Best Rooftop Cargo Boxes for 2017–2026 Tesla Model 3: 6 Boxes for a 28 in Spread and 150 lb Roof

On a Model 3, the two numbers that decide a box are 150 lb and 28 in, and the Thule Pulse 2 M handles both better than anything else here. Thule lists it at 68.9 x 32.1 x 16.6 in with 14 cu ft (400 L), a 31 lb box weight and a 165 lb (75 kg) maximum load. It opens from both sides, locks centrally and clamps on with PowerClick mounts whose torque indicator shows when each clamp is tight. Thule and REI both list it at $699.95.

Against Tesla's 150 lb rating, 31 lb of box leaves about 119 lb before you subtract your bars, roughly 16 lb more than the SkyBox 16 allows. Its length matters just as much: on bars 28 in apart, a 68.9 in box overhangs about 41 in in total, so it can sit centered without crowding the windshield or the trunk lid. The limits are ski length, just 155 cm, and height, 16.6 in, which adds more frontal area than the INNO Wedge 660. Thule's page doesn't list a crossbar spread, so confirm the Pulse 2 M against a 28 in spread in Thule's fit guide before ordering.

If range and wind noise worry you more than capacity, the INNO Wedge 660 is the box to look at. etrailer lists it at 80 x 33 x 11 in with 11 cu ft, a 42 lb box weight, a 110 lb weight capacity and a 24–39 in crossbar spread. At 11 in tall it is 4 in lower than the SkyBox 16 and 5.6 in lower than the Pulse 2 M, so it adds the least frontal area of any box here. The dual-side lid opens with push buttons, keyed locks on each side secure both cargo and mounts, and INNO's Memory Mount hardware needs a one-time setup for quick repeat installs. etrailer lists it at $864.97 with a limited lifetime warranty.

The 28 in spread sits comfortably inside its range, and etrailer says it fits aero and most factory crossbars, but check the clamp against your bar's profile. The catch is length. At 80 in, it overhangs 28 in bars by about 52 in in total, so center it carefully and check the windshield and the trunk lid. Skis up to 182 cm fit diagonally. At 42 lb it leaves about 108 lb of Tesla's 150 lb before bars.

The Yakima SkyBox 16 Carbonite is the full-size option that still makes sense on a Model 3. Yakima lists it at 81 x 36 x 15 in, 16 cu ft and 47 lb, with dual-sided opening, room for skis and boards up to 185 cm and a limited lifetime warranty. Its 24–34.5 in crossbar spread includes the Model 3's 28 in with room to spare, and at 15 in it is low for a 16 cu ft box, which helps with drag and garage clearance. It was on sale for $599, down from $749, on Yakima's page when we checked.

The costs are weight and length. At 47 lb it leaves about 103 lb of Tesla's 150 lb before your bars, so pack light and bulky rather than dense. At 81 in it overhangs 28 in bars by about 53 in in total, the most of any pick here, so it needs careful centering: keep the nose off the windshield and check the trunk lid's clearance at the back. For family trips with skis or a lot of soft luggage, it is the best value 16 cu ft box for this car.

The Rhino-Rack MasterFit 440 sits between the light Pulse 2 M and the full-size SkyBox 16. Rhino-Rack lists it at 76 x 32 x 17 in with 440 L (15.5 cu ft), a 38.6 lb box weight, a 75 kg maximum load, dual-side opening with keyed locks on both sides, three locking points, two load straps and a 5-year warranty. Its instructions give a crossbar spacing of 620 mm minimum to 930 mm maximum for this size, about 24.4 to 36.6 in, which includes the Model 3's 28 in.

On Tesla's 150 lb rating, 38.6 lb of box leaves about 111 lb before bars, nearly as much as the Pulse 2 M while holding 1.5 cu ft more. At 76 in it overhangs 28 in bars by about 48 in, so center it and check the trunk lid. The instructions also set a maximum speed of 130 km/h with the box fitted. Rhino-Rack's US page shows no price, so check the listing, and confirm its mounting hardware suits your bars' profile, especially Tesla-style aero T-slot bars.

The Thule Force 3 L is the premium way to get a full 16 cu ft onto a Model 3 without the SkyBox's length. Thule lists it at 76.8 x 33.3 x 16.8 in, 16 cu ft (450 L), 43 lb and a 165 lb maximum load, with DualSide opening and PowerClick quick-mount clamps that include a torque indicator, for $879.95. That makes it 4.2 in shorter and 4 lb lighter than the SkyBox 16 for the same volume. On bars 28 in apart it overhangs about 49 in in total, which is easier to center without reaching over the windshield or the trunk lid.

The trade-offs are price, ski length and a missing number. It costs $280.95 more than the SkyBox 16 on sale, takes skis only to 175 cm, and Thule's page doesn't list a crossbar spread or warranty terms. Confirm the spread against the Model 3's 28 in in Thule's fit guide before you buy. Against Tesla's 150 lb rating it leaves about 107 lb before bars.

The SportRack Vista XL is the budget choice, and on a Model 3 its short shape is a real advantage. SportRack lists it at 63 x 38 x 19 in with 18 cu ft, UV-resistant ABS, tool-free mounting hardware and a lock, for $449.95. etrailer's expert gives three fixed mounting positions, 25-7/8, 27-7/8 and 29-7/8 in center to center, and the middle one sits within an eighth of an inch of the Model 3's 28 in spread. At 63 in, it overhangs 28 in bars by only about 35 in, the least of any box here.

The drawbacks are shape and missing numbers. At 19 in tall and 38 in wide it is the bluntest box on this page, and fueleconomy.gov's figures for large, blunt boxes are the ones that apply, so expect a bigger range hit at highway speed. The rear-opening lid means loading from behind the car, over the rear glass. SportRack doesn't publish a box weight or a load rating, so confirm both on the listing and check whether its clamps fit your bar profile before you mount it.