Understanding Moving Truck Sizes and How to Pick the Ideal One for Your Move

Choosing the right moving truck size is very important. If you choose a size too big for your needs, you’ll have to worry about the unnecessary costs. And if you choose a size too small, well, then you won’t have enough space to place all your belongings.

Tl;dr

What are the different sizes of moving trucks?

Moving truck sizes range from 10-foot to 26-foot lengths. A 10-foot truck fits small studio moves, 15-foot for 1-bedroom homes, 20-foot for 2–3 bedrooms, and 26-foot for larger homes with 4 or more bedrooms. Cargo capacity and truck dimensions vary by provider, so always confirm specifications.

Here at Dumbo Moving, we’ve helped conduct thousands of residential and commercial moves. We know the requirements most people have during the moving process and what decisions they end up struggling with.

Keeping that in mind, we want to help you understand how you can pick the best truck size for your next move. We will talk about the various sizes that are typically used for this purpose and how you can choose the ideal one.

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What Does the Size in a Moving Truck Refer to?

The size of a moving truck refers to the size of the storage space in the back. The front cabin is not included in the size. For example, if a truck is 16 feet, it means that the back storage area measures 16 feet in length.

Common Moving Truck Sizes and Their Respective Uses

Here is a list of the common moving truck sizes and their respective uses.

• 12-foot truck: This is typically the smallest truck that you will find available for hire at most moving companies. Some companies also offer a 10-foot truck (us included). Both of these sizes are great for small apartment moves.
• 16-foot truck: The 16-foot truck is suitable for bigger apartments and small houses. They are usually enough for moving 2-bedroom houses or apartments.
• 22-foot truck: This truck size is suitable for moving 3 to 4-bedroom houses. They have quite a bit of space in the back and can be fitted with boxes, furniture, and other larger appliances without a problem.
• 26-foot truck: This is usually the largest truck size that is offered by moving companies. It is suitable for moving a 5 to 7-bedroom house in one go.

Keep in mind that the exact truck sizes can vary from company to company. While the aforementioned ones are common, they are not universal. Instead of a 16-foot truck, some companies may offer a 17-foot truck instead.

How Many Moving Boxes Can Each Truck Size Carry?

Here is a guide on the approximate number of moving boxes that each truck size can carry (assuming standard 18 x 18 x 15-inch box measurements):

The estimations above aren’t strictly based on cubic footage. Instead, they account for real-world factors like irregular cargo space, odd-sized items, and fragility concerns.

Which Size Should I Pick?

Check your inventory and determine the total number of objects/boxes you need to move

Make a list of all the things that you’re going to move and calculate the number of boxes that will be required for them.

Each truck size is suitable for a specific number of boxes. By calculating the total boxes, you can have an accurate idea of which size to pick. For example, a small truck would be suitable for around 30 to 40 boxes while a larger one would be suitable for 60 to 80 boxes. We’ve mentioned the details about this in the section above.

Of course, there are many things that are not transported in boxes during a move, e.g., furniture and appliances.

If there is a mix of both objects like this and boxes, adjust your calculation accordingly. For a small truck with a 30-box limit, you could go with 20 boxes and one piece of furniture. One piece of furniture (or any other similar object) could be equated with multiple boxes, depending on the size.

Once you have made a list of all the items, you can move on to the next step.

Think about where you’re moving—somewhere close or somewhere far

The transportation distance is a major factor that impacts the truck size you should pick. If you’re moving somewhere close by, you could rent a small truck for a low price and then make repeated trips. In this type of situation, making multiple rounds can be more cost-effective than renting a large truck and making one big trip.

However, if you’re moving somewhere far away, such as a different city or town, then multiple trips won’t be practical. In this situation, the bigger truck size would be the better choice.

So, to sum it up, the second question you need to ask yourself is: how far am I moving?

• If the answer to that question is quite far, prioritize hiring a larger-sized truck.
• If the answer to that question is quite near, prioritize hiring a smaller truck.

Consider how you’re being charged

Depending on how you’re being charged, it can sometimes be better to get a bigger truck even for shorter distances.

Think about whether you’re being charged by mileage or by time. If you’re paying according to the total miles traveled, then a bigger truck with a single trip would be cheaper even for shorter distances. Since the total miles traveled would be less, you won’t have to pay a lot.

On the other hand, if you’re renting a truck for a full day and mileage isn’t charged separately, the smaller truck might save you money. You'll have the time to make multiple trips without paying extra.

Truck sizes and their parking considerations

The parking considerations for the moving truck are something that a lot of people don’t think about until the time the truck arrives at their home. It’s more of a “Wait, I didn’t think about that” sort of realization at that point.

Let’s say your home is in the suburbs, situated on a wide open street. In such a setting, a 26-foot truck would have no problem pulling up right at the front door. You can then load up all the stuff and easily go about your move.

But let’s say a customer lives in an apartment complex where the entrance is accessed from a side street. The street isn’t very wide. Parking a 26-foot truck in such a place would not be possible or, at the least, allowed. A smaller truck, or even a moving van, would be more suitable.

So, when choosing the truck size, keep in mind the parking considerations. Make sure that the truck can easily be parked near your home for the time it takes for you to load it up.

Weight limits in moving trucks and why they matter

Another similar factor that many people may not think about beforehand is weight limits on the moving trucks.

The larger the truck, the more weight it can bear. It is possible that a customer may have a few items to move, which may take up little space, but they could be very heavy. While a small truck could be enough in terms of space, it may not be enough in terms of the weight capacity.

One situation, for instance, where this consideration would apply is if you’re moving heavy antique furniture. It could be safer and more reliable to get a bigger truck so that there are no troubles with the weight limit, even if there is a lot of space left over.

Make sure to check the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) before hiring the truck to see if it is suitable for the job.

What Not to Do When Picking a Moving Truck Size

We’ve covered the main tips and tricks on picking the right moving truck size above. There are a few pointers remaining that we don’t want to elaborate in too much detail. But, we also don’t want to omit them altogether. We’re just going to briefly mention them below:

• When calculating the amount of stuff you’re moving, always lean towards overestimating instead of underestimating. When you start the packing process, more and more things can turn up. In the end, you will have a lot more stuff than you might expect.
• Don’t pick a truck size without making arrangements for the right loading equipment. For example, a small truck could be used as it is. The cargo door may be close to the ground, and you’ll be able to lift the boxes, furniture, etc., without any trouble. However, with larger trucks, you may need to get additional loading equipment due to the larger size. If you are choosing a bigger truck, make sure to get the right equipment beforehand.
• Don’t pick a moving truck size without physically seeing it first. It’s possible that the particular company you’re working with has different measurements than the standard followed in the industry. By seeing it first yourself, you will be able to realize whether it is the right fit for your needs or not.

Final Thoughts

And that is where we’re going to end this post.

We hope you enjoyed reading it and learned a thing or two about picking the best moving truck size. The main points to keep in mind, if we want to recap the article quickly, are as follows:

• Check the stuff you want to move. Make an inventory so that you know which truck size would be ideal.
• Think about the distance of the move. If you’re moving nearby, a smaller truck with repetitive trips can be better than getting a larger truck.
• Consider how and where you will park the moving truck when it arrives at your home. This is an important factor to keep in mind that many people don’t think about.
• Keep in mind the weight limits of the various truck sizes. Pick one that is both sufficient in terms of storage and weight capacity.

This post was specifically about choosing the right truck size. However, for more tips on picking the right moving truck in general, check out this article on How to choose the right moving truck on our website.