A rooftop cargo box is a hard, lockable shell that clamps to your crossbars. All five boxes here open from either side, and each maker caps the contents at 165 lb or 75 kg. So the real differences are size, shape and fit. Thule Motion 3 L takes the longest skis. Yakima SkyBox NX LG has a flat floor and tie-down points for luggage. Yakima RocketBox Pro 14 accepts a 24–40-inch crossbar spread. Thule Pulse 2 M is the shortest box for tight hatch clearance, and Thule Force 3 L Sport is narrow enough to leave room for other gear on the bars.
Every box here needs crossbars. Our compact SUV roof rack shortlist covers those, and the roof rack load rating guide explains how to find your vehicle’s roof limit. With no crossbars at all, a soft bag may suit you better; see our rooftop cargo bag shortlist .
All specs come from Thule and Yakima product pages and Yakima instruction sheets, checked on October 5, 2026. Nobody mounted or loaded these boxes for this page.
Chart summary
The roof box size chart puts 30 boxes from Thule, Yakima and Rhino-Rack in one sourced table. Thule’s twelve current boxes run from 11 to 21 cu ft and about 69 to 91 inches long outside; Yakima’s seven current boxes run from 12 to 22 cu ft and 74 to 91 inches long. Each row cites the maker’s page, and the chart has filters for height, inside length, volume and brand, plus a garage door check. Use it when the five boxes below are not the size you need.
Quick picks
| Pick | Best for |
|---|---|
| Thule Motion 3 L | long skis and big family loads |
| Yakima SkyBox NX LG | bulky luggage, with a flat floor and interior tie-down points |
| Yakima RocketBox Pro 14 | crossbars set far apart |
| Thule Pulse 2 M | smaller cars and tight hatch clearance |
| Thule Force 3 L Sport | leaving room beside the box for other gear |
Compare the specs
| Pick | Volume | Max load (maker) | External L x W x H | Max ski length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thule Motion 3 L | 16 cu ft | 165 lb | 76.5 x 34.2 x 16.5 in | 180 cm |
| Yakima SkyBox NX LG | 16 cu ft | 165 lb (75 kg) per instructions | 75.5 x 35 x 16 in | 175 cm |
| Yakima RocketBox Pro 14 | 14 cu ft | 75 kg per instructions | 74 x 33 x 16 in | 170 cm |
| Thule Pulse 2 M | 14 cu ft | 165 lb | 68.9 x 32.1 x 16.6 in | 155 cm |
| Thule Force 3 L Sport | 11 cu ft | 165 lb | 75.2 x 24.7 x 16.7 in | 175 cm |
1. Thule Motion 3 L
Best for: long skis and big family loads
Motion 3 L holds 16 cu ft with a 165 lb load capacity. Thule lists skis up to 180 cm, the longest of the five boxes here, and puts its capacity at 5-7 pairs of skis or 3-5 snowboards. The box measures 76.5 x 34.2 x 16.5 in outside and weighs 43.6 lb.
It mounts with Thule’s PowerClick system, whose built-in torque indicator clicks when the box is properly mounted. The SlideLock system keeps locking and opening as separate functions, locks the lid automatically and shows when the box is closed securely. Thule says the box sits forward on the roof, giving full trunk access with minimal risk of contact. For pickups, Thule lists it as fitting its TracRac truck racks with the Thule T-track adapter 697-6.
The trade-off: its front clearance figure, more than 51 5/16 inches from the front crossbar to the hatch, is the largest of the three Thule boxes here
Before ordering, measure your front clearance and check your crossbars in Thule’s fit guide
2. Yakima SkyBox NX LG
Best for: bulky luggage, with a flat floor and interior tie-down points
SkyBox NX LG also holds 16 cubic feet. Yakima says its unobstructed, flattened floor gives market-leading usable space inside, and the box has integrated interior tie-down points. It fits skis and snowboards up to 175 cm. Outside, it measures 75.5 x 35 x 16 in, and at 47 lb it is the heaviest box here.
Yakima says the universal hardware fits all Yakima StreamLine crossbars and factory or aerodynamic crossbars, within a 24- to 36-inch crossbar spread. A removable torque-limiting knob sets the clamp. The full metal handle locks gear inside the box and the box to the vehicle, and SKS locks are included. Yakima’s instruction sheet caps the contents at 165 lb (75 kg) unless otherwise noted. The box is made in the USA and carries a limited lifetime warranty.
The trade-off: its 36-inch maximum crossbar spread is shorter than the RocketBox Pro 14’s, and its 47 lb takes the biggest bite of your roof allowance
Before ordering, measure your crossbar spread center to center and look up your bars in Yakima’s fit guide
3. Yakima RocketBox Pro 14
Best for: crossbars set far apart
RocketBox Pro 14 holds 14 cubic feet and accepts crossbars spaced 24 to 40 inches apart. Yakima says it needs no assembly, installs and removes without tools, and takes about 10 minutes to install. Push-button security holds the lid to the base, SKS locks are included, and the box opens from either side. It fits skis and snowboards up to 170 cm, and it measures 74 x 33 x 16 in.
Yakima’s instruction sheet lists a 75 kg maximum load. Yakima’s current product page gives 40 lb for the box; its linked instructions give 38 lb. Confirm the exact version and installed weight before finalizing the roof calculation.
