Car Magnet Sizes: Size Chart for Cars, Trucks and Vans (2026)
By the CarSigns team · Updated November 2026
Quick answer: Most business car door magnets are 12" × 18" or 12" × 24" for cars and small SUVs, 16" × 22" or an 18" round or square for pickups and full-size SUVs, and 24" × 36" for vans and box trucks. Pick the largest size that sits fully on the flat steel part of the door. Magnets only hold on steel, so check your door first.
Car magnet size chart at a glance
| Vehicle | Sizes that usually fit | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Compact car | 12" × 18" rectangle · 12" round or square | Logo and phone number |
| Sedan / small SUV | 12" × 24" or 16" × 22" rectangle · 18" round or square | Logo, service line, phone, website |
| Pickup / full-size SUV | 16" × 22" rectangle · 18"–24" round or square | A full message that reads in traffic |
| Cargo van / box truck | 24" × 36" rectangle · 24"–30" round or square | Full message plus a list of services |
| Die-cut (any vehicle) | Cut to your artwork; four size options from 12" × 12" to 30" × 30" | Logos where the shape is the brand |
These are starting points. Always measure your own door, using the steps below.
Which car magnet sizes can you order?
Our custom car door magnets come as a 2-pack, one for each side of the vehicle, in four shapes:
| Shape | Sizes (2-pack) | Price per 2-pack |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangle | 12" × 18" · 12" × 24" · 16" × 22" · 24" × 36" | $44.99 – $66.99 |
| Square | 12" · 18" · 24" · 30" | $39.99 – $66.99 |
| Round | 12" · 18" · 24" · 30" diameter | $39.99 – $66.99 |
| Die-cut (follows your logo outline) | 12" × 12" · 18" × 18" · 24" × 24" · 30" × 30" | $44.99 – $68.99 |
Every magnet is 30 mil thick and printed in full color with UV, fade-resistant inks. Our design team reviews every order, and you get a digital proof to approve within 1–2 business days. Nothing is printed until you approve it.
Rectangles are the default for most businesses because they hold a logo, a service line and a phone number in the order people read them. Squares and rounds suit a logo-led design, a badge or a QR code. Die-cut magnets follow the outline of your artwork, so a logo reads as a logo rather than a sticker.
First check: will a magnet stick to your vehicle?
Car magnets only hold on steel panels. They do not work on aluminum or aluminum-alloy panels, fiberglass or plastic, and several popular trucks now use aluminum:
- Ford F-150 (2015 and newer) and Ford Super Duty (2017 and newer): aluminum body panels.
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (2019 and newer): aluminum doors, hood and tailgate.
- Jeep Wrangler (2018 and newer): aluminum doors, hood and fenders.
- Toyota Tundra (2022 and newer): aluminum hood and front door skins.
Materials change between model years and trims, so test your own vehicle: hold an ordinary fridge magnet against the exact spot where the sign will go. If it holds firmly, a car magnet will too. If it slides off, a magnetic sign will fall off that panel.
For aluminum doors, choose Easy Stick Vinyl instead. It comes in the same shapes and sizes, clings to smooth, flat surfaces and is made for aluminum-body vehicles.
How do you measure your door for a car magnet?
The right size is the largest one that sits completely on a flat or gently curved steel surface, without crossing a gap, a body line or a handle.
- Find the flat zone. Look along the door for body lines (the creases along most doors), handles, trim and the curve near the wheel arch. A magnet must not cross any of them.
- Measure the width and height of that flat zone with a tape measure.
- Leave a little room on every side so the edges never sit on a curve or near the door seam.
- Check the door opens. The magnet must not cross the gap between the door and the body.
- Pick the largest size that fits. If you're between sizes, go down one: a magnet that sits flat stays on; one that bridges a curve can lift at speed.
- Check both sides. Left and right doors are usually the same, but front and rear doors often aren't.
What size car magnet fits a car, an SUV, a pickup or a van?
Compact cars
Compact cars have the least flat area and the most curve. A 12" × 18" rectangle or a 12" round or square is usually the safe choice, with a simple design: logo and phone number.
Sedans and small SUVs
This is where most service businesses and delivery drivers land. A 12" × 24" rectangle gives a long, readable line for a business name and phone number; a 16" × 22" adds height for a logo above the text. On SUVs with a strong body line, measure carefully: the flat area above or below the line can be shorter than the door looks.
Pickups and full-size SUVs
Pickup and large-SUV doors usually take a 16" × 22" rectangle or an 18"–24" square or round. Check the material first (see the list above): on an aluminum-door truck, use Easy Stick Vinyl in the same size.
