Yakima Cargo Boxes Compared (2026)
November 7, 2026 · 18 min read
You went looking for the Yakima SkyBox 18 and found three boxes with almost the same name, none of which tells you whether it clears your tailgate. Yakima sells four families in a dozen sizes and renamed half of them. This guide puts the lineup in one table, then names the five worth buying and which roof each fits.
Updated — first published
Quick answer
The Yakima SkyBox 18 is now sold as the SkyBox NX XL: 18 cubic feet, 84 inches long, and a crossbar spread of 24 to 40 inches. It is 8 inches shorter than the SkyBox 18 Carbonite it replaces, but it takes skis only to 195 cm instead of 215 cm.
Yakima SkyBox NX XL
Eighteen cubic feet in an 84-inch shell, with the widest spread range in the NX line.
Yakima RocketBox Pro 12
Only 58 inches long, so it clears a hatchback, but it needs bars 32 inches apart or closer.
Yakima GrandTour 18
The gloss-finish 18, for a driver who wants the box to match the paint.
Who this guide is for
This is for a driver who has crossbars on the roof, or is about to fit them, and wants one Yakima box that fits both the car and the gear. You need no rack knowledge, only two measurements off your own car, and the guide says where to take them.
This is for you if
- You are packing four people and their bags for a week and the trunk will not take it
- You drive a hatchback or a small crossover and worry a long box will hit the tailgate
- You carry skis or snowboards in winter and camping gear in summer
Look elsewhere if
- You have a bare roof with no rails and no crossbars, because every box here needs bars first
- You are cross-shopping the other big brand, in which case start with our guide to Thule cargo boxes compared (2026)
How these picks were chosen
Every number in this guide comes off Yakima’s own product pages and its printed dimension and hatch-clearance sheets, and the picks were chosen on fit before capacity. A box that holds 22 cubic feet is worth nothing if your bars sit 42 inches apart and it tops out at 40.
Our selection method
- Cedar Buy compared Yakima’s published specification pages for every hard-shell box sold in the United States, plus its dimensions and hatch-clearance sheet, in November 2026.
- Crossbar spread was weighted most heavily, because it is the one specification that makes a box impossible rather than inconvenient.
- Rod carriers, cargo baskets and soft bags were excluded: different problem, and they do not lock.
- Specifications come from manufacturer documentation. Cedar Buy does not physically test products — see our editorial policy.
The Yakima range in one table
Here is every current Yakima hard-shell box with the four numbers that decide the purchase, and crossbar spread is the column to read first.
| Box | Capacity | Size, L x W x H | Crossbar spread | Lid and latch | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyBox NX Skinny | 12 cu ft, about 340 litres | 84 x 26.5 x 16 in | 24–40 in | Dual-side, metal handle | Not picked here |
| SkyBox NX LG | 16 cu ft, 453 litres | 75.5 x 35 x 16 in | 24–36 in | Dual-side, metal handle | Amazon → |
| SkyBox NX XLBest overall | 18 cu ft, about 510 litres | 84 x 36 x 16.5 in | 24–40 in | Dual-side, metal handle | Amazon → |
| SkyBox NX XXL | 22 cu ft, 623 litres | 90.5 x 36 x 19 in | 24–40 in | Dual-side, metal handle | Amazon → |
| SkyBox 16 Carbonite | 16 cu ft, 450 litres | 81 x 36 x 15 in | 24–36 in | Dual-side, SuperLatch | Not picked here |
| SkyBox 18 Carbonite | 18 cu ft, 510 litres | 92 x 36 x 16 in | 24–42 in | Dual-side, SuperLatch | Not picked here |
| SkyBox 21 Carbonite | 21 cu ft, 595 litres | 92 x 36 x 18 in | 24–42 in | Dual-side, SuperLatch | Not picked here |
| RocketBox Pro 11 | 11 cu ft, about 310 litres | 89 x 24 x 16 in | 24–40 in | Dual-side, push button | Not picked here |
| RocketBox Pro 12Best value | 12 cu ft, 340 litres | 58 x 36 x 16 in | 24–32 in | Dual-side, push button | Amazon → |
| RocketBox Pro 14 | 14 cu ft, about 400 litres | 74 x 33 x 16 in | 24–40 in | Dual-side, push button | Not picked here |
| GrandTour 18Premium | 18 cu ft, about 510 litres | 91 x 37 x 17 in | 24–39 in | Dual-side, torque knob | Amazon → |
| CBX 18 | 18 cu ft, about 510 litres | 91 x 38 x 17 in | 24–40 in | Dual-side, torque knob | Not picked here |
| CBX XXL | 21.5 cu ft, about 610 litres | 91 x 38 x 17 in | 24–38 in | Dual-side, torque knob | Not picked here |
What the table does not show
Hatch clearance. A box can fit your bars perfectly and still stop your tailgate from opening, because that depends on how far the box sits behind the front bar. Yakima publishes a figure for each box in its dimensions and hatch-clearance sheet: 57 inches for the SkyBox 12, 18 and 21, 50.75 inches for the GrandTour 18, and 40 inches for the RocketBox Pro 12.
