Apartment Moving Guide: Studio

Moving a studio apartment presents a unique opportunity for a seamless and hassle-free relocation. With the right equipment, proper planning, and essential supplies, your studio move can be a breeze.

In this comprehensive guide, Moving Help® will provide valuable insights into renting the correct equipment, acquiring the necessary moving boxes, gathering all the supplies you’ll need, and how long it’ll take your Moving Helpers to move your belongings.

As the saying goes, “The smaller the move, the easier it is.” By following our expert advice and utilizing the right resources, you can make your studio move even more effortless.

If you find yourself upgrading to a larger apartment in the future, we’ve got you covered with our specialized guides for one-bedroom and two-bedroom moves, which will assist you every step of the way.

What Size Truck Do I Need to Move a Studio?

When it comes to selecting the right truck for your studio apartment move, U-Haul recommends renting a 10-foot truck. This size is typically suitable for efficiently moving your belongings during a studio move. Your specific needs may vary, however.

To help you make an informed decision, the chart below compares which rental vehicle you need based on the number of belongings you own.

Apartment Size	Truck Size
1-Bedroom (Fewer than average amount of belongings)	Cargo van
1-Bedroom (Average or more than average amount of belongings)	10’ Truck

If you have minimal large or bulky furniture pieces, an alternative option to consider is renting a cargo van. Cargo vans can be a convenient choice for studio moves, especially if you have a smaller number of items to transport. Keep in mind, U-Haul cargo van rentals can only be used for in-town moves.

By choosing the right vehicle, you can ensure a smooth and efficient transportation process for your studio apartment move.

How Many U-Box® Moving Containers Do I Need for a Studio?

When moving a studio apartment using U-Box moving and storage containers, you’ll likely only need to rent a single container. Each U-Box container has a capacity of 257 cubic feet, which can hold about a room and a half of furniture and belongings. This makes it an ideal size for a studio apartment move.

Renting a single U-Box container simplifies the moving process by streamlining logistics and ensuring sufficient space for all your belongings. With its convenient size and capacity, the U-Box container offers a practical solution for efficiently moving your studio apartment.

Apartment Size	# of U-Box Containers
Studio (Average amount of belongings)	1 U-Box Containers
Studio (More than average amount of belongings)	2 U-Box Containers

How Many Moving Boxes Do I Need for a Studio?

To effectively pack everything in a typical studio apartment, you’ll likely need about five small boxes and nine medium boxes.

Apartment Size	Small Boxes	Medium Boxes	Large Boxes
Studio (Average amount of belongings)	5 Small Boxes	9 Medium Boxes	2 Large Boxes
Studio (More than average amount of belongings)	9 Small Boxes	16 Medium Boxes	4 Large Boxes

Specialty boxes can make a difference even for the smallest move. Consider grabbing a dish saver kit or wardrobe box. If you move a flat screen TV and no longer have the original box, you’ll definitely want a TV box to ensure its safe transportation. 

If you decide to get your boxes from U-Haul, don’t worry about buying too many moving boxes because they offer returns for any unused box when you provide the original receipt, which will give you a peace of mind. 

What Moving Supplies Do I Need for a Studio?

U-Haul offers moving kits with just the right number of boxes and supplies you’ll need to move a studio apartment. You can even adjust the quantity for each product depending on how much stuff you need to move.

Here’ what we recommend for your studio apartment move:

• 1 box of packing paper: This will provide extra protection for fragile items.
• 1 set of box markers with knife: This will provide you way to label boxes while packing and then easily open boxes when unpacking.
• 1 mattress bag for every mattress: You can protect your mattress from dirt, dust, moisture, and bugs when using a mattress bag.
• 1 roll of stretch plastic wrap: You stretch plastic to secure and protect furniture or larger items.
• 2 packs of bubble wrap: The cushioning material helps protect extra fragile or breakable items.
• 2 or 3 rolls of paper packing tape: The box packing tape will make sure your boxes stay closed and securely shut tight.
• 1 to 2 dozen furniture pads: Furniture pads offer extra protection for furniture, such as a mattress, during transit. You can save money when you rent them instead of buying them.

If you decide to rent a U-Box moving and storage container, each container already comes with two dozen complimentary rental moving pads.

How Long Does It Take to Move a Studio?

Moving a studio apartment with the assistance of a two-person Moving Help crew typically takes under two hours.

Apartment Size	2 Person Crew	3 Person Crew
Studio (Average amount of belongings)	2 hours	2 hours
Studio (More than average amount of belongings)	2 hours	2 hours

It’s essential to consider a few factors that may affect the total time required for your move.

First, remember to add an hour for each flight of stairs your crew needs to climb. This will account for the extra effort and time involved in navigating staircases. Additionally, keep driving time in mind if you plan to use the same crew for both locations. Factoring in driving time will ensure you reserve an appropriate number of hours.

In cases where the distance between your unit and the parking spot for your moving truck is more than 20 feet, but under 50 feet, consider adding an extra hour. If the walking distance is more than 50 feet, you might need to add two additional hours.

When scheduling your Moving Help order, it’s crucial to not overbook the number of hours when moving a studio apartment. You can always add more hours to a Moving Help reservation, but you can’t remove hours once your move is underway.

What Are Some Other Apartment Moving Tips?

Moving Help has plenty of helpful apartment moving guides. Whether you need more:

• Apartment moving tips
• An apartment inspection checklist
• An apartment moving checklist
• An apartment cleaning checklist
• Some of the best ways to move apartments

If you need some apartment how-to guides, check out our:

• How to get your cleaning deposit back guide
• How to get your security deposit back guide
• How to move a couch guide
• How to move a mattress guide
• How to pack and move a TV guide