Sometimes the car boot just won’t do, especially if you’re going on a long-haul family holiday which is the kind of situation that calls for a roof box. After you’ve loaded everything from the suitcases to the snacks you might find you need even more space than the luggage compartment, and that’s before you remember to load up the bike rack.
It’s even worse for seven-seat vehicles since they’re designed to carry seven passengers (including the driver) but not seven passengers worth of luggage. You might think the solution is to place your bags on the passenger seats but there are more comfortable solutions that ensure you don’t forget anything important. Roof bags are an option, but if you’re looking for something a little more solid the roof box is the way to go.
A roof box is a simple but effective way of adding more storage to your car by unlocking as much as 580 litres of storage (which is nearly double the boot space offered by the recently demised Ford Fiesta). For the really practical and adventurous type, you can even opt for car roof tents for your travels.
The best roof boxes 2024 at a glance:
The best car roof box: Thule Motion XT Medium - buy from Amazon.
Editor's pick: Thule Motion XT Sport - buy from Amazon
Best roof box for capacity: Halfords Advanced 580L Black Roof Box - buy from Halfords
If you’re in the market for a roof box, then there are a few things to consider like dimensions, capacity, aerodynamics, and of course budget. We’ve found some of the best roof boxes currently for sale, with a variety to suit every budget and requirement.
The best roof boxes 2024
The best car roof box
The Motion 3 Medium is a versatile roof box that offers a good amount of space for a decent price. It’s likely to suit most needs and come in handy during almost any scenario. While Thule offer roof boxes in almost every shape and size, we think the Motion 3 Medium is closest thing to a roof box for everyone.
It comes with a capacity of 400 litres and can carry a huge amount of weight. It’s durable thanks to its hardened shell, and the available accessories include an interior light box, a pull strap for easy lid access, and a protective box liner.
Pros
- Excellent build quality and materials
- Loads of space at 400L
- Should be big enough for most vehicles and applications
Cons
- The Alpine variant is even more aerodynamic
- Slightly heavier than others at 17 kg
| Capacity | 400 L |
| Dimensions | 175 x 84 x 44cm |
| Weight | 17 kg |
| Capacity (weight) | 75 kg |
| Type | Medium |
Editor's pick
Just like the Motion 3 Medium the Motion 3 XXL Low comes from Thule so the build quality and durability will be reliable, and just like the Motion 3 Medium accessories include an interior light box, a pull strap for easy lid access, and a protective box liner.
The difference with the Motion 3 XXL Low is that it is designed to be as aerodynamic as possible, and despite this it offers a competitive amount of capacity – in fact it’s more than the Motion 3 Medium at 450 litres. That does come a downside however, as the Motion 3 XXL Low weighs 25 kg which is more than most other roof boxes.
Pros
- Great sturdiness and build quality, as per Thule products
- Surprisingly spacious at 450 litres, which is more than the Motion 3 Medium
- Aerodynamic design, which helps with wind noise and fuel economy
Cons
- Weighs 25 kg which is heavy for roof boxes
- Priced higher than other options
| Capacity | 450 L |
| Dimensions | 232 x 92 x 37 cm |
| Weight | 25 kg |
| Capacity (weight) | 75 kg |
| Type | XXL Low |
Best value solid roof box
www.halfords.com
If value is what you’re after, then look no further than this roof box from Halfords. It offers an impressive 420 litres of storage capacity and a side opening mechanism with a spring lid that stays open, great for loading and unloading. The build quality isn’t as great as some of the more upmarket boxes, but the Halford box offers a competitive capacity at a budget-friendly price.
It's little wonder that this particular roof box is a best-seller in Halford’s range, which all come with a three-year guarantee. Fitting is also available to take the hassle out of preparing for your next big adventure. At 14 kg the Halford box is about the sort of weight you’d expect for a roof box, thanks to the scratch resistant ABS material.
Pros
- Good value for money at just £265 for 420 L of space
- Slightly more aerodynamic design than some others of the same type
- You can opt to have it fitted as an option
Cons
- Build quality isn't as great as the Thule boxes
- 50 kg load capacity is less than others
| Capacity | 420 L |
| Dimensions | 174.5 x 82.9 x 39.7cm |
| Weight | 14 kg |
| Capacity (weight) | 50 kg |
| Type | Medium |
Best mid-range roof box
Smaller cars need roof boxes too – in fact, a smaller car is more likely to require a roof box because oftentimes the boot isn’t large enough to fit your essentials. Another great roof box from Thule, the Force XT Sport may only be 190 x 63 x 42.5 cm, but it can still accept 75 kg in the 300 litres of available capacity.
The dual opening provides easy access, and the aerodynamic design will go some way to reducing wind noise and keeping fuel bills to a minimum. The 14.7 kg weight is also pretty competitive, as is the price.
