Folded dimensions: how to read them properly

Folded dimensions are the most useful number when space is tight, but they are also the easiest to misread. Here is what to look for before you compare two prams.

1. Check which configuration was measured

Many prams publish more than one fold. The UPPAbaby Vista V3, for example, lists one size with the seat attached and a smaller one with the seat removed. The Bugaboo Fox 5 Renew lists a one-piece standing fold and a separate two-piece compact fold. Compare the fold you will actually use every day, not the smallest number on the page.

2. Check the order of the three numbers

Some manufacturers label their figures as length, width and height. Many do not. When the order is not labelled, Pramkin shows the numbers exactly as published and marks them "Order not labelled". We do not guess which figure is the height, because a wrong guess could mislead you about how a pram sits in a boot.

3. Look at the largest dimension

The longest side usually decides whether a folded pram goes into a boot at all. Our small-car filter uses the largest published folded dimension for exactly this reason.

4. Volume is only a rough guide

Multiplying the three numbers gives a box volume, which is handy for sorting, but a boot is not a box. The boot opening, the slope of the rear window, wheel arches and the parcel shelf all change what fits.

5. Measure your boot

Our car-fit guide explains how to measure your boot opening and floor, so you can compare them with a pram's published fold before you buy.