Choose a U-Haul truck by measuring what you need to move—not by bedroom count alone. Start with the largest furniture and appliances, check them against the cargo space and rear-door opening, then account for boxes, weight, trip distance, loading help, route clearance, and the full rental quote. U-Haul’s size labels are useful starting points, not guarantees that a particular household will fit.
1. Match the truck to your inventory, not just your bedroom count
U-Haul’s broad guide associates a 10-foot truck with a one-bedroom apartment, a 15-foot truck with two bedrooms, a 20-foot truck with two to three bedrooms, and a 26-foot truck with three to four bedrooms. Its comparison page also lists a pickup and cargo van for smaller jobs. These are planning guidelines from U-Haul, not independent capacity tests or promises of fit. U-Haul’s truck comparison notes that bulky furniture and appliances can change what fits, and boxes can take up space quickly.
Before choosing a size, make a room-by-room inventory. Count boxes, identify unusually large pieces, and measure the widest, tallest, and longest items. Note whether furniture can be disassembled and whether appliances need to stay upright. A home with fewer rooms can still need a larger truck if it contains bulky items; a sparsely furnished home may need less space than the bedroom label suggests.
For a long-distance move, err toward getting everything into one truck: U-Haul advises renters to ensure the load fits because a second trip may not be possible. For a local move, a smaller truck and multiple trips may be an option, but compare the added mileage, time, and labor with the cost of renting a larger vehicle.
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#1 Best Overall
- The U-Haul Apartment Moving Kit includes all of the necessary moving supplies for a studio - 1 bedroom apartment or small moving project. These supplies will help you pack, protect, organize, and cushion all of your items.
- Included boxes: 1 Dish Saver Kit, 1 Dish Saver Glasspack Box for use with Dish Saver kit (24-1/8” x 12” x 11”), 4 large boxes (18” x 18” x 24”), 10 small boxes (12-5/8” x 16-3/8” x 12-5/8”), and 7 medium boxes (18” x 18-1/8” x 16”)
- Included packing supplies: 40 sheets of cushion foam wrap, 10 cushion foam pouches (8” x 10”), 2 rolls of tape (55 yd each), 1 TV cover (36” x 65”), 1 queen mattress bag (96” x 69” x 14”), 1 queen box spring bag (92” x 69” x 10”), and 1 roll of Enviro-Bubble (16” x 15’)
- Small, Medium and Large boxes are rated for 65 pounds. Medium and Small boxes have perforated handles for an easier and more convenient use!
2. Check usable dimensions, the door opening, and weight limits
Truck length is not the same as usable cargo space. Compare each item with the interior dimensions and the rear-door opening, since a piece may fit inside once loaded but still be too large to pass through the door in its current orientation. Check the floor plan and any wheel wells or other intrusions as well.
For a concrete example, U-Haul lists its 26-foot truck’s interior as 26 ft 2 in × 8 ft 1 in × 8 ft 3 in, with a 7 ft 9 in × 6 ft 10 in rear opening and 1,682 cubic feet of volume. The same specifications list a maximum load of 12,859 lb and a gross vehicle weight of 25,999 lb. These are published specifications, not a guarantee that every assigned truck will match: U-Haul says measurements are approximate and equipment may vary by production model. See U-Haul’s 26-foot truck specifications.
Rank #2
- The U-Haul Household Moving Kit is the ideal set of boxes and packing supplies for a 1-2 bedroom home move. This kit includes everything you need to pack, organize, isolate, and protect all of your valuables and home goods.
- Included boxes: 15 small boxes (12-5/8” x 16-3/8” x 12-5/8”), 13 medium boxes (18” x 18-1/8” x 16”), 8 large boxes (18” x 18” x 24”), 2 wardrobe boxes (24” x 24” X 34”), 1 Dish Saver kit, 1 Glass Pack kit, and 2 Dish Saver Glasspack boxes for use with Dish Saver and Glass Pack kits (24-1/8" x 12" x 11")
- Included packing supplies: 3 rolls of tape, 1 TV cover (36” x 65”), 2 queen mattress bags, 2 queen box spring bags, 3 rolls of Enviro-Bubble (16” x 15’), 200 sheets of packing paper, and 80 sheets of cushion foam
- Small, Medium and Large boxes are rated for 65 pounds. Medium and Small boxes have perforated handles for an easier and more convenient use!
- Wardrobe boxes rated for 80 pounds
Volume and weight are separate limits. A load can fit in the cargo box and still be too heavy. U-Haul’s truck instructions say not to exceed the GVWR or GAWR posted on the label inside the driver’s door opening. Follow the limits on the actual vehicle you receive rather than relying only on an online figure.
