How to measure an RV awning

Use a tape measure and a helper when needed to keep the measurement straight. Work from a safe position; do not climb on unstable furniture, lean out of a window or dismantle the awning to obtain a number. Follow your hardware manufacturer’s guidance if deploying the awning is necessary, and do not extend damaged hardware or work in unsafe weather.

Write down the awning brand, model and serial information where available. Take a clear photo showing both arms, plus closer photos of the roller and attachment points. The name on your RV does not identify the awning fitted to it, especially if a previous owner changed the equipment.

Find the center line of the left awning arm and the center line of the right awning arm. Measure the straight distance between those two centers, not the outside edges of the brackets, the roller end caps or the length of the old fabric. Record the original reading in feet and inches before rounding it.

When asking another person to check your number, show them the exact points you used. Comparing two measurements is only useful if both people used the same reference. Send a marked photo if you cannot confidently identify the arm centers; do not approve an order based on an uncertain guess.

Round the arm-center measurement up to the next whole foot. For example, 14 feet 6 inches selects the nominal 15-foot size. An exact 15-foot reading remains 15 feet; do not add another foot to a whole-foot measurement. Keep the original reading in your notes so the team can review it alongside the selected nominal size.

Do not round down because the old fabric is shorter, or add a second allowance to the selected size. The printed-width allowance is already approximately 9 inches. If your measurement falls outside the 7–26 foot builder range, or the hardware does not look like a standard roll-out system, contact the team before submitting rather than choosing the nearest available option.

The nominal size describes your arm-center order size, not the actual printed fabric width. Subtract approximately 9 inches to estimate the printed width in the chart below. These numbers explain our ordering convention; they are not an OEM cut specification or a guarantee that every model uses the same attachment arrangement.

For a separate reference you can return to while collecting fleet measurements, use the RV awning size chart. Confirm projection, roller channels and any model-specific requirements with the team rather than treating this width table as a complete fabrication drawing.

A nominal 15-foot awning has approximately 14 feet 3 inches of printed fabric. The remaining space accommodates the hardware.

• Measuring roller end cap to end cap instead of arm center to arm center.
• Ordering from the width of stretched, torn or shrunken old fabric.
• Confusing nominal awning size with the finished fabric width.
• Rounding down or subtracting the 9-inch allowance from the nominal order size.
• Choosing a size from the trailer length or a photo rather than a real measurement.
• Assuming the brand name alone guarantees compatible fabric attachments.

Catch these differences before approving the proof. New artwork cannot correct an incorrectly selected size, and replacement fabric cannot repair bent arms or an uneven roller. If measurements disagree, stop and resolve the discrepancy rather than averaging two numbers taken from different points.

Our builder offers nominal sizes from 7 to 26 feet. Replacement fabric does not include arms, a roller or a motor. Confirm your hardware type and size before approving the proof.

Unsure? Send photos and measurements to the team. A diagram cannot confirm compatibility with a specific rig.