What Size Budget Rental Truck Will You Need For Your Move? - Moving.com (2024)

Moving soon? If you’re preparing for a DIY move, start your truck rental research now. With multiple sizes to choose from, selecting the perfect size truck to handle a relocation can be tricky. Our advice: follow the truck rental company’s size guidelines as closely as possible. It also doesn’t hurt to call the truck rental company and speak to an expert directly about the various sizes offered. Overall, the number of rooms and amount of things you have will determine what size moving truck you need to rent.

Rule of Thumb: when in doubt, always size up. Anything more than 1,000 to 1,200 square feet of space is going to need a larger truck –vans and small trucks probably won’t cut it if you have a lot of stuff. Believe me when I say you don’t want to end up going through the hassle of renting a truck, driving it home, and loading it up – only to realize it’s too small to hold all of your belongings. Talk about a moving disaster. To avoid this and other moving day mishaps, I strongly recommend doing your homework beforehand.

Fortunately, if you’re planning to rent a truck from Budget Truck Rental, you’re in luck. The truck rental company provides ample information about their moving truck sizes. While some truck rental companies provide an overwhelming number of options, Budget makes it easy for customers by offering three standard sizes. From studio apartments to large family homes, these three truck sizes listed below are capable of handling a wide range of moves.

12 ft. Small Truck

Budget’s smallest truck rental option, the 12 ft. Small Truck, is perfect for those moving to college with a dorm room’s worth of stuff. The small option also makes a great choice for those moving to a studio apartment. Given the truck’s easy to park, compact size, it’s an excellent option for those moving in or around a larger city as well. According to Budget, the 12 ft. truck rental can carry up to 3,100 pounds, including 120 medium boxes or one to five medium furniture items. The rental car company notes, though, that if you’re moving a long distance it may be best to upgrade to the next size (16 ft.) –just in case everything doesn’t fit.

Here’s a quick look at some of the noteworthy features available on Budget’s Small Truck:

• Seating for two
• Cubic feet: 380
• Gross Vehicle Weight: 10,050 lbs
• Payload Weight: 3,610 lbs
• Clearance: 9’0
• Interior Length: 10’0
• Interior Width: 6’3
• Interior Height: 6’0
• Rear Door Width: 5’11
• Rear Door Height: 5’5
• Miles Per Gallon: 8-14 MPG

16 ft. Medium Truck

Deemed the “most popular” Budget truck rental option, the 16 ft. Medium Truck tends to be used by those looking to move their one-bedroom home or small apartment. The medium size option should hold three to four rooms comfortably. Budget notes that these trucks are ideal for relocating a small business as well. The 16 ft. Medium Truck can carry up to 3,500 pounds, including 250 medium boxes or one to 10 medium furniture items. Unlike the 12 ft. Small Truck, this medium size truck includes towing and loading ramp capabilities.

Here’s a quick look at some of the noteworthy features available on Budget’s Medium Truck:

• Seating for two
• Cubic Feet: 830
• Gross Vehicle Weight: 12,000 – 12,500 lbs
• Payload Weight: 5,524 lbs
• Clearance: 11’
• Interior Length: 16’
• Interior Width: 6’3
• Interior Height: 6’7
• Load Ramp Width: 2’ ⅜”
• Rear Door Width: 7’4
• Rear Door Height: 6’1
• Load Ramp Capacity: 1,000 lbs
• Miles Per Gallon: 6-10MPG

26 ft. Large Truck

Moving your family to a new home? Budget’s 26 ft. Large Truck may be the perfect size for your relocation. The Large Truck can easily handle a two to three bedroom home move and is well-designed for long distance moves. According to Budget, the 26 ft. truck rental can hold up to 12,000 pounds, including 500 medium boxes or one to 15 medium furniture items. The Large Truck also offers towing and loading ramp capabilities to customers. While this truck is strongly recommended for larger moves of about five to eight rooms, the truck is not recommended for those moving a smaller home.

Here’s a quick look at some of the noteworthy features available on Budget’s Large Truck:

• Seating for three
• Cubic Feet: 830
• Gross Vehicle Weight: 26,000 lbs
• Payload Weight: 9,180 lbs
• Clearance: 13’
• Interior Length: 26’
• Interior Width: 8’1
• Interior Height: 8’1
• Load Ramp Width: 2’ ⅜”
• Rear Door Width: 7’10
• Rear Door Height: 6’7
• Load Ramp Capacity: 1,000 lbs
• Miles Per Gallon: 8-10MPG

Additional features

All truck rentals include several additional features including: air conditioning, automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, AM/FM stereo, dual faced mirrors, tie down slats to secure your belongings, bucket seating for passengers, interior lights, and flat floors (in most trucks) non-slip wood floors. The medium and large truck offered by Budget also provides walk ramps and lift gates.

Additional Offerings

Loading and Unloading Assistance –Need help loading and unloading your moving truck? Budget Truck Rental can help with that too. The truck rental company connects those moving with moving day assistance through MoveLift.com, an online marketplace for moving labor.

Towing Equipment – Those planning to move their car in addition to their stuff can rent several different pieces of towing equipment from Budget Truck Rental. The company offers car carriers and car trailers, which attach to the rear of your truck rental. In addition to car carriers, customers can also rent a car dolly to tow their vehicle behind the truck rental. According to Budget, these dollies are capable of carrying AWD, 4WD, and RWD vehicles.

Moving Accessories –From hand truck rentals to furniture pads, Budget Truck Rental offers necessary moving accessories for your next DIY move. The truck rental company also offers PlatePass, an automated toll payment pass that lets those embarking on a long distance move pass seamlessly through non-cash toll lanes.

Other Moving Truck Options

In addition to Budget, there are multiple other moving truck rental companies to choose from when planning your next relocation. To find one that best fits your budget and needs, check out Moving.com’s truck rental center. Our truck rental center provides discounts on various truck rental companies, as well as more information on the process of renting a moving truck. Good luck and happy moving!