Moving Truck Size Calculator by Number of Rooms
Estimate what size moving truck you need from your bedrooms, living areas, kitchen and garage, with cubic feet, weight and number of loads.
Not ready to count every chair? This calculator estimates the moving truck you need from the rooms in your home. Each room gets a stated planning allowance that includes its furniture and boxes, the total is scaled for how full your home is, and the result is compared with the common rental truck sizes from 10 to 26 feet.
How to use this tool
- Enter the number of bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and home offices.
- Tick the washer and dryer box if they are coming, and choose how full the garage or storage is.
- Pick how heavily furnished your home is.
- Raise usable space if you pack tightly, or lower it if you have lots of awkward furniture.
Formula
Truck space needed = Σ (rooms × allowance) × furnishing factor ÷ usable share
Allowances: bedroom 150 ft³, living room 175, dining room 100, kitchen 120, home office 80, washer and dryer 50, garage or storage 100 (some) or 250 (full). Furnishing factor: light 0.75, average 1.0, full 1.3. Truck capacities: 10 ft ≈ 400, 15 ft ≈ 760, 20 ft ≈ 1,000 and 26 ft ≈ 1,680 ft³.
Example
A 2-bedroom apartment with a living room and kitchen: 2 × 150 + 175 + 120 = 595 ft³ for an averagely furnished home. At 85% usable space you need 700 ft³ of truck, so a 15 ft truck (about 760 ft³) meets the modelled volume. Add a separate dining room and the total rises to 695 ft³, which needs about 818 ft³ and moves the recommendation up to a 20 ft truck.
Frequently asked questions
What size truck do I need for a 3-bedroom house?
With a living room, dining room, kitchen, washer and dryer and a partly filled garage, an average 3-bedroom house comes to about 995 ft³, or roughly 1,170 ft³ of truck at 85% usable space, which points to a 26 ft truck. A lightly furnished one points to a 20 ft truck by volume.
Why do the room allowances look generous?
The allowances include boxes from each room, such as clothes, books and kitchenware. They are illustrative estimates rather than measured inventory. Check your actual belongings when a result is near a capacity boundary.
When should I count items instead?
If your home is unusual (a studio packed with books, a workshop in the garage or very large furniture), the item-by-item moving truck calculator gives a better estimate.
Does the estimate check vehicle payload?
No. The recommendation uses volume only and weight assumes 7 lb per cubic foot. Verify the actual truck capacity, payload, door opening and route restrictions with the rental provider before selecting it.
Last updated: 2026-10-30