What size moving truck do I need?

For a studio or small one-bedroom, a truck of 10 to 12 feet is usually enough. One or two bedrooms fit a truck of 15 to 16 feet, two to three bedrooms need 20 to 22 feet, and three bedrooms or more need a 26-foot truck. Each company rates its own sizes, listed below.

By RentThis · Updated September 27, 2026

Truck sizes and what each company says they hold
CompanySizeRated for
PenskeCargo vanUp to 1 room
Penske12 ft1-2 rooms, up to 450 cu ft
Penske16 ft2-3 rooms or a 1-bedroom, up to 800 cu ft
Penske22 ft3-5 rooms or a 1-3 bedroom home
Penske26 ft5-7 rooms or a 3-5 bedroom home, up to 1,700 cu ft
BudgetCargo vanAbout 1 bedroom
Budget12 ft1-2 rooms or a small apartment
Budget16 ft3-4 rooms or a small home
Budget26 ft5-8 rooms or a 3-bedroom home
U-Haul10 ftStudio or 1-bedroom apartment
U-Haul15 ft1-2 bedroom home
U-Haul20 ft2-3 bedroom home
U-Haul26 ft3-4 bedroom home, 1,682 cu ft

Where to rent

  • Budget Truck Rental

    Moving trucks for local and one-way moves.

    Check prices

  • Penske Truck Rental

    Moving trucks for local and one-way moves.

    Check prices

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Penske

Penske rates its cargo van for up to one room and its 12-foot truck for one to two rooms, with up to 450 cubic feet of space and a payload of up to 3,100 pounds.

The 16-foot truck is rated for two to three rooms, or a one-bedroom apartment, with up to 800 cubic feet. It is the smallest Penske truck that can tow a car.

The 22-foot truck is rated for three to five rooms, or a one- to three-bedroom home. The 26-foot truck, Penske's largest, is rated for five to seven rooms, or a three- to five-bedroom home, with up to 1,700 cubic feet.

Budget

Budget offers a cargo van for about a single bedroom's contents, plus 12-, 16- and 26-foot trucks.

Budget rates the 12-foot truck for one to two rooms or a small apartment, the 16-foot for three to four rooms or a small home, and the 26-foot for five to eight rooms or a three-bedroom home.

U-Haul

U-Haul matches its 10-foot truck to a studio or one-bedroom apartment, the 15-foot to a one- to two-bedroom home, the 20-foot to two to three bedrooms, and the 26-foot to a three- to four-bedroom home.

U-Haul lists its 26-foot truck at 1,682 cubic feet. Its 10-foot truck is the smallest U-Haul box truck that can tow a car.

How to choose between two sizes

Count rooms, not just bedrooms. A living room, dining room, office or garage full of things each adds to the load, which is why companies rate trucks in rooms.

If you are between two sizes, the larger one is usually cheaper than a second trip. In Los Angeles, weigh that against parking: a bigger truck needs more curb, and on streets posted for oversize vehicles, the City of LA bans vehicles over 22 feet long or over 84 inches tall from parking between 2 and 6 a.m. unless they display a $10-a-day LADOT permit. The rule covers height too, so check your truck's height as well as its length.

Questions people ask

What size truck for a one-bedroom apartment in LA?

Penske rates its 16-foot truck for a one-bedroom apartment, Budget's 12-foot truck covers one to two rooms, and U-Haul matches its 10-foot truck to a studio or one-bedroom apartment. If you have a lot of furniture, go one size up.

Which truck can tow my car?

Penske's smallest towing-capable truck is the 16-foot. U-Haul's 10-foot truck is its smallest box truck that can tow. Check towing equipment availability when you book.

Can I park a 26-foot truck overnight on the street in Los Angeles?

Only where the street isn't posted for oversize vehicles, or with a permit. On posted streets, the City of LA bans vehicles over 22 feet long or over 84 inches tall from parking 2 to 6 a.m.; LADOT sells a $10-a-day permit, for up to three days, that covers those hours but doesn't reserve a space.

Related

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