They might be underrated to some extent, but if you have a powerful speaker set on your car is a bug flex, especially if you’re an audiophile. Car speakers play a crucial role in enhancing your driving experience; they do that by producing a crisp, clean sound so you can enjoy your favorite mixes as you drive.
Whether you want to replace your old speakers or upgrade your car audio system, knowing how to measure car speaker size is essential. This guide will walk you through the process step by step, ensuring you choose the right speakers for your vehicle.
(Note: your new sets of speakers should be the same measurement as the existing ones you want to do away with).
Why You Should Know How To Measure Car Speakers?
Every car comes with built-in speakers. The built-in speakers in most modern cars do deliver astonishing sound and deep bass, but for some reason, you may want to replace those factory speakers with “higher” quality options. Yeah, it could be because the factory speakers went bad or do not produce the level of bass you want.
You can’t just buy any car speaker set to replace your car’s factory-fitted ones. If you’re going to change your car’s speaker, then you should know the accurate dimensions of the factory-fitted ones. You can measure the size of your car speakers using a tape rule to get the measurements in “inches” or “millimeters.”
The most common car speaker sizes are 5.25 inches, 6.5 inches, and 6×9 inches. These measurements are actually the diameter size of the speakers’ cone. If your car’s factory-fitted speakers are 6.5 inches wide, getting 5.25 speakers or 6×9 speakers would require you to adjust the speaker space.
How To Measure Car Speakers Size
You need a set of measuring tools to carry out the measurement and get the accurate sizes you need to work with. The tools you need to get started include a measuring tape, notebook or just a piece of paper, and a torchlight for clearer vision.
Alternative tools you may need include a flathead screwdriver for removing the speaker grille and a panel-removing tool.
- Locate where your car’s speakers are installed.
- Remove the grilles to access the actual speakers (the speaker cones).
- Turn on the flashlight and get it close to get a clear view of the speaker – look around the speaker’s body to see if there’s a place where the size was incrusted.
- If the size is written on the speaker’s body, there you go, no need to proceed further. But if the size isn’t indicated, this is where your measuring rule comes into use.
- What you need to measure is the speaker cone’s diameter – that’s the measurement you need. Place the measuring tape at one diagonal end of the speaker cone and measure down to the other diagonal end. If the speaker cone is oval, measure the widest points.
- If you are able to bring off the speaker from its casing entirely, then you should measure the cutout diameter and mounting depth.
- Make sure you note down the measurements on your notepad. It would be best to record the measurements in inches and millimeters.
Notes:
- The “Cutout” of a car speaker refers to the bottom magnet area.
- The “Mounting Depth” refers to the height of the speaker from the cutout to the top of the cone.
- Also, take note of the number of “screw” holes the speaker has and their locations – you’d need to get new speakers with the same number of screw holes opened in the same locations as the old one you’re about to do away with.
- Don’t measure the speaker with the grille on – remove the grille and measure the actual speaker cone.
- When buying the new speakers, make sure you buy the exact match based on your measurements, don’t assume. Also, consider the speaker’s power and impedance ratings before buying too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Install Larger Speakers In My Car Than The Original Size?
Since the new speakers are bigger than the ones your car came with, you’d need to modify the speaker space to accommodate the new speakers. So, yes, it’s possible to install larger speakers, but you must need to modify the factory-designed speaker space to accommodate the “big” speakers.
Are There Any Universal Speaker Sizes For Cars?
No. There are no universal speaker sizes for cars. Different vehicles have different speaker sizes, but there are notable common speaker sizes. It is important that you know the specific measurement of your car speakers.
What Actually Determines the Size of a Speaker?
The driver (speaker cone) is what tells the speaker size. Hence, the size of the speaker cone (driver) is what many refer to as the speaker size. If a speaker has a 6.5-inch driver, it’d be generally referred to as a 6.5 speaker.
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