Dimensions · Space · Buying guides
Planning to sleep in a Forester? A standard 75-inch twin mattress is longer than the 70.7-inch cargo-length reference in the 2025 specification feed. Before buying a mattress or building a platform, measure the length available with the front seats where you'll need them. The cargo-volume rating won't answer that question.
For a crate or storage box, the more useful figure is 43.3 inches between the wheel housings. The 2025 Car and Driver specification feed also lists 36.5 inches behind the rear seats, 49.2 inches at the beltline and 34.9 inches of cargo height. These are third-party specification figures; Subaru's brochures provide the cargo-volume ratings.
Subaru's 2026 brochure lists up to 74.4 cubic feet with the rear seat lowered, while many trims list 69.1 cubic feet. Check the trim before comparing those ratings.
Subaru Forester cargo dimensions in inches
For most real-world fit questions, these are the current numbers that matter. The linear figures come from the 2025 U.S. specification feed; Subaru's own brochures are used separately for factory cargo volume and trim differences.
| Cargo measurement | Published 2025 figure | Source label |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo length behind first row | 70.7 in | Car and Driver spec feed |
| Cargo length behind second row | 36.5 in | Car and Driver spec feed |
| Width at beltline | 49.2 in | Car and Driver spec feed |
| Width between wheel housings | 43.3 in | Car and Driver spec feed |
| Cargo height | 34.9 in | Car and Driver spec feed |
For a crate or drawer box, start with the 43.3-inch wheel-housing width. The 49.2-inch beltline width is a wider section higher in the cargo bay and is much less useful for something that has to sit flat on the floor.
Likewise, 70.7 inches behind the first row describes a long cargo configuration, but it does not automatically mean a 70-inch-long mattress fits flat at full mattress height. Front-seat position, the angle of the folded rear seatbacks and the inside of the closed hatch can all reduce usable space.
Where the inch measurements come from
Subaru does not print this full linear table in the cited brochure. The inch figures come from an established U.S. specification feed, while Subaru's brochure separately confirms the generation and cargo-volume range. Those roles stay separate here rather than presenting a third-party field as a Subaru tape measurement.
A real tape measurement is reassuringly close
SteadyHome says it measured a 2025+ Forester in person and recorded 36.8 inches of seats-up cargo-floor length, 43.3 inches between the wheel wells and a 28.1-inch liftover height. It did not measure the seats-folded floor length or rear opening on that vehicle, which is why those missing fields stay missing here.
The physical 36.8-inch floor result is very close to the 36.5-inch standardized figure, and the 43.3-inch wheel-housing width matches exactly. That is a useful sanity check. It still leaves the hatch opening and some folded-seat details as measurements worth taking on the exact vehicle.
SteadyHome also reports that a rigid 39-inch-long test object did not fit nose-first behind the upright rear seats on the measured Forester. That practical result is consistent with both 36.5- and 36.8-inch floor references.
How long is a Subaru Forester with the seats down?
The current reference is 70.7 inches behind the first row — just under 5 feet 11 inches.
That is plenty for camping gear and useful for a bicycle, but it is already shorter than a typical 75-inch twin mattress. A flexible foam mattress may bend, and moving the front seats forward while parked may create extra room, but neither changes the published cargo-length figure.
Measure at mattress height because the front seatbacks lean rearward. Then check the folded-seat surface. If there is a step or slope, a platform may need to bridge it even when the length is adequate.
For skis, lumber or a bicycle, a narrow item can use a diagonal route or extend between the front seats in a way a wide mattress cannot. Keep those fit questions separate.
Rear seats upright: 36.5 inches
With the second row in use, the published feed lists 36.5 inches behind the second row. That is a useful stroller/suitcase depth reference. A tall box can still meet the sloping liftgate before its floor footprint uses all 36.5 inches, so check the box at full height.
2025–2026 Subaru Forester cargo space
One simple “Forester cargo space” number becomes misleading once trim and equipment enter the picture.
For 2026, the base Forester is listed at 74.4 cubic feet with the rear seat lowered and 29.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat, while Premium, Sport, Limited, Touring and Wilderness configurations commonly list 69.1 cubic feet maximum and 27.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat.
| 2026 Forester configuration | Seats up | Rear seat lowered |
|---|---|---|
| Base / roomiest published configuration | 29.6 cu ft | 74.4 cu ft |
| Many moonroof/equipment configurations | 27.5 cu ft | 69.1 cu ft |
The 2025 brochure makes the packaging issue explicit by promoting up to 74.4 cubic feet without the available power moonroof.
So when a dealer page says “74.4 cubic feet,” check the trim and equipment before assuming the vehicle in front of you has that exact rating.
How the moonroof and trim affect cargo space
A power moonroof occupies roof structure and can change the manufacturer's measured cargo volume. On the current Forester, Subaru's published maximum is higher on the configuration without that equipment.
That does not mean the floor is suddenly several inches longer or wider. Volume differences can come from changes higher in the cabin or from the measurement envelope. Use the linear dimension needed for your object and the exact trim-specific volume when comparing overall luggage capacity.
For a tall cargo item, the moonroof relationship is especially relevant because the 34.9-inch cargo-height spec-feed figure may not describe every roof/equipment combination at every point in the cargo bay. Check vertical clearance where the object actually sits.
Subaru Forester cargo dimensions by model year
The 2025 Forester began a newer body generation in the U.S., so older Forester searches should not be answered by copying the current 70.7/36.5/43.3-inch table backward.
2025 and 2026 Forester
These current-body models are the focus of the linear-dimension table above. Car and Driver's current Forester specification selector also presents the same headline cargo fields for the current model. Subaru's brochures supply the factory volume and trim context.
2019–2024 Forester
These belong to the preceding generation. They remain attractive used options for tall drivers and cargo users, but their cargo dimensions should be sourced from their own model-year material before ordering a fitted platform, drawer or crate.
Do not assume the 2024 cargo opening or floor width is identical to 2025 just because both vehicles advertise strong maximum cargo volume.
2014–2018 and earlier
These are older bodies again. Keep a 2018, 2017, 2016 or 2015 measurement tied to its own generation. A search page can cover those years in one article, but only with explicit year/generation labels.
Why the 2025 cutoff matters
Search results often mix 2019–2024 Foresters with the redesigned 2025+ model. That is how correct measurements end up attached to the wrong vehicle. If you own an older Forester, use the year/generation-specific figures rather than copying the current table backward.
Camping gear, drawers and bicycle fit
Plan the sleeping length first
A nominal 75-inch twin is 4.3 inches longer than the 70.7-inch reference. Moving the front seats while parked may change the available space, but measure at mattress height before buying foam or cutting a platform. Check the slope and any gaps across the folded seats too.
Use the lower width for a drawer box
The 49.2-inch beltline figure describes a wider section above the floor. A box that sits low needs the 43.3-inch wheel-housing reference, followed by a check of the actual floor and loading opening.
Leave room to load the bicycle
A bicycle's handlebars and pedals can catch the trim even when its overall length looks suitable. Removing the front wheel changes the loading shape. Check the bike in that arrangement and protect the interior from the chain and pedals.
For a different Subaru layout, see Outback cargo dimensions. If driver room also matters, the Forester appears in our small SUVs for tall drivers comparison.
