What are the dimensions of roadside parallel parking spaces?

[LeReid]

According to national regulations, the dimensions of roadside parallel parking spaces are as follows: large vehicle parking spaces are 4 meters wide and 7 to 10 meters long, depending on the vehicle type. Small vehicle parking spaces are 2.2 to 2.5 meters wide and 5 meters long. The adjacent road should be 5 meters wide for single-sided small vehicle parking, 6 meters for double-sided, and 8 meters for large vehicles. Below is an introduction to parking space markings: 1. Introduction: Parking spaces are composed of 0.15-meter-wide markings, usually in white. Yellow may be used for ground markings, and the vehicle orientation within the space is often indicated with white road marking paint. Standard parking spaces measure 5.3m x 2.4m, with adjustments allowed based on actual conditions as long as parking is not affected. Each space is numbered to prevent incorrect parking and assist drivers in locating their vehicles. 2. White Markings: White is commonly used in parking lot markings due to its high visibility under strong outdoor light, creating a unified appearance. Some underground garages even use white for no-parking grid lines, such as the markings in the underground parking lot at Jade Park in Beiqijia, Changping, by Jingkai Tengda. Additionally, white markings can indicate that the parking space is a paid parking spot.

[StGiselle]

I work in traffic planning and often participate in roadside parking space design. The standard length for parallel parking spaces is generally designed between 5 to 6 meters, mainly considering that most family cars today are under 4.8 meters long, leaving some extra space for adjustments. The width requirements are more flexible, usually around 1.5 to 2 meters, depending on actual road conditions. For example, in narrow urban roads, the width may be compressed to 1.5 meters, while in wider new districts, it can be up to 2 meters. Don’t underestimate these size standards—if the space is too short, the car’s rear end may stick out into the lane and risk being scratched, and if it’s too narrow, opening the car door can be difficult. A reminder to everyone: if you find the door won’t open after parking, don’t force it—the paint on the car in the opposite parking space isn’t cheap.

[SanConnor]

Just got my driver's license, let's chat! The driving school taught us parallel parking in a generous 6.8-meter-long space, but where can you find such luxury on actual roads? After months of driving around the city, I've found most real parking spaces are about 5 meters long and 1.6 meters wide. Once, I nearly had an accident parking my friend's 4.9-meter-old Accord in a marked 5-meter space—the front bumper was just a fist's distance from the car ahead, and the side mirror had barely two fingers' clearance from a tree. My advice for beginners: choose spaces with clear markings. Those with faded white lines or nearby trash bins are the trickiest. Here's a pro tip: align your left mirror with the taillight of the car in front when reversing, and you'll usually nail it in one go.

[SiennaMarie]

Comparing domestic and international data is quite interesting. The average length of roadside parking spaces in New York is 5.5 meters, while Tokyo's are shockingly narrow at just 4.8 meters. In China, we actually follow the "Urban Road On-Street Parking Space Setting Standards," which clearly require perpendicular parking spaces to be at least 6 meters long and 2.5 meters wide, though parallel parking standards are more flexible. After measuring over twenty parking spaces in urban areas, I found those near schools are particularly short, around 4.8 meters, likely to discourage parents from parking for too long. In contrast, spaces near hospital entrances often meet the 6-meter standard to accommodate stretcher access. A friendly reminder: try to avoid parking under trees during rainy days, as fallen leaves can clog drainage holes and lead to water accumulation that damages wheel hubs.

[McAnna]

Do you understand the pain of driving an MPV? My family's Odyssey is 4.84 meters long, and I often encounter parking spaces that aren't deep enough. After traveling through third-tier cities, I found that most parking spaces are only 5 meters long, forcing me to poke the front of the car over the curb to fit. I recommend MPV owners master the three-point positioning method: turn the wheel fully when the left rearview mirror passes the B-pillar of the car in front, then straighten the wheel when the rear wheels hit the white line. Some places now offer extended parking spaces marked with wheelchair signs—definitely park there if you see one, as the 7-meter length is more than enough even for an Alphard. Remember to fold the mirrors if your car is over 1.9 meters wide; last time I forgot, a delivery tricycle scraped off half of mine.