Roof Bars Price: How Much Do They Cost?
How much do roof bars cost? UK price ranges for universal and vehicle-specific roof racks, what affects the cost, and the right budget.
As an Amazon Associate, MyBootlid earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability shown are indicative and may change; only the price displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase applies.
How much do roof bars cost? Good news: they're one of the most affordable car accessories there is. For a decent-quality universal kit, you'll often pay less than £50, and even lockable aluminium models stay under the £85 mark. The price differences come mainly from the material, the fixing system, anti-theft locking and whether the bars are universal or designed bespoke for a specific vehicle.
Here are the ranges to expect, with real examples available on Amazon, along with the main factors that move the price and some advice on how to avoid a kit that looks cheap but won't fit your car. Prices are a guide, updated regularly, and vary with promotions, the seller and availability: treat them as ballpark figures, not fixed rates.
Models we recommend
Three well-rated roof bars to anchor each budget, from the most affordable to premium.
Amazon Basics Barres de toit à rails transversaux 132 cm (jusqu'à 117 cm entre rails latéraux surélevés), lot de 2, noir/argenté
Amazon Basics Lot de 2 barres de toit à rails transversaux 142 cm (jusqu'à 126 cm), noir/argent
Barres de toit universelles en aluminium, largeur réglable, charge max 150 kg (SUV, panier de toit, porte-cargaison), 140 x 100 cm, noir
Price ranges for a roof bars
At this level you'll find universal kits that are perfectly usable day to day. The Amazon Basics 142cm pair of bars starts at around £37, the Amazon Basics 132cm crossbars at around £44, and several VEVOR aluminium models (120cm, raised-rail or lockable) hover around £42. At this price, you cover most needs: carrying a box, a bike rack or luggage on a roof with rails.
Spending a little more buys a better finish, fixing system or versatility. The HOMCOM lockable aluminium 123.5cm run around £45, the Chaos Racks open-rail 120cm around £50, and the inflatable HandiWorld HandiRack solution around £74. The latter targets a particular use: roofs with no fixing points at all, where rigid bars simply can't be mounted.
Beyond ~£78, you enter the world of reinforced bars or those designed for a specific vehicle. Universal aluminium bars rated up to 150kg sit around £108. And at dealerships, "genuine" bars designed bespoke for a given model often exceed this amount, because they include dedicated fixings and a finish matched to the car.
What affects the price
Universal or manufacturer bespoke
This is the first price factor. A universal kit fits many vehicles and benefits from production volumes, hence prices often under £50. Genuine manufacturer bars are designed for a single model, with dedicated fixings: better integration, but a noticeably higher price, sometimes two to three times more.
The material
Aluminium, light and rust-proof, is now the standard on versatile models and remains affordable. Reinforced bars with a high permitted load (up to 150kg) use more material and more robust profiles, which pushes the price towards the top of the range.
The fixing system
Bars for raised rails are simple to fit and inexpensive. Systems for fixing points or "flush" roofs require more elaborate kits. And the special case of the bare roof calls for an inflatable solution such as the HandiRack, whose specific technology explains a higher price than simple entry-level bars.
Anti-theft locking
A built-in lock adds a few pounds but secures the bars and, often, the accessory fitted to them. Models such as the lockable VEVOR or the HOMCOM nonetheless remain very affordable, around ~£42. It's a small surcharge that often pays off if you park in town or at a resort.
The permitted load
The higher the stated maximum load, the more robust and expensive the design. You move from around 90kg on common models to 150kg on reinforced bars. There's no point overpaying for a large capacity if you mainly carry luggage or a light bike rack.
Brand, finish and included accessories
The price also depends on the brand, the quality of the feet and covers, and what's supplied (keys, end caps, clear instructions). Well-known ranges cost a little more, but a well-rated, complete universal model often offers the best value for occasional to regular use.
Popular models, from cheapest to most expensive
A few well-rated products on Amazon to gauge each budget. Indicative prices, subject to change.
| Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|
|
Amazon Basics Amazon Basics Lot de 2 barres de toit à rails transversaux 142 cm (jusqu'à 126 cm), noir/argent
|
4,5
6 198 reviews
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View |
 VEVOR VEVOR Barres transversales de toit universelles 120 cm, aluminium, compatibles rails surélevés, réglables avec verrous (SUV/berline/fourgonnette)
|
4,3
1 322 reviews
|
View |
 VEVOR VEVOR Barres de toit transversales universelles 2 pcs verrouillables, aluminium, charge 90,7 kg, compatibles rails 190-1180 mm
|
4,3
1 322 reviews
|
View |
|
Amazon Basics Amazon Basics Barres de toit à rails transversaux 132 cm (jusqu'à 117 cm entre rails latéraux surélevés), lot de 2, noir/argenté
|
4,5
6 198 reviews
|
View |
 HOMCOM HOMCOM Barres de toit transversales verrouillables, 2 clés, alliage d'aluminium 123,5 x 5,5 x 7 cm, argenté et noir
|
4,2
30 reviews
|
View |
 Chaos Racks Chaos Racks Barres de toit transversales universelles pour rails ouverts, aluminium léger et robuste, 120 cm
|
4,3
58 reviews
|
View |
 HandiWorld HandiWorld HandiRack Barres de toit universelles gonflables, robustes, noires
|
4,3
3 058 reviews
|
View |
|
Barres de toit universelles en aluminium, largeur réglable, charge max 150 kg (SUV, panier de toit, porte-cargaison), 140 x 100 cm, noir
|
4,7
5 reviews
|
View |
Spotting a false bargain
Roof bars are cheap enough that it's tempting to grab the first low price you see, but a bargain that doesn't fit your car is no bargain at all. The most expensive mistake in this category is not overpaying; it's buying bars you then can't use. A kit sold for raised rails will never mount on a bare roof, and "universal" rarely means every car. Before price even enters the picture, confirm the bars suit your roof type and your specific make, model and year.
Once compatibility is settled, look past the headline figure to what actually arrives in the box. A suspiciously cheap set may skimp on the parts that matter:
- Thin, flexible feet and clamps that flex under load rather than gripping firmly.
- A vague or missing maximum-load figure, which usually signals an untested design.
- No keys or only one, with no clear way to order a replacement.
- Sparse, generic instructions that don't match your fixing type.
A genuine saving comes from buying the right thing at the right time, not from the lowest sticker. Demand for bars rises in spring and before the summer holidays, so the quieter months often bring better offers on exactly the same product. Watch a model for a week or two so you can tell a real reduction from an inflated reference price, and compare the complete kit rather than the bar alone, since end caps, locks and fitting hardware all add value.
Second-hand bars can be excellent value when they match your car precisely, but check that all the feet, clamps and keys are present and that nothing is bent or corroded. Missing fixings are often hard to source and can cost more than the saving. Bought with a little care, a used set from a known range can serve you just as well as new.
In summary
Fitting out your roof remains affordable: most drivers manage for ~£35 to £78, and only reinforced models or genuine manufacturer bars exceed ~£85. The key is to pay for what you genuinely need: the right type of fixing, sufficient load and, if useful, anti-theft locking. It's worth remembering, too, that the bars are only the first step. They open the door to a box, a bike rack or a set of ski holders, so a slightly sturdier set with a good load rating can prove the wiser buy if you expect to carry more than luggage later on. Choose bars that suit not just today's trip but the accessories you might add, and the modest outlay quickly proves its worth. And wherever you are in France, MyBootlid is reachable 24/7 in the event of a breakdown or the need for roadside assistance.
Frequently asked questions
Reckon on from ~£35 for a universal kit usable day to day, such as the Amazon Basics 142cm pair of bars at around £37. For aluminium bars, possibly lockable, set aside ~£42 to £50 instead. Below that, be wary of overly generic products with no clear indication of compatibility or load.
Because they're designed for a single car model, with bespoke fixings and a matched finish. This careful integration comes at a price: they often exceed ~£85, where an equivalent universal kit stays under £50. For most uses, well-chosen universal bars do the job just as well.
The surcharge for a lock is modest. Lockable models such as the VEVOR or the HOMCOM stay around ~£42. If you regularly leave the car parked in town or loaded at a resort, this small investment prevents a quick theft of the bars and the accessory fitted to them.
An inflatable system such as the HandiWorld HandiRack, around ~£74, costs more than an entry-level kit at ~£37. But it meets a specific need: roofs with no fixing points at all, on which rigid bars can't be mounted. For a car with rails, classic bars remain more rigid and often cheaper.
Yes. Prices move with promotions, the seller and availability, and demand rises in spring and before the holidays. The ranges given here are ballpark figures, updated regularly; the same model can gain or lose a few pounds from one week to the next.
A well-rated universal kit from a recognised range is perfectly safe, provided it genuinely fits your roof type and you stay within its stated load. Where caution is needed is with very generic, unbranded bars that quote no maximum load and offer no compatibility guidance: those are the ones to avoid. The safest approach is to choose bars with a clear load figure and fitting list, fit them correctly, and never exceed the lower of the bar limit and your car's roof limit.
Further reading
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As an Amazon Associate, MyBootlid earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability shown are indicative and may change; only the price displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase applies.