Cubic feet calculator

Go room by room and add what you're moving. You'll get the total volume, a weight estimate and the truck size that fits.

This is an estimate, not a price. On AllShip, FMCSA-verified carriers send firm bids and your payment waits in escrow until delivery.

Use it in the moving calculator

How this estimate works

Movers estimate volume with a cube sheet: a list of common household items, each with a typical size in cubic feet. This calculator works the same way. Item sizes are typical values from published cube sheets, and real furniture varies, so measure anything unusually large.

Formula

total volume  = Σ (item volume × quantity)
weight        ≈ total volume × 7 lb/ft³
truck         = smallest truck where total ≤ capacity × 85%

Truck sizes

Capacities are rounded from the cargo space rental companies publish for each size. We plan on filling 85% of it, because furniture never packs perfectly and the space over the cab is hard to use.

Typical cargo space
Truck	Cargo space	Plan to load up to
10 ft	400 ft³	340 ft³
16 ft	800 ft³	680 ft³
20 ft	1,000 ft³	850 ft³
26 ft	1,700 ft³	1,445 ft³

Weight

Seven pounds per cubic foot is a common rule of thumb for packed household goods. Books, tools and appliances weigh more, bedding and lamps less. Interstate movers weigh the truck for the final bill.

Next steps

Questions

How many cubic feet is a 2-bedroom apartment?

Around 600 cubic feet is a common planning figure, but a furnished 2-bedroom can run well past that. Counting room by room here gives you a number based on what you own.

What size truck do I need for a 3-bedroom house?

A typical 3-bedroom home is close to 950 cubic feet, which usually means a 26 ft truck. Add your items to check, since garages and storage rooms add up fast.

How do I measure an item that isn't on the list?

Measure length, width and height in inches, multiply them, and divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet. Pick the closest listed item with a similar volume and add it.