10–12 Foot Moving Truck: Dimensions, Capacity, and What Fits
The one-bedroom truck. Big enough for a real bed, a couch, and a stack of boxes in a single trip; small enough to drive without thinking too hard about it. Note that all three of these are smaller inside than the number on the door suggests.
- Cargo volume
- 380–450 cu ft
- Max load
- 2,850–3,610 lb
- Estimated mpg
- 8–14
- License
- Regular
Ranges span what U-Haul, Penske, and Budget each publish for this size. The spread between companies is often wider than people expect.
What each company calls this size
Same job, three different numbers on the door. This is the single biggest source of confusion when people price-shop across companies.
The only true 10-footer on the market, and the only truck this small that can tow. U-Haul states it fits a king mattress with box springs and frame.
Penske's smallest truck, and the roomiest of the three at up to 450 cu ft. Explicitly not tow-compatible.
Called a 12-footer, but Budget's own spec sheet puts the cargo box at 10' long. That's the shortest interior of the three.
Specs, side by side
Published figures from each company's own spec pages. Where a company doesn't publish a number, we say so rather than guessing.
| Spec | U-Haul 10' truck | Penske 12' truck | Budget 12' truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior (L × W × H) | 9'11" × 6'3" × 6'1" | Up to 12' × 6'6" × 6'1" | 10'0" × 6'3" × 6'0" |
| Door opening (W × H) | 5'11" × 5'7" | Not published | 5'11" × 5'5" |
| Cargo volume | 402 cu ft | Up to 450 cu ft | 380 cu ft |
| Max load | 2,850 lb | Up to 3,100 lb | 3,610 lb |
| Gross vehicle weight | 8,600 lb | Up to 9,900 lb (commercial spec) | 10,050 lb |
| Fuel / tank | Gas · 31 gal | Gas · 33 gal | Gas · 35 gal |
| Estimated mpg | 12 | Up to 12 | 8–14 |
| Loading ramp | None (U-Haul lists no ramp) | None | None |
| Towing | Up to 6,000 lb | Not tow-compatible | Not offered at this size |
| Seats | 2 | 2 | 2 |
This size is the clearest illustration of why you shouldn't shop by the number painted on the door. Budget's 12' truck has a 10' cargo box and 380 cu ft; U-Haul's 10' truck has a 9'11" box and 402 cu ft. The truck advertised as two feet longer is the smaller one inside. Payload runs the other way: Budget's 3,610 lb beats U-Haul's 2,850 lb by a useful margin.
Specs are the companies' own published figures and vary by model year and location, so confirm the truck you're actually given at pickup. Sources: U-Haul 10' truck · Penske 12' truck · Budget 12' truck
What actually fits
Budget rates its 12-footer at up to 120 medium boxes and about five pieces of furniture; Penske calls its 12' a one-to-two-room truck.
- A typical one-bedroom apartment in one load
- A queen bed, a sofa, a dresser, a small table, and 20–30 boxes
- A king mattress and frame in U-Haul's 10', a fit it publishes specifically
- A studio with real furniture that a van couldn't take in one trip
Rent this one if…
- You're moving a normally furnished one-bedroom apartment.
- You want one trip instead of two, without driving something intimidating.
- You're doing a college move-out with furniture.
- You want a truck that still fits most parking garages. Clearance is 9' or so.
Size up or down if…
- You have a two-bedroom, or a one-bedroom with a packed closet and garage. Go to the 15–16'.
- You need to tow a car and aren't renting from U-Haul. Penske and Budget both start towing at 16'.
- You have heavy items and are renting U-Haul: 2,850 lb of payload disappears fast under appliances and books.
- You want a ramp. None of the three has one at this size, which makes a sofa a genuine two-person lift.
Driving and fuel
The most forgiving box truck to drive. Around 9 feet tall and 6 feet of interior width, so it handles like a large van rather than a truck. It's still tall enough that drive-throughs, low branches, and parking-garage entrances are off the table. All three run on regular gas, and U-Haul and Penske both estimate 12 mpg, which holds up reasonably well when loaded.
Common questions
Is a U-Haul 10' truck bigger than a Budget 12' truck?
Inside, yes. U-Haul's 10' publishes 402 cu ft against Budget's 380 cu ft, because Budget's "12-foot" truck has a 10-foot cargo box. Compare cubic feet, never door numbers.
Does a 10 or 12 foot truck have a loading ramp?
No, and this is the single most under-appreciated fact about this size. U-Haul explicitly lists "Loading ramp: None" on its 10-footer, and neither Penske nor Budget offers one on their 12-footers. The first size with a ramp is the 15–16'. If you're moving a sofa or a washer by yourself, that ramp may be worth the size jump on its own.
Will a one-bedroom apartment fit in a 10 or 12 foot truck?
A normally furnished one usually will. If your closets are full, you've got a garage or basement's worth of extra, or you own more than one large sofa, the 15–16' truck is the safer rental. Sizing up costs less than a second trip.
Can you tow a car behind a 12 foot truck?
Not at Penske or Budget. Penske lists its 12' as "not towing compatible" and Budget's smallest tow-capable truck is the 16'. U-Haul's 10' is the exception, rated to tow up to 6,000 lb.
