Written By Karen Bodkin
Moving Truck Size Calculator and Guide
Before you start lifting boxes, it helps to have a clear plan. We recommend using our interactive tool below to get a customized estimate for your specific situation.
How to Use the Calculator
To get a recommendation that actually fits your move, just follow these quick steps. Keep in mind that this calculator is here for estimation purposes only.
- Select your home size: Tell us how many bedrooms you have and about how much square footage you are working with.
- Tell us about your style: Are you a minimalist who keeps things light, a packrat with treasures in every corner, or somewhere right in the middle? Knowing your lifestyle helps us understand how much stuff you are dealing with.
- Don’t forget the big stuff: Check off any of those bulky items that need a little extra elbow room, like your fridge, gym equipment, or all those items tucked away in your garage.
- See your match: The tool will instantly suggest the truck size that best fits your unique move.
How We Estimate Your Moving Truck Size
We estimate your moving truck size using a practical, real-world approach because we’ve helped thousands of people move, so we know what trucks work best for different situations. Instead of making you list every single lamp, book, or coffee mug, we start with the number of bedrooms you have and adjust based on your lifestyle. Whether you travel light or tend to hold onto everything you love, we factor that energy into the math.
You can also add in those oversized items that take up a lot of space, like heavy appliances or workout gear. From there, we calculate your total estimated cubic footage and recommend the smallest truck size that fits your belongings. We even include a built-in buffer so you can avoid the stress of realizing your truck is too small on moving day.
Factors That Impact The Moving Truck Size You Need
Several factors go into choosing the right vehicle size. While your belongings are the biggest factor, where you are moving and how you will park the truck also matter. As you’re contemplating which truck size to get, consider these factors that affect your total volume.
Lifestyle and Decluttering
Your lifestyle plays a huge part when you’re figuring out how big a moving truck you need. A minimalist living in a 2-bedroom apartment might only have a few pieces of furniture, while a hobbyist or a collector might have that same apartment filled to the rafters. The more people who live in your home, the more things you’ll have too, and that’s especially true for children.
This is where a good pre-move decluttering comes in handy. If you skip this stepand pack up everything you own (even if you don’t want or use it), you’ll need a bigger, more expensive truck. Taking a little time to donate or toss things you haven’t touched in ages can shrink the truck size you need. It’s a great way to save a bit of money on the rental and fuel, too.
Bulky Items
Things like large appliances, a sectional couch, or a treadmill take up a lot of cubic footage that your standard boxes just don’t account for.
We always suggest being picky about what makes the cut before you move. If that old treadmill is mostly serving as a clothes rack these days, it might be smart to sell it rather than pay for the extra truck space to haul it across the country. Trimming down these big items is a smart way to keep your move simple and your budget happy.
Packing Style
How you pack and stack your boxes is more important than you might think. If you use uniform box sizes and fill in the small gaps with soft items like blankets or pillows, you’ll fit way more into the truck. On the other hand, if things are a bit more disorganized, you will end up with awkward shapes and wasted space, which might mean you need a larger truck than someone who packed more efficiently.
Distance and Move Type
If you are just moving down the street, a smaller truck might be fine because a second trip isn’t a big deal. You still want to avoid it because of the extra time and fuel adding to your costs, but it is doable. For those long-distance moves, you’ll want to fit everything in one trip. Choosing a slightly larger truck is usually the simpler, cheaper option in the long run. After all, every extra trip adds more miles, more gas, and more of your precious time.
Accessibility and Parking
One last thing to keep in mind is where that truck actually has to park. A massive truck might not fit in a narrow driveway or a tight apartment loading dock. Also, some cities are pretty strict about parking permits for larger vehicles on the street. It’s a good idea to do a quick, friendly check with your building manager or neighborhood association before your move day to avoid delays or parking fines. You should also give a heads up to your new and current neighbors about the moving truck in case they need to make arrangements for their own vehicles.
How to Choose a Moving Truck by Home Size
Most rental companies carry a standard set of truck sizes based on the length of the cargo area, but the total cubic feet of space is what truly matters when you are deciding what size moving truck you need. While standard guidelines are helpful, remember that a family of four in a 3-bedroom house will almost always need more space than a single person living in that same square footage.
