Written by Lisa Walton on 8th Apr 2026
Getting the size wrong is the single most common awning mistake. Too large and the fabric sags, pools water, and flaps in wind. Too small and it strains at every seam, leaves gaps at the base, and won't last a season.
The good news: measuring a caravan for an awning is straightforward once you know what to measure. This guide covers the full process -- measuring, understanding sizes, and fitting the awning to your van -- for both inflatable and traditional poled models. For a broader look at every awning type, see our complete guide to awnings.
What You Need to Know Before Buying
Caravan awnings fall into two categories, and each uses a different sizing system.
Porch awnings: cover part of the caravan side -- typically 2-4 metres along the awning rail. They're the most popular type for touring because they're lighter, quicker to pitch, and don't need the precise sizing that a full awning demands. This is what OLPRO makes for caravans.
Full awnings: run the entire length of the awning rail from one end of the caravan to the other. They're sized using the A-measurement system (more on that below). Full awnings give maximum space but take longer to pitch and need exact sizing.
Most caravanners are better off starting with a porch awning. It gives you a decent living space, it’s up in fifteen minutes, and you don’t need to stress about getting the A-measurement to the centimetre.
Gareth Walton — OLPRO
How to Measure Your Caravan for a Porch Awning
Porch awnings don't use the A-measurement. You need two numbers.
Height: Ground to Awning Rail
This is the critical measurement. Stand at the side of your caravan and measure vertically from the ground to the centre of the awning rail -- that's the C-channel groove running along the side of your van at roof height.
Important: Park on level ground and load the caravan as you would for a trip. Suspension compression changes the height, and you want the measurement that matches real-world conditions.
99% of UK touring caravans have an awning rail height between 235cm and 250cm. All OLPRO caravan porch awnings are designed for this range.
Height: Ground to Awning Rail
The second measurement is how much of the awning rail you want the awning to span. This determines which size you choose.
Check that the section of rail you plan to use is straight and uninterrupted -- no joints, bends, or obstructions.
OLPRO Caravan Awning Sizes
All models fit caravans with awning rail heights of 235–250cm and use standard 6mm beading.
What About Door and Vent Clearance?
Before you commit to a position, check that:
- Your caravan door opens fully within (or outside) the awning footprint
- The fridge vent and any gas flue vents are not blocked by the awning wall -- this is a safety issue, not just a convenience one
- The toilet cassette hatch remains accessible
- Windows you want to use aren't covered by awning panels
Walk through the footprint on the ground before you buy. Mark out the dimensions with pegs and string to see exactly how much space you're working with.
Full Awning Sizing: The A-Measurement Explained
If you're buying a full caravan awning (not a porch), you need the A-measurement. This is the distance in centimetres from the ground on one side of your caravan, up and over the roof following the awning rail, and back down to the ground on the other side.
Three Ways to Find Your A-Measurement
- Check your caravan handbook. Most modern caravans list the A-measurement in the specifications section. Quickest and most reliable method.
- Look it up online. Isabella maintains a searchable database at isabella.net where you enter your caravan brand, model, and year. Bradcot has a similar tool.
- Measure manually (string method).Park on level ground with normal touring load. Tie a length of soft string to a tent peg at ground level below one end of the awning rail. Feed the string through the entire rail channel. Let it drop to the ground at the other end. Measure the string's total length in centimetres. That's your A-measurement.
Common measuring mistakes to avoid
- ✕ Measuring on uneven ground -- the suspension compresses differently and gives a false reading
- ✕ Not loading the caravan normally -- measure with the same load you’d take on a trip
- ✕ Using a rigid tape measure -- it won’t follow the rail curve. Use soft string instead
- ✕ Measuring rail entry to rail exit -- the A-measurement goes ground to ground, not rail end to rail end
Between two sizes? Always go up. A slightly large awning can be tensioned with storm straps. A too-small awning strains at the seams and can’t be stretched.
A-Measurement Size Chart
Most UK touring caravans fall between Size 8 and Size 16. Odd sizes (5, 7, 9 etc.) fill the 25cm gaps between even sizes.