SkyBox vs RocketBox vs GrandTour
Yakima sells four families, and they differ by finish and lid hardware far more than by shape. SkyBox is the general-purpose line, RocketBox is the plain-plastic budget line, and GrandTour and CBX are the two premium finishes.
The SkyBox is what most people mean by a Yakima box: four sizes, 12 to 22 cubic feet. The RocketBox Pro is the same idea with less of everything, a matte shell and a push-button latch in three sizes from 11 to 14 cubic feet, and it is the only family with a box short enough for a small hatchback.
The GrandTour is a gloss box with a torque-limiting knob that stops you overtightening the clamps, and the CBX is its angular, textured sibling. You pay for the finish and the hardware, not for space: the CBX XXL holds 21.5 cubic feet against 22 in a SkyBox NX XXL.
The 16, 18 and 21 sizes explained
Those numbers are cubic feet, and Yakima has stopped using them. The SkyBox Carbonite line was sold as 12, 16, 18, 21 and Lo; the SkyBox NX line that replaces it is sold as Skinny, LG, XL and XXL. Skinny is 12 cubic feet, LG is 16, XL is 18 and XXL is 22.
Search for a SkyBox 18 and the box you now want is the SkyBox NX XL; search for a SkyBox 21 and it is the SkyBox NX XXL, which adds a cubic foot and an inch of height. Yakima still lists the Carbonite 18 and 21 while dealers sell them down, so both names stay live through 2026. Capacity is not the number to shop on anyway: 16 and 18 cubic feet are both four people’s luggage, and what you feel is the 11 inches of length and the 36-inch spread limit on the LG against 40 on the XL.
Yakima SkyBox NX XL — Best overall
It is the only box in the range that gives you 18 cubic feet, a shell under 85 inches long and a spread range up to 40 inches, which is the combination that fits the most cars.
Yakima SkyBox NX XL
Best for a family of four on a mid-size car or crossoverThe SkyBox NX XL carries 18 cubic feet in a shell 84 inches long and 16.5 inches tall, rated for four campers’ gear. The flat interior floor lets bags sit level, and the full metal handle locks the lid to the base and the box to the car in one movement.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Eight inches shorter than the SkyBox 18 Carbonite for the same 18 cubic feet
- Spread range of 24 to 40 inches covers most factory racks
- Flat interior floor, so duffels lie flat
Limitations
- Skis are capped at 195 cm, down from 215 cm on the box it replaces
- At 53 lbs it is a two-person lift onto the roof
Editorial opinion
Buy this one unless something rules it out. The shorter shell is the real upgrade: it buys back tailgate clearance without costing a cubic foot. Skip it if your skis are longer than 195 cm, where the Carbonite 18 or the NX XXL answers better.
If you want one box to handle a family holiday and a ski weekend, this is the one.
See it on Amazon →Yakima RocketBox Pro 12 — Best value
At 58 inches it is the shortest box Yakima makes, which is the only reason a small hatchback can carry 12 cubic feet at all.
Yakima RocketBox Pro 12
Best for hatchbacks, sedans and short roofsThe RocketBox Pro 12 packs 12 cubic feet, or 340 litres, into a shell 58 inches long and 36 inches wide, with 48 inches of usable length inside. At 30 lbs it is the lightest box here, which matters when you lift it alone.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Only 58 inches long, so your tailgate still opens
- Lightest hard-shell Yakima makes at 30 lbs
- Needs just 40 inches of hatch clearance
Limitations
- Maximum crossbar spread of 32 inches rules out many factory racks
- Forty-eight inches inside means no skis and no long poles
Editorial opinion
Measure your bars before you order. At 32 inches apart or less this is the cheapest sensible way to add real space to a small car. Any wider and the clamps will not reach, and sliding them inside the box does not change that.
If your car is small and your bars are close together, this is the one.
See it on Amazon →Yakima GrandTour 18 — Premium pick
It carries the same 18 cubic feet as the SkyBox NX XL in a gloss shell, and adds a torque-limiting knob that stops you crushing your own crossbars.