Pros
- Good enough capacity at 300 L of space
- Great build quality, as per Thule products
- The Sport is more aerodynamic than most of the other Force XT range
Cons
- Some will find 300 L too small
- Some lesser-priced options may offer better value
| Capacity | 300 L |
| Dimensions | 190 x 63 x 42.5cm |
| Weight | 14.7 kg |
| Capacity (weight) | 75 kg |
| Type | Sport |
Best roof box for load capacity
www.halfords.com
If 300, 400, or even 500 litres of capacity isn’t enough then you’ll want to go for the Halfords 580 box which comes with - you’ve guessed it – a 580 litres capacity. It’s clear that this Halfords box has been designed with bigger vehicles in mind, but it is easy to use thanks to its dual side opening which is useful for loading and unloading.
Because the main selling point of the Halfords box is its size, so you won’t find it to be as aerodynamic as some of the other roof boxes on this list. The Halfords box is conveniently priced in the market but offers much more capacity than most other roof boxes. The weight capacity is 75 kg though, like others.
Pros
- Three-year guarantee along with your purchase
- Good volume at 580 litres of storage, which is big enough for a large family
- Dual-side opening makes it easier to use
Cons
- Isn't as aerodynamic as others
- You will need a large car in order to use it properly
| Capacity | 580 L |
| Dimensions | 205.7 x 80.2 x 50cm |
| Weight | 18.6 kg |
| Capacity (weight) | 75 kg |
| Type | XL |
Best value all-rounder
The Costway box takes the best features of other boxes and puts them together into one simple solution. It comes with a 400-litre cargo capacity which can be up to 75 kg in weight. It also comes with a dual side opening of 35 cm for easy access. Alongside this it has support arms, a secure key lock, and even luggage straps.
While the Costway box weighs 19 kg the shape is somewhat aerodynamic so it should minimise the wind noise, but we wouldn’t say the wind noise is completely absent. If you’re looking for a roof box that can carry just as much as some of the upmarket boxes and offers great value, then it’s worth checking out the Costway rooftop cargo box.
Pros
- 400 litres capacity is very competitive
- Dual side opening is convenient for access
- Aerodynamic shape means a streamlined product
Cons
- Relatively unknown brand so may lack the build quality of others
- 19 kg is heavier than others that offer similar performance
| Capacity | 400 L |
| Dimensions | 157 x 76 x 39 cm |
| Weight | 14 kg |
| Capacity (weight) | 75 kg |
| Type | Medium |
Best value alternative to a roof box
While roof boxes are typically solid, an alternative solution that may suit your needs better is a roof bag. Roof bags are considerably more budget-friendly, and they offer as much capacity as some roof boxes. Another advantage of a roof bag is that they can be folded and stored away when not in use.
The HandiHoldall has a 330-litre capacity and is fully water resistant despite it being made of fabric, so you wouldn’t need to worry if suddenly the rain makes an appearance. Another advantage of roof bags is that they are much lighter than roof boxes – this particular one only weighs 3.9 kg. Weight capacity is 50 kg which is on par with some roof boxes.
Pros
- Great value for money at under £100 compared to any roof box
- Easier to store when not in use, thanks to fabric materials
- It can still hold up to 330 litres of things
Cons
- Creates quite a bit of wind noise
- More vulnerable to thieves so never leave items in overnight
| Capacity | 330 L |
| Dimensions | 110 x 75 x 40 cm |
| Weight | 3.9 kg |
| Capacity (weight) | 50 kg |
| Type | Roof bag |
How to find the correct roof racks for your vehicle
It’s important to consider buying a set of roof racks if you’re wanting to use a roof box. Some cars have roof racks fitted from the factory, but for all other vehicles you’ll need to find an aftermarket solution. Amazon Garage is a useful tool to filter products based on your vehicle in order to get roof racks that are suitable to you.
Pros
- Easy to filter your vehicle(s) to find the right products
- Lots of cars to choose from, varying from usual to interesting
- You can change cars in the search results
Cons
- You need Prime for free delivery
- Will need to add details of your vehicle
FAQs and things to remember with roof boxes
Do roof boxes affect fuel economy?
Fuel economy can be affected by having a bulky roof box affecting the aerodynamics of your car. And with a good bike rack attached, those aerodynamics can be affected further. At the end of the day, you can't beat the laws of physics and because your car will be experiencing more drag, you'll use more fuel.
How much MPG do I lose by carrying a roof box?
Depending on the weight and size, you could lose anywhere between 5 and 10% of your usual MPG figures. Thule can dial that back because the Alpine versions of their roof boxes are designed with aerodynamics in mind. The case being a skiing holiday for example, which involves a lot of French motorway miles.
Do roof boxes generate wind noise?
Of course. Roof boxes can generate a lot of it at speed and aerodynamics come into play again. If your roof box is slender, it will be able to glide through the air without much resistance. Perhaps the most important point is that if your car doesn't have a set of roof racks, you won't be able to carry one at all. There are plenty of cars which have them from factory, but aftermarket roof racks are plentiful on the market.
**Naveed Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He enjoys anything with four wheels, and is always planning his next road trip.**
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