How Big an RV Garage Do You Need?

By Jovian Moran, Associate Broker, Infinitude Realty · Updated October 2026

For a Class A motorhome, the common rule is a door at least 14 feet tall and 12 feet wide, and a bay at least 5 feet deeper than the coach. A 45-foot coach wants about 50 feet of depth. Then measure your own rig, because the specs on paper often leave things off.

I build houses here with my husband Jose, and the garage is the first thing almost every buyer asks about. Here's what I'd check.

1. Measure the Coach's Real Height

Measure from the ground to the tallest point on the roof, with the AC units, vents, satellite dome, and anything else up there. Manufacturer spec sheets often leave out rooftop equipment, which can add 6 inches to a foot. Most Class A coaches land around 12 to 13.5 feet with everything included. That's why 14 feet is the usual minimum door height.

2. Check the Door Opening, Not the Door Size

A "14-foot door" doesn't always give you 14 feet of clearance once the tracks, opener, and header are in. Ask for the measured opening, or bring a tape. The same goes for width: a 12-foot door is the usual minimum for a motorhome, and wider makes backing in a lot easier.

3. Get the Depth Right

Take the coach's full length, including the ladder, bike rack, or anything on the back. Add at least 5 feet so you can close the door and walk around it. If you tow a car or keep a trailer behind the coach, add that too. If you want a workbench at the back wall, add more.

For boats, measure the whole trailer from the tongue to the back of the boat, and measure the height on the trailer with the tower or bimini up, or know that you'll be folding it down every time.

4. Look Up and Look at the Walls

• Ceiling height. About 16 feet lets you get on the roof and keeps the opener clear of the coach.
• Power. A 50-amp RV outlet in the bay means you can plug in and keep the fridge and batteries going.
• Cooling. A Havasu garage in July gets hot. Air conditioning or insulation and ventilation matter if you plan to work in there or store anything that doesn't like heat.
• Slide-outs. If you want to open the slides inside, the bay needs the extra width.
• The driveway. Make sure you can swing the coach in from the street without driving over the curb or the neighbor's landscaping.

5. Read the Square Footage Carefully

Garage square footage on the MLS isn't always measured the same way, and a big number can be split across several bays that are each too short for a motorhome. Ask for the dimensions of each bay. Then compare those to what you own.

Also check where you're allowed to park when the rig isn't in the garage. Many HOAs limit RV and boat parking outside, and the city has its own rules. Read the CC&Rs and check with the city before you count on a side yard.

What We've Built in Havasu

For a sense of what's out there, here's what's on our own listings right now. Jose and I own each of these, directly or through our companies, so each one is marked Owner/Broker or Owner/Agent.

• 6269 Avienda De Las Colinas: the biggest garage of any home we've built in Ladera South. 4,480 sq ft, climate controlled, room for about 18 vehicles before lifts. The double motorhome bay is 34 feet wide and 74 feet deep with 14-foot doors, drive-through, plus a 2-car bay 71 feet deep, a double car lift, and a full bath in the garage. Owner/Broker.
• 6873 Avienda De Los Foothills: a 25 x 83 foot double-wide motorhome bay inside 2,888 sq ft of garage. Up to $35,000 in buyer incentives. Owner/Agent.
• 6295 Avienda De Las Colinas: 3,727 sq ft of air-conditioned garage, with two motorhome bays about 80 and 86 feet deep behind 14-foot-plus doors. Up to $50,000 in buyer incentives. Owner/Agent.
• 2991 Plaza Enclave: a lot sold with approved plans that include a 76-foot RV garage and 5,083 sq ft of garage in all. Owner/Agent.

Buyer incentives are a credit and coverage package, not a price reduction, and terms are finalized in writing at contract.

Common Questions

Tell Me What You Need to Park

Send me the length and height of your coach, boat, and toys, and I'll tell you which houses on the market will hold them, measured bay by bay.

General information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm anything that matters with the city, the HOA, or a licensed professional before you rely on it.