One of the most common questions when booking a man and van is whether to go for a medium or large van. The price difference is usually £10–£15 per hour, but the capacity difference is significant. Choosing wrong can mean paying for space you don’t use—or needing a second trip you didn’t budget for.
Here’s a practical breakdown of what actually fits in each, so you can make the right call.
Medium Van: The Basics
A medium van—sometimes called a short wheelbase (SWB) van—is the standard workhorse for smaller moves. Common models include the Ford Transit Custom, Vauxhall Vivaro, and VW Transporter.
Typical dimensions (Ford Transit Custom):
- Load length: 2.5–3.0 metres
- Load height: 1.4–1.8 metres
- Load width: 1.7–1.8 metres
- Volume: 5–8 cubic metres
In plain terms, that’s roughly enough space for 20–30 moving boxes stacked efficiently, or a mix of boxes and a few smaller furniture items.
What Fits in a Medium Van
A medium van comfortably handles:
- A single room’s worth of furniture and boxes
- A student move (bed, desk, chair, boxes, bags)
- A few large items (sofa, wardrobe, or chest of drawers)
- Delivery of one or two bulky purchases (appliances, furniture)
It’s ideal when you’re not moving an entire property—just a selection of items or a small, minimalist flat.
What Doesn’t Fit (or Fits Awkwardly)
A medium van starts to struggle with:
- Multiple large furniture pieces (e.g. sofa, bed, wardrobe, and dining table together)
- Full one-bed flat contents if you have a lot of stuff
- Tall items that won’t clear the load height
- Awkwardly shaped items that can’t be stacked or rotated
You can sometimes make it work by dismantling furniture or being very strategic with loading. But if you’re on the borderline, you risk needing a second trip.
Large Van: The Basics
A large van—often called a long wheelbase (LWB) van—offers considerably more space while still being driveable on normal streets. Models include the Ford Transit LWB, Mercedes Sprinter, and Renault Master.
Typical dimensions (Ford Transit LWB, Mercedes Sprinter):
- Load length: 3.0–4.2 metres
- Load height: 1.8–2.1 metres
- Load width: 1.7–1.8 metres
- Volume: 10–15 cubic metres
That’s roughly double the space of a smaller Transit Custom—enough to make a significant difference for fuller moves.
What Fits in a Large Van
A large van comfortably handles:
- The contents of a one-bed flat (furniture, appliances, boxes)
- A well-packed two-bed flat in a single trip
- Multiple large items without needing to play Tetris
- Tall furniture like wardrobes and shelving units
The extra length and height make loading easier and reduce the risk of damage from cramming things in.
What Might Still Be Too Much
Even a large van has limits. You might need something bigger (or two trips) if you’re moving:
- A fully furnished two-bed house with lots of belongings
- Three or more beds, sofas, or large appliances
- A property with a garage or shed full of additional items
For larger moves, an extra-large Luton van or a second trip may be necessary.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here’s a quick reference:
| Scenario | Medium Van | Large Van |
|---|---|---|
| Single large item (sofa, fridge) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Student move | ✓ | ✓ |
| Studio flat | ✓ | ✓ |
| One-bed flat (light contents) | ✓ | ✓ |
| One-bed flat (full contents) | Tight / maybe | ✓ |
| Two-bed flat | Likely two trips | ✓ |
| Small house | Multiple trips | Possibly one trip |
The Real Cost Calculation
A medium van might cost £50 per hour. A large van might cost £60. Over a three-hour job, that’s a £30 difference.
But if the medium van needs two trips and the large van does it in one, you’re looking at potentially two extra hours of work—an extra £100 or more.
The question isn’t just “which van is cheaper per hour?” It’s “which van completes my move in fewer hours overall?”
When to Choose a Medium Van
- You’re moving a small number of items
- It’s a local job and a second trip wouldn’t be a disaster
- You’re confident everything fits based on previous experience
- Access is tight and a larger van wouldn’t fit
When to Choose a Large Van
- You’re moving the contents of a full flat
- You have several large furniture items
- You want peace of mind that everything fits
- It’s a longer distance and return trips would be costly
Still Not Sure?
If you’re on the fence, a quick inventory helps. List your largest items first—bed, sofa, wardrobe, fridge—and estimate how many boxes you’ll have. If the list feels like more than “a few things,” a large van is usually the safer bet.
Most services are also happy to advise if you describe your move. A good operator would rather recommend the right van than deal with a problem on the day.
If you’d like to see what size van suits your move, you can get an instant quote and we’ll recommend the best fit based on your details.
