Cargo Van Rental: Dimensions, Capacity, and What Fits
The smallest thing you can rent, and the only one that drives like a car. A cargo van is the right call for a studio, a dorm room, or one big piece of furniture. It's the wrong call the moment a king bed or a full apartment is involved.
- Cargo volume
- 246–404 cu ft
- Max load
- 3,400–4,030 lb
- Estimated mpg
- 12–18
- 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 smallest of the three, but the only one that publishes a towing rating. U-Haul rates its van to pull up to 6,000 lb.
Much roomier than the other two, with 6'9" of interior height and 404 cu ft. Round-trip rentals only; Penske doesn't offer the van one-way.
Availability varies location to location, and Budget describes van rentals as mostly local. Confirm a one-way van before you count on it.
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 9' cargo van | Penske High-roof cargo van | Budget Cargo van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior (L × W × H) | 9'6" × 5'7" × 4'8" | Up to 11'11" × 4'6" × 6'9" | 11'0" × 4'5" × 5'0" |
| Door opening (W × H) | 5'1" × 4'1" | Not published | 5'1" × 5'4" |
| Cargo volume | 246 cu ft | Up to 404 cu ft | 323 cu ft |
| Max load | 4,030 lb | Up to 3,500 lb | 3,550 lb |
| Gross vehicle weight | 9,070 lb | Up to 9,000 lb (commercial spec) | 8,600 lb |
| Fuel / tank | Gas · 25 gal | Gas · 25 gal | Gas · 25 gal |
| Estimated mpg | 18 | Up to 12 | 8–14 |
| Loading ramp | None | None | None |
| Towing | Up to 6,000 lb | Not tow-capable | Not tow-capable |
| Seats | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Two things to know about these numbers. Penske's van is a genuine high-roof model, which is why its 404 cu ft towers over U-Haul's 246. They aren't the same class of vehicle. And Budget's published interior dimensions (11' × 4'5" × 5') multiply out to roughly 243 cu ft, not the 323 cu ft it headlines, so treat its width figure as a narrowest-point measurement rather than usable width.
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 cargo van · Penske cargo van · Budget cargo van
What actually fits
A van is measured in furniture, not rooms. Budget puts it at about 40 medium boxes, or one to two decent-sized pieces of furniture.
- A studio's worth of boxes, in one trip or two
- A queen mattress and frame, lying flat, with the boxes stacked around it
- A sofa or a loveseat, but rarely both plus a bed
- One large appliance: a washer, dryer, or fridge
- A dorm room, end to end, with room to spare
Rent this one if…
- You're moving a studio or dorm and can make two trips.
- You're moving a single big item and don't want a box truck to park.
- You want to drive something that parks in a normal space and takes normal fuel.
- Your route has a low-clearance garage or a tight alley.
Size up or down if…
- You own a king bed. It won't fit in any of the three vans, so step up to a 15–16' truck.
- You're moving a full one-bedroom. The 10–12' truck costs a little more and saves you a second trip.
- You need a ramp. None of the three vans has one, so everything is a lift-and-carry.
- You're going one-way and long-distance. Penske won't rent the van one-way at all, and Budget's van availability is patchy.
Driving and fuel
This is the one rental that needs no adjustment: a cargo van sits at normal car height, fits normal parking spaces, and takes regular gas. U-Haul rates its van at 18 mpg and Penske up to 12, which is two to three times what a loaded 26-footer returns. On a long one-way move, that fuel gap can wipe out the truck's higher day rate. Watch the roof, though: Budget lists 8'9" of clearance and Penske's high-roof van is taller still, which is enough to catch a parking-garage soffit.
Common questions
Will a king-size mattress fit in a cargo van?
No. A king mattress is 76 inches wide, and the widest van here publishes 5'7" (67 inches) of interior width, and Budget's is narrower still. Budget says so outright on its own van page. A king bed needs a 15–16' truck at minimum.
Is a cargo van cheaper than the smallest truck?
Usually a little, and it's cheaper again on fuel. But it's a false economy if it forces a second trip: two round trips across a metro area in a van often costs more in gas, tolls, and hours than one trip in a 10–12' truck.
Can you tow a car behind a cargo van?
Only U-Haul's, and only within its 6,000 lb rating. Penske lists its van as not tow-compatible, and Budget's smallest tow-capable vehicle is the 16' truck. If a car is coming with you, plan on a bigger truck.
Do you need a special license to rent a cargo van?
No. A regular driver's license is all any of the three require, and they rent to drivers 18 and older with valid ID. No CDL, no endorsement, no air-brake certification.
