Moving Truck Size Calculator: What Size Truck Do I Need?
A 1 bedroom apartment usually fits a 10 ft truck (about 356 cubic feet), a 2 bedroom a 15 ft truck (about 478) and a 3 bedroom house a 20 ft truck (about 788), at an average amount of belongings. Enter your rooms to see your own cubic feet and a fits, tight or too small verdict for every truck size.
Suggested truck
15 ft truck
About 478 cubic feet to move (44 boxes plus furniture, with space for loading gaps)
One trip with the 15 ft truck.
- Cargo van250 cu ft, 191% fullToo small3 trips
- 10 ft truck400 cu ft, 120% fullToo small2 trips
- 15 ft truck750 cu ft, 64% fullFits
- 20 ft truck1,000 cu ft, 48% fullFits
- 26 ft truck1,600 cu ft, 30% fullFits
A cargo van is too small for 478 cu ft: it would take about 3 trips.
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How the truck estimate works
We add up the volume of your boxes and your furniture, then divide by 0.8, because loading gaps mean you can only fill about 80% of a truck. We then pick the smallest truck whose typical capacity is at least 10% above that number. That headroom is the difference between "it all went in" and a couch left on the curb.
The numbers use the same engine as the moving box calculator, so the box count and the truck always agree. Set your furniture level to Full if you own a lot of large pieces, such as a sectional, a king bed and a big dining table.
Truck sizes compared
Capacities are typical figures for rental trucks in each class, rounded. Real models vary by company, so treat them as a guide. "Fits up to" is the largest load that still keeps 10% headroom.
| Truck class | Typical capacity | Fits up to | Usually suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 250 cu ft | 227 cu ft | a studio or a few large items |
| 10 ft truck | 400 cu ft | 363 cu ft | a studio or 1 bedroom |
| 15 ft truck | 750 cu ft | 681 cu ft | 1 to 2 bedrooms |
| 20 ft truck | 1,000 cu ft | 909 cu ft | 2 to 3 bedrooms |
| 26 ft truck | 1,600 cu ft | 1,454 cu ft | 3 to 5 bedrooms |
What size truck by home size
The middle column is the truck at average belongings; the others show how a minimal or a full home moves the answer. If you sit near the edge of a range, take the bigger truck: renting one size up usually costs far less than a second trip.
| Home type | Cubic feet (minimal to full) | Minimal | Average | Full |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 213 to 368 | Cargo van | 10 ft truck | 15 ft truck |
| 1 bedroom apartment | 279 to 477 | 10 ft truck | 10 ft truck | 15 ft truck |
| 2 bedroom apartment | 373 to 631 | 15 ft truck | 15 ft truck | 15 ft truck |
| 3 bedroom house | 605 to 1,032 | 15 ft truck | 20 ft truck | 26 ft truck |
| 4 bedroom house | 879 to 1,523 | 20 ft truck | 26 ft truck | 26 ft truck + cargo van |
| 5+ bedroom house | 1,053 to 1,819 | 26 ft truck | 26 ft truck | 26 ft truck, 2 trips |
Cargo van or truck?
A cargo van drives like a big car, parks in most spaces and is cheaper to run, but it holds about 250 cubic feet, roughly a studio with few large items. A truck holds more per trip and has a ramp or a low deck on many models, which matters for a mattress and a couch. If you have more than a bed, a small couch and about 20 boxes, you are in truck territory.
Two van trips are not always cheaper than one truck trip once you count the second return and the time. Compare the rental price per day, the mileage and the fuel for your distance before you decide.
When one truck is not enough
If the load plus headroom is above the largest class (about 1,454 cubic feet), the calculator shows the number of trips. A common answer for a large house is one 26 ft truck plus a cargo van, or the same truck twice. Moving some things by car, selling the furniture you do not love and moving boxes in the weeks before can bring you back to a single truck.
How to load a moving truck
- Load the heaviest items first (dressers, appliances, boxes of books) against the front wall, over the axle.
- Build tight walls of boxes floor to ceiling, with large boxes at the bottom and light ones on top.
- Stand mattresses and sofas on their long edge along the walls, and wrap them in blankets or bags.
- Fill the gaps with soft items such as pillows and bags, so nothing slides.
- Strap the load every few feet and keep the last items easy to unload first: the bed, the box of essentials, the tool kit.
Tips for choosing and booking
- Book early for the end of the month and for weekends from May to August, when trucks sell out in many cities.
- Ask whether the price includes a ramp, a tow option, mileage and fuel, and what insurance covers.
- If you are towing a car, check the truck can do it before you commit to a size.
- Furniture blankets, a hand truck and straps are usually extra and worth having.
Questions people ask
What size U-Haul for a 1 bedroom apartment?
Usually a 10 ft truck. Our estimate for a 1 bedroom apartment with an average amount of belongings is about 356 cubic feet, which fits a 10 ft truck with room to spare; with full belongings (477 cu ft) it moves up to a 15 ft truck. Rental companies publish their own sizes, for example U-Haul's 10' truck, and they sit in the same class as the generic 10 ft truck used here. This is a general guide and not a booking tool; check the company's own size guide before you reserve.
What size moving truck do I need for a 2 or 3 bedroom house?
A 2 bedroom home at average belongings is about 478 cubic feet, which suits a 15 ft truck. A 3 bedroom house is about 788 cubic feet, which needs a 20 ft truck; a full 3 bedroom house (1,032 cu ft) needs a 26 ft truck. A 4 bedroom house usually needs the 26 ft truck.
Cargo van or truck for a studio?
A studio with minimal belongings (213 cubic feet) can go in a cargo van, which holds about 250 cubic feet. A studio with an average amount of belongings (271 cubic feet) is slightly too much for a van and fits a 10 ft truck. Choose the van if you have few large items and can do a second run; choose the truck if you have a full-size mattress, a couch and a table.
How do I know if everything will fit?
Check the number, then check the shape. Our estimate adds 10% headroom and counts only about 80% of a truck's space as usable, which is how a real load packs. Measure your biggest pieces (couch, mattress, dresser) against the truck's inside length and door height, load the heavy things first against the front wall, and stack boxes floor to ceiling. If the result says "tight", rent the next size up or plan a second trip.