Sprinter Van Dimensions: Interior and Exterior

  • By Kate Moore
  • on 
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When it comes to comparing the interior and exterior dimensions of Mercedes, Dodge, and Freightliner Sprinter vans from 1995 to present day, it’s important to take into account all of the variables. From camper van builds to van racking and gear storage, getting an idea of the available space is key.

We’ve combed through 25+ years of brochures and spec sheets to build this handy comparison table where you can find every dimension for the Mercedes Sprinter, Dodge Sprinter, and Freightliner Sprinter from 1995 onward.

In this article you can compare the different types of Sprinters, sort them by interior dimensions, and find the best van to live in. Let’s get started!

Comparison Table

Below you’ll find a comparison table containing interior and exterior dimension of the Dodge, Mercedes, and Freightliner Sprinter vans from 1995 to present day. Measurements included in the table are taken from the brochures and spec sheets linked below. Here are some tips for using the chart:

  • We recommend using a desktop to view this chart.
  • You can filter vans by year, brand, style, body length, and roof height. By default, 10 entries are shown–and you can expand the table to show more.
  • When entering a year, you must include a number in both “from” and “to” fields, then hit “search.”
  • Making a selection will restrict the other available options.
  • Click “details” on the left column of each row to see all known dimensions. Click the red “columns” button to show or hide additional columns for comparison between models. Click the top header of each column to sort by ascending or descending order.
  • If the chart appears blank, try refreshing the page or de-selecting all filters. (Make sure a year between 1995 and 2023 is selected).

Sprinter Van Dimensions

Dodge Sprinter vs Mercedes Sprinter vs Freightliner

The Sprinter van has gone through many name changes since it was first released. This is important to know, because it can be difficult (or impossible) to find a spec sheet for a model that didn’t exist during a particular year. You can find Sprinter vans under the following names:

  • Dodge Sprinter Van
  • Mercedes Sprinter Van
  • Freightliner Sprinter Van

Fortunately, all three models are the same. Between 2001 and 2007, sprinters were branded as the Dodge Sprinter Van. From 2007 onward, they were branded as either Mercedes Sprinters, or Freightliner Sprinters.

No matter which sprinter you choose to buy. The meat and bones are just the same.

Wikipedia has a good breakdown of the year-by-year changes. The most important thing to know, is that there are three generations of Sprinter vans which share similar dimensions:

  • Generation 1 (1995-2006)
  • Generation 2 (2006-2018)
  • Generation 3 (2018-present)

Dimensions by year

Let’s take a look at the exterior and interior dimensions of each generation of Sprinter.

2003 Dodge Sprinter van - First Generation
First Generation – 2003 Dodge Sprinter van

1995-2006 Sprinter Dimensions

The first generation of Sprinter vans came with three wheelbase options and two roof heights. These are the only years where you can find the short wheelbase of 118″.

These vehicles were branded under the following names: Dodge Sprinter, Freightliner Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz Transporter T1N.

WheelbaseExterior LengthInterior Length (cargo floor)
118″ Regular197″99″
140″ Long225″128.5″
158″ Extended263″165.9″
WidthAll Models
Exterior95.5″
Interior (at floor)68.3″
HeightExterior (ground to roof)Interior (cargo floor to ceiling)Standing Height
118″ Standard93.1″64.2″5’3″
140″ Standard94.7″64.2″5’3″
140″ High Roof102″73″6′
140-158″ High Roof103.6″73″6′
Second Generation - 2014 Dodge Sprinter van
Second Generation – 2014 Sprinter van

2006-2018 Sprinter Dimensions

The second generation of Sprinter vans came with three wheelbase options, and two roof height choices.

These vehicles were branded under the following names: Dodge Sprinter, Mercedes Sprinter, Freightliner Sprinter, NCV3 (Europe)

WheelbaseExterior LengthInterior Length (cargo floor)
144″ Regular233.3″137.4″
170″ Long274.1″178.2″
170″ Extended289.8″193.9″
WidthAll Models
Exterior95.5″
Exterior (excluding mirrors)79.7″
Interior (at floor)70.1″
Interior (between wheelhouses)53.1″
HeightExterior (ground to roof)Interior (cargo floor to ceiling)Standing Height
Standard Roof94.5″66.5″5’5″
High Roof105.8″77.8″6’5″

The following are general interior and exterior dimensions you can expect to see on a second generation sprinter van. For specific model years, refer to the official brochures below.

