Count what you are moving and get the cubic footage, an estimated weight and the smallest rental truck that fits, from a 10 ft truck to a 26 ft truck. Start from a home-size preset, then adjust the counts to match your place.
Last updated:
Furniture and appliances (count)
≈ 60 cu ft each
≈ 45 cu ft each
≈ 20 cu ft each
≈ 35 cu ft each
≈ 5 cu ft each
≈ 50 cu ft each
≈ 25 cu ft each
≈ 20 cu ft each
≈ 15 cu ft each
≈ 45 cu ft each
≈ 25 cu ft each
Boxes and everything else
Medium-box equivalents. A typical room fills 10–20.
cu ft
e.g. upright piano ≈ 70, treadmill ≈ 35, crib ≈ 10.
%
Space lost to gaps and odd shapes. Use 15–20% if you pack loosely.
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Moving Truck Size Calculator
Pick the closest home size from the presets to fill in typical counts.
Adjust the counts of beds, sofas, dressers, appliances and other furniture.
Enter your number of boxes and choose how much is in the garage or yard.
Set a packing allowance: 10% for tight packing, 15–20% for a looser load.
Read the recommended truck and check the comparison table and loading tips.
How the truck size is estimated
Volume = Σ (number of each item × its cubic feet) + boxes × 3 cu ft + garage/yard + other items.
Volume with allowance = volume × (1 + packing allowance). Furniture never stacks perfectly, so a real load needs 10–20% more space than the item total.
Truck = the smallest truck whose cargo capacity is at least the volume with allowance.
Weight ≈ volume × 7 lb, the standard movers use for household goods.
Typical moving truck sizes
Truck
Approx. capacity
Medium boxes it could hold
Typical home
10 ft
400 cu ft
≈ 130
Studio, dorm, small 1-bedroom
15 ft
760 cu ft
≈ 250
1–2 bedroom apartment
16 ft
800 cu ft
≈ 265
2-bedroom apartment or small house
20 ft
1,015 cu ft
≈ 335
2–3 bedroom home
26 ft
1,680 cu ft
≈ 560
3–5 bedroom home
Capacities are typical figures and vary by company and model. Box counts are the space only (capacity ÷ 3 cu ft), not a realistic load mixed with furniture.
Cubic feet of common items
Item
Cu ft
Item
Cu ft
Queen bed with frame
60
Refrigerator
45
Sofa (3 cushion)
45
Washer or dryer
25
Dresser
35
Desk
25
Dining table + 4 chairs
50
Bookcase
20
Armchair / recliner
20
Medium box (18 × 18 × 16 in)
3
Frequently asked questions
What size moving truck do I need?
Add up the cubic feet of everything you are moving, add 10–20% for gaps, and pick the smallest truck with at least that much space. As a rough guide, a 10 ft truck suits a studio, 15–16 ft a 1–2 bedroom apartment, 20 ft a 2–3 bedroom home and 26 ft a 3–5 bedroom home, but your actual belongings matter more than bedroom count.
How many cubic feet are in a moving truck?
Typical published capacities are about 400 cu ft for a 10 ft truck, 760 for 15 ft, 800 for 16 ft, about 1,015 for 20 ft and about 1,680 for 26 ft. Exact figures vary by rental company and model, so check the spec of the truck you reserve.
How many cubic feet does furniture take up?
Common moving estimates are about 60 cu ft for a queen bed with frame, 45 for a sofa, 35 for a dresser, 45 for a refrigerator, 25 each for a washer or dryer and about 3 cu ft per medium box. The calculator uses these cube-sheet values; enter other large items in cubic feet.
How much does my household weigh?
Movers use a standard of about 7 pounds per cubic foot of household goods, so 1,000 cu ft is roughly 7,000 lb. This matters for long-distance quotes and for checking a truck's payload rating.
Is it better to rent a bigger truck or make two trips?
For anything but a very short local move, a size up is usually cheaper than a second trip once you count mileage, fuel and time. If your load is over about 85% of a truck's capacity, consider the next size.
How do I pack a moving truck efficiently?
Load heavy appliances and furniture first against the cab wall, stand mattresses and sofas on end along the sides, then build tight tiers of boxes from floor to ceiling with the heaviest at the bottom. Fill gaps with cushions and soft bags and strap each section.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.