In this post, we’re looking at how wide, how long, and how high ATVs are. ATVs do vary quite a bit in size, often closely related to their engine size.
But by calculating an average for different engine sizes, I should be able to give you a pretty good idea of what to expect.
There are countless reasons why you need to know how big an ATV is. Making sure it fits on your trailer or truck-bed is one of them.
Regardless of your reasons, I’ve done the job of collecting and processing the data for you.
Gathering the data – all major brands
To get reliable data to work with, I looked up the spec-sheets of every big ATV brand and almost all of their models.
Due to practical reasons, I could not include all available models, but most brands are well represented.
First, here are all of the data I’ve collected, presented in a simple table form. All of the bikes listed are 2019 / 2020 models.
Comparing ATV width
The width is usually the most critical measurement of an ATV. But before we look into why width is so important, let’s have a closer look at the numbers:
How wide is an ATV? Most ATVs are 45 to 50 inches (114-127cm) wide. The average ATV width is 47,4 inches (122,7cm). ATVs that are modified with larger wheels lift kits or wheel spacers are even wider.
So if we look at the width of all major brands and all major ATVs models, we find that the average width is just over 47 inches.
To better visualize the differences in width between different ATV sizes, I’ve calculated the average width of the various engine sizes, as seen in the chart below.
From the stats, we can make a few interesting observations:
- ATV width is usually closely related to the ATV engine size. Smaller engines equal smaller width, while a bigger engine usually means a wider bike.
- ATVs between 420 cc and 850 cc does not vary that much in width on average.
- The smallest sizes of ATVs (below 420cc) much narrower than the average, while the biggest machines (1000 cc) are considerably wider.
Why does the width of an ATV matter?
If you’ve never owned an ATV before, it’s not always that easy to understand just how important the machine’s width is. Let’s have a look at a few scenarios where width does matter.
When riding ATV trails that have width restrictions
A significant number of ATV trails do not allow you to ride machines that are more than 50 inches wide.
If you ignore the regulations and ride an ATV wider than 50 inches, you do not only risk getting fined if you get caught. You may not even fit in the first place. The gates and bridges on such trails will often be built with the 50 inch limit in mind so that wider vehicles won’t fit.
This, however, is not an issue if you ride a stock ATV. All stock ATVs you will find on the market today are 50 inches or narrower.
But the restrictions do exclude most UTV’s from riding these trails as they are typically above 50 inches wide. However, because of these regulations, more and more manufacturers are now offering even UTVs, that is just 50 inches wide.
When riding in dense forests
There is not only when riding on man-made trails when width matters. The wider your ATV is, the more likely you are to get stuck or not fit between trees and big rocks when riding in the forest.
When transporting the ATV in a trailer or truck bed
As soon as you start making modifications to your ATV, such as installing tracks, wheel spacers, or bigger wheels, it will become wider and may no longer fit in your trailer or truck bed.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to measure how wide of an ATV you can fit before you purchase these upgrades if you may end up having to upgrade your means of transport as well.
When riding steep hills or when racing
A wider ATV is generally more stable than a more narrow machine. If you ride sideways on steep slopes, the extra stability of a wide machine may be just what you need to prevent you from tipping.
Or, if you do ATV racing, a wider wheelbase will allow you to tackle tight corners at higher speeds than you would with a more narrow setup.
How can you make an ATV wider?
There are a few ways you can increase the width of an ATV.
Install wheel spacers
Installing wheel spacers is the fastest and cheapest way to achieve a wider wheel stance. While wheel spacers are great, they do come with a few significant downsides. Read this post to learn all about the pros and cons of installing wheel spacers on an ATV.
Installing different rims
Something called the wheel offset is used to indicate how far from the wheel hub your tires sit. You will usually find this number stamped on the inside of your rim. The value may be negative, zero, or positive.
- A Zero offset is when the center of the wheel line up with the outside of the wheel hub.
- A negative offset is when the center of the wheel is inside the wheel hub surface.
- A positive offset is when the center of the wheel is outside the wheel hub surface.
To increase the width of an ATV, you can get rims that have a larger offset. If your stock rims are negative 5 offset, getting rims that have an offset of positive 5 will increase your ATV’s width by 20mm in total (10+10).
Getting bigger tires
When you put bigger tires on your rims, your overall bike width will usually increase as well. Please note that increasing tire size by more than 1-2 inches will often result in rubbing issues.
To solve this, you may install wheel spacers, get rims with a different offset, or simply cut the plastic that is hitting the wheels.
Install a lift kit
A lift kit will not only make your ride higher, but it will also, in most cases, make the bike wider. This is necessary, so you don’t ruin the ride’s stability by lifting its center of gravity.
Comparing ATV length
Now that you know how wide the average ATV is, how long is an ATV? Most ATVs are 80 to 85 inches (203 – 216 cm) long. The average ATV length is 82,9 inches (211 cm). Touring ATVs are typically 5 – 10 inches longer than standard models.
Again I have calculated the average length of various ATV sizes and put them in a cha chart to compare.
This time the results may come across as a bit more surprising.
- There is no significant variation in ATV length when comparing the different sizes of engines from 420cc and up.
- I have included touring models, but there are no touring models available in the 600 -750 cc range. That’s why the average in this engine size range is lower.
Comparing ATV height
Finally, we’ll have a look at the average ATV height.
How high is an ATV? Most ATVs are 46 to 52 inches (117 – 132 cm) high. The average ATV height is 48,9 inches (124 cm). Hi-lift models are typically 1-3 inches higher than the standard model.
This time the comparison chart shows quite a different story.
- 420 – 850 cc ATVs are typically very similar in height.
- The average height of 1000cc ATVs is considerably higher than with other engine sizes. This is true partly because many manufacturers offer high lift editions of their 1000cc machines, while this is not always available with the smaller engines.
Why is ATV height important?
Increased height usually means better ground clearance and better off-road capabilities. The added height is also a great benefit when riding in deep mud. That’s why lift kits and larger wheels are popular upgrades for those who want to go deep mudding.
Related: In this post, I’ve listed other essential mods you can do to create the ultimate mudding machine.
A higher ride does, however, make the ATV more tippy. Stability is just as important as ground clearance if you do trail riding or utility work for the most part. The key is to find the ideal balance between height and stability for the type of riding you will be doing.
What about weight?
In a previous post, I have collected and compared the data on average ATV weight.
Related questions
How wide is an ATV with tracks? Installing tracks to your ATV will typically increase the width by 8-10 inches. ATV width with tracks is about 56 to 60 inches (142 – 152 cm).
How wide is an ATV trailer? ATV trailer width varies, but they are typically just as wide as an average ATV with a width of 48 to 50 inches. Ideally, the trailer should have about the same width as the ATV pulling it.