  • Exterior width (including mirrors): 95.5″
  • Exterior width (excluding mirrors): 79.7″
  • Cargo width (at floor): 70.1″
  • Cargo width (between wheelhouses): 53.1″
  • Load height (loaded): 23.5-26″
  • Load height (unloaded): 29.3-30.5″
  • Side-door opening height: 59.8-71.7″
  • Side-door opening width (sliding): 51″
  • Rear cargo door opening height: 60.6-72.4″
  • Rear cargo door opening width: 61.5″
  • Turning radius (curb-to-curb): 44.6-51.5″
  • Head room: 47.1-56.7″
  • Shoulder room: 67.7″
  • Hip room: 63.5″
  • Leg room: 38.9″
  • Max roof load: 330 lbs. (high roof), 660 lbs. (standard)
  • Max tow capacity: 5,000 – 7,500 lbs.
Second Generation - 2020 Dodge Sprinter van

2018-2023 Sprinter Dimensions

The third generation of Sprinter van was introduced in 2018. For the first time, this included a front-wheel drive option.

Today, you can choose between three different wheelbase lengths, and two roof height options.

WheelbaseExterior LengthInterior Length (cargo floor)
144″ Regular233.5″132.9″
170″ Long274.3″173.6″
170″ Extended290″189.4″
WidthAll Models
Exterior95.5″
Exterior (excluding mirrors)79.5″
Interior (at floor)70.4″
Interior (between wheelhouses)53.2″
HeightExterior (ground to roof)Interior (cargo floor to ceiling)Standing Height
Standard Roof96.3″67.7″5’6″
High Roof107.5″79.1″6’6″

The following are general interior and exterior dimensions you can expect to see on a third generation sprinter van. For specific model years, refer to the official brochures below.

  • Exterior width (including mirrors): 95.5″
  • Exterior width (excluding mirrors): 79.5″
  • Cargo width (at floor): 70.4″
  • Cargo width (between wheelhouses): 53.2″
  • Load height (loaded): 23.3-26.8″
  • Load height (unloaded): 27.5-31.5″
  • Side-door opening height: 59.8-71.6″
  • Side-door opening width (sliding): 51″
  • Rear cargo door opening height: 61-72.7″
  • Rear cargo door opening width: 61.5″
  • Turning radius (curb-to-curb): 47.2-52.5″
  • Head room: 47.3-56.4″
  • Shoulder room: 67.4″
  • Hip room: 63.7″
  • Leg room: 38.9″
  • Max roof load: 330 lbs. (high roof), 660 lbs. (standard)
  • Max tow capacity: 5,000 – 7,500 lbs.

Brochures and tech sheets

The following are brochures and spec sheets used to generate the tables above. These can be downloaded in PDF format. If you’re looking for very specific dimensions, default to these spec sheets:

How to read dimensions

Car companies pack a lot of data into their spec sheets. To make sense of them, there are a few things to consider:

The wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axles of a vehicle. It’s important for interior space planning since it affects the overall length of the vehicle, as well as its turning radius.

Currently, cargo sprinter vans come in three different wheelbases:

  • 144 inch wheelbase
  • 170 inch wheelbase
  • 170 inch wheelbase extended

The extended wheelbase adds an additional 15 inches in length.

Crew vans and passenger vans come in 144” or 170” wheelbases (there is no extended version).

sprinter van wheelbase length 144 inch, 170 inch, 170 extended

Roof height: Sprinter vans come with two different height options: standard, and high roof. Most people cannot stand fully upright inside a standard height sprinter van.

  • Standard roof sprinters: Measure 96.3 inches (8 feet) exterior. 65.3 inches (5.4 feet) interior.
  • High roof sprinters: Measure 107.5 inches (9 feet) exterior. 76.7 inches (6.3 feet) interior.

There are a lot of different pros and cons to owning a standard vs a high top van. This article will give you some ideas for dealing with both types.

the difference between living in a high top or standard height van

Side-door opening height: This is the height of the side door opening from the ground.

Side-door opening width: The width of the sliding door when it’s fully open.

Rear cargo door opening width: The width of the rear cargo door when it’s fully open.

Turning radius (curb-to-curb): This is the distance that a vehicle can turn in a full circle, from one curb to the other. This measurement helps you understand how tight a corner your Sprinter can make, which is especially important when attempting to maneuver around tight spaces or tricky parking lots.

Load height (unloaded): The load height is the distance from the ground to the cargo floor when the vehicle is empty. It so you know how high you’ll have to lift an object to get it into the camper.

Cargo length, front (at floor): The cargo length is the distance from the front of the vehicle, measured at floor level, to the back of it.

Cargo length, front (at belt): The cargo length is the distance from the front of the vehicle, measured at belt level, to the back of it.

Max floor width: The max floor width is the widest point of the cargo area.

Cargo width between wheelhouses: This is the width of the cargo area between the left and right wheel arches.

