What size moving truck do I need?
A bedroom count is only a shortcut. The useful question is how much packed space your actual furniture and boxes need. Start with an inventory, allow for loading gaps, and compare that range with the vehicle’s interior volume and payload.
Estimate truck space — free, with no account.
Estimate the load before choosing a length
Measure large pieces as they will travel: assembled, dismantled, or wrapped. An 84 × 36 × 34 inch sofa occupies a rectangular envelope of about 59.5 cubic feet. That envelope is not all solid material, but the surrounding space is not always reusable.
Count boxes separately. Twenty medium boxes at an illustrative 3 cubic feet each add 60 cubic feet. Our calculator shows the room assumptions and lets you remove furniture or replace a room’s box estimate with your own count.
| Part of the load | What to record |
|---|---|
| Furniture | Outer dimensions after any planned disassembly |
| Boxes | Actual count and approximate external size |
| Awkward items | Non-stackable pieces, fragile shapes, and access constraints |
| Weight | Heavy items that could reach payload before volume |
Compare published volume, not just truck length
For orientation, U-Haul publishes these example cargo volumes. Other fleets, models, and usable floor shapes differ; a nominal length is not a universal capacity specification. Our calculator compares the upper end of its range with these examples.
| Example category | Published volume |
|---|---|
| Cargo van | 245 cu ft |
| 10 ft truck | 402 cu ft |
| 15 ft truck | 764 cu ft |
| 20 ft truck | 1,016 cu ft |
| 26 ft truck | 1,682 cu ft |
A worked example with room to load
Suppose your measured furniture envelopes and boxes total 500 cubic feet. Our planning model adds 10–35% for packing gaps and rounds up in 25-cubic-foot steps. The resulting range is 550–675 cubic feet. The upper bound fits within the 764-cubic-foot comparison example.
That result does not prove the load fits. A long sofa may conflict with the floor layout, and books or equipment can make weight the limiting factor. The model has no measured accuracy rate; its buffer is an explicit planning assumption, not a confidence interval.
Before booking
Ask for the current interior dimensions, door opening, payload, and any restrictions on the items you intend to carry. Check that the loading ramp or lift is suitable for the load and that someone can drive the vehicle.
If your range straddles two sizes, compare the larger vehicle with a second trip. Include extra mileage, fuel, return time, and availability in that decision. For a one-way move, a second trip may not be practical.
- Measure the largest pieces against the actual opening.
- Check parking, height clearances, and loading access.
- Treat pianos, safes, and unusually heavy equipment as separate handling decisions.
Sources and scope
Linked provider and agency pages support the specific claims above. General organizing suggestions and worked examples were prepared for this site. Provider specifications may change.