The short answer
Open the boot and compare the floor with the lip at the opening. If the floor is level with the lip, it is in the upper position. If there is a step down from the lip into the boot, it is in the lower position. Lift the floor panel: ledges or slots at two heights mean your floor is adjustable.
Key takeaways
- An adjustable floor usually has two positions: upper, level with the boot lip, and lower, below it.
- A boot liner is cut differently for each position, so choose the one you actually use.
- A spare wheel or a repair kit under the floor can change what the floor rests on.
- Saloon and estate versions of the same model have different boots.
- Not sure? Send us a photo of the open boot.
Why the boot floor matters
Many car makers fit a loose floor panel that rests on ledges at two heights. In the upper position it gives a flat load area, level with the boot opening, with storage underneath. In the lower position it gives a deeper boot.
The floor is a different size and depth in each position, so a liner that fits one can be too small or too large for the other.
How to check in two minutes
- Open the boot and take everything out.
- Look at the lip at the boot opening. Is the floor level with it, or is there a step down?
- Lift the floor panel by its edge or its handle, if it has one.
- Look along the sides of the boot for ledges, rails or slots at two heights.
- Note which height the panel was resting on before you lifted it.
Level with the lip means the upper position. A step down from the lip means the lower position. If there are no ledges at a second height, your floor is fixed, and the position it sits in is the one to choose.
What is underneath
While the floor is up, look at what is below it. Some cars carry a full-size spare wheel, some a space-saver, and some only a tyre repair kit or a storage tray. These can differ between cars of the same model, so mention what you find if you are unsure.
Body style changes the boot too
The same model can come as a saloon, a hatchback or an estate, which some manufacturers call a touring. The boot is a different shape in each, so a boot liner is chosen by body style as well as by model and year.
Which position should you choose?
Choose the position the floor sits in day to day, because that is where the liner will spend its time. If you switch often, choose the one you use most.
Once you know your floor, choose a material: carpet or rubber boot liner compares the two.
Shop the mats this guide covers
Common questions
How do I know if my boot floor is adjustable?
Lift the floor panel and look at the sides of the boot. Ledges or slots at two different heights mean the floor can be moved.
Which is the upper position?
The one where the floor is level with the lip at the boot opening.
Can I move the floor after the liner is fitted?
You can, but a liner cut for one position will not sit properly in the other. Choose the position you use most.
What if I still cannot tell?
Choose not sure when you order, or email a photo of the open boot, taken from behind the car, to hello@precisioncarmats.co.uk. We confirm it before anything is cut.
Does this apply to vans?
Vans have a load area rather than a boot floor. There the question is whether the floor is bare or already has a ply or plastic liner fitted.
How we wrote this guide
This guide describes what to look for in general. Boot designs vary between manufacturers, so if yours does not match the description, send us a photo.
Questions this guide does not answer? Write to us from the contact page.