Parking lot vs. parking space: which word is correct?

What each word means

Parking lotThe whole area, in American English

Merriam-Webster defines it as "an area used for the parking of motor vehicles" (Merriam-Webster, as of Nov 2026).

Car parkThe whole area, in British English

Cambridge Dictionary marks car park as UK English, gives parking lot as the US word, and defines it as an area of ground for parking (Cambridge Dictionary, as of Nov 2026).

Parking space, parking spotOne vehicle's place

Merriam-Webster gives parking place, parking space and parking spot one definition: "a place to park a car, truck, etc." (Merriam-Webster, as of Nov 2026). Cambridge Dictionary lists parking space and parking place as well (Cambridge Dictionary, as of Nov 2026).

StallOne marked-off place

One sense of stall in Merriam-Webster is "a space marked off for parking a motor vehicle" (Merriam-Webster, as of Nov 2026).

Parking slotOne vehicle's place, in Indian news writing

The Times of India reported that K-RERA, Karnataka's real estate regulator, would tell builders to specify the exact parking slots in sale agreements (The Times of India, as of Jan 2026), and that an AI app would guide drivers to empty parking slots in Ahmedabad (The Times of India, as of May 2026).

Which word to use where

In the United States, say parking lot for the area and parking space or parking spot for one car’s place. In Britain, say car park for the area and parking space for the place. In Indian news writing you’ll also see parking slot for the single place.

In a lease, permit, sign or listing, pick one word for the single place and use it every time, so nobody wonders whether a “stall” and a “space” are different things.

Running a parking lot?