Moving Van Sizes

When you’re looking to rent a van, size matters. If you get a van that’s too big, you’re paying more than you have to. Get a van that’s too small, and you won’t be able to fit all of your stuff in it. Question is, how can you figure out which size is right for you?

There are two strategies. The first one’s pretty easy, and should work for most people. The second strategy is for people who want to be precise, or people who have oddly-shaped objects.

The first way to do it is by looking at the number of rooms in your house. If you’re moving from a studio apartment, a cargo van or 10’ van should do the trick. For three rooms, you’ll want a 15’ truck. Five rooms require a 20’ truck, while eight rooms would require a 26’ truck.

These are just generalized numbers, though. You’ll want to check the website of your moving van company and see what they have to offer.

Also, keep in mind that these are rough numbers. If you think you have more furniture than the average person, you might want to try the second strategy.

The second strategy is to find out in cubic feet the amount of space a cargo van has. Generally, each room should require 150-200 cubic feet, but if you have any oddly-shaped furniture, you’ll want to measure it for yourself.

Some websites offer calculators to help you figure out which size van you need.

Whichever strategy you choose, make sure to count the furniture that’s outside in your equation: patio furniture, barbecue grills, etc. all need to be included.

For your convenience, we’ve listed the some of the sizes for Penske and U-Haul trucks below. They’re listed by length, width, and then height.

U-Haul Sizes

9’ Cargo Van: 9’2″ x 5’7-1/2″ x 4’5″

15’ Truck: 14’6″ x 7’8″ x 7’2″

20’ Truck: 19’6″ x 7’8″ x 7’2″

26’ Truck: 26’5″ x 7’8″ x 8’3″

Penske Sizes

12’ Truck: 12′ x 6’5″ x 6′

16’ Truck: 16′ x 7’8″ x 6’5″

22’ Truck: 21’3″ x 7’8″ x 8’1″

26’ Truck: 25’2″ x 7’8″ x 8’1″