I don't know how much it varies from state to state but it was "within 6 inches" when I took my test many years ago.
From the Calfornia DMV web page on parking: When you park alongside a curb on a level street, the front and back wheels must be parallel and within 18 inches of the curb. Park parallel to the street if there is no curb.
MARYLAND DRIVER'S HANDBOOK Parallel Parking When parking on a two-way roadway, you must park parallel to and within 12 inches of the curb or the edge of the roadway. When you take the test for your driver's license, you will have to show the examiner that you can park in a parallel parking space 6 feet wide and 25 feet long. This is a timed exercise.
In New Jersey, vehicles must be parked within 6 inches of the curb. Parking too far from the curb can result in a ticket, as it is considered a violation of state parking regulations. Always ensure your vehicle is parallel to the curb and not obstructing traffic.
set the parking brake, turn off the ignition switch and put the vehicle in low gear if your transmission is standard, and park, if it is automatic. The wheels should not be over twelve inches from the curb.
The person giving the test will have the discretion to pass or fail you on your parallel parking test.
When your parking downhill you always turn the wheel to the right no matter if there is a curb or not. When your parking uphill you turn the wheel to the right if there is NO curb. If there is a curb you turn the wheel to the left. Hope it helped.
18 inches
A lot of people will go to a school or church parking lot to practice. Also you can find a quiet road with one or two cars parked at the curb, practice parallel parking behind just one vehicle, then when you're comfortable with how you park behind one vehicle, find two cars to park between.
That you can park for a limited time.
Yellow painted curb means "no parking"
If you refer to the parallel parking part of the "skills" test...it is 25' long and six feet deep. To pass, you have to park within 18" of the "curb." a former WV DMV troop.
12 inches from the curb