Between two sizes? Go up. A slightly larger awning can be tensioned with storm straps and pegging. A too-small awning can't be stretched -- it'll strain the fabric and fail at the seams.
What Happens If You Get the Wrong Size?
Too large: The fabric sags, especially across the roof. Sagging creates pools where rainwater collects, adding weight and pulling the structure down further. The loose fabric flaps in wind, causing noise and accelerating wear. Draughts get in at the base.
Too small: The fabric is under constant tension. Seams and stitching are stressed. The awning won't reach the ground properly, leaving gaps for wind and rain. In strong wind, a tight awning has no flex -- it's more likely to tear or pull pegs out.
Neither situation is comfortable, and both shorten the life of the awning. Getting the measurement right matters.
How to Fit a Caravan Porch Awning
The process differs slightly between poled and inflatable models, but the first steps are the same.
Before You Start
- Clean and lubricate the awning rail A squirt of silicone spray or a wipe of washing-up liquid along the channel makes threading the beading dramatically easier. Check for sharp edges or burrs -- a quick pass with fine sandpaper smooths anything that could snag.
- Lay out the awning on the ground beside the caravan. Identify front, rear, and which side attaches to the van. Find all the pegs, poles (or pump), and guy ropes before you start.
- Check the ground. Soft grass is ideal for pegging. Hard ground needs rock pegs. Gravel or hardstanding may need weighted anchors instead.
Threading the Beading
All OLPRO caravan awnings use 6mm beading that slides into your caravan's C-channel awning rail.
- Find the end of the awning rail -- usually at the rear of the caravan
- Feed the awning's beading strip into the channel opening
- Slide it along the rail to the position you want
- Two people makes this easier -- one feeding, one guiding the fabric
Tip: If the beading is stiff or the channel is tight, more lubricant helps. Don't force it -- forcing risks bending the beading or damaging the channel.
Fitting a Poled Porch Awning
Poled awning
- Peg out the front corners to set the basic shape
- Assemble frame poles -- steel leg poles and fibreglass roof poles for the View Lite range
- Thread roof poles through fabric channels, stand leg poles and connect
- Peg rear corners, then work around the full perimeter
- Tension by adjusting pole heights and peg positions until taut but not drum-tight
- Attach guy ropes at roughly 45 degrees and peg out
- Fit storm straps over the caravan roof and secure
Typical time: 15–20 minutes for two people
Inflatable awning
- Thread beading and peg the front corners
- Connect the pump to the first air beam valve
- Inflate to the pressure shown on the valve -- don’t over-inflate
- Move to the next beam and repeat (View 300/420 have separate inflation points)
- Peg out fully once the frame is up
- Re-check beam pressures after 30 minutes -- temperature changes affect air pressure
- Fit storm straps and guy ropes
Typical time: 10–15 minutes. View Lite Breeze inflates both beams from a single point.
First attempt will take longer -- practise at home before your first trip.
Our View Lite Breeze models have a single inflation point, so you pump once and both beams inflate together. The View 300 and View 420 use reinforced TPU air beams with separate inflation points.
Realistic timing: A poled porch awning takes about 15-20 minutes for two people. An inflatable takes 10-15 minutes. Your first attempt will take longer -- practise at home before your first trip.
Post-Fitting Checks
Walk around the awning and check:
Post-fitting checklist
-
✓
Roof tension
No sagging where water could pool. Adjust poles or beam pressure until the roof sheds water naturally.
-
✓
Seal against the caravan
The awning should sit snugly against the caravan wall along the full rail. Gaps mean wind and rain getting in.
-
✓
Ground contact
Walls reach the ground without excessive bunching. If there’s a gap at the base, a draught skirt closes it.
-
✓
Peg security
Every peg at roughly 45 degrees, driven fully in. Rock each one -- if it moves easily, it won’t hold in wind.
-
✓
Door operation
All zips open and close freely. Caravan door swings fully without catching the awning fabric.
-
✓
Storm straps
Tight enough to hold the awning firmly against the caravan, but not so tight they distort the fabric.
FAQ
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Poled porch awnings from £169 • Inflatable from £259 • All fit caravans with 235–250cm rail height • Lifetime warranty
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