The Best Rooftop Cargo Box for your Car or SUV 2023

When going out on whatever adventure your vehicle might take you, whether it’s the grocery store or a camping weekend in the wilderness, wrestling for that extra cubic foot could make or break your trip. 

To add extra storage to your vehicle, a popular choice is to add a rooftop cargo box to the roof rack of your vehicle. These come in multiple sizes which can accommodate your needs. From skis and camping gear, to bags, or just whatever you can shove in the space a cargo box can be a valuable addition to your vehicle’s storage capacity, 

They also look pretty rad too. With most rooftop cargo boxes being lockable you can leave your vehicle knowing that your gear is secure. Here are the best rooftop cargo boxes for your car or SUV to take your trips to the next level.

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Are rooftop cargo boxes worth it?

The best rooftop cargo boxes add a substantial amount of extra space and not just for extra luggage/gear, but longer items that wouldn’t necessarily fit in your vehicle like skis, snowboards, etc. 

They can keep wet/dirty items outside of your vehicle like wetsuits, water sports equipment, and even soiled camping gear. They can become a vital piece of gear in your adventure inventory and are also completely removable.

How do I choose the best rooftop cargo box for my car or SUV?

It really depends on your particular vehicle’s load capacity and what box it can safely fit. Then address your wants, needs, and the aesthetics you want for your vehicle. 

There are many sizes of rooftop cargo boxes available out there, but when choosing to outfit your car or SUV we recommend you opt for the 16 cu ft unit and at a push maybe 18 cu ft. As the weight and size of the larger units can affect load capacity and placement. The bigger the cargo box the more they weigh which means less you can store upstairs.

Ultimately, the best car roof box for you should be determined by your vehicle’s load capacity.

Hard shell roof top cargo carrier vs soft shell rooftop bags

While choosing a cargo carrier for your roof you might come across rooftop bags. These are basically big storage bags that attach to the roof of your vehicle.

Unlike hard shell rooftop cargo boxes they are usually much cheaper, are relatively easy to install, compact, and some can even attach to your roof without roof rails or a rack system. While these are definitely viable options for rooftop storage, we really see them as a temporary solution. They are not the most aerodynamic/gas mileage friendly, weather resilient, and even if some are lockable being fabric are more susceptible to theft. 

 A hard shell rooftop cargo carrier on the other hand while being more expensive will be considerably more durable, aerodynamic, safe, secure, and weather and scratch resistant on your adventures. Overall we recommend you opt for a rooftop carrier with a hard shell.

Our choices for the best rooftop cargo carrier

1. Yakima Skybox Carbonite 16

Trying to balance durability, sleek design, and affordability, the Yakima Skybox Carbonite 16 covers those bases quite nicely. Coming in at $719, the Yakima Skybox really is a killer value for money. That’s why this came out as our top pick for the best rooftop cargo box.

It’s a dual-sided opening cargo box that is also lockable with Yakimas SKS lockings included so you can shove all your gear inside without the worry of it walking off without you. With 12(narrow)/16/18/21 cu ft sizes available, the Yakima Skybox allows you to find the size that will accommodate your lifestyle the most and having the narrower 12 cu ft model will enable you to have extra space on your rack for a narrow rooftop basket, bike, canoe, surfboard, or long box from an unknown build-it-yourself furniture company.

The overall design is stylish but still has a textured rugged exterior made with 80% recycled materials this means it will be able to handle whatever weather you can throw at it, and take on all your bumps and scraps from low hanging branches that looked high enough to pass underneath. Plus with being made with mostly recycled materials it’s an added bonus if you’re a bit eco-conscious.

Now, as far as some of its slight shortcomings, you’ll get a bit more wind noise and not as polished as the slightly more premium picks like the Thule Motion XT and the Yakima Grandtour. You’ll also have a bit of a tougher time taking it on and off with how the Yakima roofbox is mounted to your rack, so if you find yourself switching between rooftop attachments or gear, just keep this in mind to allow yourself a bit more time.

Overall the Yakima Skybox 16 is a multifunctional, durable, and reasonably priced hard top cargo carrier which should fit nicely on top of your car or SUV. Making it our pick for the best rooftop cargo box.

2. Thule Motion XT L 16

Now if you have been in the market for a while and every time you see a vehicle with a cargo box you take a mental note of what people are using, this Thule cargo box might seem quite familiar to you.

The Thule Motion XT is a well-built and durable rooftop cargo box that has been documented to last for many years and even a few vehicle switches. The sleek design has a polished premium look that enables Motion XT to glide through the air without substantial wind noise at high speeds which can be a major factor in your sanity on long road trips (unless you like a good whistle). With multiple size options including 16/18/22 cu ft and a low profile roof box Alpine version which is ideal for skis, snowboards, and similar gear (or 2x4s!). With all these options this rooftop cargo box should be able to fit your needs and look dashing while using it.

