It’s just as crucial to choose the perfect moving truck size as it is to pack your truck properly. Everything you load inside your truck could be jeopardized if your truck is the wrong size, huge, or little. Keep in mind that renting a larger truck is more expensive than renting a smaller one.

You’ll require a truck that is custom-made for you. Take inventory of everything you’re moving and figure out how much space it will take up (this is something we’ll help you with).

Continue reading to acquire all of the information and resources you’ll need to choose the right truck size for your relocation.

Cost considerations

Before we get started sizing out your place, you should know that, aside from the truck size, practically all rentals have similar characteristics that will affect your ultimate payment. In general, pricing is determined by distance, where you want to drop it off vs. the amount of time you rent your moving truck, where you picked it up, and whether or not you choose to tow your automobile with your rental.

You could also include extras like furniture padding and hand trucks. You can also purchase protection coverage for both your goods and the rental truck, as scratching up a rental car can be costly.

However, the starting price will be decided by the size of the truck you require.

Understanding the Different Sizes of Moving Trucks

As you prepare to choose a moving truck for your belongings, start by asking yourself the following questions.

• What is the size of your new residence?
• What is the size of your current home?
• How many goods will you be transporting?
• How much space do your belongings occupy in terms of volume?
• What’s the distance between you and your destination?

Most moving firms rate their trucks according to cubic feet and the number of rooms in your new house. While this is a unique rule of thumb, we recommend choosing a larger truck unless you know exactly how much space your belongings would take up in one. Let’s face it: most of us aren’t spatial magicians capable of quickly calculating cubic volume.

So, how big should your truck be? While each circumstance is unique (and you do not have to meet all of the requirements to rent a truck), we have some essential tips.

Pick-up trucks

You could get away with renting a pick-up truck if you only have a few items to move (think: a few boxes and a twin mattress). They’re great for those relocating from or to dorm rooms or a tiny studio. Expect 76 cubic feet of space and a maximum weight load of little under 2,000 pounds.

Cargo van

A cargo van is usually sufficient for the studio apartment mover with a full-size or queen-sized bed. It’s also referred to as one of the most fuel-efficient solutions for individuals moving a small number of objects, especially locally. Expect a space volume of 245 cubic feet and a maximum weight load of 4,000 pounds.

Small Truck:

• Apartment with one bedroom
• 1 – 700 sq. ft. space
• Five or fewer pieces of furniture
• 1 – 3,000 pounds and 400-450 cubic feet of possessions
• 50 or fewer boxes

Medium-sized truck: 

• House with two bedrooms
• 700 – 1,200 sq. ft. space
• Ten or fewer pieces of furniture
• 3,000 – 4,500 pounds or 650-850 cubic feet of possessions
• 100 or fewer moving boxes

Large Truck:

• House with three bedrooms
• 1,200 – 1,600 sq. ft. space
• 15 or fewer pieces of furniture
• 4500 – 6500 pounds or 900-1400 cubic feet of possessions
• 150 or fewer moving boxes

As previously said, if your belongings surpass our recommended truck size limits, you should probably use a professional moving company, as you may not be able to safely and legally drive the largest size truck.

Examine Your Personal Belongings

Moving truck rental firms specify the size of their trucks so that you may determine whether or not the truck you’ve chosen is capable of loading your stuff.

You must first calculate how many belongings you have to relocate to choose the appropriate size. These figures are based on the bare essentials for each area, such as a chair and a sofa for a living room. Next, make sure you declutter your home and get rid of anything you don’t need.

You can make an inventory of your personal items to determine how much you’ll need to move. For improved outcomes, consider the following suggestions:

• Determine the size, type, and number of furniture
• The Number Of Large Appliances, Cupboards, And Shelves
• The Total Number Of Delicate Objects
• The Overall Volume Of All Household Belongings Being Relocated
• Appropriate Number Of Carton Boxes.

Step-by-step instructions for deciding what size truck you’ll require for your move:

Step 1: Create a list of everything you’ll need to transport.

Begin by making a list of everything that needs to get into the truck. This includes keeping track of everything from linens to antiquities.

Step 2: Calculate the moving truck’s size.

Online calculators, like Penske Truck Wizard, allow you to enter all of the items you intend to transport in order to be matched with a moving truck with adequate cubic feet to finish the task.

Step 3: Get in touch with a truck rental company.

It’s time to contact a truck rental firm for a price quote and truck availability after establishing how many boxes and furniture pieces you’ll be moving. Next, describe your load and the objects you’ll be transporting. Next, inquire about loading strategies and how to pack a truck properly. Finally, learn how the leasing rate works. Is it by the mile or by the kilometer? How about by the hour?

Step 4: Create a list of moving truck firms to compare.

Make sure you contact numerous moving truck rental companies. Create a list of the sizes they offer, the capacities they have, the prices they charge, and whether or not they have to tow or load ramp capacity.

Step-5: Calculate the number of bedrooms

The amount of bedrooms in your home is the simplest way to get a general estimate of what size moving truck you’ll need. The moving truck rental firm will most likely offer a recommendation for which truck sizes to use for various numbers of bedrooms, but here’s a basic rule of thumb:

• Cargo van, pick-up truck, or small moving truck for studio apartment
• 1-2 bedrooms: 15-foot moving truck
• 2-3 bedrooms: 20-foot moving truck
• Four or more bedrooms: 26-foot moving truck

Getting a More Accurate Moving Truck Size Estimate

Begin packing as soon as possible.

One of the most complex tasks of relocating is estimating how many boxes you’ll need for everything in your home. Starting packing as soon as possible is one method to understand better. Once you’ve boxed up all of your non-essentials, you’ll have a better idea of how many additional boxes you’ll need to pack everything you’ll need until the day of your move. In addition, you’ll have a fair idea of how much space you’ll need inside your moving truck if you add up the cubic square footage of all those boxes (including furniture and heavy objects that you’re not going to box up).

Make a list of everything.

If you want to be more concise with your moving truck size estimate, the first step is to create a list of everything you plan to move.

Begin with larger goods, such as mattresses, appliances, and bulky furniture. Then, move on to smaller goods and stuff that will be moved in boxes once those are all mentioned. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to convert your inventory list into a cubic-footage estimate on your own unless you’re a moving specialist. Still, you can take your list to the truck rental business, and it will help them better gauge what size truck you’ll need.

Sort your items into groups.

Large furniture items should be clustered (or even stacked) in each room of your home, just as they would be on a moving truck. This will take some time and effort, but it will help you picture how much space your possessions will take up when you’re in a limited location. You’ll have a decent starting point for how much space your larger goods will require on the truck if you measure the cluster in each room and add them all together. Remember to include extra space for tiny goods and cartons in your estimate.

Bonus Tip

Before looking for moving trucks, get rid of any unnecessary household items so you can relocate your entire household in one go. Additionally, decluttering will assist you in not only saving time and effort when packing but also in booking an appropriate truck size that will not exceed your budget.

Get moving

If you’re still confused about the size of truck rental you need, you can ask your local provider for advice. You’ll almost certainly speak with someone who deals with movers daily. When in doubt, overestimate the size you’ll need for longer moves to avoid incurring numerous trips’ fees.