How To Calculate What Size Moving Van You Need
Moving house can be a daunting task. Choosing the best moving van size will make your experience significantly smoother, ensuring you can transport all your belongings safely and efficiently.
In this blog, we’ll cover how to calculate the ideal van size for your move and outline the options available for hire.
How to Choose The Right Size of Van
When considering what size van to move house with, it’s essential to assess what you’ll be packing and how much space you will need to transport it. Follow these steps to determine which van size will be best for you.
1. Take inventory: Begin by making a comprehensive list of all the items you plan to move. This includes furniture, appliances, boxes, and any other belongings.
2. Estimate volume: Assign a rough estimate of the volume of space that each item will occupy. For example, a standard-sized box may occupy approximately 1 to 1.5 cubic feet.
3. Add it up: Total the volume of all your belongings to get an overall estimate of the required space.
4. Factor in extra space: Remember to leave some margin for any additional space needed to manoeuvre and organise your items inside the van.
5. Consider weight: It is crucial to consider the weight of your personal belongings, especially if you are moving large pieces of furniture or if you’re renting a van with weight restrictions.
Types of vans for moving house
A small van is ideal if you need to move a limited amount of belongings, such as if your new home is already furnished or you are moving into shared accommodation. Small vans include models such as Vauxhall Combos or Peugeot Partners. Find detailed dimensions on our small van page.
When hiring a Short Wheel Base van, expect a Ford Transit Custom, Citroen Dispatch, Mercedes Vito or similar. The size of this van makes it more agile for moving in a city or urban neighbourhood over a large van. Some may find it more convenient to hire a Small Wheel Base van for a day and do a few runs between their old and new house if they are only moving a short distance.
Ideal for moving a small flat’s worth of possessions, Medium Wheelbase Transits include Ford Transit Customs and Vauxhall Vivaros. The benefit of side and rear doors makes packing a more straightforward process.
Long Wheel Base Hi-Top vans provide ample space for larger items due to the longer length and taller roof than a standard van, these are an ideal choice for medium-sized moves or transporting furniture and appliances. Peugeot Boxers and Citroen Relays are good examples of this size of van. These include a ply-lined cargo area and side and rear doors for ease of access.
The 4m length of Extra Long Wheel Base Hi-Top vans makes them spacious and flexible options for your house move due to the longer length and taller roof than a standard van. The additional space means this van is helpful when moving larger pieces of furniture, such as sofas. With side and rear doors and all-important parking sensors, this is an ideal choice to move your belongings in one journey.
3.5 Tonne Luton Van
At Caversham Vehicle Hire we offer 3.5 Tonne Luton Vans with tail lifts or with low loading access. These options are extremely helpful in aiding the loading of heavy, large or awkard items into the van. The box-style Lutons provide extensive space for moving larger amounts of belongings and furniture.
Move at your own pace
Choosing to hire a self-drive van when you move house allows you to have the flexibility to tailor your moving schedule, save money, and drive at a comfortable pace. You can be confident that when you arrive at your new home, all your belongings will be there with you at the same time. In addition, you will save money by hiring the perfect moving van size for your needs and not paying for unused space.
Why choose Caversham Vehicle Hire
We are a trusted local company that supplies moving van hire in Reading, Caversham, and the surrounding areas. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, we can help you select the best van for your move.
We are proud to provide fantastic customer service and high-quality vehicles. When you hire a van from us, you can be sure that your van will have been thoroughly cleaned before you pick it up. We also regularly service and maintain our vehicles for your peace of mind.
Get in touch
Our friendly, expert team are always more than happy to help with any questions you have about hiring a van for your house move. Call us today on 0118 947 6500 or get a free quote on our Contact page. Alternatively, you can get an instant quote and book online via our website. All van dimensions are also available on each individual van page on our website to help you decide which van hire option is best for your house move.