How to Estimate the Right Size Moving Truck

One of the most difficult things about moving is trying to figure out what size moving truck you need to move your items. If you underestimate and choose a small truck, you will need to make unnecessary trips back and forth to move all of your items. Just as you can choose a truck that is too small, you can choose one that is too large as well and your items will slide around as you drive to and from your new home.

Below, we will go over some tips to help you estimate the right size moving truck for your moving day.

1. Consider How Many Rooms You’re Moving

One of the easiest ways to determine how large of a truck you will need is by the number of rooms you will be moving. One thing to keep in mind is if you are stuck deciding between two sizes of trucks, go with the larger one to ensure you have enough room — you will thank yourself later.

To help you judge room size by truck size, here is a quick reference guide:

1. Studio Apartment — 10-Foot Truck
2. Three Rooms or Less — 15-Foot Truck
3. Four or Five Rooms — 20-Foot Truck
4. Six to Eight Rooms — 26-Foot Truck

2. Consider How Many Large Items You Have

It can be easy to say you have three rooms so you need a 15-foot truck, but you must take into consideration how big all of your items are. For example, if all three rooms have full bedroom sets, you have a grill, a couple of bikes, and some pool toys and equipment, you may need a bigger truck to be able to take all of these items with you.

3. Consider the Square Feet of Your Home

You can consider the square feet of your home when choose a moving truck too. For example, roughly 150 cubic feet of truck space will work out to about one average bedroom size.

If you are having trouble estimating the size truck you need, speak with the truck rental company as they will have a good idea of the truck you need. It helps to evaluate what items are moving with you and which ones are not. For example, you may have three bedroom sets, but you only plan on moving two of them, so only consider the two sets in your calculation.