Whether you’re attempting an across-town move, or you’re moving entire cities, chances are you will need a moving truck or van. But how do you know which size of moving truck is right for you? This article will provide you with Penske, U-Haul, and Budget moving truck size charts, as well as other considerations you need to take when selecting a moving van size.
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Importance of Choosing the Right Moving Truck Size
Choosing the right size moving vehicle is extremely important. If you pick too small of a moving truck, you could run into some potential issues. For instance, you may not be able to fit everything into the truck and need to take multiple trips. Multiple trips mean you will be spending more time on your move, potentially costing you more in terms of labor-hours, gas, and miles. While a bigger moving truck size may cost more upfront, it may save you in the long term if you can fit all of your belongings in one trip.
How to Determine the Correct Moving Truck Size
So how do you know which moving truck size is the right one? Before you begin to start thinking about what size moving truck you need, it’s a good idea to get started on the moving process by organizing and packing everything up.
Once you have everything packed, you may want to use an online calculator to determine how much cubic space you will need. This will be very helpful in determining moving truck size. Penske offers a feature on their website called Penske Truck Wizard. This feature lets you add the different furniture items and boxes you will be bringing with you and calculates which Penske moving truck would best suit your needs.
Penske, U-Haul, and Budget Moving Truck Sizes
When selecting a moving truck, there are several different options to choose from. Moving companies like Penske, U-Haul and Budget all offer a variety of different moving vehicle sizes. The moving truck size chart below compares the various options, along with providing capacity recommendations according to each company.
| Penske | U-Haul | Budget | |
| Pickup Trucks | – | Open Bed Truck Small Loads / Studio Apartments | – |
| Cargo Vans | Enclosed Van Up to 1 Room | Enclosed Van Studio Apartments / Deliveries | Enclosed Van 1 Room / Studio Home |
| Small Trucks | 12′ Truck 1 – 2 Rooms | 10′ Truck Studio / 1 Bedroom Apartment | 12′ Truck 1 – 2 Rooms / Studio Apartment |
| Medium Trucks | 16′ Truck 2 – 3 Rooms | 15′ Truck 1 Bedroom Home / 2 Bedroom Apartment | 16′ Truck 3 – 4 Rooms / 1 Room Home |
| Large Trucks | 22′ Truck 3 – 5 Rooms | 20′ Truck 2 Bedroom Home / 3 Bedroom Apartment | – |
| Extra Large Trucks | 26′ Truck 5 – 7 Rooms | 26′ Truck 3 – 4 Bedroom Homes | 26′ Truck 5 – 8 Rooms / 2 – 3 Bedroom Homes |
For more information on a specific truck’s features, be sure to check out the company’s website. Penske offers a side-by-side moving truck size comparison chart with a variety of different features to filter by. U-Haul has a “Choose The Right Size Moving Truck” feature that allows you to select up to three trucks to compare. Finally, Budget offers size recommendations as well as detailed information on each of their individual trucks.
Other Considerations
Room Capacity
If you are uncertain of how much cubic space your belongings will take up, starting with room capacity is the next best place to start when determining moving van size. A smaller truck, such as Penske’s High-Roof Cargo Van or Budget’s 12-Foot Truck could satisfy small moves of only one to two rooms. Larger moves of two to three rooms, three to five rooms, or even five to seven rooms, will need larger trucks, such as U-Haul’s 26 Foot Truck.
Round-Trip or One Way?
Another consideration is whether or not you will be able to return the truck to the location you picked it up from. For instance, the High-Roof Cargo Van is only available for round-trip, while the 22-Foot Truck is only available for one-way travel. When selecting a moving truck or van size, be sure to note which ones have round-trip or one-way capability.
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Extra Features
In addition to square footage, room capacity, and whether or not you will be traveling one-way or round-trip, there may be other factors that influence your decision when selecting a moving van size. For instance, only the 22 Foot and 26 Foot Trucks offer vehicle towing. This may be something to take into consideration if you plan on bringing a vehicle with you, and driving or shipping it is not an option.
Additionally, the High-Roof Cargo Van and the 12 Foot Truck do not come with a loading ramp. So if you have heavy furniture or items that may need dollies, then these truck sizes may not be the right fit for you.
While fuel type may not be a huge consideration for everyone looking to rent a moving truck, it is worth noting some size trucks only take diesel. Both the 22-Foot and 26-Foot Trucks take diesel fuel and a fuel tank with up to a 70-gallon capacity.
I am originally from a small town in Western Maryland. Currently, I am a senior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington studying Communication and Pre-Law, and will be attending law school in Cincinnati in the fall. In my free time I love to try out new coffee shops, go to the beach with my friends, and spend quality time with my family.
