What Size Moving Truck Do I Actually Need?

Getting truck size wrong means extra trips or wasted rental money. Here's how to get it right.

Start with your home size as a baseline

A studio or 1-bedroom typically needs a 10-12 ft truck or even a cargo van; a 2-3 bedroom home usually needs 16-20 ft; 4+ bedrooms often need 24-26 ft or multiple trips.

Consider furniture density, not just room count

A sparsely furnished 3-bedroom may need less truck than a densely furnished 2-bedroom — think about actual volume, not just square footage.

Don't forget the garage and storage areas

Garages, attics, basements, and storage units often get forgotten when estimating truck size and can significantly add to the total volume.

When in doubt, size up slightly

A truck that's slightly too big costs a bit more to rent but avoids the real cost and stress of a second trip if you underestimate.

Professional movers will confirm during a quote

If you're hiring full-service movers, most offer a walkthrough (in person or virtual) that gives you a far more accurate size and cost estimate than guessing alone.