Cargo volume: The cargo volume is total cubic feet available for gear. This number is heavily affected by the roof height and length of the vehicle. Passenger vans have extremely small cargo volume amounts because it is measured from the back of the last row of seats.

Maximum payload: This is the maximum amount of weight (in pounds) that can be safely loaded into the vehicle.

GVWR: The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating gives you an idea of the maximum weight that the Sprinter can handle. This is a combination of vehicle weight and cargo weight.

Cargo, Passenger, Crew Van Differences

The cargo sprinter van is a commercial vehicle. It comes with one row of seats for a driver and two passengers. The rest of the van is bare bones and designed to haul large loads of equipment. Cargo vans have the largest payload capacity and are the least expensive.

Passenger sprinter vans are the most expensive. They offer comfortable seating for 8-15 people and come with all of the bells and whistles that you would find in a passenger vehicle. If you’re planning to build a camper conversion, passenger sprinter vans are not the best choice.

Crew vans are a hybrid between the cargo and passenger vans. They come with a second row of seats which are removable. The payload capacity is in-between that of a cargo and passenger van. Crew vans come with windows pre-installed so they’re a good choice if you’re looking to add that feature.

types of sprinter vans for a camper conversion

Sprinter Van History

First Generation (1995-2006)

Here is a timeline of major events in the first generation of Sprinter vans:

  • 1995: The first generation of Sprinter van (T1N) launched in Europe.
  • 2000 and 2002: The T1N received updated styling.
  • 2001: The first generation North American Sprinter was introduced. It was branded as the Mercedes – Freightliner Sprinter.
  • 2003: The Freightliner Sprinter got a new badge: Dodge Sprinter. In the same year, the Dodge RAM van was discontinued.

When searching for a sprinter from 1995 to 2006 you should search for the following names: Dodge Sprinter, Freightliner Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz Transporter T1N.

Second Generation (2006-2018)

The second generation of Sprinters launched in 2006 in Europe and 2007 in North America. Several major updates occurred during the second generation including the introduction of gasoline engines, and the 4×4 Sprinter.

  • 2007: Second generation of Sprinter vans enters the North American Market.
  • 2014: Major update year, the choice of gasoline or diesel engine is introduced.
  • 2015: The all-wheel-drive Sprinter 4×4 version is released.

When searching for models between 2006-2018, you should search for the Dodge Sprinter, Freightliner Sprinter, or NCV3 (Europe).

Third Generation (2018-Present)

The third generation of Sprinter van was introduced in 2018. For the first time, this included a front-wheel drive option. In 2021, the Freightliner Sprinter was discontinued.

How big is a Sprinter van?

If you’re wondering how the Sprinter van compares to the Ford Transit dimensions or RAM ProMaster dimensions, you wouldn’t be alone. We’ve got a camper van dimensions chart for that too! (coming soon)

Conversion Ideas

If you want to turn your Sprinter into a camper van, then look at this list of Sprinter van conversions and ideas that are perfect for van life. The article will provide visuals and additional details about buying and building the perfect camper.

FAQ

Can you stand in a Sprinter Van?

The current generation of high roof Sprinter vans have a 79.1″ standing height with the trim removed which is about 6 feet, 5 inches tall. The standard roof height ranges from 64.1″ to 67.7″ which means anyone under 5 feet, 6 inches can comfortably stand.

How much does insulation reduce a Sprinter van ceiling height?

Most people will add 2-4 inches of insulation on both the floor and roof of the van which will reduce the headroom up to 6 inches.

Can you fit a queen-sized mattress in a sprinter van?

The maximum cargo width of a Gen 3 Sprinter is 70.4″ so you can fit a queen-sized camper van mattress width-wise but not length-wise. Van lifers can add vehicle flares to accommodate a larger mattress.

144″ or 170″ Sprinter, which is best for van life?

The 170″ Sprinter van will give you more buildable space so it’s best for families and larger groups. The 144″ Sprinter is easier to maneuver and gets better gas mileage.

What is the smallest Sprinter van?

The first generation of Sprinter vans (built in 1995-2006) are the smallest models. They have a 118″ wheelbase with a 197″ exterior length.

What is the biggest Sprinter van?

The current generation of Sprinter vans are the largest. You can get a 170″ extended model which measures 290″ long with a high roof that offers 6’5″ of standing room.

Do newer Sprinter vans have more space?

Each generation of Sprinter van has provided slightly more space than the last with the biggest difference between the Gen 1 and Gen 2 Sprinters. The third generation of Sprinters have the largest useable interior space.

Kate is the lead content creator for ParkedInParadise.com and has spent over two years living in a camper van conversion. She has traveled through 48 US states and writes about van life, camping and RV living.

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