If your home is fully furnished or you have lived there for many years and accumulated a lot of belongings, we always suggest leaning toward the larger option. It is a professional best practice to have a bit of breathing room rather than trying to cram everything into a space that is too small.
To help you get started, here is a look at the typical truck sizes recommended for different types of homes.
Typical Moving Truck Size by Bedroom Count
| Home Size | Typical Truck Size |
|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom Apartment | 15 ft |
| 2 Bedroom Apartment | 20 ft |
| 2 Bedroom House | 26 ft |
| 3 Bedroom House | 26 ft |
| 4 Bedroom House | 26 ft |
| 5 Bedroom House | 26 ft |
Source: MovingPlace Moving Truck Size Calculator
When you are looking for a moving truck size calculator, it is important to understand how different lifestyles (like being a minimalist versus a packrat) can affect which vehicle you choose. For instance, a very small load like a dorm room or a walk-in closet might not even require a truck; a cargo van is often a better fit for those mini-moves.
How Big of a Home Fits Into Each Moving Truck Size?
| Truck Size | Typical Capacity (Cubic Feet) | Home Size |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo Van | 200-250 cu ft | Closet or Dorm Room |
| 10’ Moving Truck | 400-500 cu ft | Studio or small 1-bedroom |
| 15’ Moving Truck | 500-800 cu ft | 1 bdrm apartment |
| 20’ Moving Truck | 815-995 cu ft | 2 bdrm apartment |
| 26’ Moving Truck | 1015-1615 cu ft | 3-5 bdrm house |
Source: MovingPlace Moving Truck Size Calculator
Is It Better to Get a Bigger Moving Truck?
It is very common to find yourself caught between two different sizes while using a moving truck size calculator. You might wonder if it is safer to just size up to be on the safe side. Generally, if you are unsure how big a moving truck you need, lean toward the larger option to avoid taking a second trip.
The Pros of Sizing Up
- Fewer trips: Fitting everything in one go is essential, especially for long-distance moves where a second trip simply isn’t an option.
- Easier loading: Having a little extra room means you won’t feel pressured to stack heavy furniture in risky ways just to make it all fit.
- Extra space for last-minute items: A little more space is a lifesaver for those items that always seem to appear after the truck is full, like plants, floor lamps, or the vacuum.
- Lower risk of damage: When your belongings aren’t crammed together, there is less friction and pressure during the drive, which keeps everything much safer during transit. Just make sure there’s cushioning between boxes and furniture so they don’t knock into each other.
The Cons of Sizing Up
While having extra room is a relief, there are a few things to keep in mind if you go much larger than you actually need:
- A bit more on the bill: Larger trucks generally come with a higher daily rental rate, which is something to consider if you are sticking to a tight budget.
- The big rig learning curve: Let’s be honest, driving a massive truck can be a little intimidating. They are trickier to navigate through narrow neighborhood streets and even harder to park when you reach your new front door.
- More stops at the pump: Because they are heavier and catch more wind, those bigger trucks tend to use more fuel, which can add up on a long trip.
Tips for Renting the Perfect Size Moving Truck
You have a lot to consider when finding the right fit. To help you keep your moving day as smooth as possible, we’ve put together a few professional secrets to help you master your space. Use these expert tips to ensure you have exactly enough room:
- Leave a 10% margin: It is always a good idea to aim for a little extra space to account for those last-minute items that might have been missed when using a moving truck size calculator.
- Take a walk-through: Instead of guessing, take a stroll through your home with a notepad. Jot down your big furniture pieces first, then estimate your box count to get a realistic feel for the volume of your life you are packing up.
- Don’t forget to use all the space: Most rental trucks have a handy little compartment over the cab, sometimes also called Mom’s Attic. It is the perfect spot for fragile items or smaller boxes, which helps free up the main floor for your heavier belongings.
- Declutter as much as you can: If you haven’t used an item in over a year, do you really want to pay for the truck space to move it? Decluttering before you pack is a brilliant way to save money on your rental and fuel costs.
- Stack it like a pro: To make the most of every inch, keep your heavy items on the floor and stack your lighter boxes to the ceiling.
