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What Size U-Haul Truck Do I Need?

Posted: August 14, 2023
U-Haul rental truck tows a motorcycle along a desert highway.

Nothing is worse on moving day than having everything packed up and ready to go, and while you’re loading your belongings into your truck, you realize you don’t have enough room. Luckily, with U-Haul, that won’t happen. U-Haul trucks have many options with many sizes to best serve your needs. 

When selecting your U-Haul truck for your move, you can select a pickup truck, a cargo van, a 10-foot truck, a 15-foot U-Haul truck, a 20-foot truck, or a 26-foot U-Haul truck. 

What Fits Into a U-Haul Truck? 

Each U-Haul truck rental can fit different spaces into the truck. A pickup truck can fit small loads or a studio apartment. A cargo van can fit a studio apartment or deliveries. A 10-foot truck can fit a studio apartment or a 1-bedroom apartment. 

A 15-foot U-Haul truck can fit a one-bedroom home or a two-bedroom apartment. A 20-foot truck can fit a 2-bedroom home or a three-bedroom apartment. A 26-foot truck can fit a 3-bedroom or 4-bedroom home. 

How does each U-Haul truck compare to the equivalency of storage size? A pickup truck, cargo van, and a 10-foot truck equals 5’ x 10’ x 8’ for space. A 15-foot U-Haul truck equals 10’ x 10’ x 10’ for space. A 20-foot truck equals 10’ x 15’ x 8’ for space. A 26-foot U-Haul truck equals 10’ x’ 20’ x 8’ for space. 

What if you previously moved with U-Box storage containers and want to move this time with a U-Haul truck and want to compare them? Well, a pickup truck equals one U-Box storage container. A cargo van equals two U-Box storage containers. 

A 10-foot truck equals three U-Box storage containers. A 15-foot U-Haul truck equals four U-Box storage containers. A 20-foot truck equals five U-Box storage containers. A 26-foot U-Haul truck equals six U-Box storage containers. 

By knowing these dimensions, you can get the right U-Haul truck size the first time around for your move, so you don’t run into any problems later. You’ll also want to make sure you book your U-Haul truck rental in advance.

U-Haul Truck Features You Might Consider 

Some U-Haul trucks have certain features that you might want during your move — whether for an in-town move or moving across the country. 

If you want the EZ Load Ramp or the Mom’s Attic, you’ll need to get a 15-foot U-Haul truck, 20-foot truck, or a 26-foot U-Haul truck. 

Every U-Haul truck except for the cargo van has towing compacity. The cargo van and the 10-foot U-Haul truck have two seats for adults. The other U-Haul trucks allow for three seats for adults. 

What Should I Do If I’m Deciding Between Two Sizes? 

Let’s say for example, you’re unsure whether to rent the 10-foot U-Haul truck or the 15-foot U-Haul truck. 

If you’ve done all your research and you’re still unsure, you should get the 15-foot truck. It’s better to be on the safer side to get the larger truck because it’ll be much better to have too much room than not enough room after loading your truck. 

You don’t want to get the smaller size only to find out not everything will fit during moving day. 

Otherwise, you’ll have to make more than one trip. You might have to unload everything and reload it to see whether that works. You also could return your U-Haul truck and hope they have the next larger size for you to complete your move. 

None of these options are great if you run out of room, so if you want a second opinion, ask a U-Haul employee. If you’re using Moving Help® to assist your move by loading or unloading, you can ask for their opinion as well. 

Moving Help Service Providers are professional moving laborers who’ve loaded many U-Haul trucks. They can give you their opinion on what size of truck you might need to complete your move and how long it’ll take to complete your move.

Find the Right U-Haul Truck for Your Move 

By knowing how many bedrooms or cubic feet you have in your home, you can decide what U-Haul truck is best for you. You also have different ways to compare U-Haul truck sizes. If you want certain features with your U-Haul truck, make sure you get that U-Haul truck.