Which U‑Haul Truck Size Do You Need?

Use room count as your first filter. These ranges come from how people usually pack, and they assume a typical amount of furniture per room. They are approximate, and we confirm current dimensions for each truck when you call.

If you land between two sizes, most people are happier with the larger one. An empty corner in the truck costs less stress than a second trip or a dresser left on the curb.

Room counts are easier to picture when you think about actual furniture. This table shows the kind of load each size typically carries. It is a rough guide, and we confirm current interior dimensions and capacity when you call.

The furniture list matters more than the box count. One sectional can take up as much floor as a big stack of boxes.

Because nobody packs like a size chart. A one-bedroom with a sectional, a king bed, a desk, a treadmill and a full garage holds far more than a one-bedroom with a futon. Size charts are written for an average home, and real homes are rarely average.

Things that push you up a size:

• Garage and patio: tools, bikes, grills, outdoor furniture and storage bins.
• Oversized furniture: sectionals, king beds, armoires, china cabinets.
• Appliances: a washer, dryer or second refrigerator.
• Hobby gear: a gym setup, a workbench, music equipment.
• Packing style: loose items instead of boxes take far more room.

Things that can keep you at a smaller size:

• Mostly boxed items that stack neatly.
• Furniture that comes apart, like bed frames and table legs.
• A second vehicle or trailer taking the overflow.

Measure your three biggest pieces and the tightest doorway on your route. A tape measure and five minutes save the classic moving-day moment where the couch does not fit.

1. Couch or sectional: length, depth and height. Sectionals come apart, so measure each piece.
2. Tallest piece: a wardrobe, bookcase or refrigerator. Height matters in smaller trucks and vans.
3. Longest piece: a mattress, a table or a long cabinet.
4. Doorways and stairwells: at both homes, including the turn at the top of the stairs.

Give us those numbers on the phone. We check them against current interior dimensions for the truck you are considering. Interior space is always a bit smaller than the size in the name, because of wheel wells and door frames.

This is the question we hear most. The 10-foot truck is the easiest to drive and park, and it is a good match for a studio or a light one-bedroom. The 15-foot truck is the safer pick for a full one-bedroom or a small two-bedroom.

Pick the 10-foot truck when

• You have a studio or a sparse one-bedroom.
• Most of your items are boxed.
• Parking at either end is tight, like an apartment lot or a narrow street.
• The move is local and a second short trip would not be a disaster.

Pick the 15-foot truck when

• You have a full bedroom set plus a living room set.
• There is a garage or patio to empty.
• You have a washer, dryer or a large refrigerator.
• You want the easier loading that a ramp typically gives.

The 10-foot truck is not automatically the cheaper move. If it leads to two trips, the time and fuel can outweigh the difference. The 10-foot truck page goes deeper.

A cargo van is better for very small moves, a single room, or a furniture pickup, especially when parking is tight. It drives like a large van, and there is no step up into a tall cargo box.

A cargo trailer can beat a small truck when you already own a vehicle that can tow and the load is mostly boxes. You keep driving your own car, and the trailer stays enclosed. A trailer needs a proper hitch, so we check that at pickup. See cargo trailers for sizes.

An open utility trailer is the pick for yard waste, lumber and bulky outdoor items that do not need weather protection.

A well-packed truck holds noticeably more than a loosely packed one. Before you size up, ask whether better packing could fit the load. Before you size down, be honest about your packing style.

1. Take furniture apart. Bed frames, table legs and shelves take far less room flat.
2. Stand mattresses on edge. Laid flat, they waste floor space.
3. Use uniform boxes. Same-size boxes stack into tight walls.
4. Load heavy and tall first, against the front wall. Weight forward and low also helps the truck handle.
5. Balance left and right. A lopsided load leans in turns.
6. Fill voids with soft goods. Bagged clothes and pillows stop shifting and use dead space.

If your load is mostly loose items, bags and odd shapes, plan on the larger size.

If you are moving a washer, dryer, refrigerator or anything heavy on a hand truck, a ramp makes a real difference. Larger moving trucks typically have a loading ramp that slides out from under the rear. The 10-foot truck typically does not have one but has a low deck. Confirm the ramp setup for your truck when you call.

A few loading tips:

• Use an appliance dolly with a strap, not a basic hand truck, for refrigerators.
• Keep refrigerators upright where possible.
• Walk heavy items up the ramp with one person above and one below.
• Never stand on the downhill side of a heavy load on the ramp.

If the heavy items are the whole job, a trailer with a ramp may suit you better. Our 5x8 cargo trailer with ramp page covers that option.

Height, length and stopping distance. Larger trucks are taller than most cars and many parking structures. They need more room to turn and more distance to stop, especially when fully loaded.

• Clearance: avoid drive-throughs, low canopies and parking garages. Know the height on the truck's placard.
• Turns: make wider right turns so the rear wheels clear the curb.
• Mirrors: adjust them before you leave the lot, and use them constantly.
• Backing: use a spotter whenever you reverse.
• Speed: go slower than traffic on ramps and curves.

These trucks are still drivable with a regular license for most people, and we go over the controls at pickup. If the size makes you nervous, ask about two smaller units or a truck plus trailer.

It can. Month-end weekends are the busiest time for moving trucks in the Inland Empire, because many leases turn over together, and the popular middle sizes tend to go first. If you call late, the size you want may not be open for your date.

Ways to keep your options open:

• Call as soon as your dates are firm.
• Ask about a weekday pickup, which is often easier to line up.
• Have a second-choice size in mind, such as a larger truck or a truck plus trailer.
• Know which items could ride in your own car if the load is borderline.

We tell you on the call what is realistic for your date. The truck plus trailer page explains how a combination can close a sizing gap.

Start with the U-Haul size chooser, which gives a starting size from your rooms, large items, distance and whether you plan to tow. Then read the U-Haul size guide for packing and loading tips.

After that, call (909) 608-7699. Tell us the room count, the big items and your measurements. We confirm current specs and suggest a size. If you are also towing a trailer or a car, we note your tow vehicle and plan the hitch check for pickup.

If the move brings you into California, the California DMV (opens in a new tab) site covers license and registration steps.