Now, what edges the Thule Motion XT out of our top spot for best rooftop cargo box comes to price, value, and intended use (personal opinion). The Yakima Skybox has roughly the same dimensions, build quality, and sizing options, but in our opinion, a more useful narrow option it becomes a little hard to fork out the almost $200 for the Thule Motion XT. While the glossy exterior is appealing to some, one could argue about its extra value when out on the trail. Nevertheless, this is our best Thule cargo box pick.

3. Yakima Grandtour 16

For when you want to blend adventure ready functionality with a bit more style, but without paying a premium price. We recommend our third best roof cargo box pick, the Yakima Grandtour 16. 

The Yakima Grandtour is a dual-side opening cargo box with removable torque knobs that securely fastens your box to your rails but also allows for maximizing the interior storage space of your box. Yakimas SKS locks also come standard so even if you can’t find where you parked, you’ll at least know all your gear is still securely locked inside when you do. And with interior tie down points for securing whatever gear you want to carry including bags, skis, snowboards, or whatever you can fit safely inside you’ll have peace of mind when hitting a few bumps getting to your campsite with your electric keyboard piano intact. 

Having 15(Low profile)/16/18 cu ft size options, you are able to fit your lifestyle needs in terms of space. A clean black exterior provides a very smart looking design that is sure to turn heads when fitted to your car or SUV. 

Now that being said, this roof top cargo carrier comes in third due to the Yakima Skybox having a leg up due to it basically having the same functionality and a lower price point. And even though the Motion XT is a bit more expensive, it has a more premium fit and finishes with its wind friendly aerodynamics and easier mounting system. But if you are looking for style above all else, then the Grandtour will fit the bill.

4. Thule Force XT L 16

If you are looking for a durable and slightly more wallet friendly rooftop cargo box option but still want great build quality from a seasoned manufacturer, this Thule rooftop cargo box might do the trick. 

The Force XT is a solid pick as a mid-range rooftop cargo box. The Force XT still has many of the features of the Motion XT like dual-sided opening, multiple size options, lockable storage, and easy installation features. Now unlike the Motion, it does come in an 11 cu ft narrow version which allows extra space for other roof top friendly gear. Also, if you know you might get a few scrapes and bruises while out on your expeditions, you’ll take comfort in knowing it has a rugged textured Aeroskin exterior and won’t show the daily beating as much as the glossy Motion XT. 

With all that said, the Force XT has its trouble areas, but some are in the eye of the beholder. The exterior finish is not as polished as the model up which some could argue that it looks cheaper, but again you can also say it is more of a purpose-built, adventure-ready look. The Force XT comes with Thule’s Lockknob locking mechanism which has been known to break occasionally and is not as secure as their Slidelock mechanism which comes in the Motion XT.

In any case, the Thule Force XT is a seasoned go anywhere, tough roof top box from a trusted manufacturer that should be a great addition to your soft roader.

The Budget Rooftop Cargo Box Options

If you are a bit more budget oriented and want to try having a cheaper rooftop cargo box for a bit before you commit to a more premium option, or just want something to slap on your roof rack top to hold your gear, here are a few quick options to get you there in the right direction.

Yakima Rocketbox Pro 14

Probably the best cargo box in terms of quality when it comes to budget options, this Yakima car top carrier is easy to setup, lockable, and dual-sided opening it is hard to deny the value for money. But at its price point it comes with a few drawbacks like documented issues with its water resistance, lower build quality, and lack of space when it comes to longer items.

Honestly at its price level if you can wait and save up a bit more you can get a Yakima Skybox 16 for around $140 more and it would definitely be worth it.

Thule Sidekick 

The Sidekick is the basic of the basics from Thule. It’s lightweight, lockable, and will fit on basically any roof. The Sidekick gets the job done, but questionable fitment and the required assembly are its major drawbacks. 

JEGS Rooftop Cargo Carrier

This is a cheap rooftop cargo carrier. The JEGS Rooftop Cargo Carrier pushes through the wind with its curved box design, lockable storage, spacious interior, and lightweight build. With being at such a low price point the JEGS is definitely built cheaply and the fitment isn’t what you’d call easy, but it is made to store your stuff on your roof and it does just that at a low price.

Summary: the best roof top cargo box for your soft roader

There is a mountain of rooftop cargo box choices out there and we only scratched the timberline with our list and our best roof box recommendations.

Soft roading can be demanding on your equipment so we looked for a balance of practicality, value, and durability to take your gear the extra mile. At the end of the day, all these rooftop cargo boxes get the job done. All that’s left is for you to decide what fits your needs the most.