How Do I Know What Size Stereo Fits My Car?

Are car stereo sizes universal?

Many years ago, car stereo sizes were pretty much universal. Then automakers started getting creative not only with the size of the radio and/or touchscreen, but also with the shape. For example, some radios would taper inward from top to bottom, while others would almost span the width of the vehicle's dashboard. The second example is a newer vehicle with a wide screen that displays everything the vehicle is doing - from the current speed to the Android Auto/Apple CarPlay display (and much in between).

Some of these radios can be upgraded to Kenwood or Sony products, for example, but others are so tied into the vehicle's computer system that they can't be removed.

What is the difference between a single DIN and a dual DIN stereo?

Single DIN radios are approximately 2 inches tall and 7 inches wide. Depending on whether the unit in question has a built-in CD player or not, the depth can vary greatly. These stereos usually have a small display that shows music information, current time, etc. They also have a small display that shows the time of day. They almost always have a volume knob on the left side of the front for volume control.

Dual DIN radios measure about 4 inches high by 7 inches wide. These larger radios usually come in one of two configurations: a more traditional approach, which means a simple display surrounded by buttons for controlling specific functions of the stereo, or a touch screen, where the screen covers most of the front of the unit and is usually accompanied by a touch screen. There are some "important" buttons, such as volume, front and back tracks, etc., which make it easy to access important settings.

Is there an easy way to know which type of car stereo is right for my car?

In general, the answer is "yes". There are websites that allow you to enter the year, make, model, and sometimes trim level of your vehicle to see if the right fitment exists, and that allow you to replace your current radio with a newer unit.

However (and you knew this was coming, didn't you?) ), not all of these sites will ask for enough information to provide you with the right answer. For example, maybe your car is equipped with a premium sound system, but there is no adapter to integrate it with the factory-installed amplifier. Or maybe there are different sound/radio options available and the site you used for your detective work didn't take them into account.

We believe your best bet is to contact a reputable car audio store (like us) and provide them with as much information about your vehicle as possible so they can research it in depth for you. This helps to minimize the mistakes you may make when researching on your own.

What are the different car stereo sizes available?

As we talked about earlier, there are two different radio sizes: single DIN and double DIN. However, these are chassis sizes (which is the size that will be installed into the current radio area of your vehicle).

As features such as navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto continue to grow in popularity, touchscreens have become the preferred model as they are required to access these handy features. Most touchscreens are dual DIN chassis with a 6" to 7" screen attached to the front of the unit. Some units have a single DIN chassis with a dual DIN screen attached to the front of the unit.

Some of these single and dual DIN options can have large touchscreens (think anything from 8 inches to 10 inches) that attach to the chassis for a large floating tablet-style design. Not only do these larger screens look incredible, but the extra space of that screen size can display more information related to your entertainment or navigation options. Care must be taken when considering devices such as these - you need to make sure that the larger screen doesn't obscure the content you need to access easily (think HVAC controls, for example).

If you're not sure exactly what you're looking for and need some expert advice, let us know!

There are many factors to consider when looking for the right car stereo for you. It's your responsibility to make sure that the car stereo you're considering is right for your car so that you're in a good position to choose the best stereo for your ride. It's your car, so it should reflect your hobbies: music and entertainment.