The quick answer
Most rental companies offer box trucks from about 10 feet to 26 feet long. These are the usual rules of thumb:
| Truck | Usually fits |
|---|---|
| 10 ft | A studio, dorm room or small one-bedroom |
| 15 to 17 ft | A one-bedroom or a lightly furnished two-bedroom |
| 20 to 22 ft | A two-bedroom or a typical three-bedroom |
| 26 ft | A three- to five-bedroom house |
Sizes and names vary a little between U-Haul, Penske and Budget, so check the company's own size guide before you book.
Count rooms, not just bedrooms
Bedroom counts are a shortcut. A home office, a full garage, a sunroom or a basement full of storage can add as much as another bedroom. Count every furnished room.
When to size up
If you are stuck between two sizes, take the bigger one. A second trip costs more in time, fuel and mileage than the jump to the next truck, and a half-empty back is easy to fix with good tie-downs.
Size up if you have a sectional, a large dining set, a piano, gym equipment or a garage full of tools.
How the load affects the size
A well-packed truck holds a lot more than a loosely packed one. Building the load in tight tiers from floor to ceiling is how a two-bedroom fits in a truck that looked too small. That is the part a loading crew does for you.
Want a crew to do the lifting?
Send the details and we will get back to you with a price.