That’s it—you’ve given notice that you’re moving. Now you can focus on getting ready for the move. One of the most common questions is what size vehicle you’ll need to transport your furniture and boxes. How can you be sure to choose a moving truck that will hold all your belongings? What factors should you consider when determining the size of the truck to rent? Les Gentlemen du Déménagement will help you choose a truck that fits your needs.
Here’s a tip: Before choosing a moving truck, start by assessing your needs!
To determine which truck to choose for your upcoming move, you should first estimate the total volume of your furniture and boxes
.
There are several ways to calculate the volume of your personal belongings:
- the good old mathematical method, admittedly a little tedious: height x width x depth ;
- the use of online calculators to estimate a global volume by specifying the furniture and boxes you have;
- the technique of calculating ratios based on the volume of a dwelling: this extrapolation valuation method is based on averages observed during past moves.
Whatever method you use to estimate the volume of your belongings to be moved, remember to adopt a safety margin to avoid having to make several trips, especially if you're moving far from your home base.
What size truck should you choose for your move?
There are various sizes of moving trucks available for rent. They differ in size and, most importantly, in their internal cargo capacity, measured in cubic meters (m3).
A van for moving a studio or T1 apartment
This is the smallest utility vehicle available for rent for moving purposes. With a cargo capacity of 10 to 12cubic meters, a small van is generally sufficient for moving a small studio or one-bedroom apartment with a floor area of less than 30 square meters.
A small truck for moving out of a one-bedroom apartment
For moving a one-bedroom apartment or a home smaller than 50 square meters, you can opt for a small truck. With a capacity of 20 to 23cubic meters, you can typically fit between 120 and 150 boxes inside. This type of truck is widely used for moving. Since it can be driven with a standard driver’s license (Class B), it is accessible to most people.
A large van to move a T3 or T4
With an average capacity of 27cubic meters, this type of truck is most commonly used for moving three- or four-bedroom apartments. It can hold up to 200 boxes and can be driven by individuals with a standard driver’s license.
A 5- or 10-tonne truck for larger moves
Given their imposing size and weight, these trucks require a HGV license, which restricts their use.
Concerning storage capacity :
- a 5-ton truck can hold a volume of 30 to 40m3;
- a 10-tonne truck can transport a volume of 50m3.
Please note: if access to your home is restricted (narrow street, gate, etc.), you may need to use a transfer vehicle. You'll need to allow extra time and manpower for loading.
Choosing the Right Moving Truck: Other Factors to Consider
Note also that some rental models are equipped with a practical tailgate for loading heavy items such as a washing machine or refrigerator.
For a refrigerator, you should also consider the height of the truck, to avoid laying the appliance on its side. The same applies to wine cellars.
When should you choose a chauffeur-driven truck for your move?
To make up for difficulties with permits, and for those on a tight budget, Les Gentlemen du Déménagement offers you the option of renting a truck with driver. With this option, you take care of packing and loading at the point of departure, then unload your belongings yourself at the point of arrival. In the meantime, one of our drivers drives the truck to transport the goods.
This truck rental package with a driver lets you save money on your move and have the truck you need without worrying about driving. This low-cost service has no limits on size or distance. You’ll have access to professional equipment and a fully equipped vehicle, allowing you to move at your own pace and in complete safety. It’s a great solution if you’re moving far away and have a large volume of personal belongings to transport but don’t have a commercial driver’s license.
The size of our trucks is adapted to your needs to help you move with peace of mind.
To avoid having to choose a truck, entrust your move to us!
If you want to be sure you have a truck that meets your needs without having to calculate the volume of your belongings, the easiest option is still to choose a traditional moving package.
In addition to the rental of a truck with driver, Les Gentlemen du Déménagement offers 4 levels of services to best suit your budget and expectations:
- Dynamic: with this formula, you pack and we transport ;
- Comfort: with the Comfort package, we take care of fragile objects;
- Confort Plus: all your furniture is packed by us and we take care of unpacking fragile items;
- Grand Confort: you don't have to worry about a thing. Our teams take care of packing, protecting furniture, loading and unloading, and transporting all your belongings.
For each of these services, we schedule an appointment for a preliminary site visit to assess the volume of your belongings to be moved, so we can provide you with an accurate quote. This way, you don’t have to worry about choosing the right truck size for your move—we’ll take care of that for you. This helps you avoid the risk of an inaccurate estimate.
If you'd like to find out more about our different moving packages and get a quote, please contact us.