What Size Moving Van Do I Need? | Fleet & Capacity Guide
Choosing the right moving vehicle is the most critical logistical decision of your relocation. Book a van that is too small, and you face multiple trips and delays. Pay for an oversized lorry, and you waste money.
At I Like To Move It Move It Ltd, our diverse, 100% ULEZ-compliant fleet is engineered for London's unique streets—from tight residential parking to full-scale commercial relocations. Use this guide to understand exact van dimensions, cubic capacities, and which vehicle matches your specific inventory.
Understanding Capacity
"Watertight" vs. Real-World Loading When comparing removals companies, you will frequently see "cubic feet" quoted. It is vital to understand that these numbers represent watertight capacity, the volume if you filled every single square inch of the van with liquid.
In the real world, furniture does not stack like perfect blocks. Sofas have curves, dining chairs leave empty voids, and heavy boxes cannot be safely stacked to the absolute ceiling without crushing the items below.
Our AI & Expert Advice
When using our Space Calculator, always leave a 10% to 15% margin of error to account for the real-world loading geometry of bulky furniture. If your calculated inventory is exactly 600 cubic feet, we strongly advise upgrading to the Jumbo Low-Loader to guarantee a single-trip move.
Meet Our Professional Moving Fleet
The Sprinter van is our most agile vehicle. It is the perfect solution for navigating tight central London streets and securing difficult parking spaces.
Load capacity in Cubic ft (ft3)
Ideal For
Studio flats, small student moves, or transporting a few large pieces of furniture.
Need this for a quick move? Book our Man and Van services
Key Features:
Side-loading and rear-loading doors for rapid pavement access.
The Standard Luton van is the undisputed king of urban removals. Its large, box-shaped rear cargo area eliminates the awkward wheel arches found in panel vans, allowing for perfectly flush stacking of boxes and upright transport of tall wardrobes.
Load capacity in Cubic ft (ft3)
Ideal For
1 to 2-bedroom flats or small house moves.
Key Features:
Equipped with a hydraulic tail-lift, making it exceptionally safe to load extremely heavy items like American fridge-freezers and washing machines.
For larger properties, our custom-built Jumbo Low-Loader provides the massive cubic capacity of a 7.5-ton HGV lorry, but on a highly efficient, custom-built chassis.
Load capacity in Cubic ft (ft3)
Ideal For
3 to 4-bedroom houses, large family relocations, or office removals.
Perfect for our comprehensive House Removals service.
Key Features:
"Low-Loader" technology. The vehicle body sits exceptionally close to the ground, allowing our crews to walk heavy furniture straight up a gentle, integrated ramp. This drastically speeds up loading times compared to standard tail-lifts.
For larger properties, our custom-built Jumbo Low-Loader provides the massive cubic capacity of a 7.5-ton HGV lorry, but on a highly efficient, custom-built chassis.
Load capacity in Cubic ft (ft3)
Ideal For
3 to 4-bedroom houses, large family relocations, or office removals.
Perfect for our comprehensive House Removals service.
Key Features:
"Low-Loader" technology. The vehicle body sits exceptionally close to the ground, allowing our crews to walk heavy furniture straight up a gentle, integrated ramp. This drastically speeds up loading times compared to standard tail-lifts.
Moving Van Size Comparison Table
Van Capacity Explained: What You Can Actually Fit
When comparing removal vans, you'll often see large volume figures quoted in cubic feet (cu ft) or cubic metres (CBM). These figures are based on the maximum internal space of the vehicle — but in real-world moves, the usable space is always lower.
The Difference: Theoretical vs Usable Capacity
Theoretical Capacity
- Perfectly square items
- No gaps or unused space
- Full stacking to the roof
Usable Capacity (What Really Matters)
- Bulky items (sofas, wardrobes, mattresses)
- Irregular shapes creating empty gaps
- Protection (blankets, straps, spacing)
- Weight distribution and access requirements
- Fragile items limiting stacking height
Why This Matters for Your Move
- Avoid underestimating space requirements
- Prevent delays or return trips
- Ensure your belongings are transported safely
- Choose the right van size from the start
Our Approach
- More accurate quotes
- Fewer surprises on the day
- A smoother, stress-free move
Need Help Estimating Your Move?
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Vans
The size of the van you need depends entirely on the volume of your furniture and boxes. Generally, a Sprinter is suitable for a studio, a Standard Luton for a 1-to-2 bedroom flat, and our Jumbo Low-Loader for a 3-bedroom house. To avoid guessing, we highly recommend using our to get an exact mathematical estimate based on your inventory.
While it depends on the size of the boxes and how much other furniture is loaded, a Standard Luton van (500-600 cubic feet) can typically hold between 80 to 100 large double-walled moving boxes. If you are moving a fully furnished 2-bedroom flat alongside your boxes, the Jumbo Low-Loader will provide a much safer margin of space.
A Low-Loader is a specially designed removals vehicle where the main cargo floor sits much closer to the ground than a standard commercial lorry. Instead of relying on slow, mechanical tail-lifts, our Jumbo Low-Loaders feature an integrated walk-in ramp. This allows our removals team to safely and continuously walk heavy items—like American fridge-freezers and large wardrobes- straight into the back of the van using sack barrows. It is significantly faster, reducing your overall loading time and saving you money on hourly rates.
Unfortunately, no. Due to strict commercial fleet insurance and liability policies, we cannot transport customers in the cabs of our moving vans. You will need to arrange your own personal transport to your new property to meet the removals team there.
Height clearance is a critical factor for London loading bays and underground car parks. Our Sprinter vans require approximately 2.8 meters of clearance, while our Standard Lutons and Jumbo Low-Loaders require at least 3.3 to 3.5 meters of overhead clearance. If your property has a restricted loading bay, please inform our booking team so we can dispatch the appropriate vehicle.
This is why accurate volume calculation is so important! If you have more belongings than initially quoted and they exceed the van's safe "real-world" capacity, our drivers cannot overload the vehicle. For local London moves, we can usually accommodate a second trip (charged pro-rata). However, to guarantee a single-trip move, always use our Space Calculator and consider upgrading to the Jumbo Low-Loader if your volume is borderline.
Yes! Our entire fleet—from the Sprinter panel vans to the Jumbo Low-Loaders—is 100% ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) compliant. When you book our vans for a move in central London, you will not be hit with any unexpected daily emissions charges or hidden fees.