Yakima GrandTour 18
Best for a driver who wants the box to look like part of the carThe GrandTour 18 is Yakima’s gloss box: 18 cubic feet in a 91-inch shell, with a flat interior floor and a removable torque-limiting knob on the clamps. It takes skis to 215 cm, which the NX XL does not, and at 60.5 lbs it is the heaviest 18 here.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Takes skis and boards to 215 cm, 20 cm more than the SkyBox NX XL
- Torque-limiting knob prevents overtightened clamps
- Needs 50.75 inches of hatch clearance, less than a SkyBox 18
Limitations
- 60.5 lbs empty, the heaviest 18 cubic feet in the range
- A gloss shell shows swirls and dust the textured boxes hide
Editorial opinion
Buy it for the 215 cm ski length and the torque knob, not the shine. If you never carry long skis, the SkyBox NX XL does the same job 7.5 lbs lighter, with a finish that hides grime.
If you ski on 200 cm boards and you want the roof to look finished, this is the one.
See it on Amazon →Yakima SkyBox NX XXL — Best for big loads
At 22 cubic feet it is the largest box Yakima sells, and the 19-inch height is what buys you the extra space.
Yakima SkyBox NX XXL
Best for five people, long skis, or a full camping kitThe SkyBox NX XXL holds 22 cubic feet, or 623 litres, with an interior 80 inches long, 29 wide and 13 deep. Yakima rates it for five campers’ gear and skis to 215 cm. Pick it when you have already run out of room in an 18.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Twenty-two cubic feet, the most Yakima offers
- Interior 80 inches long takes 215 cm skis
- Same 24 to 40 inch spread range as the smaller NX boxes
Limitations
- Nineteen inches tall, so check your garage door before your roof
- Easy to overload: the box plus contents must stay within your roof limit
Editorial opinion
Pick the XXL only if you have already filled an 18 and you park outside. On an SUV that starts at 68 inches tall, 19 inches of box plus the rack puts you near the limit of many parking structures, and you learn that once.
If you are packing for five and the roof is the only space left, this is the one.
See it on Amazon →Yakima SkyBox NX LG — Also worth a look
It is the shortest SkyBox at 75.5 inches, which makes it the NX box for a compact crossover that cannot take an 84-inch shell.
Yakima SkyBox NX LG
Best for compact crossovers and small SUVsThe SkyBox NX LG holds 16 cubic feet, or 453 litres, in a shell 75.5 inches long and 35 wide. At 47 lbs it is the lightest NX box, with the same metal handle and two-sided lid as the bigger ones, and it is rated for skis to 175 cm.
Price and availability change often — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon → Paid link.Strengths
- Shortest SkyBox at 75.5 inches, so it suits a short roof
- Lightest NX box at 47 lbs
- Same metal handle and dual-side lid as the XL and XXL
Limitations
- Maximum spread of 36 inches, the tightest of the NX boxes
- Skis stop at 175 cm, so most adult alpine skis will not fit
Editorial opinion
Treat the LG as a luggage box, not a ski box. Sixteen cubic feet is plenty for four people’s bags, but 175 cm is shorter than most adult skis, which is reason enough to step up to the XL if winter is why you are buying.
If your roof is short and you are carrying bags rather than skis, this is the one.
See it on Amazon →Dual-side opening, and who needs it
Every hard-shell box Yakima currently sells opens from both sides, so this is not a feature to shop on within the brand. It matters when you are comparing Yakima with other makers, where single-side lids still exist at the cheaper end.
What differs is the latch: a full metal handle on the SkyBox NX, SuperLatch on the SkyBox Carbonite, a push button on the RocketBox Pro, and all three take SKS lock cores. The gain from a two-sided lid is loading from the kerb instead of the traffic side, and reaching the far end of the box without walking round the car. On a narrow driveway that beats a cubic foot of space.
Yakima bars vs other bars
You do not need Yakima bars to fit a Yakima box. Every box in the range mounts to round, square, aerodynamic and most factory crossbars, and the newer NX and CBX boxes also fit the whole Yakima StreamLine system.
What decides fit is the gap between your bars, not their brand. Yakima’s RocketBox measurements sheet shows the Pro 12 clamps reaching only 24 to 32 inches where the Pro 11 and Pro 14 reach 40, and factory rails are often fixed at a spread you cannot change. If your car has bare rails or none, fit bars first: our guide to the best roof bars and crossbars (2026) covers which systems let you slide the bars afterwards, which is what buys back tailgate clearance.
Which Yakima for your roof
Start with crossbar spread, because it is the one number that makes a box impossible rather than merely awkward. Then work down through tailgate clearance, roof weight limit and only then capacity.
Crossbar spread
Measure centre to centre between your bars, across the flat top. Yakima boxes start at 24 inches and top out at 32, 36, 40 or 42 depending on the model. A 38-inch spread rules out the RocketBox Pro 12 and the SkyBox NX LG outright.