The trade-off: without one consistent box weight from Yakima, you will need to weigh it or ask Yakima before you add up your roof load
Before ordering, measure your crossbar spread and look up your vehicle in Yakima’s fit guide
4. Thule Pulse 2 M
Best for: smaller cars and tight hatch clearance
Pulse 2 M is the shortest box here, at 68.9 x 32.1 x 16.6 in. It also has the smallest front clearance figure of the Thule boxes: more than 44 13/16 inches from the front crossbar to the point where the roof meets the hatch. It holds 14 cu ft with a 165 lb load capacity, and Thule lists its empty weight at 31 lb.
Thule describes Pulse 2 as a simple, durable roof box for commuting, day trips and weekend escapes. It uses the same PowerClick mount with a torque indicator, opens from either side, and has a central locking system.
The trade-off: the shorter shell limits skis to 155 cm, the shortest maximum here
Before ordering, compare your ski or board length and your front clearance with Thule’s figures
5. Thule Force 3 L Sport
Best for: leaving room beside the box for other gear
Thule describes Force 3 L Sport as a narrow-profile box that leaves room for other gear. At 24.7 inches wide, it is more than 7 inches narrower than any other box here. It holds 11 cu ft with a 165 lb load capacity, takes skis up to 175 cm (3-5 pairs or 3-4 snowboards by Thule’s count) and weighs 34 lb. Outside, it measures 75.2 x 24.7 x 16.7 in.
PowerClick mounting, SlideLock and DualSide opening work as they do on the Motion 3. Thule lists the same TracRac truck fit with the T-track adapter 697-6. Thule’s front clearance figure is more than 49 3/4 inches.
The trade-off: 11 cu ft is the smallest volume here
Before ordering, measure the bar length left beside the box for any second carrier, and check that carrier’s own fit guide
How to choose a rooftop cargo box
Start with hatch clearance. Thule warns that a rooftop cargo carrier may come into contact with your rear hatch. Thule publishes a front clearance figure for each box: the distance from your front crossbar to the point where the roof meets the hatch. If your vehicle measures more than that figure, Thule says the box will fit without contacting the hatch, and moving adjustable crossbars forward may help only within the vehicle, rack and box makers’ approved positions and spread. Yakima offers a hatch clearance download for the RocketBox Pro 14.
Then check crossbar spread. Yakima lists 24 to 36 inches for the SkyBox NX LG and 24 to 40 inches for the RocketBox Pro 14. Measure between the bars at their actual installed positions.
| Pick | Fit figure the maker publishes | Box weight |
|---|---|---|
| Thule Motion 3 L | Front clearance more than 51 5/16 in | 43.6 lb |
| Yakima SkyBox NX LG | Crossbar spread 24-36 in | 47 lb |
| Yakima RocketBox Pro 14 | Crossbar spread 24-40 in | Not published consistently |
| Thule Pulse 2 M | Front clearance more than 44 13/16 in | 31 lb |
| Thule Force 3 L Sport | Front clearance more than 49 3/4 in | 34 lb |
Do the roof-load sum. Yakima’s instructions put it simply: maximum roof load equals the weight of the roof rack, plus the weight of accessory racks, plus the weight of the load. Do not exceed the lowest of the roof rack’s rating, the accessory’s limit and your vehicle maker’s recommended maximum. The box itself counts toward that total, which is why the weight column above matters. Yakima also says to spread the load evenly, with the lowest possible center of gravity.
Match ski and board length. Maximum ski lengths run from 155 cm on the Pulse 2 M to 180 cm on the Motion 3 L.
Know your new height. Yakima’s SkyBox NX instructions tell you to record your vehicle’s total height with the box installed and not to enter a garage or other low clearance if the vehicle is taller than the posted height. Measure from the ground to the top of the mounted box and keep that number where you will see it.
Plan for checks and speed. Yakima says to check the attachment hardware and load before every journey, after a short distance following installation, and at regular intervals on longer trips. Its stated 80 mph (130 km/h) maximum is a ceiling, not a target; conditions, the vehicle and the loaded system may require a lower speed.
On a pickup, Thule lists the Motion 3 L and Force 3 L Sport for its TracRac truck racks with the T-track adapter 697-6. For any other bed rack, check both the rack and the box maker’s fit guides before ordering.
FAQ
Will a roof box hit my rear hatch?
It can. Measure from your front crossbar to the point where the roof meets the hatch, and compare that with Thule’s front clearance figure or Yakima’s hatch clearance sheet. Move adjustable bars only within approved vehicle, rack and box positions and spread.
How much weight can a rooftop cargo box hold?
Each box here lists 165 lb or 75 kg of contents. Your real limit may be lower, because the box, the crossbars and the gear together must stay within your vehicle’s roof limit and your rack’s rating.
Sources
See Also
If you want to pressure-test this shortlist, read Best Rooftop Cargo Bags for Cars With or Without a Roof Rack, Best Roof Bike Racks: Fork-Mount, Upright and No-Rack Options, and Hitch Cargo Carrier Weight Limit Calculator next.
For more context beyond the main ranking, Extang Trifecta 2.0 Tonneau Cover Review: Fit, Features, and Trade-Offs and Roof Rack Load Rating: What It Means and How to Check It add useful comparison detail.