Moving Truck Size Calculator
Pick a 10 to 26 ft moving truck from home area and boxes.
What it does
Truck size is a volume call. Too small and the crew loses a day to a second run, too large and furniture slides unless strapped tight.
The tool above turns home area plus box count into load volume. An 800 sq ft home with 20 boxes is 700 ft3, which sits in the 20 ft band with 1 trip. The metric match is 74 m2 with 20 boxes for 19.7 m3.
The 0.8 factor carries the furniture. Living area times 0.8 approximates beds, sofas, and tables as stacked volume, while each box adds 3 ft3. Dense shops and libraries run above the line, spare rooms run below.
Bands keep the pick simple. To 300 ft3 fits a 10 ft truck, to 600 fits 15 ft, to 1000 fits 20 ft, and larger loads need 26 ft. Above 1400 ft3 the plan switches to 2 trips rather than one overloaded box.
Packing decides whether the math holds. Tight tiers, wrapped corners, and straps each meter keep voids out, while loose piles can waste a quarter of the box.
How to use
- Pick imperial (sq ft) or metric (m2).
- Enter home area.
- Enter packed box count.
- Read load volume first.
- Read truck size next.
- Read trip count and book help early.
Formula
- area
- Living area, not garage.
- boxes
- Packed box count.
- volume
- Load volume.
Metric area converts at 10.7639 sq ft per m2, then follows the same bands, with m3 shown at 0.0283168 per ft3. Boxes count as 3 ft3 each either way.
Worked example
Example: 800 sq ft with 20 boxes
Imperial defaults: 800 sq ft home with 20 boxes. These are also the default values, so the page opens on this answer.
- Home: 800 sq ft.
- Boxes: 20 at 3 ft3 each, so 60 ft3.
- Volume: 800 x 0.8 + 60 = 700 ft3.
- Band: 601 to 1000 fits a 20 ft truck.
- Trips: 700 is under 1400, so 1 trip.
- Tool shows 700 ft3, 20 ft truck, 1 trip.
Reference table
| Volume | Truck | Trips |
|---|---|---|
| To 300 ft3 | 10 ft | 1 |
| 301 to 600 ft3 | 15 ft | 1 |
| 601 to 1000 ft3 | 20 ft | 1 |
| Over 1000 ft3 | 26 ft | 1 to 2 |
Limits
- Rule of thumb only. Odd loads need a room by room list.
- Ignores stairs, carries, and elevator time.
- Dense collections break the area factor.
- Prices, fuel, and insurance need separate quotes.
Common mistakes
- Booking by rooms alone with no box count.
- Forgetting garage, patio, and storage unit loads.
- Packing loose and losing a quarter of the box.
- Skipping straps and letting tiers slide.
- Planning one trip for 1400 ft3 plus.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
400 sq ft with 10 boxes?
400 x 0.8 = 320, plus 10 x 3 = 30, so 350 ft3. That fits a 15 ft truck in 1 trip.
1200 sq ft with 40 boxes?
1200 x 0.8 = 960, plus 40 x 3 = 120, so 1080 ft3. That needs a 26 ft truck in 1 trip.
Questions
How many cubic feet is my move?
Multiply home area by 0.8 and add 3 ft3 per box. An 800 sq ft home with 20 boxes is 640 + 60 = 700 ft3, or a 20 ft truck.
Which truck size?
To 300 is 10 ft, 301 to 600 is 15 ft, 601 to 1000 is 20 ft, above is 26 ft. Over 1400 needs 2 trips.
What if I own many books?
Count books, files, and garage tools as boxes. Dense rooms break the area rule faster than bedrooms.
Do stairs change truck size?
Yes. Stairs, long carries, and elevator waits slow loading more than driving. Add help before adding truck.
How do I pack tight?
Wrap wood, pad corners, and strap each tier. Volume math assumes tight tiers with no voids.
Does this price the move?
No. Fuel, tolls, and insurance sit outside load math.