Moving Box & Truck Size Calculator

How to Choose the Right Size Moving Truck

Estimate your total cubic footage, then pick the smallest truck that comfortably exceeds it. A quick method: every average packed box is about 1.5 cubic feet, and every large furniture piece about 25. The thresholds this calculator uses are under 400 cu ft for a cargo van or pickup, under 800 for a 10-foot, under 1,200 for a 15-foot, under 1,600 for a 20-foot, and above that a 26-foot. Two rules of thumb: when you are between sizes, take the bigger truck — a second trip costs more than the upgrade — and always verify the specific truck’s listed capacity and payload before signing. Before move-in day, it is also smart to size cooling for the new place with our room AC and mini-split BTU calculator, so the new home is comfortable when the truck arrives.

The Golden Rule of Moving: Small Boxes for Heavy Items

Books, tools, canned food, and dish sets belong in small boxes every time. A large box full of books can exceed 80 pounds — too heavy to lift safely and heavy enough to blow the bottom seams. Small boxes keep loads under roughly 35 pounds, protect your back, and stack tighter in the truck. Large boxes are for pillows, blankets, lampshades, and other items that are big but light. If you cannot carry a sealed box with straight arms for 30 seconds, repack it into two boxes.

How to Pack a Moving Truck to Prevent Shifting and Damage

Load heavy furniture first against the cab wall, standing mattresses and sofas on edge when possible, then build layers: furniture, medium boxes, light boxes. Fill every gap with soft boxes or blankets — empty space is what lets cargo shift and break. Strap the load every few feet, keep a “wall” of boxes against the rear door so nothing tumbles out at the last stop, and load fragile and “Open First” boxes dead last so they come out first. Once you are unloaded, new-home projects start fast: if you are upgrading floors before the furniture goes in, our tile and flooring calculator estimates materials, and our deck and fence material calculator does the same for yard projects.

What to Put in Your “Open First” Essentials Box

Pack it like you are camping for one night: toilet paper, paper towels, box cutter, tape, phone chargers, a basic tool set, trash bags, medications, a change of clothes, toiletries, sheets for one bed, snacks, water, and the coffee maker. Add documents, keys, and anything you would panic about losing. Mark the box in bright color on every side and load it last so it rides near the door. If you are painting the new place before boxes arrive, our paint and wallpaper estimator tells you how many gallons to have ready so painting finishes before moving day.

How to Protect Your TV and Mirrors During a Move

For TVs without the original box: wrap the screen in a moving blanket or two layers of bubble wrap, protect all four corners, then slide it into a TV-specific box and seal it with an FRAGILE label on every side. Transport TVs upright, never flat, and load them last so nothing leans on them. Mirrors and glass tabletops get the same treatment in picture boxes, and anything larger than about 40 inches deserves a dedicated box rather than sharing space. Mark glass clearly and tell your helpers out loud — labels fade from memory faster than tape fails.