What Size Moving Truck Do I Need? Free Calculator

Moving to a new home? Our interactive moving truck calculator helps you determine the perfect truck size for your needs. Whether you're moving a studio apartment or a 4-bedroom house, this tool considers all your furniture, boxes, and special items to recommend the ideal vehicle.

How it works:

Add your items using the interactive form
Specify quantities and special handling needs
Get instant truck recommendations
View detailed space requirements and safety tips

Our calculator factors in real-world moving considerations like weight distribution, fragile items, and loading efficiency. Start by adding your first item below!

What size truck do I need for my move?

📦 Your Moving Requirements:

Total Volume: 0.00 ft³

Total Weight: 0.00 lbs

🚚 Recommended Truck:

Complete Moving Truck Size Guide

Small Truck (16')

Ideal for studio apartments or 1-2 bedroom moves

Capacity: 800 cubic feet
Weight Limit: 3,000 lbs
Best For: Studio apartments, dorm rooms
Fits: Queen bed, sofa, 10-15 boxes

Medium Truck (24')

Perfect for 2-3 bedroom homes

Capacity: 1,500 cubic feet
Weight Limit: 6,000 lbs
Best For: Family homes, small offices
Fits: Full furniture set + appliances

Large Truck (26')

For 3-4 bedroom houses

Capacity: 2,000 cubic feet
Weight Limit: 10,000 lbs
Best For: Large families, complete moves
Fits: Whole house + garage items

Key Considerations

Add 15% extra space for safe loading
Heavy items go first near the cab
Check height restrictions on your route
Always secure your load properly

How to Choose the Perfect Moving Truck Size: Your Complete Guide

Why Truck Size Selection Matters

Choosing the right moving truck size is crucial for both cost efficiency and safety. According to industry data:

📉 42% of movers overpay for unnecessary truck space
⚠️ 1 in 5 accidents involve improperly loaded trucks
⏱️ Average time wasted on size mistakes: 3.5 hours

Our interactive calculator above helps eliminate these issues by providing precise recommendations based on your actual needs.

Truck Size Breakdown

Small Trucks (10-16 feet)

Ideal for:

Studio apartments
1-bedroom homes
Office relocations (small teams)

Capacity: 400-800 cubic feet
Sample Load:
• Queen bed + mattress
• 3-seater sofa
• 15 medium boxes
• Kitchen essentials

Medium Trucks (17-24 feet)

Perfect for:

2-3 bedroom homes
Small family moves
Business inventory transfers

Capacity: 800-1,600 cubic feet
Sample Load:
• 3 bedroom sets
• Dining room furniture
• Major appliances
• 30+ boxes

Large Trucks (26+ feet)

Needed for:

4+ bedroom houses
Multi-family moves
Commercial relocations

Capacity: 1,700-3,000+ cubic feet
Sample Load:
• Entire home contents
• Garage items
• Outdoor furniture
• Storage unit clearance

5 Essential Calculation Factors

1. Volume Requirements

Calculate using our tool, remembering to:

Add 15% buffer space
Account for awkward shapes (bikes, lamps)
Consider vertical stacking potential

2. Weight Distribution

Heavy items (appliances, books) go first
Max weight limits vary by truck size
Average weight per cubic foot: 7-10 lbs

3. Special Handling Needs

Items requiring extra space:

Grand piano (+50% space)
Aquarium (+100% space)
Artwork (+30% space)

Pro Moving Tips

📦 Smart Packing Strategies

Disassemble furniture where possible
Use uniform box sizes for stacking
Label boxes on multiple sides

⏱️ Time-Saving Hacks

Pre-pack small items 1 week before
Create a "first night" essentials box
Number boxes for easy inventory check

Ready to Find Your Perfect Truck?

Use our calculator at the top of this page to get instant recommendations based on your specific items and needs.

Need More Help?

Contact our moving experts for personalized advice.

Get a Free Quote

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Check out this Move Planner Tool for detailed planning.