What size van do I need?
3D Van Size Calculator
Not sure what size van you need for your move? Add the things you're taking and watch them load into our 3D van at real size. You'll see which van fits your belongings best, before booking in with one of our drivers.
Give it a try
This is a guide only, based on the items you add.
Don't see something? Add it with its size in cm.
Our 3D van size calculator is designed as a helpful tool. The recommended van is an estimate, and we can't guarantee exactly how your items will fit once loaded.
Driver
Tomasz
Driver
Louis
Driver
Isaac
Driver
Ismael
Driver
Bash
Driver
Adam
Driver
Lifted
Driver
Haidar
Driver
Isaac
Driver
Louis
Driver
Bash
Driver
Tomasz
Driver
Laurentiu
Driver
Bash
Driver
Daniel
Driver
Christopher
Driver
Amir
How van sizing works
Estimates only: real-world fit depends on packing skill and awkward shapes. For a long-distance move where a second trip isn't viable, size up. For a move round the corner, you've got more flexibility.
Stated capacity vs the volume you'll actually use
Each van is listed by its total internal volume (e.g. our Medium Van is 6 m³). In practice you rarely fill 100% of that. Boxes leave small gaps, sofas leave dead space around them, and items can't always stack perfectly. A realistic working ceiling is around 80% of stated capacity for a single trip.
The marker line on the bar
The dark vertical line on the progress bar sits at 80% of the van's stated capacity. It's the point at which we'd suggest the next size up. When the bar crosses the marker, the recommendation bumps to a bigger van.
Why a smaller van might still be an option
Each smaller van row shows how many trips it would take to move your load. Subsequent trips can pack a bit tighter because you can sort items by trip: boxes together, awkward items together, so packing is more efficient second time round. Useful if you're moving locally and don't mind multiple runs.
When we can't fit an item at all
If an individual item is physically too big for a given van (like a 4 m item that's too long for a 3.4 m van), we flag it and skip that van as an option. For very large or awkward loads we may suggest our removals service instead of standard man-and-van.
What size van do I need?
How the 3D van size calculator works, step by step
Add the things you're moving, or pick your home size under Quick start, and the calculator adds up the volume and loads each item into a 3D van at its real size. It then suggests the smallest van that should take your load in one trip without packing it to the roof. If a smaller van could still do the job in two or three trips, it shows that too.
It's built on the vans our drivers use, measured on the inside, so its suggestion is a realistic starting point rather than a best case.
There are over 90 everyday items, each with its own measurements. Start from a typical home under Quick start and adjust, or build your list from scratch. If something isn't listed, add it with its own size.
As you add things, the 3D van fills up. Drag to turn it and tap an item to see what it is. Big, bulky pieces go in first and boxes fit around them, the way a driver would usually load a van.
A van's capacity is its total inside space, and nobody fills all of it. Sofas leave dead space around them, boxes leave small gaps and some things can't be stacked. Around 80% is a realistic working line for one trip, so that's where the calculator steps up to the next size.
Second and later trips can usually be packed a little tighter, as similar things can go together, and the trip counts allow for that. The calculator also checks each item against each van's inside measurements, so a fridge freezer won't be squeezed into a van that's too low for it.
Furniture that can come apart has an Add dismantled version button. A bed or wardrobe taken apart takes up roughly half the space it does built, which can be the difference between two van sizes.
When you're happy with your list, the quote button takes you to the quote form.
Van Sizes
Measured on the inside, the same vans the calculator uses
Medium VanMedium
Ford Transit Custom or equivalent
Large VanLarge
Ford Transit Van or equivalent
Extra Large VanExtra Large
Ford Transit Luton or equivalent
How much space does a typical home need?
The calculator's Quick start loads, as a rough guide
| Home | With furniture | Boxes and bags only |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | Large VanAbout 5.7 m³ | Medium VanAbout 2.2 m³ |
| 1 bed | Large VanAbout 7.0 m³ | Medium VanAbout 2.6 m³ |
| 2 bed | Extra Large Van (Luton)About 12.4 m³ | Medium VanAbout 4.3 m³ |
| 3 bed | 7.5 tonne lorry, or two Luton tripsAbout 16.6 m³ | Large VanAbout 6.0 m³ |
| 4 bed | 7.5 tonne lorry, or two Luton tripsAbout 20.9 m³ | Extra Large Van (Luton)About 8.2 m³ |
Every home is different. A one bed flat with a big corner sofa and a king size bed can need more space than a sparse two bed, so it's worth adding your own items rather than going on bedrooms alone.
Getting the most from the calculator
A few tips, and what the suggestion can and can't tell you
On a local move, a second trip is an inconvenience. On a long one it can add a lot to the cost, so if you're near the line, the bigger van is usually the safer choice.
Bikes, garden furniture, rugs and lamps add up and don't stack well, so add them too. Boxes of the same size stack evenly, and a van packed with matching boxes generally holds more than one packed with odd shapes.
If you're still unsure, our guide to what size van you need for moving goes through it in more detail.
We've built the calculator to make estimating easier, and we've tried to keep it as accurate as we can. It's still a guide, though. It works from typical sizes, and how a load packs on the day depends on the exact items, their shapes and how they go in.
So please use it as a starting point rather than a promise that everything will fit. If you're close to the line, or you have anything unusual, it's worth going up a size.
Van Size Calculator FAQs
Quick answers to the questions people ask most
What size van do I need for a one bed flat?
In the calculator, a typical furnished one bed flat comes to about 7 cubic metres, which usually suits a Large Van (Ford Transit size) in one trip. If you are only moving boxes and bags, a Medium Van is often enough. Add your own items for a better idea, as every home is different.
What size van do I need for a two bed house?
A typical furnished two bed comes to about 12 cubic metres, so the calculator suggests an Extra Large Van (a Luton). A Large Van could do it in two trips if you are moving locally.
Can you move a three bed house in a Luton van?
Often not in one trip. A typical furnished three bed comes to about 16.5 cubic metres, which is over the 80% working line of an 18 cubic metre Luton, so the calculator suggests two Luton trips or a 7.5 tonne lorry through our removals service.
How many cubic metres is a Luton van?
The Extra Large Van (Luton) our drivers use has about 18 cubic metres of load space, roughly 4.0 m long, 2.0 m wide and 2.2 m high inside. Sizes vary a little between models.
Can you guarantee my things will fit?
No. The calculator is a guide to help you estimate, based on typical item sizes, and real loads depend on the exact items and how they pack on the day. It is there to point you to a sensible van size. If you are close to the line, the next size up gives you some room to spare.
What if one of my items is too big for a van?
The calculator flags any item that is too long, wide or tall for a van and leaves that van out. If something will not fit even the biggest option, get in touch and we will do our best to help.