The best roof boxes for cars 2024

Offering a great load of space at a not-too-extortionate price point, the Motion 3 Medium epitomises the excellent build quality and versatility of Thule roof boxes. They come in a whole range of shapes and sizes, but we reckon this one is all you'll ever need.

It can hold 400 litres and take a huge weight. That's nearly the equivalent of a full boot load on a small hatchback, so to have that capability in a roof box is very useful, and it's hardened shell adds to its sheer durability.

The Vauxhall Calibra of the roof box world, this 300-litre roof box from Thule is designed with aerodynamics as a top priority. While other roof boxes will offer more space, the XT Sport will help fuel efficiency and prevent wind noise. Thule is also renowned for quality and ergonomic designs so the hefty investment should be worth it.

For sheer capacity, 530 litres worth of storage is a huge amount to contend with. And at a touch over £400, the Nordrive Box 530 represents pretty good value for money as well as the capability.

It's also fairly aerodynamic. Albeit, it's not quite like a Thule Low or Alpine roof box, it can cut through the air pretty sufficiently while carrying a boot load of things on top of your vehicle.

For those into more compact roof boxes who don't need the extra storage, Nordrive also offer this 330 litre box. It's made from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, which according to Nordrive, is scratch-resistant thanks to the integration of acrylic methacrylate and comes with UV protection.

It represents great value for money, too. At just over £260, it sits on the lower end of the roof box spectrum, but if you only need a little bit of extra storage and are mounting it on a smaller car, you really won't need anything more.

While this roof box from Halfords may not offer the most storage, it is the best value solid plastic roof box on the market. The build quality isn't as great as the Thule or Nordrive boxes, but at the money it's offered at for the capacity, it's a tempting choice in the roof box world.

Offering an impressive 420 litres of storage and a side opening mechanism, the aerodynamically designed roof box will, compared to some others, reduce wind noise and keep your fuel bills down.

Smaller cars need roof boxes too and this Thule Force XT Sport is the best way to maximise a small space. It may only be 162 x 71 x 40cm but it manages to offer 300 litres of storage and an aerodynamic design to keep wind noise and fuel bills down.

Again coming with Thule's impeccable build quality, it can hold a great deal of items, too. Other sizes are available in the Force XT model, from small, medium, large, extra-large, and Alpine spec. It represents okay value for money as well at a touch over £400. This isn't bad, considering the stature of Thule build quality you get along with just about adequate capacity.

The big selling point with this roof box is the sheer amount it can carry, 580 litres. It's obviously designed for cars with larger roofs but is easy to use thanks to the dual side opening - which makes loading and unloading things in awkward areas much easier and never requires you to park your car accordingly.

It's also aerodynamically designed to keep wind noise down, but it isn't as aerodynamic as Alpine or Sport spec roof boxes offered by other manufacturers. However, the sheer size of it is the USP that many will be looking for in a roof box for their holidays.

Everyone usually assumes that a roof box has to be a solid plastic product, but fabric options are just as voluminous and cost a lot less. This excellent roof bag can hold 330 litres and the fabric is fully water-resistant. It also only weighs 3.6kg and can be rolled up when not in use (you'll need to remove the fibreglass poles).

For a roof box to be fitted on your car, you'll need a set of roof racks. If your car didn't have them fitted from the factory, there are loads of aftermarket options available - and you can use Amazon Garage to filter your vehicle for the best search results.