Moving Truck Sizes: How To Choose the Right Truck for Your Move

Planning a move can be a stressful process, but one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is determining what size truck to rent. Too small, and you’ll be making extra trips; too large, and you may be paying for more truck than you need. Let’s break down how to choose the right size truck and how the Penske Truck Wizard can help simplify this decision.

Understanding Truck Measurements

When you look at moving truck options online, you might encounter two types of descriptions: cubic feet and approximations of the number of rooms the truck can hold. Both are helpful in different ways, so let’s explore what they mean.

• Cubic Feet: The volume of a truck is often expressed in cubic feet, which measures the total amount of space available inside the truck. For example, a 12 ft. truck has about 450 cubic feet of space. This is great for those who like to think about their belongings in terms of boxes and furniture. If you’re moving a lot of small items, knowing the cubic feet can help you estimate how much will fit.
• Room Capacity: You can also find an easier-to-digest estimate of how many rooms a truck can hold. You may see this as “a 22 ft. rental truck moves three to five rooms” or “the 12 ft. truck is the right size for moving a dorm or efficiency apartment.” While this is helpful for general planning, keep in mind that these are approximations. Everyone’s household differs, and if you have a lot of bulky furniture, you may need a bigger truck than what’s suggested for the typical number of rooms.

Common Truck Sizes and Typical Uses

Here’s a quick overview of the types of trucks available for rent and what they’re commonly used for:

• Cargo Van: The right size for moving large appliances and furniture or a studio apartment. This size can typically handle the contents of up to one room and is also great for hauling equipment for DIY projects or furniture you bought online.
• 12-Foot Truck: Ideal for a dorm room or efficiency apartment. This size can typically handle the contents of 1-2 rooms, including basic furniture, boxes and some appliances.
• 16-Foot Truck: A great option for a one-bedroom apartment or a small home. It’s typically enough for 2-3 rooms and is the smallest truck to allow the option of towing your vehicle behind as well.
• 22-Foot Truck: The middle ground for medium-sized moves, with space to fit the furnishings of a 3-5 room home with up to three bedrooms.
• 26-Foot Truck: For larger moves, this moving truck can carry a 5-7 room home with up to five bedrooms. It offers significant cargo space for bigger families or those with a lot of furniture, large appliances and many boxes.

Visit our trucks & vans page for a side-by-side comparison of moving truck sizes and features.

Using the Penske Truck Wizard

Estimating how much space you’ll need can be tricky, especially if you have a variety of belongings in different shapes and sizes. That’s where the Penske Truck Wizard comes in. The Truck Wizard is an easy-to-use online tool designed to take the guesswork out of renting the right size truck for your move.

Here’s how it works:

1. Interactive Experience: The Penske Truck Wizard allows you to choose from a wide range of virtual furniture and household items that you might need to move — everything from beds and couches to TVs and dining tables.
2. Visual Estimation: As you select items room by room, the tool helps you visualize how much space they will take up in the truck. It’s a more accurate way of estimating how much room you’ll need compared to guessing based on the number of rooms.
3. Truck Size Recommendation: Once you’ve selected the items you plan to move, the Truck Wizard will recommend the appropriate truck size for your needs. This recommendation ensures that you don’t end up with a truck that’s too small or unnecessarily large.

Using the Penske Truck Wizard simplifies your planning, making sure you reserve the right truck to move your belongings.

Make Your Move Easier

With Penske’s tools and resources, planning your move can be easy. The Penske Truck Wizard is available online and is just a click away. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, having the right truck makes all the difference.