully maneuvering in and out.

The primary constraint is the physical width of vehicles and the necessary clearance to open doors. A typical mid-size sedan like a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord is approximately 6.0 to 6.2 feet (72 to 74 inches) wide. Two such cars parked side-by-side would occupy 12.4 feet of space, leaving only 3.6 feet (43 inches) of total width to split between them and the side walls. This often translates to less than 20 inches of space per side, which is insufficient to fully open a car door.

Industry best practice, referenced by builders and real estate professionals, suggests a minimum of 2.5 to 3 feet of clearance on each side of a vehicle for practical entry and exit. This means for two 6-foot wide cars, the ideal garage width calculation is (6ft + 3ft + 3ft) + (6ft + 3ft + 3ft) = 24 feet. A 16-foot width forces substantial compromise.

The table below illustrates how a 16-foot width accommodates different vehicle classes, highlighting the critical clearance issue:

Vehicle Type	Example Model	Approx. Width (ft)	Total Width for Two (ft)	Remaining Clearance in 16ft Garage (ft)	Practical Assessment
Compact Sedan	Honda Civic	5.8 ft	11.6 ft	4.4 ft	Tight but possible. Door opening will be restricted.
Mid-size Sedan	Toyota Camry	6.1 ft	12.2 ft	3.8 ft	Very cramped. Drivers must slide out carefully.
Full-size SUV	Ford Explorer	6.7 ft	13.4 ft	2.6 ft	Impractical for daily use. Doors will contact each other or walls.
Pickup Truck	Ford F-150	6.9 ft	13.8 ft	2.2 ft	Essentially unusable for two trucks.

Beyond vehicle dimensions, a 16-foot width offers no buffer for storage, bicycles, or walkways along the walls. It also increases the risk of door dings and scratches. Market data on new construction shows that the standard two-car garage width has shifted from 16ft to 18ft or 20ft over the past decade, reflecting consumer demand for more functional space.

If you are limited to a 16-foot width, your only viable strategy is to commit to owning exclusively compact or narrow vehicles. Even then, it’s a compromised solution. For long-term usability, resale value, and safety, opting for a wider garage is a significantly better investment. An 18-foot width provides a noticeable improvement, while 20 feet or more delivers a comfortable, functional two-car garage.

[VanEmma]

I’ve lived with a 16-foot wide garage for five years, and I can tell you it’s a constant negotiation. We have a sedan and a compact SUV.

We can park both inside, but we have a strict rule: the sedan must be parked first, and the SUV driver has to climb out through the passenger side. There’s no room for error or storage bins along the sides.

We’ve accepted more than a few minor door dings. It works because we have to make it work, but if we were building again, I’d push the budget for at least 18 feet. That extra foot on each side would feel like a luxury.

[SanStephanie]

As a contractor who’s built dozens of garages, here’s my straightforward advice: 16 feet is a design spec, not a living spec. It meets the literal definition of holding two cars but ignores how people actually use the space.

Think about getting kids in and out of car seats, carrying groceries, or having a workbench. With 16 feet, all that vanishes. You’re left with just a parking closet.

Most modern building codes allow it, but smart homeowners are asking for 20 feet. The cost increase for the foundation and framing is relatively small compared to the daily frustration you avoid. It’s one of those upgrades with immediate and lasting payoffs in usability.

[LaMarcus]

Let’s talk about your cars, not just the garage. Are they both small? Maybe a 16-foot width is okay. But cars are getting wider, especially with thicker doors for safety and insulation.

What about future cars? If you ever plan to get a larger SUV, a pickup, or an electric vehicle (which aren’t typically narrower), that 16-foot space becomes obsolete overnight.

It’s about future-proofing. A garage is a major structural investment. Building to the absolute minimum for today’s vehicles locks you into a very limited choice of cars for the next 20-30 years. Giving yourself a few extra feet of width is cheap insurance for your future automotive choices.

[McMartin]

From a real estate perspective, a 16-foot wide two-car garage is now considered a dated feature. Appraisers and buyers immediately note the cramped dimensions. While it doesn’t drastically reduce the appraised value like a missing bathroom would, it is a notable detractor that can slow a sale.

Buyers walk in, see the tight fit, and immediately start calculating the cost of a new SUV that won’t fit or the hassle of their daily routine. In contrast, an 18-foot or wider garage is marketed as a “spacious two-car garage” and is a strong selling point.

If you are building for resale, the market preference is clear. The marginal additional construction cost for a wider garage is almost always recouped, and often exceeded, by the increased market appeal and faster sale time. It signals a well-considered, functional home.