Every rental company has a chart that says things like "15 ft truck fits a 2-bedroom apartment."Like storage unit charts, these numbers are vague guides at best. Pick the wrong size and you're either making two trips or paying for space you don't need.
The right way to pick a truck is the same as picking a storage unit: start with your actual inventory, not your bedroom count.
How Do You Get a Real Inventory Number?
Call a moving company and ask for an estimate with weight (lbs) or volume (cubic feet). Quick conversion for household goods:
1 cubic foot ≈ 7 lbs.
So 7,000 lbs ≈ 1,000 cu ft. 3,500 lbs ≈ 500 cu ft.
How Do You Match Inventory to a Truck Size?
Here's what actually fits, assuming tight packing (~85% of the cargo cube). Numbers below are averages across U-Haul, Penske, Budget, and Enterprise for that length class.
| Truck Length | Usable cu ft | Weight Fit | Typical Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | ~200 | up to ~1,400 lbs | Studio, dorm, single room |
| 10-12 ft | ~340 | up to ~2,400 lbs | Small 1-bedroom apartment |
| 15-17 ft | ~640 | up to ~4,500 lbs | 1-bedroom, small 2-bedroom |
| 20-22 ft | ~935 | up to ~6,550 lbs | 2-bedroom, small 3-bedroom |
| 26 ft | ~1,445 | up to ~10,100 lbs | 3 to 4-bedroom house |
Assumes ~85% packing efficiency. Real rental trucks vary a bit by brand, but the differences are small within a length class.
Which Truck Length Should You Rent?
The big four rental fleets don't all offer the exact same sizes. If you're landing between sizes, shop around.
- U-Haul: cargo vans, 10 ft, 15 ft, 20 ft, 26 ft
- Penske: 12 ft, 16 ft, 22 ft, 26 ft
- Budget: 12 ft, 16 ft, 22 ft, 26 ft
- Enterprise: 12 ft, 15 ft, 20 ft, 26 ft (availability varies by location)
A Few Things the Calculator Doesn't Capture
- Heavy-dense loads(workshop tools, books, gym equipment) can hit the truck's weight limit before you fill the cube. Check the payload rating.
- Tall items (tall dressers, wardrobes, standing lamps) need vertical clearance. Most rental cargo boxes are 7 to 8 ft tall.
- Loading angle matters. A ramp at a loading dock is different from a steep driveway ramp at your house. Plan for dolly access.
Don't want to drive it yourself? Our help-with-loading service packs your rental truck for you. Or, before you book the rental, run the numbers through the moving cost calculator and get a full moving estimate to see if it's cheaper to just have us do the whole thing.