Tailgate clearance
Measure from the centre of the front bar to the edge of your open tailgate. Yakima asks for 57 inches on a SkyBox 18 or 21, 50.75 on a GrandTour 18 and 40 on a RocketBox Pro 12. Come up short and your hatch glass meets the box.
Roof weight limit
Yakima rates its boxes to 165 lbs of load, but your car rarely allows that. The empty box takes 30 to 65 lbs of the allowance first, so check your owner’s manual, or read how much weight can your car’s roof hold? before you pack.
Cubic feet, the number to ignore
Two cubic feet is about two carry-on bags and you will never notice it. The gap between a 75.5-inch shell and a 92-inch one decides whether your tailgate opens. Shop on length and spread, then take the capacity that comes with them.
Key terms, explained
Three terms do most of the damage when people order the wrong box.
Plain-language definitions
- Crossbar spread
- The distance between the two bars across your roof, centre of one to centre of the other. Yakima boxes work from 24 inches up to a limit of 32, 36, 40 or 42 inches depending on the model.
- Hatch clearance
- The distance from the centre of your front crossbar to the edge of your fully open tailgate. Yakima publishes a required figure for every box, from 40 inches to 57 inches.
- SKS lock
- Same Key System, Yakima’s lock cores, which let one key open the box and every other Yakima rack part on the car. Every box here includes them.
Mistakes that cost people money
The expensive one is buying on cubic feet and discovering your bars do not spread far enough, because an oversize box is not returnable once it has been on the roof.
- Buying on capacity instead of crossbar spreadA 22 cubic foot box with a 40-inch limit is useless on bars fixed at 42 inches. Measure centre to centre first, then shortlist.
- Forgetting the tailgateA 92-inch SkyBox needs 57 inches from the front bar to the open hatch. Check it with a tape before you order, not with the box in your hands.
- Counting the load but not the boxA SkyBox NX XXL weighs 60.5 lbs empty. On a roof rated for 150 lbs that leaves under 90 lbs of gear, and a wet tent is heavier than you think.
- Assuming the new box matches the old oneThe SkyBox NX XL replaced the SkyBox 18 Carbonite but takes 195 cm skis instead of 215 cm. If you ski, check the length before you upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Yakima SkyBox 18 discontinued?
The SkyBox 18 Carbonite is being replaced by the SkyBox NX XL, which holds the same 18 cubic feet in a shorter 84-inch shell. Yakima still lists the Carbonite and dealers are selling remaining stock, so both names circulate in 2026. For the current box, look for the NX XL.
What is the difference between the SkyBox 18 and the SkyBox 21?
Three cubic feet and two inches of height. The SkyBox 18 Carbonite is 92 by 36 by 16 inches and holds 510 litres; the SkyBox 21 Carbonite is 92 by 36 by 18 inches and holds 595 litres. Both take a 24 to 42 inch spread, so the taller box fits the same cars.
Do Yakima cargo boxes fit non-Yakima crossbars?
Yes. Every current Yakima hard-shell box mounts to round, square, aerodynamic and most factory crossbars, and the NX and CBX boxes also fit Yakima StreamLine. The limit is the spread between your bars, not the brand, so measure centre to centre and match it to the box.
How much weight can a Yakima roof box hold?
Yakima rates its boxes to 165 lbs of load, but your vehicle sets the real limit and it is usually lower. The empty box counts towards it: 30 lbs on a RocketBox Pro 12, 60.5 lbs on a SkyBox NX XXL. Check your owner’s manual for the roof figure.
Do all Yakima boxes open from both sides?
Yes, every hard-shell box Yakima currently sells opens from both sides, so you can load from the kerb rather than the traffic side. The latch differs by family: a metal handle on the SkyBox NX, SuperLatch on the SkyBox Carbonite, a push button on the RocketBox Pro.
So which one should you buy?
Get the Yakima SkyBox NX XL unless a measurement on your own car rules it out.
| If you need | Best pick | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Yakima SkyBox NX XLBest overall | 18 cu ft in an 84 in shell, spread 24–40 in | Amazon → |
| Best value | Yakima RocketBox Pro 12Best value | 58 in long, needs only 40 in of hatch clearance | Amazon → |
| Premium pick | Yakima GrandTour 18Premium pick | Skis to 215 cm, torque-limiting knob | Amazon → |
| Best for big loads | Yakima SkyBox NX XXL | 22 cu ft, 623 litres, 19 in tall | Amazon → |
| If you are still unsure | Yakima SkyBox NX XL | Fits the widest range of roofs at 24–40 in | Amazon → |
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