How to Measure a High Roof

Safety Tips

Never climb a steep roof without proper fall protection.

Use ladders on level ground, secured at top and bottom.

For tall structures, use a laser rangefinder from the ground.

What are you measuring?

The method to follow depends on what you're trying to find. To check our high roof bracket compatibility usually it's just needed (1) height gutter to roof top.

1. Height gutter to roof top. We will focus on this.
2. Total height from ground
3. Pitch
4. Total area

🧠 Do not always follow the manual

Many van manufacturers (Toyota Hiace, Transit, Sprinter, etc.) list “height to gutter” and “height to roof” in the factory spec sheets — but aftermarket elements like tyres or suspension lifts change that so measuring manually is a must to get the true clearance.

🪜 Step-by-Step: Manual Tape Method to measure the height gutter-to-roof-top

1. Park the van on level ground – Uneven ground throws off the measurement.
2. Place a ladder beside the van near the visible highest spot on your roof. If there's not a clear highest spot make a few measurements following the same instructions.
3. Locate the rain gutter – This is the lip or channel running along the top of the side wall where roof racks usually mount.
4. Hold a straight cross member (like a ruler, wooden slat or level) wider than the roof and place it flat across that highest point of the roof. If you can't reach both sides, place it across one side and make sure it's level (use a small bubble level if possible).
5. Measure the vertical gap between the bottom of the straight edge (roof top) and the top of the gutter. – Hold the tape vertically; this is the roof rise above gutter.
6. Record that measurement (usually between 80-380 mm but can go as high as 620 mm in some vehicles, depending on your make/model/year).