3. Compare the full rental cost for your route and date
A larger truck can cost more, but the daily base rate is only one part of the rental total. Check a live quote for your pickup and drop-off locations, dates, rental period, mileage, fees, and optional coverage. For a one-way move, U-Haul says the cost depends on the origin and destination, truck size, and selected coverage.
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- U-Haul’s kitchen moving kit includes everything you need to pack up your glasses, dishes, cookware, utensils, and more!
- Includes 5 medium moving boxes, 1 Dish Saver Kit (dividers, 32 assorted foam pouches, and box included), 1 Glass Pack Kit (dividers, 18 foam pouches, and box included), 1 5 lb. box of packing paper, and 1 roll of tape (55 yd)
- Dish Saver and Glass Pack Box dimensions (kit includes 2): 24-1/8” x 12” x 11”
- 5 Medium boxes with dimensions: 18” x 18-1/8” x 16”
- All included boxes feature handles for easy handling and carrying
U-Haul’s published local starting rates are shown below. The figures are starting prices, not guaranteed quotes; mileage and fees are additional. Confirm the current price and terms for your location and rental dates.
| Vehicle | Published local starting rate | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup, cargo van, or 10-foot truck | $19.95 per day | Plus mileage and fees |
| 15-foot truck | $29.95 per day | Plus mileage and fees |
| 20-foot truck | $39.95 per day | Plus mileage and fees |
| 26-foot truck | $49.95 per day | Plus mileage and fees |
These rates are the local starting prices published by U-Haul in its truck rental pricing article; they are not a substitute for a route-specific quote. Compare the total for the same dates and route, and consider whether one larger rental is less costly than multiple trips in a smaller truck.
Rank #4
- This moving box combo kit is suitable for all of your moving, storing, and shipping needs! The pack includes 25 boxes from our 3 most popular moving box sizes along with 1 roll of box tape to seal them
- 10 small boxes (12-5/8" x 16-3/8" x 12-5/8"), 10 medium boxes (18" x 18-1/8" x 16"), 5 large boxes (18" x 18" x 24")
- Our boxes are rated 32 ECT and hold a 65 pound capacity
- Boxes meet UPS and FedEx shipping requirements
4. Plan for loading help and the drive
Think about who will load and unload the truck, especially heavy items. U-Haul says a larger truck may be easier when help is available, while a smaller truck can be more practical for someone moving alone. A ramp, deck height, and door opening can also affect how difficult it is to move appliances or furniture into the cargo area.
U-Haul advises loading heavy items first, on the floor and toward the front of the cargo area. Use the posted GVWR and GAWR limits on the assigned truck as the weight boundaries; do not treat a size recommendation or volume figure as permission to exceed them. The instructions are in U-Haul’s truck user instructions.
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- U-Haul’s medium sized moving boxes are ideal for small household items such as toys, appliances, home décor pieces, craft supplies, and much more. With perforated handles on each box, carrying and handling the box is made more convenient and easy to do!
- This pack of boxes includes 10 medium boxes and 1 roll of tape (55 yards)
- Assembled box dimensions: 18-1/8” x 18” x 16”
- Our medium boxes are rated 32 ECT and hold a 65 pound capacity
- Boxes meet UPS and FedEx shipping requirements
5. Check features, clearance, and moving supplies
Compare practical features as well as capacity: whether the truck has a ramp, the ramp width, cab seating, Mom’s Attic, and towing capability if you need to move a vehicle or trailer. Confirm features for the specific rental rather than assuming every truck of a given size is equipped identically. U-Haul’s comparison page lists truck features at its truck comparison.
Plan the route and destination access before driving. U-Haul lists 12 ft of clearance for the 26-foot truck, but that is not a clearance measurement for every vehicle or every route. Its instructions warn that rental trucks are taller than passenger cars and say not to guess at unknown overhead clearance: stop and check before proceeding. Look for restrictions and obstacles on the route, at the home, and at the loading or unloading site.
Moving blankets or furniture pads can help protect items, while utility or appliance dollies can make some loads easier to move. U-Haul identifies these as support rental items; whether to rent or buy depends on the move and local availability. Its moving supplies page lists available items.
Quick Recap
How to choose your size before reserving
- List the load: Count boxes and identify the largest furniture and appliances.
- Measure the difficult items: Compare their dimensions with the cargo space and rear opening for each candidate truck.
- Check weight and handling: Consider the load’s weight, the posted vehicle limits, the loading help available, and whether a ramp or dolly is needed.
- Account for the trip: Decide whether everything must fit in one load, and check route and destination clearance.
- Compare live quotes: Check the complete cost for the same route, dates, mileage, rental period, fees, and coverage before reserving.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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