What size van do I need for moving house?
The best van is not necessarily the largest one you can hire. The useful question is whether your belongings fit within both the vehicle's load space and its payload, with enough margin for real-world packing.
Typical UK planning capacities
| Class | Approx. volume | Indicative payload |
|---|---|---|
| Compact / small | 3.4 m³ | 650 kg |
| Medium | 5.5 m³ | 800 kg |
| Large panel van | 11.3 m³ | 1,250 kg |
| Extra-large panel van | 14 m³ | 1,200 kg |
| 3.5t Luton | 17.3 m³ | 1,050 kg |
These are planning values rather than promises for a particular hire vehicle. Different engines, trim, tail-lifts, bodybuilders and optional equipment change kerb weight and therefore payload.
Why MoveSize shows trips
Sometimes a smaller, cheaper van is perfectly viable if the distance is short. The calculator therefore shows an estimated number of trips for every class rather than simply declaring one vehicle “correct”.
When payload becomes the problem
Books, tools, gym equipment, liquids and appliances are relatively dense. A load can be physically compact yet heavy. If the payload estimate is approaching the planning limit, confirm the exact vehicle's plated weights before collecting it.
For a DIY move, choose the smallest van that fits your estimated packed volume and weight with a sensible margin. A large panel van may suit many one-bedroom moves; extra-large panel vans and Lutons become more useful as furniture, garden items and box counts increase.
What changes the van size most?
Sofas, mattresses, wardrobes and garden furniture tend to consume cubic space before payload.
Books, tools, weights, appliances and dense boxes can use payload faster than load-space volume.
Bed frames, tables and some wardrobes can occupy far less useful space once broken down into transportable parts.
A two-trip plan can be perfectly sensible locally, but duplicate mileage and loading time matter much more on a long-distance move.
How to choose between a panel van and a Luton
Panel vans are usually easier to drive, park and access in tighter streets. Their curved body and wheel arches can make awkward furniture less efficient to stack. A Luton gives a boxier load area and often a tail-lift, which is valuable for appliances and heavy furniture, but the body and lift can reduce available payload. The calculator therefore treats vehicle class as a balance between space and weight rather than assuming the largest box is automatically the best choice.
Before you book
- Confirm the exact load-space dimensions and plated payload for the vehicle offered by the hire company.
- Allow for passengers, fuel and equipment where these affect usable payload.
- Check height restrictions, parking access and whether a larger van can get close to each property.
- Measure unusually large items and use the custom-item option rather than relying on room count alone.
Want a result based on your actual belongings?
Use the MoveSize inventory calculator. Add your furniture and boxes once to estimate volume, weight, van trips, storage space and packing requirements together.