What Size Moving Truck Do You Need?

Moving trucks come in a handful of standard sizes, and the right one depends on three things: how much you own, how far it travels in one load, and whether the truck can physically get to your door. This guide gives you the general mapping movers use, so when a quote mentions a 20-footer, you know exactly what's being proposed.

The common sizes, in plain terms

A cargo van handles small loads — a student's room, a few pieces of furniture, a partial move. A 16-foot truck suits a studio or small one-bedroom. A 20-foot truck is the workhorse for two-bedroom apartments and small homes. A 26-foot truck handles three and four-bedroom homes in one trip. These are general industry mappings, not guarantees — a 'minimalist' two-bedroom and a 'collector' two-bedroom are very different loads.

Rooms are a rough ruler — volume is the real one

Movers actually think in volume and weight distribution: dense boxes versus bulky-but-light furniture. A home with a sectional, a king bed, patio set, and garage shelving fills a truck far faster than the bedroom count suggests. This is why accurate inventories matter for pricing, as our cost guide explains — and why an honest walkthrough beats a guess every time.

Access beats size, every time

The best-sized truck is useless if it can't park. Condo loading docks have height and length limits; downtown streets have neither patience nor space; rural driveways outside Ottawa can be soft in spring. In those cases a medium truck doing two trips — or a shuttle arrangement — beats a 26-footer stuck at the curb. Condo dwellers: our apartment and condo guide walks through dock rules in detail.

One trip vs. two: the math nobody expects

A second trip across town on a local move is not a disaster — sometimes it's cheaper than the next truck size up, especially if the addresses are close. What matters is knowing in advance. A mover who sizes the truck during the walkthrough and still mentions 'we may need a second run' is being straight with you; a mover who promises everything fits in a van is not.

Special loads change the plan

Pianos, safes, hot tubs, and oversized sectionals aren't just items — they anchor the loading plan. A piano loads first and rides secured; see our piano moving guide for how specialty pieces shape the truck plan. Mention every oversized item when you quote — the crew and truck are chosen around them.

What to tell your mover

Bedroom count is the start, not the answer. Add: garage or basement contents, patio furniture, anything oversized, and access notes for both addresses (elevator, dock, long driveway, low branches). With that list, sizing the truck is our job — tell us when you request your quote and the right truck shows up the first time.

Renting a truck yourself? Read this first

If you are DIY-ing with a rental, the sizing stakes change: you are the one making extra trips, at rental mileage rates, on your own schedule. Rentals also come in slightly different box lengths than moving-company trucks, and the advertised length includes the cab-over 'attic' space that only fits light, soft items. When in doubt, rent one size up, confirm the inside dimensions rather than the badge, and check what the insurance actually covers. And be honest about the loading: a badly loaded big truck damages more furniture than a well-loaded small one — pads, straps, and a loading plan matter more than raw cubic feet.

Frequently asked questions