Written by Rocky Mountain Metal · Reviewed by Micah Hostetler, Owner · Based in Penrose, CO, serving Colorado.
Most RV garages need a 14-foot-tall door and 16-foot sidewalls. Measure your rig at its highest point, add at least a foot for the door, then add about two more feet above the door for its tracks and opener.
Key takeaways
- Measure the RV's real height: roof A/C, domes, antennas, ladder.
- Door height = RV height + at least 12 inches; 14 feet handles most rigs.
- Sidewall height = door height + about 2 feet for the door hardware; 16 feet is the common answer.
- Width: 14- to 16-foot doors; 16 feet if you'll open slide-outs inside.
- Depth: rig length plus tow vehicle or hitch plus walking room, often 45 to 60 feet.
How tall is my RV, really?
Manufacturer heights are approximate and rarely include everything on the roof. Measure from the ground to the tallest accessory with tires properly inflated. Typical ranges:
| RV type | Typical height |
|---|---|
| Pop-up, small travel trailer | 8 to 10 ft |
| Travel trailer | 10 to 12 ft |
| Fifth wheel | 12½ to 13½ ft |
| Class C motorhome | 10½ to 12 ft |
| Class A motorhome | 12 to 13½ ft |
How tall should the door be?
Add at least 12 inches to the measured height; 18 inches if the approach isn't level, because a nose-up or nose-down rig is effectively taller at the door. A 14-foot door covers most fifth wheels and Class As with margin; a 12-foot door works for many travel trailers and Class Cs.
Why do the walls need to be taller than the door?
The door's tracks, spring and opener mount above the opening and need about two feet. So a 14-foot door wants roughly 16-foot sidewalls, and a 12-foot door about 14 feet. Roll-up doors need less headroom than sectional doors, so confirm the door type when you plan. Sidewall height is chosen when the steel building is ordered and can't practically be raised later. See how much does a metal building cost?
How wide should the RV door and bay be?
RVs are 8 to 8½ feet wide, more with mirrors. A 12-foot door is workable, 14 feet is comfortable, and 16 feet suits slide-outs opened indoors or anyone not confident backing in. Inside, a 16- to 20-foot bay lets you open slides and walk around.
How deep should an RV bay be?
Rig length plus the hitch or tow vehicle plus 4 to 6 feet to walk around the front and back. A 35-foot fifth wheel with the truck attached needs about a 60-foot bay to pull straight in; unhitching in the drive lets you get away with less. A drive-through design with doors on both ends avoids backing a long rig altogether.
Can I combine RV storage with a garage or shop?
Yes, and it's popular. A tall RV bay runs along one side with standard-height garage or shop bays beside it, either under one tall roof or with the lower bays as a steel lean-to. A 40×60 with 16-foot sidewalls, one 14×14 RV door and two 10×10 garage doors is a common configuration. See detached garage sizes, how to lay out a workshop and RV storage buildings.
What Colorado details matter?
- Snow and wind. Tall walls catch more wind, and every building is engineered to its site's snow and wind loads. That engineering is part of the price. See snow and wind loads.
- Snow slide. Keep the RV door out of the eave drop line or use snow retention above it.
- Power. A 30- or 50-amp RV outlet in the bay for charging, and a spigot for tanks. See getting power and water to a detached building.
- Floor. Concrete under the rig, poured to the building's engineered drawings, with a slight slope to a drain if you'll wash it. See how to prepare your site.
- HOAs often regulate outbuilding height. Check before you design. See setbacks and HOAs.
How do I make sure it's tall enough?
Owners rarely regret an extra two feet of height; they regularly regret the rig that didn't fit after an upgrade. Rocky Mountain Metal sells steel-framed metal buildings only. Bring your RV's measurements, or the one you plan to buy, and we'll size the door and walls with you during the site visit, order the building from 1st Choice Metal Buildings and Carports, and oversee the project while the manufacturer's crew from Texas installs it. See our service area and request a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Will a 12-foot door fit a fifth wheel?
Usually not. Most fifth wheels are 12½ to 13½ feet with the A/C. Plan on 14.
Why do the walls need to be taller than the door?
The overhead door's tracks, spring and opener mount above the opening and need room. The wall height carries that.
Can I put a taller door in the gable end?
Sometimes a gable-end door can rise above the sidewall height, but it needs engineered framing in the end wall and limits your layout. Buying the sidewall height is usually simpler.
How wide should the RV bay be inside?
Sixteen to twenty feet if you want to open slide-outs indoors; twelve to fourteen if you'll only park.
