What is the size of a roadside parallel parking space?
2 Answers
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 model. 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: Introduction: Parking spaces are composed of markings 0.15 meters wide, mostly in white. Yellow may be used for ground parking space markings. The direction of the vehicle in the parking space is often indicated using white road marking paint. A standard parking space is 5.3m x 2.4m, and the dimensions can be adjusted appropriately based on actual conditions without affecting parking. Each parking space is marked with a space number to avoid parking in the wrong spot and to help drivers locate their vehicles. White markings: White is commonly used in parking lot marking construction. It is more visible and suitable under strong outdoor light reflection. White parking space lines create a unified appearance for the garage. Some underground garages even paint no-parking grid lines in white. For example, Jingkai Tengda marked the underground parking lot at Beiqijia Jade Park in Changping with white lines. Additionally, white has another meaning: when a parking space is marked with white lines, it indicates that the space is a paid parking spot.
I've been driving for over ten years, and the size of roadside parallel parking spaces is quite important. In cities, a standard parking space is typically 6 to 7 meters long, which is equivalent to the length of a mid-size sedan like the Toyota Camry (4.8 meters) plus some front and rear clearance. The width is usually 2 to 2.5 meters, allowing enough room to open doors without hitting adjacent cars or pedestrians. I remember when I first started driving, parking in crowded urban areas with spaces shorter than 5 meters was a nightmare—it was so easy to scratch the bumper. Regulations vary by city; older residential areas might only have spaces just over 5 meters, which is quite risky, while newly developed zones tend to have larger dimensions, making parking much easier. My advice is to always estimate the space size when parking—I prefer spots around 7 meters long and 2 meters wide for safety margins. Vehicle size matters too: compact cars like the Volkswagen Polo need less space, while SUVs like the Jeep Grand Cherokee require more room.