Cargo vans and box trucks
Vans have the biggest flat panels on the road, and the 24" × 36" rectangle is made for them: room for a logo, a list of services and a phone number that reads across a parking lot. 24"–30" rounds and squares work well for a bold logo on the side or rear doors.
Driving schools
Driving schools usually want a standard warning message rather than a custom design. We make ready-made student driver magnets in a 4" × 10" set of two and a large 12" × 24" set of two, plus roof signs: see driving school car signs.
Rear doors, tailgates and hoods
- Van rear doors are usually large, flat steel panels and take a 24" round or square, or a 16" × 22" rectangle. The driver behind you at a red light has nothing else to look at.
- Tailgates often have stamped shapes, handles and badges, and some are aluminum. Measure and test first; a 12" × 18" or 12" round is often the most a tailgate takes.
- Hoods and roofs: avoid door magnets there. Hoods get hot and take the full force of the wind. For the roof, use a car topper, built to stay on at speed (magnetic toppers are for steel roofs only).
Which shape should you choose?
| Shape | Choose it when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangle | You have a name, service and phone to show in one reading line | Long sizes (12" × 24") need a long flat zone |
| Square | Your logo is square, or you want a QR code people scan when parked | Less room for a long business name |
| Round | You have a round logo or badge | Text has to fit inside the circle |
| Die-cut | The shape of your logo is the brand | Thin parts of a design are fragile; our designers will advise |
What size suits your type of business?
| Business | Usual vehicle | Size that usually works |
|---|---|---|
| Food delivery drivers | Personal car | 12" × 18" or 12" round: comes off easily at the end of a shift |
| Restaurants with delivery cars | Small car fleet | 12" × 24" door magnets plus a car topper for distance and night visibility |
| Home service pros | SUV, pickup or van | 16" × 22" or 24" × 36": room for the service line and phone |
| Real estate agents | Personal car or SUV | 12" × 24", or an 18" square with a QR code for showings |
| Contractors | Pickup or van | 16" × 22" (pickup) · 24" × 36" (van); check for aluminum doors on pickups |
If most people see you in traffic, go bigger and keep the message short. If most see you parked, at a customer's home or a job site, a smaller magnet with more detail or a QR code works well. If the magnets come off every evening, a 12" × 18" to 16" × 22" is easier to store than a 24" × 36".
How big should the lettering be?
You don't need to work this out. Send us your logo and the details you want on the magnet, and our design team sizes the lettering and placement for your magnet size so the important part, usually your phone number or website, reads clearly. You approve the proof before anything is printed.
Keeping car magnets on and in good shape
- Clean and dry both the door and the back of the magnet before fitting.
- Press from the center outwards so no air is trapped underneath.
- Take the magnets off every week or two, wipe both surfaces and refit them. Grit between magnet and paint is the biggest factor in how long a set lasts and how well it holds at speed.
- Store magnets flat, printed side up, away from heat. Don't roll or fold them.
Sizing magnets for a fleet
For more than one vehicle, consistency matters more than size. Design for your smallest vehicle first, then scale the same layout up rather than adding text. Measure each vehicle type once and keep a note of the size that fits. Mixed fleets often mix steel and aluminum: order magnets for the steel vehicles and Easy Stick Vinyl in the same design for the aluminum ones. For larger fleet or franchise orders, contact our team.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard car magnet size?
There's no single standard, but 12" × 18" and 12" × 24" rectangles are the most common for cars and small SUVs. Vans and trucks usually take 16" × 22" or 24" × 36".
What size magnet fits a car door?
Most car doors fit a 12" × 18" or 12" × 24" magnet on the flat area above or below the body line. Measure that flat zone and choose the largest size that fits inside it.
What size magnet do I need for a truck door?
Most pickup doors take a 16" × 22" rectangle or an 18"–24" square or round. Check that the door is steel first: Ford F-150 and Super Duty bodies and 2019-and-newer Silverado 1500 doors are aluminum.
Can I put a car magnet on an aluminum vehicle?
No. Car magnets need steel. For aluminum-body vehicles, use Easy Stick Vinyl, which comes in the same shapes and sizes.
How thick are CarSigns car magnets?
30 mil, printed with UV, fade-resistant inks.
Do car magnets come in pairs?
Yes. Our custom car door magnets are sold as 2-packs, one for each side of the vehicle.
Ready to order?
Measure your door, run the fridge-magnet test and pick your shape and size. Upload your logo and our design team will send a digital proof within 1–2 business days. Nothing is printed until you approve it.
Design your car door magnets → · Aluminum doors? Choose Easy Stick Vinyl →
Still choosing between magnets, a topper or a wrap? Read our vehicle advertising guide.
