How Long & How Wide is a Snowmobile?

The average length of a snowmobile will fall into a range between 115-135 inches. That means most snowmobiles are about 9.5-11 feet long. The average width of a snowmobile is anywhere between 43-50 inches. But there’s no absolute answer. Some sleds are longer or shorter than this as well. 

I’m Chaz, and I’ve been riding snowmobiles in the mountains of Colorado since I was a kid – more than 25 years ago. I have experience with sleds of all types and sizes and have driven options on the short and long end of the spectrum. 

In this post, I’ll show you why the length and width of a snowmobile matters and why you might want to know some other dimensions as well.

So get out your measuring tape, and let’s get going!

Average Lengths

The 115-135 inch range that I listed above covers maybe 75% of the snowmobiles on the market. I’ve only ridden on a sled outside of this range a few times over the many years I’ve spent in the snow. 

Anything shorter than 115-inches would probably be a kid’s sled, and those would fall somewhere between 80-90 inches long. There are some longer sleds out there that can reach 150 inches or more. 

Let’s take a look at a popular, high-performance sled in the Yamaha Sidewinder. The 2021 model is listed at 3,533 mm in length, which works out to just over 132 inches. This is on the larger side and what you would expect for a high-performance option. 

You have another popular sled in the Polaris 800 Rush Pro-S on the shorter end of the stick. This sled measures 114 inches or 289.6 cm, making it one of the shorter options for a commonly purchased high-performance option. 

You’ll find plenty of other snowmobiles that fall in between this range. The two mentioned here just represent either side of it. 

The overall length is measured from the tip of the nose to the very end of the seat or track. If you put on aftermarket skis, you may gain or lose a few inches or more.  

Does Snowmobile Length Matter?

Yes and no. When it comes to performance issues such as acceleration and handling, a few inches aren’t going to make a big deal. Differences in length are more a matter of the different engineering characteristics of each sled. 

You might have a preference for a length that you like, and if so, length can be an important deciding factor when you purchase a new or used machine. I don’t have a favorite length and like anything that falls into the average range. 

I have a few friends who like shorter sleds because they say these can handle better and turn quicker. I know a few others who claim that longer sleds have more surface area and float better over deeper snow. 

I’ve ridden different lengths and didn’t notice that big of a difference between sizes. You might want to explore and see if you have any sort of personal preference. I think that’s what it comes down to in terms of performance. 

Length does matter in some situations, especially when you are transporting your snowmobile around. If you have a snowmobile trailer, you will want to make sure that your machine (or machines) will fit inside safely and securely. 

If your trailer is too short, you risk having part of your snowmobile hanging off of it – which is never recommended and could result in damage to your sled, the trailer, or the vehicle transporting it. 

It’s good to know every dimension of a snowmobile for transportation purposes, especially if you have a covered trailer. You’ll want to have accurate measurements of the height, width, and length to ensure the snowmobile will fit under the cover with rubbing.

If you are using an uncovered trailer, height might not be a concern, but length and width still will. Regardless of how well your sleds fit inside your trailer, always check that they are fully secured before driving. 

How Wide is a Snowmobile?

The average range for snowmobile width is anywhere between 43-50 inches. I’ve seen a few models on either side of that average over the years, but the vast majority of sleds will fall into that range. 

Snowmobile length and width don’t always correlate. This means that just because you have a longer sled, that won’t necessarily make it wider. And just because you have a short sled, that doesn’t mean it will be narrower.

What you should pay more attention to than the overall width of your snowmobile is the width of its track. Most machines will have a 15-inch track, and the widest ones will have around a 24-inch track.  

Does Snowmobile Width Matter? 

Snowmobile width doesn’t matter as much as length. But this is still a measurement you’ll want to pay attention to. The width of your sled will factor into how it can perform in various situations and how well it fits into a truck bed or trailer. 

A wider snowmobile can be a little more stable than a narrower one on the trails. But really, a few inches isn’t going to make that much difference in performance in the long. It’s not like other vehicles where the width can be dramatically different. 

The width of the track does come into play with how well a machine will float on the snow and how fast it can go. A wider track will give you a little more float in deep snow because it has more surface area.

FAQs

Here are some related questions you might want to know, I’ll briefly answer them below. 

Will a snowmobile fit on a 4X8 trailer?

A 4×8 trailer is going to be too short for most snowmobiles. 115-inches, the lowest average length I mention here, is almost 10 feet long. That means you’ll have nearly 2 feet hanging off the back of an 8-foot long trailer. I wouldn’t recommend it!

How long is a 137 snowmobile?

A 137 snowmobile, such as the Arctic Cat ZR 8000 ES 137 or the Ski-Doo Freeride 137, aren’t 137 inches in length. I’m not sure why they list 137 in the name of these sleds because their actual overall length is 121 and 122 inches, respectively. 

Will 2 snowmobiles fit in a 6×12 trailer?

Two snowmobiles of average size will fit side by side inside of a 6×12 trailer. Twelve feet works out to 144 inches, so unless you have an extra-long sled, you should be able to enclose the snowmobile fully. Six feet is plenty of room for two sleds parked next to each other. 

How long is a long track snowmobile?

Long track snowmobiles are any sled with a track that is 136 inches or longer. This isn’t a rule, just a general benchmark between an average track sled and a long track sled. Some long tracks these days can be 150-inches or more. 

How wide is a Ski Doo snowmobile?

The exact width of a Ski-Doo snowmobile will vary based on which model you get. But most of them fall between 42 and 47 inches. For example, the 2023 Ski-Doo Summit has 42.5 to 43.7 inches overall width.  

Does a snowmobile fit in a truck bed?

Yes, nearly every model of snowmobile will fit into a truck bed. The widest snowmobiles rarely get over four feet (48 inches), and truck beds are about that same width on the small end. You can easily fit a snowmobile between the wheel wells if you have a large truck.   

What is the longest snowmobile?

The longest snowmobiles you’ll find have a total length of around 175 inches. The Ski-Doo Summit is one of the longest models you’ll find in current production. I’ve heard people mention 180+ inches, but I have never seen this myself.  

What is the widest snowmobile?

The widest snowmobile will have an overall width of around 50 inches. Most snowmobile tracks are about 15 inches, and the longest ones can be approximately 24 inches. The wider the track, the wider the snowmobile.  

What is the smallest snowmobile? 

One of the smallest snowmobiles you can find is the Arctic Cat ZR 120. This sled is only 73 inches long and 36 inches wide. It’s mainly made for children and will be too small for the average rider.

The Final Measurements

Knowing your snowmobile length is important if you have a known preference or want to transport the machine on a trailer. If you are new to the sport or don’t have a preference, I wouldn’t worry too much about length. 

Just remember that no matter how long your snowmobile ends up being, properly securing it inside of a trailer is very important! If you don’t, you can cause damage to your sled, and if it falls out, you might even injure others. 

How long is your snowmobile? Do you have an ideal length? Let us know in the comments below!  

I’m a snowmobile fanatic. I live for riding and am out on the trails or backcountry as often as possible during the winter months. I was born and raised in the Rocky Mountains and have snowmobiled in dozens of North American locations. When the snow is falling, you’ll find me on a sled.